Federal funding will back 67 emerging scientists through NHMRC scholarships, including research into ageing, menopause and multiple sclerosis.
The federal government has committed $10.1 million to fast-track the careers of Australia’s next generation of health and medical researchers.
The funding will back 67 high-achieving graduates to pursue research aimed at improving health outcomes nationwide.
Delivered through the NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships scheme, the investment will equip early-career researchers with the training and support needed to undertake world-class research and develop the skills to lead original, independent projects across the full spectrum of health.
Federal health and aged care minister Mark Butler said the funding reinforced the government’s focus on building long-term research capability and accelerating innovation.
“The Albanese Government is investing in the next generation of Australian health and medical research leaders, empowering our brightest minds to pursue innovative ideas and drive scientific discovery,” he said.
“These scholarships strengthen our ability to tackle tomorrow’s health challenges and deliver breakthroughs that improve lives.”
Among the funded projects is a PhD study led by Dr Jessica Redmond from Monash University and The Alfred that will examine how menopause and ageing influence symptoms, cognition and quality of life in women living with multiple sclerosis (MS).
The research will target two areas that have received limited attention to date: the menopausal transition in women with MS and the use of advanced visual and brain imaging biomarkers to track ageing and disease progression.
MS is an autoimmune neurodegenerative condition that affects around three times as many women as men.
While most diagnoses occur between the ages of 20 and 40, people aged 50 and over now represent a substantial and growing proportion of those living with the condition. Dr Redmond’s work will investigate how menopause symptoms overlap with MS and whether cutting-edge eye imaging can detect signs of accelerated ageing, enabling earlier prediction of disability and more tailored care for women as they age.
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“By clarifying how these factors influence symptoms, cognition, disability and quality of life, and by developing practical biomarkers of neurodegeneration, this research has the potential to reduce diagnostic uncertainty, improve personalised care and inform national policy,” said Dr Redmond.
“I am deeply motivated by the opportunity to give visibility to women’s lived experiences and translate their priorities into meaningful improvements in care.”
Mr Butler said the project demonstrated the real-world impact of investing in early-career researchers.
“Research like this into MS and ageing will help improve care for women living with MS and ensure they have better quality of life as they age,” he said.
NHMRC chief executive officer Professor Steve Wesselingh said the scholarships were central to sustaining Australia’s health and medical research system.
“Our health and medical research system relies on collaboration and sharing of knowledge to accelerate discoveries and their translation into practice to solve health challenges – this collaboration begins with our new graduates,” Professor Wesselingh said.
“This investment through NHMRC’s Postgraduate Scholarship program supports not just the individual researchers but also helps to build Australia’s future research capacity.”
Full details of the researchers and projects funded through the NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships scheme are available on the NHMRC’s outcomes of funding rounds page.