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The detection of small areas of cancer, and the development of a new laser to treat common sight-threatening diseases are two research projects at The University of Western Australia to benefit from new Federal funding.

Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek said UWA would receive around $1.3 million in National Health and Medical Research Council grants to recognise the best and brightest minds in Australian health and medical research.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said the funding represented another vote of confidence in the University's researchers.  "Our researchers continue to make positive differences to the lives of ordinary people," he said.

The biggest UWA grant was more than $500,000 to lead researcher Associate Professor Robert McLaughlin whose high-resolution optical imaging probe may enable surgeons to perform better breast cancer surgery.  Currently, one-third of patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery may have insufficient tissue removed, increasing the risk of recurrence.

"Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in Australian women aged 25 to 64," Associate Professor McLaughlin said. "Our probe helps surgeons accurately identify the boundary of the tumour and has the potential to improve the lives of a large number of patients.  Development of this technology also represents a significant commercial opportunity for Australia."

A second amount of nearly $500,000 was granted to Winthrop Professor Dao-Yi Yu to create and commercialise a laser ultrafine microsurgical system for intraocular surgery.  The new system will replace current mechanical instruments and enable more precise cutting.

"The eye is a fragile organ, requiring extreme care during surgical procedures," Professor Yu said.  "A common problem with scissors, blades or forceps is that collateral damage to surrounding tissue is unavoidable.  Laser technology has the potential to provide improved control with minimal damage and would be a readily saleable product."

In other grants, research into cell changes in the retina by Dr Min Hye Kang was awarded more than $100,000, and an investigation into diabetes by Ms Lee Nedkoff received almost that amount.  More than $60,000 was awarded to Ms Tara Richman to investigate the regulation of RNA metabolism in the body and more than $45,000 to Dr Kenneth Yong for his study of immune responses.

Media references

Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783