The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has awarded a combined $2.5 million to establish the Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) and Expertise in Genetic Epidemiology for Precision Population Health.

This Centre of Research Excellence will be led by Dr Shuai Li at the University of Melbourne. NeuRA’s Associate Professor Justine Gatt will be co-investigator alongside Dr Li and other colleagues from various institutions.

“I am very excited to be part of this world-leading team of genetic epidemiologists and population health scientists from world-class institutes across Sydney and Melbourne,” Assoc Prof Gatt said.

“Together at this new CRE, we will help generate new knowledge on the genetic and environmental predictors of leading health burdens, including mental health and wellbeing.

The first of its kind in Australia, the Centre will bring researchers together to collaborate on diseases and disorders including cancer, mental health, asthma, childhood infection and inflammation, substance use disorders, and cardiovascular diseases to investigate why they run in families, their genetic and environmental causes, and ultimately, better predict the risk of having them.

Crucially, the Center will also play a pivotal role in nurturing early-career researchers, equipping them with the knowledge and expertise to become leaders in the fields of genetic epidemiology and precision population health.

You can read a full list of projects awarded funding on the NHMRC website.

More details about the CRE can be found at Uni of Melb.