Congratulations to our NHMRC Early Career Fellowship grant awardees

L-R: Gayan Bowatte, Jennifer Perrit and Caroline van Gemert, from the Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Congratulations to Dr Gayan Bowatte, Dr Jennifer Perret and Ms Caroline van Gemert who were awarded an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship in the current round.  These awards are extremely competitive and being awarded these fellowships ois a reflection on the excellence of their past, current and proposed research.  We wish them well in the post-doctoral research.

Dr Gayan Bowatte
Public Health (Australia) Early Career Fellowship

Project
Effects of long-term air pollution and risk of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.

Details
Air pollution is a known risk factor for poor lung health. However, it is not clear how long-term exposures impact lung health in different levels of pollution: low, moderate and high. Also, urban vegetation may be beneficial to our health by improving air quality and encouraging physical activity, but this evidence is limited. Gayan's research aims to investigate long-term exposures to air pollution on human health and how a green environment and physical activity can lessen any such harm.

Dr Jennifer Perret
Australian Clinical Research Early Career Fellowship

Project
Development of a comprehensive model for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prediction at an early stage

Details
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health problem with high mortality and few effective treatments. To reduce this burden, Jennifer will quantify existing and newly identified COPD risk factors, and integrate them into a comprehensive risk prediction model. By converting this knowledge into a web-based tool, which she will evaluate in primary-care settings, identifying at-risk individuals at an early stage offers an innovative strategy to improve COPD outcomes.

Ms Caroline van Gemert
Public Health (Australia) Early Career Fellowship

Project
Development of an electronic general practice tool to improve prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections and blood borne viruses among priority populations

Details
Some population groups have higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs) than the general population, including men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs and sex workers (“priority populations”). Caroline will develop novel methods to improve the identification of priority populations in general practice. Her research will lead to improved management of STIs and BBVs among priority populations.