Road injury research honoured by NHMRC
George Institute research into young drivers and road injury was recognised last night by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), as Dr Rebecca Ivers received a major new gong for her significant contributions in the field.
Announced by Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, Dr Ivers received the inaugural NHMRC Achievement Award for Population Health, acknowledging her significant contribution towards young drivers and road safety.
Over the past five years, Dr Ivers has built a research program that aims to shape health and transport-related policy, particularly in the field of road traffic injury prevention. Dr Ivers is the Director of Injury Prevention at The George Institute, where she manages research across Australia and developing countries in the Asia Pacific region, ranging from hypothesis-generating observational research to intervention research which has direct relevance to policy.
"My research is aimed at reducing the burden of road deaths and injuries in Australia," says Dr Ivers, who received the NHMRC Achievement Award for Population Health (within 2-7 years post Doctorate). Dr Ivers was acknowledged for her innovation, leadership, and considerable scientific research into road injury prevention.
She is currently leading several major Australian road injury projects include a cohort study of 20,000 novice drivers, a large case-control study of heavy-vehicle drivers and is working with a PhD student on studies examining the effectiveness and use of motorcycle protective clothing. Dr Ivers is also developing new research work in the area of Indigenous road injury.
NHMRC CEO Professor Warwick Anderson was delighted with the high calibre of candidates for the inaugural awards.
‘Australia is internationally renowned for its contribution to medical science, and we have a long history of great achievement in the field. The NHMRC would like to recognise and thank those researchers for making outstanding inroads, and hopefully encourage the next generation to be the new great minds in Australian research’.
Notes to Editor
The George Institute for International Health is an internationally-recognised health research body, undertaking high impact research across a broad health landscape. The Institute is centrally involved with Australian community health issues in Aboriginal health, ethnic community health, road safety and injury, mental health, ageing, healthcare access, clinical practice in Australian hospitals and health policy development. It is also a leader in the clinical trials, health policy and capacity-building areas. Its research has a direct, practical impact on a wide range of healthcare, health policy, safety and socio-cultural issues facing Australians. The Institute is affiliated with The University of Sydney, Sydney South West Area Health Services, and collaborates in its research with other prestige research institutes, clinical authorities and policy centres around the world.
Media enquiries
The George Institute for International Health
Emma Orpilla
Tel (+61 2) 9993 4592 Mobile (+61) 10 411 983
Email: eorpilla@george.org.au
NHMRC
Monique Mahoney
Tel (+61 2) 6217 9342