(Professor Joshua Vogel and Associate Professor Nick Scott)
Congratulations to Professor Joshua Vogel, co-Program Director, Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, and Associate Professor Nick Scott, head of Modelling and Biostatistics, on receiving National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grants (Leadership).
Today, the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler MP, announced the 229 high-performing researchers who will share in more than $422 million as part of the Investigator Grants program.
Across Australia, awardees and their teams will undertake researcher-led studies that will improve healthcare for Australians and across our region.
Professor Vogel’s work focuses on transforming pre-eclampsia risk screening and prevention in low- and middle-income countries.
Pre-eclampsia is a life-threatening pregnancy complication affecting more than 6 million women each year; causing more than 30,000 maternal deaths, and 440,000 stillbirths or newborn deaths. Nearly 98% of the world’s pre-eclampsia cases affect women living in low- and middle-income countries.
Professor Vogel’s research will test an innovative pre-eclampsia risk screening approach and conduct a trial on the best aspirin regimen for patients.
He said the grant will help achieve his team’s goal of reducing maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality globally.
“This grant builds on our collaborations with leading clinician-researchers in Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Switzerland,” he said.
“We hope that by solving major knowledge gaps, we can help ensure women and babies in African countries can avoid the catastrophic consequences of pre-eclampsia.”
Associate Professor Scott’s work focuses on using modelling to guide the elimination of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
Many countries have committed to achieving the 2030 elimination targets for these diseases, but progress has stalled, particularly since the pandemic.
With his grant, Associate Professor Scott will develop affordable and sustainable roadmaps for hepatitis and HIV elimination in Australia and globally.
“By combining internationally recognised models for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV in a new way, we can focus on key investment priorities across populations and delivery methods, rather than treating each disease separately," he said.
“I will generate critical decision-making evidence by estimating how elimination can be achieved at minimum cost through service operation changes, care cascade interventions, and outreach services.
“The findings will help governments and global health organisations make smarter investment decisions to improve public health outcomes for these diseases.”
The Investigator Grants scheme is NHMRC’s largest funding scheme. It plays a critical role in supporting the Australian health and medical research sector by providing a salary and a significant research support package.
We congratulate our researchers on their success in receiving these grants, which will help them progress their research and contribute to the Burnet 2030 strategy.