The University of Sydney has been awarded $6 million in funding for the new Centres of Research Excellence (CRE).

Both CREs will be funded through the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Centre of Research Excellence scheme and led by Professor Gregory Fox and Professor Timothy Slade respectively.

The Centre of Research Excellence in Tuberculosis Elimination (TB-CRE) is led by Chief Investigator Professor Gregory Fox from the Faculty of Medicine and Health's NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre. The TB-CRE, which will involve Professor Ben Marais, has been awarded $3 million to drive transformative changes in tuberculosis (TB) control on a national, regional, and global scale.

The TB-CRE will concentrate on three key research themes: detection, treatment, and prevention. These priorities have been shaped by the needs of TB-affected communities.

On the other hand, the Prevention of Mental Illness and Substance Use (PREMISE) Next Generation CRE will be led by Chief Investigator Professor Timothy Slade from the Faculty of Medicine’s Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use. 

The PREMISE Next Generation CRE, which will also involve Professor Nicola Newton, Professor Cath Chapman and Professor Maree Teesson, has received $3 million to drive policy and practice reforms that address emerging trends, latest generate evidence generate latest evidence and critically reflect priorities identified by young people.

The global landscape of youth mental health and substance use is rapidly changing. Precipitous rises in youth anxiety, depression and self-harm, coupled with major population shifts in risk factors and emerging challenges, call for urgent new approaches to prevent mental and substance use disorders.