Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) staff will showcase their cutting edge medical research as the 2016 Wishlist Research Grants recipients are announced on Wednesday 19 October 2016.

A total of 19 research grants worth more than $424,500 will be announced at the annual SCHHS Research Day being held at Nambour General Hospital.

SCHHS Research Committee Chair, Associate Professor Nicholas Gray said the SCCHS’s ongoing commitment to research is vital as the workforce moves closer to the opening of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Sunshine Coast Health Institute.

“Research drives innovation and excellence in health care, attracts a high quality workforce, and improves health outcomes for the community.  Research fosters inter-disciplinary collaboration essential for meeting the future needs of the population.  Supporting and celebrating our research success is critical to the vision of the SCHHS,” A/Prof Gray said.

“Interest in the Wishlist grant program continues to grow every year, along with Wishlist’s strong commitment to research at SCHHS. The grants applications undergo a robust review process and the highest calibre applications are recommended for funding.”

One of the grants has been awarded to SYNERGY II, a trial investigation into the effect of dietary pre and probiotics on heart function in Chronic Kidney Disease.

The manipulation of the gut organisms offers significant promise for reducing heart and kidney disease by reducing toxins excreted by the kidneys.

Wishlist has cemented its commitment to the medical research sector on the Sunshine Coast, granting research funding across several categories.

“One of Wishlist’s priorities is to pave the way for innovative and ground-breaking research for the benefit of Sunshine Coast patients and their families,” Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said.

“Research Day encourages this culture of research and advancement, which is particularly fitting ahead of the opening of the $1.8 billion state-of-the-art Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

“This year we have four Wishlist Research Higher Degree recipients who will delve into studies of stroke patients, infant care and safe sleeping practices, conditions specifically affecting the elderly and the models of care for our youngest patients.”

Ms Rowe said the outcomes of pilot studies and supporting research were already benefiting patients and staff within the service.

“Last year we funded Dr Ogilvie Thom’s $49,000 grant to study the process of Emergency Department (ED) triage when it came to those presenting with a mental illness,” Ms Rowe said.

“This complex project has now commenced at Nambour Hospital’s ED bringing together the expert knowledge of mental health nurses and emergency triage nurses to explore the current triage practices and mental health service delivery.

“This study is multi-faceted but invaluable when you take into account the complexities of mental illness and the fact that about 3500 people each year present to the Nambour Hospital’s ED with a mental illness or related condition.

“It’s very rewarding for Wishlist to be able to play an active role in promoting innovative health care through supporting evidence-based research.”

The Research Day will include presentations from SCHHS staff and invited presentations by leading health researchers in Australia:

• Dr David Hansen, CEO Australian e-Health Research Centre, will present on ‘Integrating Digital Technologies into Medicine: Improving Patient Outcomes and Driving Efficiency’.


• Professor Jonathan Karnon, Prof Health Economics in the School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, presenting on ‘Screening for variation in clinical practice: how far can the data take us?’

Wishlist pledged more than $474,700 of its annual spend to research projects in the 2015/16 financial year – 30 per cent of the foundation’s annual commitment to SCHHS.