Queensland Government tackles tropical disease
Published Wednesday, 18 December, 2013 at 12:00 PM
Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
The Honourable Ian Walker
Queensland has stepped up the fight against tropical disease, with the Newman Government today announcing the recipients of the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) Development Grants.
Science and Innovation Minister Ian Walker said research projects into malaria and intestinal worms are among the five grants awarded, delivering on the election promise to revitalise frontline services.
“The grants are one of the Institute’s first initiatives and will focus on important tropical health issues that could deliver public health benefits to Queensland, Australia and the globe,” Mr Walker said.
“Researchers will use this funding to look into tropical diseases and their carriers, and groups at particular risk, both of which are critical in the international fight to prevent and limit dangerous tropical illnesses.
“While Labor’s decisions were based on political whim rather than good science, the CanDo Government is getting on with the job of strengthening Queensland’s tropical health defences.”
AITHM Director Professor Louis Schofield said every project is headed by a researcher with a record for excellence.
“The successful projects include anti-malarial drug discovery; mapping Australian and Pacific mosquito populations; exploring methods to reduce intestinal worm transmission in poor communities and eliminating neglected tropical diseases in Samoa,” Professor Schofield said.
“Each project will run for 12 months and builds on past research with the aim of furthering research capacity and collaboration.”
JCU Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences, Professor Ian Wronski praised the Newman Government’s $42 million commitment.
“The Queensland Government can be proud that their funding has leveraged a further $42 million from the Commonwealth to deliver an outstanding capability in northern Queensland,” Professor Wronski said.
Early works on the first AITHM building in Townsville should start mid-2014, funded by the Newman Government’s initial infrastructure contribution of $2.09 million
AITHM campuses will be built in Townsville, Cairns and the Torres Strait, cementing JCU’s place as a global hub of tropical research and intellectual leadership.
[ENDS] 18 December 2013
Media Contact: Casie Scott, 0432 453 225
See overleaf for a full list of the projects that received AITHM development grants.
Recipients of Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine Development Grants 2013
|
Project name |
Lead researcher |
Amount awarded |
|
Elimination of soil-transmitted helminths (STH), one village at a time (Elimination of soil-transmitted parasitic worms) |
Emeritus Professor Rick Speare AM |
$35,000 |
|
HART-BEAT: Diabetes research from the bench to the real-world practice
|
Dr Paula Clancy, Post-doctoral research scientist |
$35,000 |
|
Lymphatic filariasis (parasitic disease) in American Samoa |
Dr Patricia Graves, Senior Principal Research Fellow |
$35,000 |
|
Sustainable production of artemisinin (shrub used to treat malaria)
|
Associate Professor Michael Oelgemoeller |
$17,000 |
|
SEMAT Surveillance of Anophelines (a species of mosquitoes)
|
Professor Thomas Burkot |
$35,000 |