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The grant was one of several awarded by the State Minister for Science and Medical Research, Frank Sartor. Many successful researchers were affiliated with UNSW.

The research on bladder dysfunction will focus on receptor changes in the organ following the injury. This could lead to new classes of drugs to treat the problem.

Approximately 10,000 Australians currently suffer from spinal cord injury accompanied by bladder dysfunctions.

"Incontinence is a major problem for all spinal cord injury patients, although it does vary in severity from patient to patient," said Professor Elizabeth Burcher, from the School of Medical Sciences, who leads the project. "This is a major medical problem and affects the quality of life of patients."

"Incomplete emptying of the bladder causes repeated urinary tract infections. In addition, inability of the bladder sphincter to relax, during bladder contractions, results in high pressures transmitted back to the kidneys. Both factors may lead to irreversible kidney damage and in some cases, total kidney failure and early death."

"The current drugs have major side-effects and don’t work in all patients who therefore are at risk of leakage and kidney damage. There is also a new, expensive surgical treatment, but this is only effective for a limited time," said Professor Burcher.

"We hope to come up with novel and more effective treatments, without side-effects, based on changes in nerve receptors and signalling, for which patients would not require surgical intervention and hospitalisation."

Professor Burcher's award was one of five project grants awarded, of which three went to UNSW researchers. The two other UNSW recipients were Dr Matthew Kiernan and Dr Bryce Vissel.

Also in the recent funding announcements, Professor Elspeth McLachlan, Co-Director of the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute's Spinal Injuries Research Centre received the only program grant awarded, of $1.5 million.