Melbourne Centre for Oral Health Research Head funded to investigate molecular mechanisms of chronic oral disease.

The Hon Greg Hunt, Minister for Health announced the outcomes of the NHMRC’s Investigator Grants today.

The highly competitive and prestigious NHMRC Investigator Grants consolidate separate fellowship and research support into one grant scheme that funds outstanding researchers at all career stages.

Professor Reynolds, received the highest level ‘Leadership 3’ Investigator Grant to fund his project:

‘The bacterial type IX secretion system in polymicrobial dysbiosis and chronic inflammation’ - $1,900,000 over 5 years.

Periodontitis (severe gum disease) affects 1 in 3 adults and has been linked with some cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and dementia.  Eric will lead a multidisciplinary team investigating the interaction between disease causing bacteria in the mouth and the immune response which results in destruction of the tooth’s supporting tissues and allows bacteria to enter the blood stream. The expected outcome is the development of a novel therapy which will stop progression of disease associated with these pathogens.

This award recognises the sustained high quality of Professor Reynolds’ research building on his strengths in microbiology, protein chemistry, structural biology, and translational research.

This year’s Investigator Grant funding allocation is $367.5 million. The second round cohort of 237 Emerging Leadership and Leadership Fellows have five years of funding, including a research support package.

Explore Professor Reynolds' research