Here's what's been happening at HTSA this month

August Newsletter 2022
Accelerating the translation of Research findings into Action to ensure scientific evidence can positively Impact the health of South Australians.
On August 10th, we were pleased to host our annual HTSA Stakeholder Forum. Our theme, Enabling consumers to drive the research translation agenda allowed a thorough exploration of the role of the consumer in research translation, and how we can ensure the consumer lens is applied in our work. Both in person and virtual attendees had a unique opportunity to participate in an interactive session with some great results. We heard that many community based organisations are well positioned to act as enablers to facilitate engagement and priority setting between consumers and researchers. A summary of the forum will be available in the near future, and HTSA will now work with both researchers and these stakeholders to set up systems to facilitate these connections. If you were unable to join us on the day, you can view the HTSA update presentation slides here.

On Wednesday August 31, we are excited to be launching the South Australian chapter of the Women’s Health Research Translation Network (WHRTN) with a sold-out event in the SAHMRI Auditorium. The launch of the WHRTN presents an opportunity for women in health and medical research, including our active clinician researchers, to connect, have a voice about career challenges, as well as plan new collaborations. Working as part of the WHRTN national network, SA members will have opportunities to link with research leaders across Australia in 9 specific women’s health areas. If you were able to secure an in-person reservation, I look forward to seeing you on the night, and of course there is still time to register to attend virtually if you’d like to get involved. 

AHRA’s upcoming Indigenous Research Network (IRNet) Showcase in Sydney late next month will bring together leaders in Indigenous health and medical research from across Australia under the theme of Our Voice- Our Research- Our Future. HTSA is proud to be offering 5 scholarships up to a total of $1000 each to support South Australian researchers from our partner organisations with travel and accommodation costs. Detail regarding eligibility is included in this month’s edition- please share this opportunity with your networks, as applications will close promptly at close of business on August 26.

 Finally, our Strategic Communications Manager Alex Harris has now commenced maternity leave until August 2023. We wish Alex and her family all the best as they prepare for their new arrival. With that, we also welcome Kahlia Green, who will join us for the next 12 months to manage HTSA’s strategic communications, including our monthly newsletters and social media presence. Please feel free to reach out to Kahlia via communication@healthtranslationsa.org.au at any time.  

Wendy Keech
CEO, Health Translation SA


Launch of My PreHab collaboration delivers a healthier path to surgery


My PreHab, an innovative new program turning the wait time for planned elective surgery into a positive health opportunity, is being piloted at the Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals in the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN). 

My PreHab gives patients a clear path to monitoring and improving their health in partnership with their general practitioners (GPs) and other health care professionals in the community, reducing their risk of avoidable post-operative complications, and in some cases, even preventing the need for surgery.

The My Prehab program is supported by Health Translation SA (HTSA) and the Adelaide Primary Health Network (APHN) and received a grant of $190,000 from The Hospital Research Foundation to help fund the first year of the pilot program in general surgery and orthopaedic joint replacement. 

HTSA Chief Executive Officer, Wendy Keech, says design and testing of My PreHab was project managed by HTSA and included extensive stakeholder engagement and a co-design process involving surgeons, hospital nurses and physicians, general practitioners, allied health professionals, and people who had recently been through surgery.

“At HTSA we’re always keen to think about how things that are led and developed in a local health service can be scaled across the state,” she says.

“We want to see research brought into practice by helping make the links and connections that will make it easier for health services to embed research in what they do so that we can build the best health service for South Australia and the best service for patients and consumers.


“It is not a one size fits all approach, but it is about eliminating silos and ensuring that we share and collaborate where innovation can make a difference.”

Read the full story here


Photo: (L-R) Professor Jane Andrews, Sharyn Coles, Vicki Hume, Ellie Bills, Dr Ecushla Linedale, CEO Wendy Keech 

New AI tool helps patients with their mental health, and other chronic diseases could be next


A South Australian project is creating a way for doctors and patients to ‘get ahead’ of their symptoms and reduce the chances of ending up in hospital.

Actionable Intime Insights, or AI2, is an artificial intelligence program developed by Flinders University’s Digital Health research team, headed by Associate Professor Niranjan Bidargaddi who is supported by the Barossa Fleurieu Local Health Network.

Created in consultation with doctors, clinicians and patients, AI2 aims to reduce the impact of mental illness on patients by allowing them to prevent relapses before they even occur. 

AI2 compiles data from several digital sources, including Medicare, electronic health records, and My Health Record. It then analyses that data to recognise patterns that may indicate an impending relapse of symptoms before they become noticeable to doctors or the patient themselves.

“This isn’t like a treatment that has been developed and we’re pushing out. This is a missing block in healthcare delivery that we’re trying to fill,” says Bidargaddi.

“AI2 is an attempt to provide the right information at the right time.”

HTSA invested over $1 million in funding for the project from three Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund rounds. This, Bidargaddi says, was invaluable in helping the project progress.
 
“This project wouldn’t have happened without HTSA’s support.”

Read the full story here


Photo: Associate Professor Oliver Schubert


Call for abstracts for the 10th NHMRC Research Translation Symposium now open

Abstracts are invited on any topic relevant to research translation and the theme of Embracing Diversity. Authors submitting an abstract should nominate one of the following sub-themes when they submit their abstract:
  • Knowledge mobilisation: making information usable and accessible
  • Knowledge know-how: the skills and expertise needed to translate knowledge effectively
  • Impact evaluation: assessing the change that could be attributed to a particular intervention, project, program or policy
  • Implementation science: the methods used to promote the uptake of research findings. 
For further information and to submit an abstract, visit the Call for Abstracts webpage.

