New Centre for Clinical Research Excellence, Aboriginal health: sexually transmissible and blood-borne viral infections

Current topic
Published in the HealthBulletin Journal
Posted on:
20 July, 2009

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has awarded $2.5 million to Professor John Kaldor of the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research (NCHECR) to develop a Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Aboriginal health with a focus on sexually transmissible and blood-borne viral infections.

The NHMRC is an independent statutory agency within the Department of Health and Ageing and is regarded as the nation’s most prominent supporter of health and medical research. The NHMRC makes available funding for quality and innovative clinical research through the Centres for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) Program. In 2009, the NHMRC awarded grants totalling almost $15 million over five years, for the development of six new centres specialising in a range of health areas.

Professor John Kaldor is part of the chief investigating team that will be developing the CCRE in Aboriginal health with a focus on sexually transmissible and blood-borne viral infections. This CCRE will be a collaborative partnership between the NCHECR and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO). Working within the Aboriginal community controlled health sector, the centre will seek to identify new approaches for diagnosing and managing sexually transmissible infections and blood-borne viral infections. There will also be a focus on improving clinical guidelines and enhancing research capacity within the sector.