Rotary Funds New Research In Mental Health

Main Category: Mental Health
Also Included In: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 28 Feb 2007 - 18:00 PDT

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Six projects will receive a total of $223,456 in 2007, with UQ researchers having received $800,000 in funding since 2002. The projects funded include a program led by Professor David Kavanagh from UQ's School of Medicine, who will examine ways to improve services for people with mental and substance use disorders.

With more than 40 percent of Australians with serious mental disorders also having a lifetime history of substance use, Professor Kavanagh's team will evaluate the impact of collaborating with recently appointed dual diagnosis coordinators in Queensland Health, to maximize their impact on mental health services. Professor Kavanagh has also had a project funded to help people with a history of repeated episodes of depression, where they are being a series of letters that help them to work towards recovery and improve their general health.

Other UQ projects include:

* Adjunct Professor Paula Barrett's research into building resilience and emotional competency in preschoolers from economically disadvantaged backgrounds

* Professor Matt Sanders's evaluation of the Stepping Stones Triple P Parenting Program for parents of a child diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

* Katherine Morley's work looking at using genetics to help people stop smoking

* Professor Ranjeny Thomas's work on rheumatoid arthritis

The ARHRF has announced more than $3 million in medical research grants this year. Eighty-one grants will be shared by universities and research institutes across the country.

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The research fund is a multi-district project for Rotary in Australia, with over 1200 Rotary clubs and 40,000 Rotarian supporting it. It is one of the largest independent medical research funds in Australia and over the past seven years the Fund has awarded more than $9.7 million in research grants.

Contact: Andrew Dunne
Research Australia

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