12 August 2024

Welcome to Tracker, NHMRC’s fortnightly newsletter with the latest information on major activities and funding opportunities.

Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services - 6th edition 

NHMRC has released Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services (Staying healthy)– 6th edition. Staying healthy is a best-practice resource that provides simple and effective ways for educators and other staff to help limit the spread of illness and infectious diseases in education and care settings.

The 6th edition of Staying healthy combines new evidence and perspectives from the past 10 years to inform the update of the guidelines. General service practices remain unchanged between editions, but additional guidance has been updated and expanded throughout to capture new evidence.  

This edition also includes updated scenarios based on real-life situations that illustrate the key messages and appropriate actions to take. Fact sheets on symptoms and diseases have also been added to the new guideline.

The downloadable and accessible version of Staying healthy– 6th edition, together with the fact sheets, posters, and technical reports are available on NHMRC’s website. 

Targeted Call for Research: Improving infection prevention and control in residential aged care homes 2023 funding outcomes announced 

On Thursday 8 August 2024, the Minister for Aged Care, The Hon Anika Wells MP, announced the funding outcomes for the Targeted Call for Research: Improving infection prevention and control in residential aged care homes 2023 grant opportunity.

Each of the 4 research projects funded will receive close to $1 million to inform evidence-based interventions for the implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) programs and IPC leads in public and private residential aged care homes.  

Read more on the projects funded in our media release on NHMRC’s News Centre. 

NHMRC Impact Case Study: Improving Stroke Outcomes 

Improving stroke outcomes  

Stroke is the second-leading cause of death globally. More than 27,000 Australians experienced a stroke for the first time in 2020. A team of NHMRC-funded researchers designed protocols for monitoring and treating common post-stroke symptoms, leading to significant improvements in survival and independence of stroke patients both in Australia and worldwide. The protocols have now been adopted into Australian hospitals and in at least 18 countries globally.

Read more in our Improving stroke outcomes impact case study. 

NHMRC Impact Case Study: New Treatments for Leukaemia  

New Treatments for Leukaemia  

Leukaemias are difficult-to-treat blood cancers which are common among both young and older people. NHMRC-funded researchers at WEHI made revolutionary breakthroughs in our understanding of leukaemia biology, leading to the development of a new type of anti-cancer drug, venetoclax, that has significantly improved treatment for leukaemia patients.  

Read more in our New treatments for leukaemia impact case study. 

Upcoming Speaking of Science – Synthetic Biology (designer cells and antibodies) with Professor Shalin Naik 

In celebration of National Science Week, join us as we host the fascinating Professor Shalin Naik as part of our Speaking of Science webinar series on Thursday 15 August 2024 from 11:00–12:00 AEST.

In this webinar hosted by NHMRC’s Chief Executive Officer, Professor Steve Wesselingh, you will hear from cell biologist and Laboratory Head in the Immunology Division at WEHI and the University of Melbourne, Professor Naik, as he discusses synthetic biology and more specifically, designer cells and antibodies.

There will also be an opportunity to ask questions with a Q&A session. You don’t want to miss this event!

Register for this webinar on Eventbrite. 

NHMRC/MREA – grant opportunity key dates

NHMRC grant opportunities are funded through the Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA).

Closing soon:

We encourage applicants to work closely with their RAOs well in advance of the due date to ensure they can submit applications on time.

Applicants are reminded that:

  • Researchers listed on applications must have a Sapphire account. New account registrations must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to application close.  
  • The Research Help Centre will continue to respond to Sapphire-related enquiries until Wednesday 28 August 2024 at 13:00 AEST.
  • Applications submitted after close of round will not be accepted.

Further information can be found on GrantConnect. Please contact help@nhmrc.gov.au for further assistance.  

Key NHMRC grant program dates 

Please see the Funding schemes and calendar page. 

Medical Research Future Fund – grant opportunities key dates 

The following MRFF grant opportunities have a close date approaching:  

Details on how to apply for MRFF grant opportunities and all MRFF close dates are available on GrantConnect. Applicants are reminded that only applicants who completed minimum data by the due date can submit an application. It is also the applicant’s responsibility to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements.

Applicants should ensure:

MRFF grant assessment committee self-nomination

Register your interest to become a member of a MRFF grant assessment committee.  

Tracker 

See previous editions of Tracker.

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If you have any questions about the newsletter, email communications@nhmrc.gov.au.  

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