Professor David Hunter
Associate Professor Naomi Hammond
Research expertise attracts large financial boost Two of the district’s leading researchers have secured significant National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grants to drive improved health outcomes for Australians living with osteoarthritis and those recovering from critical illness. The highly competitive NHMRC (NHMRC) investigator grant scheme is the organisation’s flagship funding program, providing researchers with support to pursue an ambitious program of research. At the Kolling Institute, Professor David
“The five-year grant gives our team the stability to pursue a program of research spanning prevention, new treatments and better delivery of care for people living with osteoarthritis,” he said. Meanwhile, Associate Professor Naomi Hammond has received more than $1.5 million for her five-year research program to improve survivorship after critical illness. Critical illness affects hundreds of thousands of Australians each year, with more than 200,000 ICU admissions annually. While more than 90 per cent of critically ill patients survive intensive care, many continue to experience long-term physical, cognitive and mental health challenges that can persist for years after discharge. Naomi’s research will focus on understanding and improving long-term recovery, testing new interventions and ensuring emerging evidence is translated into policy, clinical guidelines and practice. “Many people who survive critical illness experience significant ongoing challenges that can last for months to years,” she said. “This program will address this burden by understanding the longer term impacts of acute care interventions and testing new interventions.
Hunter has been awarded $3 million to lead a five-year project to transform osteoarthritis care. With more than three million Australians living with osteoarthritis, the research will focus on preventing the condition, accelerating the development of effective treatments and improving access to evidence-based care through face-to-face, telehealth, digital and community-based programs. Researchers will use large Australian and international datasets to predict individual risk and support earlier, more personalised interventions. David said the grant would allow his team to pursue a comprehensive research agenda designed to improve outcomes and reshape the way osteoarthritis is managed.
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