Published Tuesday, 10 July, 2007 at 11:25 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Queensland’s researchers punch well above their weight internationally: Mickel
Research projects on defeating hospital super-bugs, the adaptation of coral reefs to global warming, and early intervention in schizophrenia are all beneficiaries of Round Two of the Queensland Government’s $200 million Smart State Innovation Funds.
Minister for State Development John Mickel will host a special reception today at the Executive Building in Brisbane in honour of the recipients of the 2007 Smart State Fellowships and Queensland Clinical Research Fellowships.
The Queensland Government has set out over $2 million this year to support seven Smart State Fellowships, three Queensland Clinical Research Fellowships and internship programs at thee Queensland universities.
The Smart State Fellowships provide funding for early or mid-career researchers to undertake innovative research in Queensland and the current round provides researchers with $150,000 each over three years.
“This is matched dollar-for-dollar by sponsors and co-sponsors, including Queensland, national and international universities, research institutes and corporations,” Mr Mickel said.
The Queensland Clinical Research Fellowships provide funding for outstanding clinical researchers to undertake innovative research in Queensland hospitals and health services.
“For a State with just over four million people, we are punching well above our weight when it comes to internationally-recognised ground-breaking research and development,” Mr Mickel said.
“And this has been part and parcel of the Government’s Smart State strategy – to develop our economy into one of the most innovative, creative and knowledge-based in the world.
“But there is another side to the fellowships beyond the potential lucrative economic return, and that is the public good that comes from this research. And that can range from better ways to defeat diseases that have blighted us as human beings to the preservation of our most precious natural resources,” Mr Mickel said.
The Smart State Fellowship recipients include:
• Dr Amanda Mabbett from the University of Queensland’s School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences for her research into defeating the hospital super-bug, golden staph. Golden staph is a major cause of hospital acquired infections and has emerged as a major global health issue in recent years. Dr Mabbett’s work will concentrate on preventing the infection developing in the body and will involve a collaboration by three of Brisbane’s major research centres;
• Dr Line Bay at James Cook University for her research into the adaptation of corals to global climate change. Given the potential for global climate change to degrade Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, Dr Bay’s research will be vital to the reef’s conservation;
• QUT’s Dr Timothy Dargaville who is developing a new approach to treating burn-related scars using a special polymer bandage. The bandage will be chemically-programmed to release a special agent upon contact with human skin that will be able to control the formation of scar tissue and also reduce the effect of existing scars;
• QUT’s Dr Wayde Martens for his research into using nano-technology to purify water. Water is rapidly becoming Australia’s most critical natural resource and there is an urgent need to re-use and recycle water from domestic grey-water and industry waste. Dr Martens’ work aims to develop photcatalytic water treatment technologies to break down organic chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides, oil, food chemicals, pharmaceuticals and hormones in water, rendering it safe to drink or reuse;
• Dr Christelle Capini from the University of Queensland’s Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine for her work on developing a new way to treat rheumatoid arthritis, using a patient’s own auto-immune system;
• Dr Joanne Voisey from QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation for research that could lead to a genetic test and early intervention program to better treat schizophrenia. Schizophrenia affects about one per cent of Queenslanders and Dr Voisey’s program combines genetic screening with a demographic history profile to more accurately identify individuals at risk of developing schizophrenia and provide early intervention; and
• Associate Professor Roslyn Boyd at the University of Queensland’s School of Medicine for research into the effectiveness of a range of cerebral palsy management practices. Cerebral Palsy occurs in one in very 500 young Australians and the cost of management is around $1.5 million per person during their lifetime. Associate Professor Boyd will look at three groups - children, adolescents and adults – to determine the effectiveness of current treatments.
The three Queensland Clincial Research Fellowship recipients are:
• Professor John Upham from the Princess Alexandra Hospital, who has received $300,000 for research into new ways to treat asthmas and allergies;
• Dr Kerrod Hallett from the Children’s Oral Health Service at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital who has also received $300,000 to trial a unique bacterial test and mouth rinse to prevent childhood tooth decay; and
• Dr Robert Henderson also from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital who has received $150,000 for research into the diagnosis and treatment of motor neurone disease.
The Government is also providing the Australian Catholic University, James Cook University and the University of Southern Queensland with $116,664 each as part of the Government’s Smart State University Internship Program.
The program aims to make university students work-ready in priority areas such as science, technology, commercialisation and engineering.
“This funding will enable the universities to match students’ skills with those needed by industry, and through targeted industry placements, university students will acquire the work-ready skills they need to get a good job upon graduation,” Mr Mickel said.
Established in 2005, the Smart State Innovation Funding Program aims to build world-class research facilities, attract top-quality scientists to Queensland and stimulate cutting-edge research projects.
“The Queensland Government has invested more than $3 billion in innovation, science and research since 1998. I think this demonstrates our deep and ongoing commitment to maintaining Queensland’s reputation as the Smart State,” Mr Mickel said.
