Victorian neuroscience $19 million boost
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5 February 2009
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Victorians will lead four teams of national and international neurotrauma experts researching brain and spinal cord injury, boosted by almost $19 million in additional funding from the Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative (VNI).
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Victorian medical experts will lead teams from 30 different research departments from universities and hospitals in Victoria, across Australia and in the United Kingdom and Canada.
Approximately 290 new cases of severe spinal cord injury occur in Australia every year with 43 per cent caused by motor vehicle accidents. In addition, there are about 30,000 new hospital admissions from traumatic brain injury each year with 66 per cent caused by motor vehicle accidents.
The $19 million in funding was awarded as follows:
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- Professor John Furness, The University of Melbourne, $4.9 million: Autonomic dysfunction in spinal cord injury: a strategy for improved treatment and understanding of bowel, blood pressure and bladder disorders.
- Associate Professor Russell Gruen, The University of Melbourne, $4.4 million: Improving evidence-based care and the outcomes of patients with traumatic brain injury through a program to facilitate knowledge transfer and exchange.
- Professor Mary Galea, The University of Melbourne, $4.7 million: SCIPA (Spinal Cord Injury and Physical Activity): Intensive exercise from acute care to the community
- Professor Robert Pierce, Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, $4.9 million: Optimising Sleep in quadriplegia: mechanisms and management.
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Victorian Minister for the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Tim Holding, said the funding boost would help improve health outcomes for people with brain and spinal cord injuries and cement the state’s reputation as a centre of neuroscience excellence.
“These projects are a great example of how the Victorian Government can encourage further collaboration between neurotrauma researchers, clinicians and facilities,” Mr Holding said.
The VNI is a $63 million health research fund that supports research into Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) conducted by Victorian scientists in collaboration with national and international colleagues. It was established in 2005 with funding from the Victorian Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and the Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development.
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