$8m for health, medical research

More than 140 local health and medical research institutions are set to benefit from an $8 million grant provided by the state government.

The funds will support researchers by helping meet costs associated with delivering their projects.

Announcing the funding, Health Minister Kim Hames said 138 high-performing researchers would share in $6.12 million of Medical and Health Infrastructure Fund grants while six WA research institutes would benefit from over $2 million in grants under the Research Institute Support program.

The recipient institutions are: Curtin University; Edith Cowan University; the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research; the Institute for Respiratory Health; the Lions Eye Institute, Murdoch University; Telethon Kids Institute; the University of Western Australia; the Western Australian Neuroscience Research Institute; the West Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute; and the Women and Infants Research Foundation.

"The government takes great pride in supporting research that has the potential to make big improvements to the health and wellbeing of West Australians and the wider community," Dr Hames said.

"These programs will support research across a broad range of fields including gastroenterology, psychiatry, cardiology, neuroscience and respiratory medicine.

"Both programs allocate grants according to the level of income obtained from nationally and/or internationally competitive, peer-reviewed research funding bodies such as the National Health and Medical Research Council, so our money is supporting research excellence in WA."

Dr Hames said the funds would help researchers meet the costs of administration and infrastructure such as clerical support, computer equipment and laboratory equipment - items not normally covered by competitive research grants.