February 2021
The 2021 Emergency Medicine Foundation Grant Awards Ceremony on 24 February brought together frontline clinicians from all areas of emergency medicine with Queensland Health representatives from the highest level.
Queensland Australian of the Year, Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM spoke at the event with Gold Coast University Hospital colleague and fellow researcher, Professor Julia Crilly OAM.
Dr Palipana shared his journey as the first quadriplegic medical graduate and intern in Queensland, and his work to improve the experience of people with spinal injuries.
The pair also spoke about research led by Professor Crilly and involving Dr Palipana, funded by the EMF COVID-19 grant round. The study, evaluating the pandemic’s impact on Queensland emergency department presentations, is one of five projects awarded through the special round.
Associate Professor Jaimi Greenslade from Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital spoke about her own research journey, including a recent grant awarded by Australia’s peak medical research funding body.
A collaborative study led by A/Professor Greenslade and supported by EMF received a $532,000 National Health & Medical Research Council grant. The research team is evaluating a new pathway for assessing chest pain, to improve management of emergency patients at low risk of a heart attack.
The EMF Queensland Research Program distributes $1.3 million per year, totalling almost $18 million in the last decade. The annual Grant Awards Ceremony highlights the innovative research projects led by frontline clinicians that have been funded by the program in the past year.
EMF Board Chair and event host, Dr Kim Hansen described the crucial role of clinicians in improving frontline care through research.
“We know clinicians are best placed to develop practical solutions for our healthcare system, so that emergency medicine practice continues to improve. It is our great privilege to provide the grants that support this work,” said Dr Hansen.
Queensland Health Assistant Deputy Director General for Prevention Division, Professor Keith McNeil spoke to attendees before presenting certificates to the COVID-19 grant recipients.
EMF General Manager, Beth Chapman, said the Queensland Research Program invests in generating evidence-based knowledge that can be easily translated into clinical practice.
“There were 8.2 million presentations to an Australian public hospital emergency department last financial year. Patients put their lives into the hands of emergency clinicians at a time when they are most vulnerable. We support emergency medicine research so that all patients can trust that the care they receive is the best available backed by the latest information,” said Beth.
Congratulations to all 2020 EMF grant recipients! Learn more about research supported by the EMF here.
Jump Start
Leading Edge
Project grants