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Keith Drewery
on
17 November 2020

More than $1.6 million of medical research innovations funded by NFMRI and partners

[SYDNEY-NSW] -Together with its partners, the National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation (NFMRI) announced its new 2021 grant recipients. Successful researchers from across the country received funding to support the advancement of their innovations ranging from diagnostics, to vaccines and gene therapy – across a number of diseases or conditions affecting the health of humans.

  • NFMRI announces $1,031,990 for new grants commencing in 2021
  • NFMRI and Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation announce the third recipient of the Barbara Stow-Smith CF Innovation Grant: Dr Leszek Lisowski
  • New and ongoing research support for 2021 is approximately $1.6 million.

New projects being supported in 2021 include:

  • Dr Leszek Lisowski, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Cystic Fibrosis, $140,000 *
  • Prof Michael Parker, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Alzheimer’s disease $192,374 **
  • Prof Roger Pocock, Monash University, Parkinson’s disease, $199,916
  • A/Prof Bernard Flynn, Monash University, Inflammatory bowel disease, $135,700
  • Dr Branka Grubor-Bauk, The University of Adelaide, Zika virus $220,000
  • Prof Stephen Fox, The University of Melbourne, cancer, $144,000

*Barbara Stow-Smith CF Innovation Grant funded via NFMRI & Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation partnership

**Grant funded via NFMRI & The Mason Foundation (managed by Equity Trustees) partnership

New funding received from The NSW Community Foundation, the Vernon Sinclair Fund and The NSW Community Foundation (all managed by Equity Trustees) is being contributed to support the cancer diagnostic research of existing grant recipient, Dr James Blackburn, at The Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

NFMRI CEO, Dr Noel Chambers, noted that the Foundation was excited to be able to provide nearly $1.6 million in existing and new funding to advance some of Australia’s most promising innovations.

Dr Chambers thanked NFMRI’s funding partners, including The Mason Foundation, The NSW Community Foundation, The Vernon Sinclair Fund, and The NSW Community Foundation – Nicholas and Phyllis Pinter Trust (all managed by Equity Trustees), as well as the Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Suzy Dimaline, Executive Manager of the largest private funder of cystic fibrosis research in Australia, the Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, said that “Dr Lisowski’s promising research project in gene therapy had potential to be a game changer for people living with cystic fibrosis”. Suzy noted that these grants were in recognition of Barbara Stow-Smith, the first person to make a bequest to the Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Dr Chambers emphasised that “support from our partners enables us to advance research and innovations towards potential future treatments and options for those in need that would otherwise be left unfunded”.

[ENDS]

About NFMRI

Founded in 1977, NFMRI’s primary objective is to support innovative areas of research to help benefit mankind through the prevention or eradication of diseases. By focusing on advancing innovations and enabling collaborations, the Foundation aims to address the critical gaps that prevent industry uptake to bring diagnostics, devices, vaccines, tools and medicines into the hands of those in need in the community. The Foundation seeks to partner with researchers and donors to identify, evaluate and support innovative quality research projects with identified impact objectives. NFMRI’s culture is one where we look to make a social investment in medical research. By partnering with funders and researchers to provide support and knowledge, we aim to maximise the social returns from our grants.

About NFMRI Partnerships

Founded in 1977 and with DGR1/TCC status, NFMRI has established a partnering program assisting other funders of medical research to achieve better outcomes. NFMRI partners with other funders, applying its strategy, systems, networks and expertise to achieve common goals. With our specific expertise, capability and capacity, we are able to partner with other like-minded funders to support medical research that leads to the advancement and translation of discoveries and innovations. Contact us to learn more about how we can work together.