This year’s cohort of Ramsay Research and Teaching Fund grant recipients
New funding boosts research impact across RNSH campus More than a dozen research projects will be launched at RNSH following significant support from the Ramsay Research and Teaching Fund Scheme.
More than $800,000 will be directed to a total of 17 projects in what was the largest ever Ramsay research grants round. The projects will investigate a broad range of health challenges from heart disease and mental health to spinal cord injuries, pain management and cancer. NSLHD Medical Executive Director Tamsin Waterhouse said the district was pleased to partner with Ramsay to deliver the wonderful support for research. “The scheme has provided more than $10 million over the last 18 years, greatly assisting research activity, and ultimately patient care and health outcomes,” she said. One clinician to receive funding was Speech Pathologist Dijana Dragicevich
whose project investigates oral sensation and tongue strength in people who have dysphagia (swallowing disorders) following a stroke. Dijana said receiving the grant was a life-changing event, as access to grants was very limited. “I am passionate about this research. It will have an impact on the way we treat patients with dysphagia, and will lead to better diagnosis and management of dysphagia and better outcomes.” Dr Matti Gild will lead another project assessing tumour DNA to determine targeted therapies for thyroid cancer. “In this study, we will investigate whether a new technique will reliably identify thyroid cancer
mutation biomarkers in blood samples,” she said.
“Once established, this simple and cost-effective approach will be used to determine prognosis and the response to specific therapies.” Department of Psychiatry Head, Professor Gin Malhi, will drive a project to help predict early adult mood disorders by assessing adolescent neuroimaging data. “This project is vital to understanding the emergence of mood disorders and identifying new treatment targets. It’ll also be an important
step towards future research,” he said.
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NSLHDNEWS | 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW
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