La Trobe University researchers will share in almost $6 million worth of Federal Government funding for several groundbreaking projects.
Academics will have their work supported through the Australia Research Council’s Discovery Projects Grant 2025 funding round.
The projects include research into advancement in understanding the immune system; a better understanding of the early human species Homo erectus; prevention of gender-based violence in sports communities; and policies relating to HIV ‘elimination’.
La Trobe’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Industry Engagement Professor Chris Pakes said the grant success highlighted the wealth of knowledge at the University and the cutting-edge research being undertaken by La Trobe researchers.
“The projects funded in this latest ARC Discovery round exemplify the high calibre of research at La Trobe, research that provides insight both into our past and into how we can advance our future,” Professor Pakes said.
“I offer my congratulations to all involved and look forward to seeing the positive impact this work will have on communities locally and globally.”
Discovery Projects 2025
Professor Marco Herold; Dr Emily Lelliott – (Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute / School of Cancer Medicine) – $1,106,062
This project aims to explore the mechanisms of CD8+ T cells in our immune system, using an innovative in vivo CRISPR/Cas gene-editing platform.
Professor Andrew Herries; Dr Angeline Leece – (School of Humanities and Social Sciences) – $715,617
The project aims to investigate the origins of the early human species Homo erectus, our direct ancestor, and other contemporary early human species around two million years ago.
Dr Nicholas Reynolds; Dr Sarah Annesley; Professor Thiruma Arumugam; Dr Eugeniu Balaur – (School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment) – $655,607
This project aims to investigate the commonality and nanoscale structures of aggregated proteins (amyloids) in viruses, generating new knowledge in the areas of virology and nanobiotechnology.
Professor Marija Tabain (School of Humanities and Social Sciences) – $625,342
This study investigates speech in the Papuan languages spoken to the immediate north of Australia, which have very simple consonant and vowel systems but which have been consistently reported as showing a very high level of language-internal variability.
Associate Professor Kirsty Forsdike; Professor Leesa Hooker – (La Trobe Rural Health School) – $604,172
This project aims to examine and address gender-based violence across Australian sports communities and produce practice guides to improve the capacity and response of sport communities across Australia.
Dr Dean Murphy; Professor Kane Race; Professor Andrew Gorman-Murray; Professor Edwina Wright; Dr John Rule – (School of Psychology and Public Health) – $601,303
This project aims to provide the first critical analysis of public policy related to HIV ‘elimination’, including the emerging notion of ‘micro-elimination’, identifying the benefits and risks of implementing this policy in Australian settings.
Professor Jason Dutton; Professor David Wilson – (School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment) – $535,635
This project aims to develop new ways to convert simple hydrocarbon feedstocks into value-added fine chemicals through the development of the strongest known organoiodine oxidizing agents.
Professor Jodi Oakman; Associate Professor Amanda Cooklin; Professor Melissa Graham; Dr Katrina Lambert – (School of Psychology and Public Health) – $480,409
This project aims to build a contemporary post-COVID model of sustainable work, through examining the necessary workplace conditions required to address current age and gender inequities.
Associate Professor Piers Gooding; Associate Professor Chris Maylea – (La Trobe Law School) – $410,028
This project aims to develop an implementation assessment framework to assess Australia’s compliance in mental health law, policy and practice with international human rights law.
