BDI researchers awarded more than $16 million in NHMRC Ideas Grants

Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) researchers received 14 National Health and Medical Research Council Ideas Grants for funding commencing in 2025, collectively worth more than $16 million.

These grants are designed to support innovative research projects that address specific questions. The goals of the funded BDI projects include combating superbugs, tackling cancers with poor prognoses, targeting chronic pain, investigating gut dysmotility induced by C. difficile infections, protecting fertility after immunotherapy and more.

The 14 BDI projects are among 35 projects awarded more than $42 million in funding to Monash Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences researchers in the latest NHMRC Ideas Grants. Read more on the MNHS recipients here.

Congratulations to all BDI recipients of funding in this round.

Monash BDI’s 2025 NHMRC Ideas Grants recipients (L-R): Prof Dena Lyras (two projects), Prof John Boyce, Prof Roger Daly, A/Prof Andrew Ellisdon, A/Prof Terry Kwok-Schuelein, Dr Mitchell Lawrence, Dr Chen Li, Dr Antonella Papa, Adjunct Prof David Spanswick, Prof Greg Stuart, Prof Martin Stone, Prof Stephen Turner, Dr Amy Winship.

The 14 Monash BDI projects  to receive funding (listed with the lead researcher) were:

  • Professor Dena Lyras: Understanding host and pathogen adaptations during recovery from C. difficile infection, $1,778,338
  • Professor Dena Lyras: Investigating gut dysmotility induced by Clostridioides difficile infection, $1,501,643
  • Professor John Boyce: Harnessing type VI secretion system lysins for fighting bacterial superbugs $857,585
  • Professor Roger Daly: A novel, therapeutically actionable, signalling axis in poor prognosis cancers $1,027,696
  • Associate Professor Andrew Ellisdon: Molecular mechanisms underlying mTORC1 lysosomal regulation in cell growth and disease, $1,352,546
  • Associate Professor Terry Kwok-Schuelein: Targeting evolution to combat Helicobacter pylori antibiotic resistance, $874,585
  • Dr Mitchell Lawrence: Early Bipolar Androgen Therapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer, $1,664,813
  • Dr Chen Li: Unveiling the immunogenicity of the dark immunopeptidome of melanoma, $862,774
  • Dr Antonella Papa: Targeting the non-canonical protein-phosphatase activity of PTEN for cancer therapy, $1,279,542
  • Adjunct Professor  David Spanswick: Targeting chronic pain: non-pharmacological manipulation of endogenous adenosine, $736,218
  • Professor Greg Stuart: Investigating Neuronal Check Points Generating Epileptiform Discharges In Human Epileptic Circuits, $879,895
  • Professor Martin Stone: Suppression of Treg Recruitment in Cancer Immunotherapy: Tick Evasins as Chemokine-targeted Therapeutics, $1,057,950
  • Professor Stephen Turner: Investigating IRF1 as a Pioneering Factor in Shaping Optimal T Cell Immunity, $1,017,252
  • Dr Amy Winship: Protecting fertility, healthy pregnancy and long-term endocrine function for cancer survivors after immunotherapy, $1,414,313

Read the NHMRC media release or read more about NHMRC’s Ideas Grants.

Read the full list of Ideas Grants recipients for funding commencing in 2025 here.

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About the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University

Committed to making discoveries that will relieve the future burden of disease, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University brings together more than 120 internationally renowned research teams. Spanning seven discovery programs across Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Development and Stem Cells, Infection, Immunity, Metabolism, Diabetes and Obesity, and Neuroscience, Monash BDI is one of the largest biomedical research institutes in Australia. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.