Academic Director Insights
Compiling this research review on the Kolling Institute’s achievements in 2023 has been a great joy, as it has highlighted our continued progress to drive research that can improve the lives of our community. Thanks to the dedication and expertise of our many research teams and support staff, this review showcases the many tangible improvements in research activity, collaboration and translations we have made throughout the last year. Our researchers have been awarded an impressive 84 grants, with a collaborative value of more than $43 million for projects over the next five years. Highlights have included NHMRC grant funding for collaborative research into the links between osteoarthritis and heart disease, new research into biomarkers that could identify ‘silent’ cardiovascular disease and investigations into cells that may have potential to control chronic pain. As well as progress across our three priority research areas – musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and renal, and neuroscience and pain – it is encouraging to see our cancer researchers continuing to make excellent progress towards furthering a personalised approach to cancer treatment. It is wonderful to see our international collaborations growing strongly – our researchers published more than 530 papers in 2023, stemming from partnerships across an impressive 90 countries (up from 67 countries in 2022). We are now working with researchers across the globe, in countries including the US, Brazil, Nigeria, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico and Finland. Demonstrating our commitment to disseminating research, our researchers delivered 122 international presentations, and presented at 63 conferences around Australia. We were also thrilled to see two of our leading researchers recognised on the Australia Day Honours roll in 2023. Geriatrician Professor Sue Kurrle AO was honoured for her research into dementia and cognitive decline, and interventional cardiologist Professor Gemma Figtree AM was recognised for a career devoted to identifying the key mechanisms driving heart attack susceptibility.
Professor Carol Pollock AO also received the prestigious Alfred Newton Richards award for her outstanding research in the field of nephrology. Looking to the future, the Kolling has an exciting opportunity to contribute to a new initiative aimed at helping everyone in our community live their healthiest lives. A partnership between the Kolling, the Northern Sydney Local Health District, the University of Sydney, and the University of Technology Sydney, presents an opportunity for a futurist Centre for Functional Wellbeing within and beyond the local health district. The centre’s objectives are to improve our understanding of pre, peri and post-traumatic health, to tackle the complex issues of ageing and develop a personalised measure of functional wellbeing. Drawing on our interdisciplinary workforce and research interests, this exciting initiative complements the Kolling Institute’s strong focus on conducting research that can improve community wellbeing at every age. As we reflect on our achievements and look to future developments, I would like to express my gratitude to our joint venture partners and to all my colleagues at the Kolling who are central to our success, and who continue to make the institute a centre of world-leading research. Professor James Elliott Academic Director Kolling Institute
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