Research and Innovation
The Department of Business and Employment fosters and enhances research and innovation in the Northern Territory. Innovation drives knowledge creation, cutting edge science and research, international competitiveness and greater productivity. Our team is committed to developing policies and delivering programs in partnership with stakeholders, to provide lasting economic benefits and ensuring the Northern Territory's competitive future. Through innovation we push boundaries and create breakthroughs through people and technology.
Fighting the invisible: A celebratory end to 2009 for the NT Research and Innovation Board
09 December 2009
A Northern Territory based researcher is taking on a mite so small that it can’t be seen with the naked eye, and he's winning.
Wajahat Mahmood from Charles Darwin University has won an award for his research into a new treatment for scabies. This is the first time the AusBiotech-GSK Student Excellence Award has been awarded in the Northern Territory.
The award was presented at the Northern Territory Research and Innovation Board’s last meeting for 2009.
The World Health Organization estimates that at least 111 million children in the world suffer from skin sores (pyoderma) and that many of these children also have scabies. Scabies is a skin infection that affects up to 70% of children in remote Territory communities. Scabies sores can become infected with bacteria which can lead to serious complications including kidney and heart diseases.
Wajahat's research focuses on investigating an enzyme which may be essential for the mites’ survival. Inhibiting this enzyme may prevent the mites from burrowing underneath the skin and causing an infection. It is hoped the treatment will also work on other parasitic diseases.
Wajahat anticipates the research to be completed in the next 18 months with trials on scabies mites to follow. It is hoped that this may lead to the development of a new treatment for scabies.
Research and Innovation Grants
05 November 2009
The recipients of the 2009 Research and Innovation Grants have been announced by Minister for Business, Dr Chris Burns.
> Read more about the Research and Innovation Grants.
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