The Australian Government is investing $4.4 million to enhance research innovation in the East Asia region by supporting Australian participation in leading international collaborative health and medical research. This funding targets transnational projects under the NHMRC e-ASIA 2025 Joint Research Program (JRP), which promotes multilateral research collaboration and encourages interaction among researchers through scientific workshops.
The investment will enable Australian researchers to work with partners in the East Asian region on critical topics such as infectious diseases, immunology, and antimicrobial resistance. The program fosters collaboration on projects addressing regional health challenges and strengthens scientific networks across multiple countries.
Notable recipients of the NHMRC e-ASIA 2025 JRP funding include Professor Mark Blaskovich from the University of Queensland, who will develop nanotechnologies to rapidly diagnose drug-resistant Tuberculosis in Southeast Asian countries. Dr Rhea Longley of WEHI will create evidence-based strategies to support the Philippines’ malaria elimination goal by detecting hidden Plasmodium vivax infections. Professor Alistair Forrest of the University of Western Australia will collaborate with researchers in Thailand and Japan to map immune responses to dengue and understand why some patients develop life-threatening dengue haemorrhagic fever.
The NHMRC funds the Australian component of these collaborative projects, while international partners receive support from their respective funding agencies. Through these multilateral arrangements, Australian researchers can build a vibrant and collaborative scientific community, sharing knowledge and expertise to inform interventions, policies, and public health strategies in the region.
NHMRC CEO Professor Steve Wesselingh highlighted that participation in the e-ASIA JRP reflects Australia’s commitment to global health research and international collaboration, providing opportunities to address regional health challenges and strengthen cross-border scientific partnerships.
