A 'Trojan Horse' anti-cancer agent and disrupting HIV neuro junctions are among the Griffith University research projects to be awarded in a national funding scheme.
Griffith researchers were awarded four grants worth more than $3.6 million in the latest round of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants.
The project Unmask HIV latency through disruption of HIV synapses, led by Institute of Glycomics researchers Professor Johnson Mak and Professor Alan Wee-Chung Liew, was awarded the highest funding allocation – $1,224,430.00 – in this round.
Institute for Glycomics Director, Professor Mark von Itzstein AO said he was delighted with the Institute's 2022 NHRMC Ideas Grant outcomes.
"I am pleased for our Institute researchers and their Ideas Grant wins, as this critical funding will significantly advance our translational biomedical research in areas of great need," he said.
NHMRC Ideas Grants
Unmask HIV latency through disruption of HIV synapses, $1,224,430.00
- Chief Investigators: Prof Johnson Mak, Prof Alan Wee-Chung Liew
- Associate Investigators: Dr Belinda De Villiers, Dr Nicholas Condon, Dr Arun Everest-Dass, Prof Anthony Purcell, Dr Sri Ramarathinam,
Personalising diagnosis and treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, $880,844.25
- Chief Investigators: Assoc Prof Daniel Kolarich, Dr Timothy Wells
- Associate Investigators: Prof Daniel Chambers, Dr Larisa Labzin
Pharmaceutical Development of Innovative "Trojan Horse" Anti-Cancer Agents that Inhibit Desmoplasia by Reprogramming Signalling, $599,828.00
- Chief Investigators: Prof Des Richardson, Dr Mahendiran Dharmasivam, Prof Paul Bernhardt
- Associate Investigators: Prof Minoti Apte, Assoc Prof Marina Pajic, Prof C Lee, Prof Gregory Anderson, Assoc Prof David Frazer, Assoc Prof Petra Kovarikova, Dr George Sharbeen, Prof Phoebe Phillips
Understanding novel ways that bacteria drive virulence by subverting metal ion intoxication, $910,641.00
- Chief Investigators: Prof Glen Ulett, Dr Matthew Sullivan, Dr Kelvin Goh
- Associate Investigators: Prof Mark Schembri, Prof Matthew Sweet, Prof Mark Walker
Griffith Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans said Griffith achieved a great outcome, placing it equal 13th nationally for number of grants awarded and 14th for total funding awarded.
"These awards continue to drive outcomes committed to in our Research and Innovation Plan, consistent with our vision of expanding human knowledge and transforming lives," she said.
Congratulations also to Griffith staff members who are involved in successful Ideas Grants led by other institutions:
- Professor Cliff Goddard
- Dr Danielle Heinrichs
- Dr Helen Bromhead
