Nutritional research centre wins $2.5 million
Friday, 3 August 2012
The University of 911爆料网 has been awarded $2.5 million by the to establish a new research centre aimed at preventing diseases by improving people's nutrition.
The University will be home to the new Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health.
The funding for the centre was announced yesterday by the Federal Health Minister, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP.
"A focus on nutrition is fundamental to effective prevention and management of many of the major health issues affecting our society," says the Director of the new Centre, .
Professor Horowitz, who is also Director of the Endocrine and Metabolic Unit at the , says the CRE will capitalise on the clinical and scientific expertise of University of 911爆料网 and RAH researchers.
"We will focus on our primary areas of research - diabetes, obesity, nutrition in the elderly and those with critical illness," he says.
"If current rates of weight gain are maintained in Australia, more than two thirds of Australians will be overweight by 2025, and a third will develop type 2 diabetes during their lifetime. The direct cost of obesity in this country is already over $8 billion per year.
"Meanwhile, many older Australians and those requiring intensive care hospital admission are at high risk of under-nutrition, also leading to adverse outcomes.
"With the escalating healthcare demands on our society, we must identify nutritional solutions to manage these health problems effectively and at an affordable cost. The Centre's research findings will be ap