Researchers from Menzies School of Health Research were awarded prestigious National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grants in this week's funding round announcement.
Dr Matthew Hare and Dr Ella Meumann were awarded grants in recognition of their research portfolios which address the impact of diabetes and infectious disease surveillance in the Northern Territory.
The grants are designed to support researchers at all stages of their career to foster innovation and grow programs of research.
The intergenerational diabetes epidemic among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is an identified national priority.
Over the next five years, Dr Hare's research will focus on understanding the predictors of diabetes, the impact of its complications, and implementing an innovative, integrated model of care for diabetes in pregnancy in remote communities. In partnership with local health services, Dr Hare will lead a project to co-design and evaluate a holistic healthcare approach to help drive progress towards breaking the intergenerational cycle of diabetes.
Dr Hare said diabetes and its complications, such as kidney and heart disease, are "profoundly impacting" NT communities.
"Our team at Menzies are absolutely committed to working in meaningful partnerships to turn the tide of this epidemic," he said.
"It's a great honour to receive this national recognition of the work that our team is doing and to secure ongoing financial support to lead these NT-based projects over the next five years."
Dr Meumann's five-year research program will focus on strengthening surveillance of key bacteria and viruses, including Burkholderia pseudomallei (the cause of melioidosis), invasive Group A Streptococcus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Using microbial genomics to investigate disease outbreaks, Dr Meumann aims to enhance the Northern Territory's participation in national genomic surveillance and use these insights to support local public health measures, improving infectious disease control across the region.
Dr Meumann noted that the rates of many infectious diseases in the Northern Territory are the highest nationally.
"This funding will enable us to implement genomics for precision infectious disease surveillance and response. It is an honour and a privilege to receive this support to continue our work," she said.
As a leader in tropical health research and one of Australia's leading medical research institutes dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, these programs of work contribute towards Menzies' declared goal of "finding enduring solutions to health issues that matter".
