Research

The Asthma Foundation of WA’s research programme has the following broad objectives:

1. Promotion of asthma research by encouraging Western Australian based researchers to target asthma and promoting new researchers to an interest in asthma.
2. Raising public awareness through public meetings and media coverage which promotes asthma research and the need for continuing research based in Western Australia.
3. Funding of asthma research by providing financial support for selected research studies directed towards:
   • Understanding the cause and mechanism of asthma
   • Improving asthma treatment and management by doctors and patients.
   • Understanding the nature and scale of asthma's impact on the community.
4. Lobbying for increased resources by liaising with governments to provide increased resources for asthma research and patient services.

All research funded by the Asthma Foundation of WA must be based in Western Australia.

Asthma Foundation Research Committee

On behalf of the Foundation the Research Committee recommends applications for various types of research:

1. New Investigator Grants
   The aim of these grants is to attract new researchers to the asthma field and to give them a "step-up" into the competitive national grant funding system. A New Investigator Grant allows new researchers to collect the preliminary data required to apply for ongoing funding by other bodies (eg NH&MRC). New investigators are defined as those not having previously been named as a Chief Investigator on national competitive grants. Projects with budgets no larger than $25,000 (plus GST) should be submitted for consideration.
2. Project Research Grants
   These are traditional project grants, aimed primarily at established investigators. Projects with budgets no larger than $45,000 (plus GST) should be submitted for consideration.
3. Vi Watson Vacation Scholarships
   Vi Watson Vacation Scholarships are open to all WA-based university students undertaking research projects relevant to asthma, who have successfully completed at least two years of a degree course or who have completed their degree (including honours degrees) in 2009.  The scholarships provide students with the financial support required to continue their research over the summer break.

Applications for Research Grants
Applications for 2010 Vi Watson Vacation Scholarships are now open; please click here to view the Guidelines and download an application form.  Please note that all research funded by the Asthma Foundation of WA must be based in Western Australia.

For more information please contact:
Research Grants Officer
Ph: (08) 9289 3602
Fx: (08) 9289 3601
Em: ResearchGrants@asthmawa.org.au