Seven researchers from The University of Western Australia will tackle critical health challenges affecting women and babies thanks to research funding from the Women and Infants Research Foundation (WIRF).
Provided via WIRF's annual Research Acceleration Awards, the funding will support innovative projects spanning maternal and pregnancy health, newborn care, cancer research, precision medicine and intergenerational health.
Ten WA researchers will share in $500,000 awarded this year, with each receiving between $45,000 and $50,000 for their project. The seven successful UWA researchers are:
- Dr Dane Cheasley from UWA's Medical School and the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (the Perkins) for his project Mapping Tumour-Microenvironment Interactions to Identify New Therapeutic Targets in Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.
- Clinical Associate Professor Jonathan Davis from UWA's Medical School and the Child and Adolescent Health Service for his project Tiny Infant Mobile Translational Animal Model (TIM TAM) Study / Translational animal model using technology to understand changes in the newborn during transport.
- Clinical Associate Professor Gayatri Jape from UWA's Medical School and the Child and Adolescent Health Service for her project Probiotics in Infants of Mothers with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (PRIMD): A Randomised Controlled Trial.
- Professor Peter Leedman AO from UWA's Medical School and the Perkins for his project Precision RNA Therapy: A New Approach to Treating Ovarian Cancer.
- Dr Caitlin Liddelow from UWA's School of Human Sciences for her project Moving for Two: A GP-Led Brief Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Pregnancy.
- Dr Weitao Lin from UWA's Medical School and the Perkins for his project Defining the Landscape of Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Maintenance Therapy in Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy-Treated Ovarian Cancer.
- PhD student Hannah Watson from UWA and WIRF for her project Mechanisms of Variable Fetal Lung Response to Antenatal Glucocorticoids.
In addition, PhD student Hannah L. Moore from UWA and The Kids Research Institute Australia received a $5,000 WIRF PhD Student Travel Award for her project Effect of antenatal corticosteroids on childhood lung function in preterm-born children.
The student travel award enables early career researchers to present their work at national and international meetings, build professional networks and gain exposure to leading research in their field.
The WIRF Research Acceleration Awards, now in their fourth year, have been made possible with the generous support of the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and the Bass Family Foundation.
This year's awards were presented at WIRF's premier scientific event, the WIRF Scientific Dialogue, on 28 August.
Image above: L-R Dr Weitao Lin, Dr Caitlin Liddelow, Rikki Bown from Professor Peter Leedman's research team, WIRF CEO Deb Portughes, WIRF Chief Scientist Professor Matt Kemp, Dr Dane Cheasley, Hannah L. Moore, and Hannah Watson.
