UQ's share of the funding ($22,224,648) was the largest in Queensland and made up more than half the total Queensland funding. It included funding for a UQ researcher working on developing a drug to block the growth of fat cells.
Of the 85 projects funded in Queensland for health and medical research, UQ was successful in 45, confirming the University's place as the top research institution in the State and one of the nation's leaders.
Nationally, UQ was fifth behind the University of Melbourne ($42,704,750), the University of Sydney ($31,313,298), the University of Western Australia ($27,186,979) and Monash University ($24,092,363).
UQ's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor David Siddle said he was pleased with the University's performance, which saw an increase in research funding by more than $6 million from 2004.
"Our researchers have done very well and there are some terrific success stories in these results," Professor Siddle said.
UQ's Dr Louise Hutley was awarded $422,625 for her work on a drug to block the growth of fat cells
The School of Medicine researcher is working on a project entitled FGF-1 In Development of Human Obesity.
Obesity is a major contributor to medical conditions including Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and depression.
"Despite the fact that obesity is so prevalent in our society we still don't really know what makes fat tissue grow," Dr Hutley said.
Using human fat tissue Dr Hutley has identified a growth factor crucial to the development of fat cells.
"These findings form the basis of novel therapies that will target and block development of new fat cells, thus limiting growth of fat tissue, Dr Hutley s
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Contact: Chris Saxby
61-733-652-479
Research Australia
11-Oct-2005