State backs UQ researchers to create change

29 Mar 2017
Dr Steve Mehrkanoon
Dr Steve Mehrkanoon

Researchers from The University of Queensland’s Faculty of Medicine are celebrating success in the Queensland Government’s Advance Queensland Fellowships scheme.

Three early-career researchers and one mid-career researcher from the Faculty received a combined $840,000 in fellowship funding.

Acting Executive Dean Professor Robyn Ward said she was delighted to see such significant support for researchers working to create positive change in health and medicine.

“These projects are as diverse as using artificial intelligence to repurpose drugs to expanding early detection of cerebral palsy,” Professor Ward said.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the research would benefit Queensland and have global impact.

“We are supporting researchers from across the state who are collaborating with industry to give them a vital boost to ensure their significant research can translate into practical outcomes,” she said.

“Not only do we want to create jobs and boost commercialisation opportunities in Queensland, but we want to improve the lives of Queenslanders – and there is real potential to do that.”

Advance Queensland Research Fellowships are for PhD-qualified researchers undertaking original research that will benefit Queensland.

Mid-Career Fellowships are worth $300,000 over three years, and Early-Career Fellowships are worth $180,000 over three years.

Mid-Career Fellowship recipient:

Dr Richard GordonSchool of Biomedical SciencesDrug repurposing for neurodegeneration using artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Early-Career Fellowship recipients:

Dr Lee BarberChild Health Research CentreCP muscle-movement toolbox: expand early detection of cerebral palsy.

Dr Steve MehrkanoonUQ Centre for Clinical ResearchThe early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disabilities using integrated bioengineering technology.

Dr Kelvin TuongUQ Diamantina InstituteApproaching antigen-presenting cell immunotherapy for cervical cancer using single-cell transcriptomics.

Details of other UQ researchers awarded Advance Queensland fellowships and scholarships can be found here.

Media: Kim Lyell, k.lyell@uq.edu.au, 0427 530647.

Latest