Key dates:
  • Abstract submissions close: Monday 29th August 2022 17:00 (AEST)
  • Notification of abstract acceptance: Friday 7th October 2022
  • Deadline for presenters to upload their presentation Monday: 7th November 2022
HTSA will be hosting an in-person satellite event on the morning of November 22nd, the last day of the conference. More details about this event will be coming soon!

Find out more about the NHMRC Research Translation Symposium on the
NHMRC website.

Present at the upcoming PRM's Research Collaborative Symposium

Have you been involved in a health services initiative or research project that has translated (or will translate) to improved healthcare for diverse and underrepresented populations? 

Our symposium theme on November 14th will be 
“Using patient-reported measures to improve health care for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and other underrepresented populations"and we're seeking dynamic speakers with innovative stories to be involved in our program. 

If you're interested in being a speaker, click here to find out more and register your expression of interest. 

Submissions close 5pm Friday September 30, and successful applicants will be advised by Monday October 17. 


Online registrations still open: Women's Health Research Translation Network (WHRTN) Launch Event

Join us to help build capacity, create new opportunities and make connections within the women’s health research community in South Australia. 

In line with the national WHRTN collaborative objectives, HTSA is launching the South Australian chapter of the WHRTN on Wednesday August 31st. Due to an overwhelming response, in person ticket allocations are now exhausted, however there's still time to register to join us online. 


Date: Wednesday 31 August
Time: 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: SAHMRI Auditorium (or online via Zoom)


The Network will also provide the opportunity for early and mid-career researchers to informally connect with experienced researchers for guidance and input and share insights relating to the challenges, barriers and successes relating to women health research and translation. 

To view the program and register click here.

Life as a Clinician-Scientist South Australian Symposium

Inspire the next generation of South Australian clinician-scientists 

Date: Thursday 1 September
Time: 1:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: SAHMRI


This event from the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences will provide insight into the life of a clinician-scientist, and how to master the skills necessary to succeed in this exciting and rewarding career.

Fellows, alongside other senior, mid- and early-career researchers, will share stories about how the unique combination of clinical work and scientific research can have a major impact on patient care and public health. 


For more information and to register, click here.

IRNet Showcase: Travel scholarships still available 

HTSA leads the National Indigenous Research(er) Capacity Building Network (IRNet) and is pleased to offer 5 travel scholarships to support South Australian researchers from across HTSA Partners to attend their upcoming Showcase held in Sydney on 29 - 30 September 2022.

The IRNet Showcase will bring together leaders in Indigenous health and medical research from across Australia under the theme of Our Voice – Our Research – Our Future.

The conference will discuss:
  • emerging diseases,
  • the impact of new technologies on health care and research, and
  • improving the translation and health impact of research to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities
Whilst the Showcase event is free, HTSA will support travel/accommodation costs for approximately five scholarships, up to the value of $1000 each.

Scholarship applications must close this Friday 26 August 2022 at 5pm (ACST)

Apply for a 
HTSA Travel Scholarship now
Register for the showcase via the 
AHRA website  

You can also download our flyer on this scholarship opportunity for wider distribution here

Join HTSA at SALHN Research Week 

SALHN Research Week is an opportunity to showcase SALHN’s excellence in enquiry and research, alongside key partners. The theme for Research Week 2022 is based on the SALHN Four Fields of Enquiry, with a day being dedicated to each of the Four Fields:
  • Discovery Science
  • Clinical Trials
  • Health Services Research
  • Continuous Improvement / Implementation Science.
HTSA's CEO Wendy Keech will lead a panel on Tuesday September 27th around the theme of Health Services Research, and there'll be additional opportunities to connect with HTSA staff and initiatives throughout the event. 

For more information visit the SALHN website

Other upcoming events & training

Flinders PhD Enterprise Scholarship: Caring Futures Institute 

Flinders University and Adelaide Primary Health Network are offering a PhD Enterprise Scholarship to undertake innovative research into implementation models for mental health services.
  • Receive a $28,854 (2022 full-time rate, indexed annually) per annum scholarship tax free, for up to 3.5 years
  • Apply your research skills during an internship with Adelaide Primary Health Network
For more information and to apply, please contact Dr Candice Oster. Applications close 30 September 2022.
 

New grant opportunities regularly available throughout the year

National Health and Medical Research Institute (NHMRC)
Within Australia, the NHMRC is the major funding body for health and medical research. There are a range of funding schemes that have different focuses and purposes. To see all of the funding schemes available, click here

MRFF
The MRFF provides grants of financial assistance to support health and medical research and innovation, with the objective of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians. The NHMRC works with the Department of Health to implement disbursements from the MRFF. To see what MRFF grant opportunities are currently open and their status, click here.

Many of our partner organisations have a dedicated person that can assist you in applying for MRFF grant opportunities. For a list of South Australian based MRFF Support Leads, click here

Follow us on Linked In and Twitter to learn about other funding opportunities that become available throughout the year.
 

Do you have an event, story or funding opportunity to share in our Newsletter?  

We would love to hear from you!

Come and chat to the Health Translation SA team on Level 8 in the SAHMRI Building (left of the central staircase) or contact Kahlia Green, our Strategic Communications Manager via email at communications@healthtranslationsa.org.au
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For any queries please contact:
P 08 8128 4380
E enquiries@healthtranslationsa.org.au

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Adelaide SA 5001

Our staff team location:
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North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000


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