The Minns Labor Government has announced the successful recipients of Round 7 of the Prevention Research Support Program (PRSP), with $12 million in funding awarded to three research groups.
The funding will support the formation of new research streams, or groups of organisations who will collaborate and focus on three key priority areas.
This investment will build the State's research capacity and will enable the translation of evidence from research into policy and practice to improve health outcomes.
The research will focus on three key priority areas:
Stream 1: Preventive health - Obesity, diabetes and physical activity.
Led by Professor Philayrath Phongsavan from the University of Sydney, the stream will focus on embedding a population health and preventive care approach to obesity and diabetes prevention and management. It will also focus on primary and secondary prevention approaches for adults and children to increase physical activity.
Stream 2: Infectious disease capability, preparedness and response.
Led by Dr Jen Kok, Centre for Infectious Disease and Microbiology - Public Health at Western Sydney Local Health District, the stream will focus on resilient surveillance for respiratory viruses with human pandemic or epidemic potential.
Stream 3: Maternity and the first 2000 days.
Led by Professor Dharmintra Pasupathy from the University of Sydney, the stream will focus on preventive care, management of alcohol and substance use, and service interventions to prevent the primary causes of low birth weight.
Round 7 grants will run from July 2026 to June 2030, with $4 million allocated to each of the research groups over the four-year period.
Each funded stream includes a range of academic organisations and partners who will work closely with NSW Health organisations and other health services in NSW, bringing together a breadth of expertise to ensure research is translated into policy and practice.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"We are investing in research to improve preventative healthcare, helping keep people healthy and out of hospital."
"These grants bring together some of our best and brightest minds from across more than 20 academic, policy, health service and community organisations to help translate research into practice to improve health outcomes and reduce inequities."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Research David Harris:
"By bringing together researchers from a diverse range of expertise, this program will help foster the knowledge and evidence needed to influence both policy and practice.
"We are proud to be investing in research in these prevention priority areas, which will improve system and community outcomes in NSW."
