Research grants
Researchers at Royal Perth Hospital are involved with a number of research projects through funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
2017 Medical Research Foundation (MRF) grants
Hospital recipients
Mr Leon BrownriggCell and Tissue Therapies WA |
Establishment, Manufacture and Pre-clinical Evaluation of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cells for Immunotherapy |
Dr Hun ChuahDepartment of Haematology |
Ultra-Sensitive Genetic Monitoring of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia: From “Morphology to Mutation” |
A/Professor Christopher Etherton-BeerDepartment of Geriatric Medicine |
A tailored music therapy and real-time biofeedback mobile phone app to promote motor rehabilitation following stroke |
Professor Martyn FrenchDepartment Clinical Immunology |
Combined cellular and humoral HIV-1 Gag-specific immune responses in the control of HIV-1 infection |
Mr Alex HayesDepartment of Medical Engineering and Physics |
Evaluation of additive manufacturing as an alternative to cadaveric bone for use in biomechanical implant testing |
Dr Alan KopDepartment of Medical Engineering and Physics |
Investigation and evaluation of 3D printed tissue engineered bone scaffolds inoculated with adult mesenchymal stem cell spheroids |
A/Professor Doug McKitrickDepartment of Geriatric Medicine |
Does Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Offer Improved Efficacy for Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Therapy in Neurological Rehabilitation? |
Dr Jeremy ParryDepartment of Anatomical Pathology |
Novel drivers of progression and treatment resistance in breast cancer |
A/Professor Marian SturmCell and Tissue Therapies WA |
Expansion of Cord Blood Stem Cell Grafts using Mesenchymal Stromal Cells |
Dr Andrew TonerDepartment of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine |
Perioperative ADministration of Dexamethasone and Infection [PADDI] – Baroreflex sensitivity sub-study |
UWA recipients
Professor Anne BardenSchool of Medicine and Pharmacology |
Effects of weight loss and n-3 fatty acid supplementation on resolution of inflammation in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease |
Dr Catherine BondonnoSchool of Medicine and Pharmacology |
Increased production of short chain fatty acids by the gut microbiome improves vascular health |
Dr Erika BosioCentre for Clinical Research In Emergency Medicine |
Does the early microRNA profile of stroke have diagnostic potential? |
Dr Gemma CadbyCentre for Genetic Origins of Health and Disease |
Understanding the genetics of mesothelioma susceptibility and Prognosis |
Dr Dick ChanSchool of Medicine and Pharmacology |
Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Postprandial Lipoprotein(a) Transport in Subjects at High Risk of Cardiovascular Disease |
A/Professor Kay CoxSchool of Medicine and Pharmacology |
Can a 6-month physical activity intervention in individuals at risk of Alzheimer’s disease impact on cognition, physical activity, mental health, quality of like and utilisation of health services in the long-term? |
Dr Sonia FernandezSchool of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine |
The effects of IFN-α on B cells and the induction of humoral immune responses in HIV disease |
Dr Dagmara HeringDobney Hypertension Centre |
Is Chemoreflex Sensitivity a Major Contributor to Sympathetic Activation in Chronic Kidney Disease? |
Dr Jeanie LeongDepartment of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine |
Towards improving integration between specialist and primary care for people diagnosed with lung cancer |
Dr Stephen MacdonaldCentre for Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine |
The role of Resistin in endothelial cell activation in human sepsis |
Dr Vance MatthewsSchool of Medicine and Pharmacology |
Determining the impact of renal or hepatic denervation on insulin resistance and liver injury |
Professor Vera MorganSchool of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences |
Developmental lifecourse trajectories and schizophrenia: Clinical validation of register-derived constructs |
Professor Markus SchlaichDobney Hypertension Centre |
Role of sympathetic nervous system activation in fatty liver disease |
Dr Lisa SmartCentre for Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine |
The effect of 4% succinylated gelatine on acute kidney injury in patients with critical illness |
Dr Jong SongCentre for Genetic Origins of Health and Disease |
Molecular mechanisms of preterm birth induced childhood asthma |
Dr Jennifer StoneCentre for Genetic Origins of Health and Disease |
Mammographic density in families with high-risk of breast cancer |
Dr Dino Bee Aik TanSchool of Medicine and Pharmacology |
Characterisation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid-derived exosomes as a target for diagnosis and new treatment strategies for COPD |
Dr Natalie WardSchool of Medicine and Pharmacology |
Dietary flavonoids and fibre: synergistic beneficial effects on the development of atherosclerosis |
Associate Professor Guicheng ZhangCentre for Genetic Origins of Health and Disease |
Using whole genome sequencing to identify pathogenic copy number variants in children with congenital heart defects |
2016 Medical Research Foundation (MRF) grants
Hospital recipients
Associate Professor Damon Bell |
Neuropsychological and neurophysiological indicators of brain impairment in adults with phenylketonuria (PKU) |
Clinical Professor John Burnett |
