Academic Director Insights
As we reflect on our many achievements in 2022, it has been encouraging to see the progress throughout the Kolling Institute. Our researchers reached so many milestones, from the implementation of our research plan to significant impact across the research priority areas.
We saw tangible improvements in research activity, healthcare outcomes, policy and global reach, and these gains were not isolated to a small group of researchers but were made across the institute. To give you a snapshot of our impact, our researchers are developing the first tools to detect early kidney disease, improving hip and knee replacements, guiding the use of multiple medications and devising national rehabilitation programs. Our teams are identifying new genetic risk factors for heart disease, launching a world-first clinical trial for those with spinal cord injuries, and driving innovative research for those with pain and disabling musculoskeletal challenges. There has been heartening progress with our cancer research and the largest study in Australia into the treatment of juvenile arthritis. The expertise and experience of our research team did not go unnoticed, and a share of our researchers received prestigious national and international awards. These were remarkable awards, recognising the truly outstanding contribution our researchers are making to lift standards of care and the health of our community. In 2022, we continued to welcome significant funding from a range of sources including the National Health and Medical Research Council. More than $4 million was awarded to Professors Gemma Figtree and Carol Pollock to progress our research into heart and kidney disease. This was just some of the large-scale funding awarded to our teams. It is crucial that our researchers are supported with world-leading technology and it was pleasing to see large-scale funding invested in new infrastructure within the Kolling. The program of works will continue and includes a biomechanics robot and a Digital Spatial Profiling System, which is regarded as one of the most exciting technological advances globally in the investigation of tissues. In 2022, we saw an increasing number of early and mid-career researchers coming to the Kolling. It’s so important this group of emerging leaders is
supported and thrives at the Kolling, and we will be implementing a host of initiatives to ensure this younger cohort is given every opportunity to extend their experience and professional skills. The Kolling Institute’s partnership with the Northern Sydney Local Health District and University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health means students and researchers benefit from being embedded within a large health precinct ecosystem. The unique research culture of the precinct broadens opportunities to directly incorporate scientific discoveries into practice, without being bound by traditional siloes. Building on the progress in 2022, we will continue to focus on collaboration, not just within the Kolling, but with our health and university partners, and with national and international collaborators. I’m convinced this will drive further activity and deliver new opportunities. There is a real sense of momentum at the Kolling, and I would like to thank the large number of people who have contributed to our progress and research success. Professor Jim Elliott Academic Director Kolling Institute
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