Six Alfred Research Alliance researchers receive NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships

Six researchers from the Alfred Research Alliance have received an NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship, announced 11 January 2022 by The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care. Ranging from $67,346 to $135,002 each, the scholarships cover a range of research areas including sexual health, gastroenterology, maternal and child health, pandemic modelling and mental health.

The NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships were awarded to 65 outstanding graduates in medicine and health sciences from across Australia to enable them to pursue their research ideas and solve some of our community’s biggest health challenges.

Also announced today was funding of more than $2.8 million to support collaborative international research projects through the e-ASIA Joint Research Program. Half of this funding has been allocated to two Alliance partners – a Burnet Institute project looking into malaria elimination strategies led by Professor Freya Fowkes, and a Monash University project run by Associate Professor Jason Ong that is aiming to end HIV transmission in East Asia.

Congratulations to the successful researchers, and commiserations to those who have missed out in this round of funding.

NHMRC POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

• Stephanie Bond, Monash University – “Development and evaluation of strategies to improve syphilis screening of pregnant women to prevent congenital syphilis” – $135,002
• Dr Yasmin Hughes, Monash University – “Improving Syphilis diagnosis and management in the community” – $135,002
• Dr Robert Little, Monash University – “Modulation of the gut microbiome and mucosal immune response in IBD” – $135,002
• Dr Elizabeth Armari, Burnet Institute – “Developing and evaluating an evidence-based training program for improving labour and childbirth care in India” – $101,377
• Dominic Delport, Burnet Institute – “Using mathematical models to generate evidence to support Australia’s COVID-19 responses and prepare for future pandemics” – $93,056
• Melissa Savaglio, Monash University – “Developing a community-based psychosocial intervention for young people with mental illness” – $67,346
  

NHMRC E-ASIA 2021 JOINT RESEARCH PROGRAM

• Prof Freya Fowkes, Burnet Institute – “Vector sero-surveillance tools to accelerate malaria elimination” – $745,125
• Assoc Prof Jason Ong, Monash University – “Ending HIV transmission by Optimizing Pre-exposure prophylaxis in East Asia (HOPE)” – $667,191