Researchers at the UNSW Faculty of Medicine & Health received a total of $59 million in the 2022 round of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grants. The amount pushes UNSW Sydney to the top of all universities funded within the prestigious scheme.
The goal of the research undertaken at UNSW Medicine & Health is to improve lives. Researchers seek outcomes that solve urgent problems, providing solutions to advance health and medicine, eliminate health disparities and foster social well-being.
This year, UNSW Sydney researchers received National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grants worth more than $62 million—the highest amount for any university in this round of funding.
Thirty two of the 33 recipients are at the Faculty of Medicine & Health. They were awarded $59 million, which, alone, is double the amount of NHMRC funding awarded to all of UNSW last year.
The NHMRC funding decisions validate the strength of UNSW Medicine & Health research across and beyond its four research themes.
The faculty commends and celebrates each of its investigators, all of whom tackle difficult and pressing health issues. This round of NHMRC funding supports their efforts that include preventing youth suicide, identifying the gene mutations that cause birth defects, developing new cancer therapies, improving cognition and quality of life for people with dementia, and planning for a COVID-19 future.
The NHMRC Investigator Grant scheme is incredibly competitive and prestigious: nationally, only 14.8 per cent of applications were funded in this round. Professor Sean Emery, Senior Vice Dean of Research and Operations at UNSW Medicine & Health, said the faculty is committed to supporting its academics achieve further success with future applications.
"Each award is an impressive accomplishment, with outcomes that will benefit individuals, communities and society," said Prof Emery.
"But we also recognise these schemes are ferociously competitive—and an overwhelming majority of applicants are not being supported. UNSW Medicine & Health will work with our academics at all career stages and across disciplines to optimise their grant applications. This includes focussing on 'near misses' for close attention and support for a more competitive bid next time round."
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grants provide five years of salary support and direct research funding to the highest performing researchers, at all career stages. More at: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/