Curtin University has been awarded $1.29 million in Federal Government funding to develop strategies to predict stillbirth and to investigate ways to eliminate tuberculosis in high-risk countries.
Federal Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt, today announced two Curtin research projects received the funding in the latest round of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants.
The first project, led by Dr Gizachew Tessema from Curtin's School of Public Health will develop a strategy to predict the risk of stillbirth, preterm birth and low birth weight by analysing data from more than four million births in Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Dr Kefyalew Alene from Curtin's School of Public Health and Telethon Kids Institute leads the second research project, which aims to design and implement an innovative approach for eliminating tuberculosis in high-burden countries such as Ethiopia and China. The research will integrate contemporary analytical methods within a single framework and provide evidence to make a shift from the current paradigm of passive case detection.
Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Chris Moran congratulated Dr Tessema and Dr Alene on being awarded $645,205 each in NHMRC funding for their research projects.
"These Curtin research projects supported by NHMRC funding have the real potential to save lives and deliver important health outcomes for people around the globe," Professor Moran said.
"Research into better identification of stillbirth risks in pregnancy will better inform doctors on antenatal care, and optimising a single research framework to target tuberculosis hotspots in high-burden countries could drastically improve case detection.
"The University is committed to advancing research projects like these that will make a difference and we are delighted to welcome this Federal government support."
NHMRC Investigator Grants provide the highest-performing researchers at all career stages with funding and a significant research support package.
For more information on the NHMRC grants, visit here.
