Two Flinders University eye research projects focusing on glaucoma and one looking for ways to reduce the suicide rate among doctors are among 35 new health and medical research projects to receive funding from Flinders Foundation in Australia.

Research into improving management of childhood glaucoma using precision medicine and translational approaches, to be conducted by Dr Emmanuelle Souzeau, and Professor Jamie Craig’s investigation into a novel hypothesis that the ocular microbiome contributes to the pathogenesis of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma hypothesis, both received seed grants for their work. They were part of the $821000 funding round provided by a partnership between Flinders Foundation and Flinders university to help researchers kick-start discoveries across a variety of illnesses, diseases and social issues. The funding will help researchers get the projects up and running and give them the time and resources they need to prove their concepts and test data before applying for larger sums from national and international funding bodies.

Meanwhile, Professor Paul Ward’s proposed research into doctors’ mental health and suicide risk, focusing on structural risk and resilience factors was one of three studies which received seed funding through the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation. Prof Ward will investigate three structural influences – professional culture, organisational climate, and health service context – to identify risk and resilience factors and understand how to translate them into actionable strategies to protect and enhance doctors’ mental health and reduce suicide risk.