28 October 2009
Monash University has attracted $33.8 million in government research funding from the latest round of grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC).
The University performed stronger than it did in 2008 attracting more than $29 million for 94 Discovery Projects grants and $4.8 million in ARC funding for 17 Linkage Projects grants, with a further $8 million in cash and in-kind support pledged from partner organisations.
This year's results have seen Monash achieve a 42 per cent increase in the number of Discovery Projects grants funded (up from 66 last year) and a 44 per cent increase in the value of funding awarded. Monash University achieved the sector's highest success rate for the applications submitted in the Linkage Projects scheme, with more than 73 per cent of applications funded, compared to the scheme average for the round of just under 45 per cent. The Discovery Project scheme supports excellent research projects and individual researchers and teams of researchers. Successful Discovery projects included:
- 449,000 to investigate the ethical implications in the marketing of pharmaceuticals;
- $330,000 to develop "nanoballs" nanometre sized molecules to be used to store hydrogen and methane and to trap greenhouse gases;
- $170,000 to focus on the occurrence, epidemiology and function behind youth and violence;
- $147,000 to explore the place of prisoners of war (POWs) in post-war Australian culture, and
- $710,000 to undertake an ethnographic study of elite independent schools across 10 countries and look at how national and international leaders are formed through their education.
The Linkage Projects scheme funds collaborative projects between university researchers and Partner Organisations. Approved Linkage projects included:
- Over $1.2 million to investigate how to safely manage the mobility of older drivers. Partner organisations include Department of Justice Victoria, Eastern Health, Vic Roads, the Traffic Accident Commission (TAC), Road Safety Trust and the University of Ottawa;
- $600,000 to assist in the development of novel anti-HIV drugs with partner, Avexa Ltd;
- $324,000 to identify ways in which the performance and wellbeing of volunteer and paid members of emergency service organisations can be enhanced, potentially diminishing the likelihood of depression, aggression, and other detrimental effects. The partner for this project is the Victorian State Emergency Service;
- $132,000 to develop a strategic framework for the management of ageing offenders in the Australian criminal justice system. Project partners include, the Department of Justice, Victoria, Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (VACRO);
- $322,000 to connect younger second language learners with other bilingual people. Project partners include the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria, Council on the Ageing (COTA), Victorian Department of Education and Childhood Development and Victoria Multicultural Commission; and
- $448,000 to develop better batteries for use in devices such as hearing aids.
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish was extremely pleased with the result.
"Our success this year reflects the continual increase in excellence by Monash researchers," said Professor Cornish.
"The strong support from the ARC confirms that our researchers are leaders in their fields and can work effectively with industry to develop relevant solutions to the many challenges that society is currently faced with."
"Congratulations to all Monash researchers successful in this round. The outcomes of these projects are sure to benefit society in a multitude of ways," Professor Cornish said.
For more information contact the Monash Media Office on +61 3 9903 4840 or media@adm.monash.edu.au.
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