The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is allocating $3 million to support international research collaborations that address neurodegeneration among Indigenous populations worldwide. This initiative is part of the 2024 NHMRC–Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA): Indigenous Health Research grant opportunity.
Two research teams comprising Australian and Canadian collaborators have been selected. These projects aim to prevent or delay the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, while also improving the quality of life and access to care for Indigenous communities affected by these conditions.
One project, led by Associate Professor Kate Smith at the University of Western Australia, will co-develop culturally appropriate health communication resources for Indigenous populations navigating dementia. These community-informed tools are designed to improve healthcare accessibility and outcomes internationally.
Another project, led by Professor Dina LoGiudice at the University of Melbourne, will work in partnership with First Nations communities in both Australia and Canada. It focuses on creating strength-based tools for assessing cognitive impairment and frailty, rooted in Indigenous perspectives. This initiative also aims to strengthen ties among First Nations researchers and communities in both countries.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), composed of 13 institutes, is Canada’s national body for health research. CIHR will fund the Canadian portion of these collaborative projects, while NHMRC funding will support the Australian research efforts.