Development of a clinical registry for the management of abetalipoproteinaemia and familial hypobetalipoproteinaemia |
Dr Melita Cirillo |
Mesenchymal Stromal Cell (MSC) Immunological Therapy for Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome |
Associate Professor Christopher Etherton Beer |
Tops: tDSC to optimise participation in stroke rehabilitation – a sham controlled cross over study |
Dr Meg Harrold |
Frailty in ICU trauma patients: a prospective observational study |
Clinical Professor Graham Hillis |
The Low Dose Colchicine After Acute Myocardial Infraction study |
Associate Professor Kwok Ming Ho |
Preventing venous thromboembolism in critically ill or injured patients using advanced laboratory tests a pilot exploratory study |
Dr ALan Kop |
Investigation and evaulation of 3D printed tissue engineered bone scaffolds inoculated with adult mesenchymal stem cell spheriods and culured in the RPH bioreactor |
Clinical Professor Phillipa Lamont |
Conversation of a PC based mitochondrial disease registry to an open source, Australia - wide patient registry framework |
Dr Jacqui Saw |
Prognosis after first - ever seizure a prospective hospital - based study |
Dr Marian Sturm |
Expansion of Cord Blood Stem Cell Grafts using Mesenchymal Stromal Cells |
Clinical Associate Professor Donna |
A feasibility study to evaluate whether the addition of Contrast Enhanced Mammography to tomosynthesis for diagnostic assessment of non-calcified lesions can improve diagnostic work-up |
UWA recipients
Professor Anne Barden |
The effect of alcohol on resolution of inflammation in healthy men and patients with Type 2 diabetes |
Professor Kevin Croft |
Dietary nitrate benefical effects on obesity and development of metabolic syndrome |
Dr Katrina Ellis |
Investigation of Polygenic Familial Hypercholestrolaemia and Related Lipid Disorders |
Dr Dagmara Hering |
Effect of renal denveration on sympathetic and neural reflex mechanisms in patients with resistant hypertension |
Dr Vance Matthews |
Potential role of the sympathetic nervious system in regulation of the sodium glucose co-transporter-2 in Amerindians |
Dr Esther Ooi |
Lipoprotein (a) a new risk factor of premature coronary artery disease in an Australian population |
Dr Dino Tan |
Novel approaches to treating bacterial infection in COPD by blocking inhibitory T-cell receptors |
Dr Sarah Ward |
Identification of gene-environment interactions associated with multiple primary melanoma |
Dr Andrew Woo |
Functional examination of the ZBP family of transcription factors in cancer metastasis |
2014 Diabetes Grants
Dr Johnathan Hodgson |
Effects of Lupin-containing foods on glycaemic control and blood pressure in Type 2 Diabetes. |
Winthrop Prof Carl Schultz |
A double blind randomized placebo controlled 2x2 factorial trial of the effect of vitamin K and colchicine on vascular calcification activity in subject with diabetes mellitus: The ViKCoVaC Diabetes Study. |
A/Prof Seng Khee Gan |
Genetic and metabolomic predictors of outcomes and complications of diabetes. |
A/Prof Gerard Chew |
Comparison of the effect of an early transition to oral versus prolonged intravenous antibiotic treatment strategy on clinical outcomes in diabetic foot infections with osteomyelitis: a randomised open-label pilot study. |
Clinical Prof Thomas |
The perioperative administration of Dexamethasone and blood glucose concentrations – The PADDAG trial. |
Australian Research Council (ARC)
2013 Discovery Projects
Associate Professor O Rackham Associate Professor A Filipovska |
Sythetic regulators of gene expression |
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
2013 Project Grants
Associate Professor J Hamzah |
Targeting inflammatory macrophages and blood vessels in atheroslerotic plaques for imaging and therapy |
Dr E Ooi Professor H Barrett Professor G Watts Dr D Chan |
Lipoprotein metabolism in subjects at high risk of cardiovascular disease |
Professor R Ganss |
Molecular mechanisms in pregnancy-induced hypertension |
Professor O Almeida Professor L Flicker |
An Australasian, multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy of fluoxetine in improving functional recovery after acute stroke |
Associate Professor R Huang Emeritus Professor L Beilin Professor T Mori |
The cyle of obesity: Two generations of a pregnancy cohort to investigate obesity epigenetics |
Professor L Flicker |
Trajectories of circulating testosterone and estradiol and implications for the health of aging men |
Professor A Jablensky Professor V Morgan |
Schizophrenia under the genomic lens: next generation sequencing of Western Australian families with schizophrenia |
Professor J Hodgson Professor K Croft Associate Professor R Woodman Dr N Ward |
Nitrate: studies of metabolism and effects on blood pressure |
Dr J Rankin |
Long-term use and cost-effectiveness of secondary preventation medications for heart disease in Western Australian seniors |
Dr D Nolan |
Narrow band UVB phototherapy for patients with clinically isolated syndrome |
Professor P Price Associate Professor C Witt Professor A Irish Associate Professor R Allcock Dr S Lee |
Do NK cells limit the long-term burden of CMV in older Australians and transplant recipients? |
Professor G Morahan |
Discovery of genes that protect against tau-induced neuropathology |
Professor P Leedman |
Role of SLIRP in colorectal cancer |
Associate Professor A Filipovska |
Research Fellowships (Senior Research Fellowship B) |
Professor S Webb |
Platform for European preparedness against emerging epidemics |