NHMRC grants target cardiovascular disease

Congratulations to Associate Professor Francine Marques from the School of Biological Sciences on being awarded $815,278 as part of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grants, announced by Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler.

Associate Professor Marques’ research will focus on uncontrolled high blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Research projects to treat dementia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and improve life support machines with AI were among 27 projects funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator grants awarded to Monash University researchers.

Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler announced almost $50.47M in funding for Monash researchers across all areas of health and medical research from the Faculties of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (MNHS), Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Science, and Engineering, with 63 per cent of awards and 62 per cent of funding allocated to women.

Investigator Grants provide the highest-performing researchers at all career stages with consolidated funding, specifically for research across the four pillars of health and medical research: biomedical, clinical, public health and health services research.

Cardiovascular disease remains the main cause of global mortality and morbidity because of coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure.

“Suboptimal intake of foods high in fibre, such as in Westernised diets, is a major contributing factor for high blood pressure,” Associate Professor Marques said.

“My research has shown this occurs via the gut microbiota through the production of specific gut metabolites and has identified several mechanisms involved in preclinical models.

“In the next five years, my research program will develop and translate new ways to prevent and treat uncontrolled high blood pressure via unparalleled manipulations of the gut microbiota.”

Associate Professor Marques’ research program will aim to:

  • Determine the specific biological mechanisms by which gut microbes-derived metabolites offer cardiovascular protection via G-protein coupled receptors; and
  • Identify which patient population would benefit the most from fibre interventions, followed by a randomised clinical trial aimed at decreasing high blood pressure using a new product ready for commercialisation that delivers high levels of gut metabolites.

For a full list of NHMRC grant recipients, please visit: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au

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