2 minute read
A word from our Executive Director
from In-SPHERE March 2024
by IN-SPHERE
It has been 18 months since Maridulu Budyari Gumal, the Sydney Partnership for Health Education Research and Enterprise (SPHERE) redrafted its strategy, emphasising three key deliverables: enhancing workforce research capacity, advancing research capabilities, and accelerating health transformation through rapid applied research translation. The implementation plan, building on previous work, aims to bring innovation to life by bridging evidence and practice swiftly.
Our redesigned SPHERE website has resolved legacy issues, to allow real-time updates and fostering crossparty collaboration. This agile platform supports researchers with user-friendly tools, open-access resources, and streamlined data access. Investment in technology facilitates unique collaborations while stabilising operating costs.
SPHERE is perhaps itself a unique innovation that will continue to connect the communities we serve with our healthcare and industry providers and the academics for whom thinking creatively to solve wicked problems is their core business.
We continue to invest in our people with initiatives like mentoring programs and recognition for Translational Research Fellows’ achievements. Bernadette Brady, a SPHERE Translational Research Fellow was recognised by NSW Health as the Allied Health Professional of the Year. The Women’s Health Research Network supports mentoring and Tania Rimes has a profile outlining her SPHERE supported research experience.
Monitoring early mid-career research candidates’ success and offering grants for innovative projects align with NHMRC priorities and promote diversity in the research workforce. The first tranche of our 2024 Investigator Initiated Partnership Support grants is soon to close prior to the second tranche for Health Services priorities opening in Q3 and EMCR leadership in these opportunities continues to be emphasised.
Showcasing early transformative innovations like exergaming for falls prevention and improved pregnancy outcomes, SPHERE continues to advocate evidence-based medicine through Menopause and Diabetes submissions to government Inquiries, the latter led by David Simmons who is featured in this edition.
We have a mature impact assessment framework. The strategy serves as a benchmark for future progress and reporting to members, emphasising ongoing efforts toward healthcare
