Despite the challenges that COVID brought, our district remained focussed on research. We have continued to build on the NSLHD Research Strategy 2019-2024, developed to support our research endeavours to continue to deliver excellent health research, as it adapts to emerging trends including genomics and precision medicine, convergence science and digital technologies. The Kolling Institute Research Strategy, 2021-2025, was finalised, which identified three priority research areas (PRAs): musculoskeletal, neuroscience and pain, cardiovascular and renal. The priority research areas are supported by research enablers; clinical trials and translation; data and informatics; research infrastructure and support services; and recruitment and retention. We look forward to supporting the delivery of this strategy. Cancer research goes from strength to strength, with the formulation of a Cancer Research Network. The Cancer Research Network will include a research manager specifically dedicated to the cancer group, a professorial level lead for the Bill Walsh Cancer Lab, and the addition of two exciting pieces of infrastructure to support cancer research, a total body PET scanner, and a dedicated multidisciplinary team meeting space. To highlight the magnificent work our clinicians and researchers are doing to transform the care and treatment we provide for our patients, we launched NSLHD Northern Lights. The NSLHD Northern Lights events bring together leading clinicians and researchers, to enable them to describe their work in their own words, to our community, to raise awareness of their key activities and the latest advancements.
Our strong partnerships with the University of Sydney, Sydney Health Partners and the Kolling Institute are creating opportunities for our researchers to collaborate on projects while also interacting with patients. These partnerships are set to flourish as the district looks towards the development of an education, health and research precinct, based at St Leonards. This will not only benefit our clinicians and researchers, but it will have a long lasting impact on our patients and the community. Our patients and consumers currently play a vital role in our research, participating in clinical research, and in reviewing our studies. We look forward, in 2021 and beyond, to further develop and embed our engagement with our consumers and our community, to collaboratively develop life changing research. This Research Annual Report is an overview of our some of our many significant research achievements in 2020. We thank our staff, research partners, community members and consumer representatives for their wonderful support of research and innovation in our district. We look forward to building on the outstanding health research that is transforming patient care.
Deb Willcox, Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
Trevor Danos AM, Chair Northern Sydney Local Health District Board
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