Three University of Newcastle (UoN) research teams have received more than $3.8 million in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants, funding projects aimed at tackling major health challenges in Australia.

The money supports studies, which address specific scientific questions, while encouraging innovative approaches with real-world impact. 

The successful ventures will explore the effects of environmental chemicals on pregnancy, the role of iron deficiency in childhood infections, and early brain changes linked to schizophrenia. 

One of the largest handouts, $1.8 million, was awarded to Dr Jacinta Martin and her team from HMRI’s infertility and Reproduction Research Program. 

The project – titled Researchers to examine how ‘forever chemicals’ affect pregnancy and babies — and whether diet can help protect families’ – investigates how exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) affects parents and babies during the perinatal period. 

PFAS has been linked to pregnancy complications, developmental problems and long-term health risks. 

However, the biological mechanisms behind the effects remain poorly understood. 

The research will explore how PFAS causes harm and test a plant-based dietary approach to reduce its accumulation, aiming to develop safe and accessible strategies for affected communities. 

A second endeavour, led by Dr Guy Cameron of HMRI’s Immune Health Research Program, received $1.3 million to investigate the impact of low iron levels during pregnancy and early childhood on the development of Otitis media, or middle ear infections.

Otitis media is a leading cause of preventable hearing loss and developmental delay in children, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities experiencing the highest rates globally. 

While iron deficiency is common during pregnancy and early life, and is known to affect immune responses, its connection to ear infections has not been fully explored. 

The project will be the first to explore how low iron levels during pregnancy and early-life iron dysregulation affect children’s risk of Otitis media, using lab models and clinical samples to study how iron influences immune responses and ear bacteria.

The research aims to support better prevention strategies, like iron supplements, to reduce ear disease and improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

The third grant of $644,000 will fund a project led by Professor Juanita Todd from HMRI’s Healthy Minds Research Program, which focuses on understanding the early brain changes that contribute to Schizophrenia. 

Schizophrenia is most widely known for hallucinations and delusions that emerge in early adulthood.

However, subtle changes in brain function are believed to occur much earlier, potentially arising from altered brain development.

One early indicator, impaired sensory gating – the brain’s ability to filter out irrelevant information – can be measured in both human and preclinical studies. 

Professor Todd’s team, including researchers from Newcastle and international partners, will combine human studies, laboratory research, and computational modelling to explore how developmental risk factors and neurotransmitter systems contribute to early brain changes. 

The research aims to fill critical gaps in understanding the origins of schizophrenia and could support 

Collectively, these three projects highlight the UoN’s commitment to innovative research with practical benefits for families and communities.

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