Dust Diseases Board to boost the fight against dust diseases with major research grants
An innovative program of research into the understanding, treatment, translation and prevention of dust diseases is set to expand this month, with a major round of funding opened to new applicants.
Clinicians and scientists from across Australia are being invited to contribute ideas that could lead to innovative treatments, practical applications in policy and practice, and preventive strategies for dust diseases such as mesothelioma, black lung or silicosis.
The current round of $2 million icare Dust Diseases Board (DDB) Research Stream Grants Program funding will target research projects that push the boundaries of understanding and treatment of dust diseases, translate findings into practical applications and policy, and develop prevention strategies.
Research Stream Grants are the first of three funding streams to be offered in Financial Year 2025 under icare DDB’s new grant Strategy. The other two funding streams are aimed at developing new and emerging researchers and support organisations across Australia.
The total value of the three funding streams combined is $3 million in the first year.
Dr Alistair Cook from the University of Western Australia is a previous grant recipient who is now undertaking pioneering lab-based research.
His team of five researchers investigating new treatments for mesothelioma and asbestos related diseases and has so far seen promising results in mice after combining immunotherapy with modified radiation.
It is hoped that these early results could pave the way for a major clinical trial with human patients and potentially a new form of treatment for cancers caused by workplace dusts.
"The grant I received has allowed my team to have the time and resources to trial new ways to combat mesothelioma and other dust-related cancers."
Medical research can unfortunately take years and years and long-term support like this is vital to testing and developing the new treatments that one day might bring real benefits to patients," Dr Cook said.
Expressions of Interest for the Research Stream Grants Program are now open. Grant opportunities for PhD Scholarships, Fellowships and Support Organisations will open on 4 October.
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