Translational Research Institute (TRI), Metro South Health (MSH) and Mater Research, have announced the recipients of almost $400,000 in new research grant funding through their jointly funded LINC scheme.
Launched in 2021, the Leading Innovations through New Collaborations (LINC) scheme offered up to $50,000 in seed funding for individual new research projects with clinical translation potential.
Uniquely, the LINC grant scheme required all applications to include two principal investigators, one a TRI-based researcher and the other a clinician from either Metro South Health or Mater.
TRI CEO, Professor Scott Bell said they received 22 LINC applications, the majority of which were new collaborations.
“The LINC scheme was created to foster long-term, transformative research collaborations between young clinicians and academic researchers,” Professor Bell said.
“We were impressed by the quality and breadth of the projects, and congratulate the grant recipients,” he said.
Amongst the successful projects was a project which sees a collaboration between Associate Professor Erin McMeniman (Metro South Health) and Dr Snehlata Kumari (The University of Queensland) on “Determining causative mechanisms of hidradenitis suppurativa” (an incurable inflammatory skin condition leading to painful pea-sized lump).
Metro South Health Chair of Research Professor John Upham said the LINC grants were launched after 12 months of extensive consultation with leading clinicians and researchers.
“We strongly believe that research partnerships between clinicians and researchers are invaluable for future improvements in healthcare,” Professor Upham said.
“The translational projects funded through LINC all have the potential to improve healthcare outcomes for Australians.”
Professor Bell said a second LINC grant round will open later in 2022, with additional grants on offer.
