WCH Foundation Announces 2023 Bloom Research Recipients

The Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation (WCH Foundation) has awarded $5.7 million in funding to research into childhood brain and central nervous system cancer, asthma management and pregnancy health in its inaugural Bloom Research Program grant round.

On Thursday 24 August, Health Translation SA attended an awards night to celebrate the outcome with successful research teams, WCH Foundation staff and board members, Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) representatives and the Honourable Chris Picton MP, Minister for Health and Wellbeing.

The competitive three-stage application process included a round table event during which Health Translation SA presented to research teams regarding research translation and consumer engagement, and provided feedback to support the development of applications.

Following full application, four grants were awarded to:

• Professor Simon Barry of the University of Adelaide and his team focusing on finding better and more personalised treatments for childhood brain and central nervous system cancers
• Associate Professor Carson-Chahhoud of WCHN and her team developing and testing an artificially intelligent app to improve self-management of asthma
• Professor Tim Green of Flinders University and SAHMRI with his team determining if folic acid supplements in mid to late pregnancy may be contributing to rising rates of gestational diabetes
• Professor Jordan Hansford of SAHMRI and his team undertaking genomic analyses on brain tumour samples to understand factors related with survivorship.

These projects will be undertaken over the next two to five years and will see more than 15 senior researchers, 20 early and mid-career researchers, at least three PhD students, and more than ten partnering organisations involved.

The WCH Foundation is hopeful that the focus on health translation throughout the application and review process means that the projects have the best chance of making a direct and tangible impact on the health of women, children and families under the care of the WCHN and across South Australia.

For more information about the funded projects, visit https://wchfoundation.org.au/2023-bloom-research-program-outcomes/

The WCH Foundation Bloom Research Program will open for applications again in early 2024. Visit https://wchfoundation.org.au/bloom-research/ to find out more, or contact research@wchfoundation.org.au