Mr Mickel will announce the Smart State Innovation Funds recipients at the Queensland Room, Level 13, Executive Building, 100 George Street today at 3pm.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
10 July 2007
Minister for State Development John Mickel will host a special reception today at the Executive Building in Brisbane in honour of the recipients of the 2007 Smart State Fellowships and Queensland Clinical Research Fellowships.
The Queensland Government has set out over $2 million this year to support seven Smart State Fellowships, three Queensland Clinical Research Fellowships and internship programs at thee Queensland universities.
The Smart State Fellowships provide funding for early or mid-career researchers to undertake innovative research in Queensland and the current round provides researchers with $150,000 each over three years.
“This is matched dollar-for-dollar by sponsors and co-sponsors, including Queensland, national and international universities, research institutes and corporations,” Mr Mickel said.
The Queensland Clinical Research Fellowships provide funding for outstanding clinical researchers to undertake innovative research in Queensland hospitals and health services.
“For a State with just over four million people, we are punching well above our weight when it comes to internationally-recognised ground-breaking research and development,” Mr Mickel said.
“And this has been part and parcel of the Government’s Smart State strategy – to develop our economy into one of the most innovative, creative and knowledge-based in the world.
“But there is another side to the fellowships beyond the potential lucrative economic return, and that is the public good that comes from this research. And that can range from better ways to defeat diseases that have blighted us as human beings to the preservation of our most precious natural resources,” Mr Mickel said.
The Smart State Fellowship recipients include:
• Dr Amanda Mabbett from the University of Queensland’s School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences for her research into defeating the hospital super-bug, golden staph. Golden staph is a major cause of hospital acquired infections and has emerged as a major global health issue in recent years. Dr Mabbett’s work will concentrate on preventing the infection developing in the body and will involve a collaboration by three of Brisbane’s major research centres;
• Dr Line Bay at James Cook University for her research into the adaptation of corals to global climate change. Given the potential for global climate change to degrade Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, Dr Bay’s research will be vital to the reef’s conservation;
• QUT’s Dr Timothy Dargaville who is developing a new approach to treating burn-related scars using a special polymer bandage. The bandage will be chemically-programmed to release a special agent upon contact with human skin that will be able to control the formation of scar tissue and also reduce the effect of existing scars;
• QUT’s Dr Wayde Martens for his research into using nano-technology to purify water. Water is rapidly becoming Australia’s most critical natural resource and there is an urgent need to re-use and recycle water from domestic grey-water and industry waste. Dr Martens’ work aims to develop photcatalytic water treatment technologies to break down organic chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides, oil, food chemicals, pharmaceuticals and hormones in water, rendering it safe to drink or reuse;
• Dr Christelle Capini from the University of Queensland’s Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine for her work on developing a new way to treat rheumatoid arthritis, using a patient’s own auto-immune system;
• Dr Joanne Voisey from QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation for research that could lead to a genetic test and early intervention program to better treat schizophrenia. Schizophrenia affects about one per cent of Queenslanders and Dr Voisey’s program combines genetic screening with a demographic history profile to more accurately identify individuals at risk of developing schizophrenia and provide early intervention; and
• Associate Professor Roslyn Boyd at the University of Queensland’s School of Medicine for research into the effectiveness of a range of cerebral palsy management practices. Cerebral Palsy occurs in one in very 500 young Australians and the cost of management is around $1.5 million per person during their lifetime. Associate Professor Boyd will look at three groups - children, adolescents and adults – to determine the effectiveness of current treatments.
The three Queensland Clincial Research Fellowship recipients are:
• Professor John Upham from the Princess Alexandra Hospital, who has received $300,000 for research into new ways to treat asthmas and allergies;
• Dr Kerrod Hallett from the Children’s Oral Health Service at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital who has also received $300,000 to trial a unique bacterial test and mouth rinse to prevent childhood tooth decay; and
• Dr Robert Henderson also from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital who has received $150,000 for research into the diagnosis and treatment of motor neurone disease.
The Government is also providing the Australian Catholic University, James Cook University and the University of Southern Queensland with $116,664 each as part of the Government’s Smart State University Internship Program.
The program aims to make university students work-ready in priority areas such as science, technology, commercialisation and engineering.
“This funding will enable the universities to match students’ skills with those needed by industry, and through targeted industry placements, university students will acquire the work-ready skills they need to get a good job upon graduation,” Mr Mickel said.
Established in 2005, the Smart State Innovation Funding Program aims to build world-class research facilities, attract top-quality scientists to Queensland and stimulate cutting-edge research projects.
“The Queensland Government has invested more than $3 billion in innovation, science and research since 1998. I think this demonstrates our deep and ongoing commitment to maintaining Queensland’s reputation as the Smart State,” Mr Mickel said.
Mr Mickel will announce the Smart State Innovation Funds recipients at the Queensland Room, Level 13, Executive Building, 100 George Street today at 3pm.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
10 July 2007