The Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) last night awarded a record $615,000 from community and corporate donations to potentially life-changing health and medical research.

Research into childhood obesity, breast cancer, early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, children’s cancer and stroke research were among the successful projects to be announced at the HMRI Awards Night at Newcastle City Hall.

Click here to read about all of the awards and project grants.

The HMRI funding will enable researchers from the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Health and Calvary Mater Newcastle to develop their research and generate early findings. This increases their chances of attracting larger national grants to continue their research in the Hunter.

HMRI’s Director Professor Maree Gleeson said: “Of the $9.1 million in charitable funding that HMRI has awarded to Hunter researchers in the past, $2.3 million has already helped our researchers attract $48.2 million in national competitive funding.”

"The HMRI Foundation has had a record fundraising year – so tonight we will award a record number of research grants."

The HMRI funding will support 23 new research projects, six awards and prizes and two new PhD scholarships.

“One of our exciting new projects funded by the Lions District 201 N3 Diabetes Foundation, will provide insight into the mechanisms of diabetes,” said Professor Gleeson.

A number of specialist grants will be awarded by dedicated community donors and groups including the Sparke Helmore / NBN Television Triathlon, Gastronomic Lunch of the Year, the Across Australia Bike Ride and PULSE.

The 2009 HMRI Awards Night was sponsored by Newcastle Innovation.