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Adelaide researchers will pursue new cancer vaccines, an AI-powered virtual health coach and treatments for chronic pain and drug-resistant infections after securing more than $26.3 million in national funding.
Sixteen Adelaide University projects have received support through the National Health and Medical Research Council’s 2026 Investigator Grants, which back leading Australian researchers across biomedical, clinical, public health and health services research.
The projects span cancer immunotherapy, chronic disease prevention, nutrition, intensive care recovery, neurodegenerative disease, endometriosis and antibiotic-resistant lung infections.
It is the first round of NHMRC Investigator Grants awarded since Adelaide University’s formation, with the total funding more than double the combined annual average received by its two foundation universities during the previous five years.
Adelaide University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Anton Middelberg, said the result reflected the scale and quality of the university’s health research.
“This outstanding result speaks to the calibre, ambition and national standing of our researchers,” Professor Middelberg said.
“NHMRC Investigator Grants are among the most competitive research awards in the country, and this success demonstrates the strength, depth and momentum of our health and medical research.
“This result confirms Adelaide University as a destination for world-class, high-impact health research with genuine benefit for patients and communities.”
- Professor Timothy Hughes received the largest individual grant, with more than $3.03 million awarded to lead a global research program focused on improving treatment for people with chronic myeloid leukaemia.
- Professor Carol Maher will receive more than $2.97 million to develop an AI-powered virtual health coach supporting healthier eating, exercise and weight loss.
- Professor Chun-Xia Zhao was awarded more than $2.97 million to develop advanced nanomedicines designed to activate the immune system both within tumours and throughout the body.
- Professor Stuart Brierley received more than $2.97 million to investigate chronic visceral pain, which affects people living with conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and endometriosis.
- Professor Caroline Miller will receive more than $2.83 million to produce policy-focused evidence aimed at reducing Australians’ consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks.
- Professor Greg Goodall was awarded more than $2.63 million to investigate how the gain or loss of non-coding RNAs can promote cancer formation or contribute to other diseases.
Two projects each received more than $1.63 million.
Associate Professor Lee-anne Chapple will design personalised, protein-based nutrition programs to help intensive care patients maintain muscle strength, recover faster and experience a better long-term quality of life.
Dr Yannan Yang will develop a virus-mimetic vaccine for advanced triple-negative breast cancer, using nanotechnology to turn a patient’s own tumour into an immune trigger capable of attacking metastatic cancer and preventing recurrence.
A further eight researchers each received $697,615.
- Dr Jane Chalmers will work with people who have lived experience of endometriosis to develop pain education and self-management approaches that improve long-term care.
- Dr Thanh Loc Nguyen will investigate biomaterials capable of reprogramming the environment inside tumours, helping T cells and natural killer cells activate and attack cancer.
- Dr Joanne Dono will develop and test public health messages encouraging Australians to reduce their consumption of ultra-processed foods and drinks.
- Dr Benjamin Liffner will study how parasites responsible for diseases including malaria and cryptosporidiosis enter and survive within human cells, identifying potential targets for new medicines.
- Dr Min Zhang will create a biomaterial-based cancer vaccine for patients whose immune systems have been weakened by chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
- Dr Julian Carosi will investigate how cells identify and remove damaged proteins linked to neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia.
- Dr Sha Liu will develop an inhalable, phage-based treatment for chronic antibiotic-resistant lung infections affecting people with cystic fibrosis.
- Dr Yun Liu will develop a self-propelling oral hydrogel patch capable of carrying drug-loaded nanoparticles through the stomach and releasing them at targeted disease sites in the gut.
Together, the projects aim to translate discoveries in biology, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and drug delivery into better treatments, prevention strategies and health outcomes for Australian patients and communities.
