Each year, Sunshine Coast Health funds between $1.4 million and 1.8 million dollars in internal research grants, through our Study, Education and Research Trust Fund (SERTF), and with Wishlist support. Their aim is to build a strong research culture and embed research as core business across Sunshine Coast Health, as we mature into an academic tertiary health service and learning organisation. Academic health services with a strong research culture demonstrate better patient outcomes, so it’s a recipe for success!
This round, departments were invited to show how a flexible funding grant over 3 years would be used to develop a sustainable research program, with $150,000 for Emerging Departments, and $300,000 for Established Departments.
Congratulations to all our grant winners, your efforts will ensure we grow our research capability, attract future funding and continue building innovative evidence-based care that benefits our patients, staff and wider Sunshine Coast Community!
Established Department Award
Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Prof. James O’Beirne)
Prof James O’Beirne’s grant success will fund a research program focused on precision oncology in liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma or HCC).
Emerging Department Award
Physiotherapy (Jim Sayer, Director Physiotherapy)
Jim Sayer’s grant success will provide the Physiotherapy Department with the resources to develop a suite of initiatives growing research capacity and capability in Physiotherapy.
General Surgery and Trauma (A/Prof Priscilla Martin, General Surgeon, Lead Investigators: Dr Bree Stephensen (Medical Director General Surgery), Dr Andrew Hobbins King (Medical Director Trauma Service)
A/Prof Pricilla Martin’s grant success will provide research coordination for the General Surgery and Trauma Research Group, with a suite of current and planned research planned across both departments. The trauma team’s research program will focus research partnerships with the Road Safety Research Collaboration between University of Sunshine Coast and the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (USC-MAIC), optimising resuscitation and emergency care after trauma, trauma rehabilitation and survivorship.
Vascular Surgery (Dr Vivienne Moult, Medical Director Vascular Surgery)
Dr Vivienne Moult’s grant success will provide research coordination for the Vascular Surgery department and the High-Risk Foot Research Group, with a suite of current and planned research projects focused on chronic ulcer healing, limb salvage therapies, and evaluation of models of care.
Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine (Dr Rochelle Ryan, Anaesthetist)
Dr Rochelle Ryan’s grant success will support the Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine (DAPM) to progress several initiatives that aim to improve safety, efficiency and patient experience across the perioperative pathway.