The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Health and Aged Care
The elimination of hepatitis C in Australia is closer following a $1.4 million boost to research. This is part of a $14 million investment in 12 research projects announced today to deliver better health care for Australians.
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.
Other projects announced today include:
- 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.
- More than $800,000 for researchers at the University of Melbourne to trial the effects of personalised road safety feedback and incentives through a smartphone application using GPS.
Research projects will also help pregnant women to quit smoking and improve effective treatment of children with cerebral palsy.
The Partnership Project scheme provides funding for researchers and partner organisations to work together to define research questions, undertake the research, and interpret and translate the findings into health policy and practice.
Quotes attributable to Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler:
"The Partnership Projects announced today have the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians across a range of areas. The projects will help us eliminate hepatitis C, better connect youth mental health services, help kids with cerebral palsy and improve road safety."
"These partnerships help connect our best scientists with government and industry support, allowing them to do their vital work."
Quotes attributable to NHMRC CEO Professor Anne Kelso AO:
"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."
Project partnerships announced today can be found here.
