University of Queensland researchers have secured $21.5 million from the Medical Research Future Fund to accelerate vaccine and therapy development, improve healthcare access, and grow research capacity.
Ten researchers have received funding across four grant schemes, including projects led by early and mid-career researchers - helping to strengthen the research workforce while delivering long-term community health benefits.
Their work includes developing new stem cell therapies for cancer and gum disease, improving cardiovascular health in First Nations communities, and investigating a potential Alzheimer's treatment using Lion's mane mushrooms.
The funding will also strengthen critical research infrastructure in national priority areas, including a digital tool to support doctors' decision-making, a faster pathway to move new cancer treatments into clinical trials, and expanded vaccine research and development at the Queensland Emory Vaccine Centre.
MRFF 2024 National Critical Research Infrastructure:
Professor Kristen Gibbons - develop a digital platform informed by clinical data to support doctors with decision-making and improve patient care and outcomes for seriously ill children.
Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes - create an end-to-end manufacturing pipeline to fast-track life-saving cancer therapies from lab into first human clinical trials.
Professor Daniel Watterson - accelerate vaccine innovation by growing the current research infrastructure at the Queensland Emory Vaccine Centre.
MRFF 2025 Early to Mid-Career Researchers:
Dr Christine Andrews - co-design a framework to improve the healthcare experience for autistic parents by improving inclusivity, access, communication and engagement to support healthier pregnancies and better outcomes for mothers and babies.
Dr Shehzahdi Moonshi - develop a new treatment for psoriatic arthritis by learning how joints are impacted when certain proteins are attacked by the immune system, and how to 'turn off' the cells responsible for inflammation.
Dr Sevannah Steeves - investigate a therapeutic approach using Lion's mane mushrooms that could help protect the ageing brain in those with Alzheimer's disease.
MRFF 2025 Stem Cell Therapies:
Professor Maher Gandhi - use technology to genetically engineer T cells - a type of white blood cell - from umbilical cord blood stem cells to more effectively treat aggressive blood cancers.
Dr Pingping Han - develop a treatment that helps regrow bone and tissue lost to gum disease using natural healing particles from teeth.
MRFF 2025 Cardiovascular Health:
Professor Abdullah Al Mamun - prevent and manage rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and women through culturally safe health programs.
Associate Professor Srinivas Kondalsamy Chennakesavan - improve heart health in rural and remote First Nations communities by providing more accessible, culturally designed virtual healthcare, check-ins and support from home.
