New $14 million investment in Australian healthcare

Twelve health research projects have received a share of $14 million. This funding has been delivered as part of a new investment in better health care for Australians.

Some of the projects announced include:

• More than $1.2 million to unlock the promise of virtual models of care through infrastructure innovation in Australian healthcare facilities.
• More than $1.3 million for researchers at the University of Melbourne to integrate an evidenced-based digital platform to improve youth mental health services.
• More than $650,000 to support researchers at the University of Queensland to reduce unnecessary and potentially harmful long-term prescribing of antidepressants.
   

Research projects will also help pregnant women to quit smoking and improve effective treatment of children with cerebral palsy. 

Furthermore, following a $1.4 million boost to research, the elimination of hepatitis C in Australia is closer. Hepatitis C is one of the major causes of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. It can be eliminated by sustaining high rates of treatment, but Australia’s rates have stalled over recent years.

Research led by Professor Mark Stoové, head of public health at the Burnet Institute, will identify how to best follow up notifications to improve hepatitis C treatment rates.

Other partners involved in this collaboration are Hepatitis Australia, the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine and the Paul Ramsay Foundation.

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) CEO Professor Anne Kelso AO said, “NHMRC’s Partnership Projects demonstrate the power of collaboration between researchers, policy-makers and health service providers to ensure the right research questions are asked and the research outcomes will be implemented into better health policy and care.”

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