Victoria’s leadership in medical research is gaining new momentum, with targeted government funding now accelerating innovation in women’s health – a historically underfunded and under-researched area with major opportunity for scientific and commercial breakthroughs.
Now, the Victorian Government is bridging this gap, with a $1.5 million Women’s Health Research Catalyst Grants program helping to advance the understanding of how disease and other health issues affect women.
Fifteen of the state’s leading researchers will share in grants, ranging from $15,000 to $150,000 – providing seed funding for Victoria’s best and brightest researchers to look at innovative ways of improving women’s health.
The successful grant recipients will be conducting research in areas including sexual and reproductive health, cardiovascular health, oncology, orthopaedics and chronic pain.
Among the successful recipients is Dr Lakshini Gunasekera at Monash University who received funding to trial hormonal treatment for menstrual-related migraines.
Prof Helena Frawley, Dr Karin Jones and Dr Marlena Klaic at the University of Melbourne will also be funded to investigate clinical outcomes for a new model of care for multidisciplinary pelvic pain designed for regional areas.
Dr Louise Segan at the Baker Institute will also receive funding to better understand sex differences in symptoms and outcomes for women experiencing atrial fibrillation - a common type of irregular heart rhythm that can result in blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.
All grant recipients are undertaking research in a health or medical field, including discovery, pre-clinical, clinical or lived experience – their work further cementing Victoria’s reputation as a global leader in medical research.
This work builds on the Victorian Government’s landmark $153 million women’s health package that is transforming the way care is delivered in Victoria – including women’s health clinics, a mobile women’s health clinic, Aboriginal-led clinic and virtual women’s health clinic.
The package has also expanded the sexual and reproductive health hub network to 20 locations, including 12 in regional locations as well-as increased access to laparoscopies for endometriosis and associated conditions, and providing scholarships for more than 150 women's specialists.
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