Cabrini Research Annual Report 2020-21 Grants and scholarships
Grants and scholarships at Cabrini Research In 2020-21, Cabrini Research administered $589,478 in new grant and scholarship funding, despite the impact of COVID-19. The funds were spread across professional development and education as well as clinical research and quality improvement projects. A total of $434,789 in research grants was awarded, encompassing the $200,000 Auric Innovation Grant and the Foundation grants program, now in its seventh year of operation.
Research grants The purpose of the Foundation grants program is to provide a single mechanism for Cabrini employees and visiting medical officers (VMOs) to access funds from Cabrini Foundation for research or quality improvement activities. The Cabrini Foundation is committed to supporting quality improvement activities and research that facilitates and aligns with the strategic and operational program articulated in the 2021-25 Cabrini Strategic Plan. The objectives of the grant program are to facilitate a research culture within the organisation, encourage multidisciplinary research, align research with the Cabrini Strategy, contribute to quality and safety and produce high-quality clinical research. There are three categories of Foundation Grants: 1. Quality improvement projects (two grants up to $15,000 each), designed for staff/teams engaged in quality projects 2. Research projects (four grants up to $30,000 each), designed for individual researchers or research teams 3. Specific purpose research grants in line with donor intent In June 2021, members of Cabrini’s grant review panel assembled to review applications and select the successful recipients of Cabrini Foundation’s annual Clinical Research and Quality Improvement grant round. Led by Chairman of the Cabrini Foundation Board and Cabrini Australia Board, 22
Sylvia Falzon, the review panel discussed 11 shortlisted applications from an incredibly diverse group of disciplines and research areas. Ultimately, the following studies were deemed successful: • Associate Professor Philip Russo – The accuracy of coded hospital acquired complication data in identifying healthcare associated infections • Associate Professor Natasha Michael/Dr Merlina Sulistio – Feasibility and acceptability of electronic capturing of patient reported symptoms in an ambulatory cancer setting • Danielle Feil – Living well with secondary breast cancer – the clinical outcomes and patient perceptions of a combined exercise and educational support group • Dr Shehara Mendis/Dr Rebekah Engel – Personalising cancer medicine part II: Expanding the organoid program to include treatment-exposed metastatic colorectal cancer • Dr Tali Lang – 3D breast spheroids as a preclinical model for breast cancer research • Dr Simon Wilkins – Regulation of the immune response in the colorectal cancer tumour microenvironment and its role in patient outcomes • Dr Tomas Rozbroj – Psychocultural and practical factors related to Australian adults’ understandings and utilisation of information about over-diagnosis: a mixedmethods study • Dr Tali Lang/Kirsten Seletto – Does automated home monitoring and management of patient-reported symptoms during systemic cancer treatment improve clinical outcomes? The successful projects will be completed in 12 to 24 months. All recipients are required to disseminate their research findings via a presentation at a Cabrini Research forum, submission of manuscripts for publication in peer review journals and submission of abstracts to present at domestic and international conferences.
