NHMRC scholarship coup for Deakin

Four researchers from Deakin’s Faculty of Health have been awarded National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) scholarships, in Deakin’s most successful single round of NHMRC scholarships ever awarded.

The scholarships provide funding for the researchers to complete their PhD research.

The scholarship winners are: Ms Rebecca Jessup, from Deakin Population Health; Dr Shu Fen Wong, from the Centre for Molecular and Medicine Research; Ms Shae Quirk, from IMPACT; and Miss Lauren Arundell, from the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research.

Deakin’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Lee Astheimer congratulated the candidates on their success.

“This 2014 scholarship success reflects the calibre of our researchers and health research at Deakin University,” said Professor Astheimer.

“Our Faculty of Health is one of the fastest growing health faculties in Australia, with annual student and research income growth averaging 11 per cent.”

The Faculty has a growing research profile, with six Strategic Research Centres and - in line with Deakin’s mission - a strong focus on improving health and wellbeing through “research that makes a difference” and through partnerships with health services and other research institutes.

Ms Jessup’s research project is entitled “Development and Implementation of Health Literacy Interventions to improve understanding, access and use of health services.”

Dr Wong’s project is entitled “Patients’ preferences for cancer treatment: a discrete choice experiment to understand the role of choice in explaining regional disparities.”

Ms Quirk’s research relates to “Personality Disorders in the community: an epidemiological study of the association with physical and other mental health disorders and the effects on health service utilisation.”

Miss Arundell’s research topic covers “The after-school period: a critical window for children’s health behaviours.”