The Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) 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 on 4 November at Newcastle City Hall on November 4.

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

These projects have the potential to improve the lives of many within the Hunter and beyond and in time, may bring exciting advances.

HMRI Award for Research Excellence
Sponsored by Sparke Helmore / NBN Television Triathlon
Associate Professor Chris Levi

HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Sponsored by PULSE
Associate Professor Philip Morgan and Dr Lisa Wood

PULSE Education Prizes
Sponsored by PULSE
Dr Katie Ashton, Dr Tracy Burrows and Dr Linda Campbell

Click here for a complete listing of the successful projects commencing in 2010.