News Archive

Researchers at The University of Western Australia have received more than $9 million in Federal funding to focus on Aboriginal health, asbestos-related diseases and early childhood respiratory disease.

The Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Health, the Hon. Mark Butler MP announced the National Health and Medical Research Council funding for three new Centres for Research Excellence.

Winthrop Professor Fiona Stanley, Director of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, received $2.5 million over five years to lead research into Aboriginal health and wellbeing.

Winthrop Professor Bruce Robinson, Director of the National Centre for Asbestos-Related Diseases, has been awarded $4.5 million over five years to further his centre's research focusing on improving diagnosis, early intervention strategies and improving treatment of asbestos-related diseases.

Researchers led by Clinical Professor Stephen Stick were awarded almost $2.5 million over five years to continue their ground-breaking research into early cystic fibrosis lung disease as well as improve understanding and management of other chronic lung diseases.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said the announcement recognised the outstanding quality of UWA's medical researchers and indicated that the University remained on track to achieve its aim of becoming one of the world's top 100 research universities by 2013.

"The teaching and research strength of The University of Western Australia has ensured the State's medical research community continues to produce research outcomes for the benefit of the entire community - locally, nationally and internationally," Professor Robson said.

Photo caption: Winthrop Professor Bruce Robinson, Glenn Pearson, Professor Stephen Stick, Winthrop Professor Fiona Stanley, Federal Parliamentary Secretary Mark Butler and asbestos litigation lawyer Tim Hammond.

Media references

Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716