12 Oct 2022
Doherty Institute researchers secure $17 million in Investigator Grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
The Investigator Grant scheme is NHMRC’s largest funding scheme and a major investment in Australia’s health and medical research workforce. The prestigious fellowships are awarded via a very competitive process to high-performing researchers, in a bid to support emerging and established leaders in health and medical research across the country to tackle our greatest health challenges.
The funding will enable researchers to continue their significant work in infectious diseases and immunology ranging from research targeting T cell differentiation and function to treat cancer and chronic disease, translational studies, research to reduce the threats of current and future pandemics, to breaking new ground in microbial genomics, to taking our understanding of the interactions between the nervous system and the immune system to the next level.
Among recipients of the funding announced is University of Melbourne Professor Jose Villadangos, immunologist and cell biologist at the Doherty Institute and the Bio21 Institute. Professor Villadangos received a NHMRC Leadership Fellowship to support his research on the body’s immune responses against viruses, bacteria, parasites and cancer, a process known as “Antigen Presentation”.
“I am proud to join the best biomedical scientists in the country and receive this grant,” Professor Villadangos said.
“It will provide the funds we need to allow my group of international researchers and students to further our understanding of the fundamental processes that enable our immune system to protect us from infection and cancer. We believe our work will lead to more effective vaccines and therapies against these ailments.
“I am only disappointed by the fact that many colleagues, who are as deserving as I am of this honour, have not received the funding they deserve, a sad reminder of the need to increase the amount of public and philanthropic contributions we need to keep the scientific leadership of Australia.”
For details of the Grants outcomes, please visit https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/funding/data-research/outcomes