of research over the last 8 years into asbestos- and other dust-related diseases through the Dust Diseases Board . The Western Australian Government has funded a Vitamin A prevention trial plus a clinical trials program, with the aim of developing and trialling novel therapies for asbestos cancers. Other funding In December 2007 NHMRC entered into an agreement with the New South Wales Government to accept funds for research into asbestos-related disease, as a result of the NSW Supreme Court ruling against James Hardie Industries. Under the agreement, James Hardie will fund $500,000 per year for ten years (total of $5 million). NHMRC has used these funds to support research, such as NHMRC Project Grants, into asbestos-related disease, and may use future amounts to provide some of the funding for the new Centre of Research Excellence into asbestos-related diseases. James Hardie has no influence on the selection of individual research projects and NHMRC must approve any release of information by James Hardie in relation to the agreement with NHMRC. References Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) (2008). Preparing an estimate of the national pattern of exposure to asbestos in cases of malignant mesothelioma.