$632,000 has been awarded to six research grants, marking the 41^st round of EMF’s flagship grants program. Congratulations to the successful projects, which offer a varied and broad range of research topics that aim to improve and transform emergency and prehospital medicine.

A prime example of EMF-funded research with potential to be rapidly translated into clinical practice is Dr Adam Holyoak’s project, which compares the effectiveness of two first aid methods for snake bites. With thousands of Australians affected by snake bites every year, the researchers want to establish evidence for a simple but effective first aid method that can be used with no or minimal training by the rescuer.

The other successful grants in this round show the multidisciplinary nature of emergency care research, with projects being led by three nurses and two physiotherapists. Previously, EMF-funded research has been conducted primarily by emergency physicians, with doctors being Principal Investigators on most awarded grants. This has changed in recent years however, with emergency physicians often championing a mentoring role to support clinicians in other disciplines to take the lead.

EMF’s Board Chair, Prof Hugh Grantham ASM outlines the importance of EMF’s support for all emergency clinicians.

“In 2018, EMF decided to broaden Principal Eligibility so that all emergency clinicians can apply for our funding. Research is a team sport, and it has been fantastic to see EMF funding offer being taken up by emergency nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals.”

“Nurses represent a significant proportion of the emergency healthcare workforce, and the value of their perspective and contribution cannot be understated. In recent years, EMF has succeeded in encouraging a steady increase in the number of nurses applying for and obtaining research grants.”

For many nurses, EMF support has created a highly attractive complementary career pathway, with a number of EMF grant recipients having established themselves as successful nurse-researchers: Prof Julia Crilly OAM, Dr Grace Xu and Prof Donna Franklin, grant recipients in EMF’s latest grant round, have all been supported by EMF throughout their research careers.

Prof Crilly received a Research Capacity Building grant to develop and undertake research of importance for Robina Hospital ED. Dr Xu’s research focuses on improving outcomes and experiences for patients needing a peripheral intravenous catheter in the ED. A/Prof Franklin’s Paris on Country project received EMF funding to supplement a large-scale project aiming to improve care for infants and children presenting with acute respiratory issues to 18 remote hospitals in Far North and North-West Queensland.

Allied Health professionals have also been increasingly involved in emergency care research, with two Emergency Physiotherapy Practitioners awarded an EMF grant in the latest grant round. Laura Hayes from Redlands Hospital is investigating the feasibility of point-of-care ultrasound conducted by physiotherapists to diagnose high ankle sprains in EDs. Richard Anderson from the Prince Charles Hospital received an Emerge grant to assess the effectiveness and safety of physiotherapists injecting local anaesthetics to treat finger or toe fractures and dislocations.

Emerge grants offer opportunities for clinicians new to research with minimal experience to dive into the world of research. They are supported by mentors with the necessary guidance as they navigate their first steps into emergency medicine research.

EMF’s Queensland Research Program offers research grants twice a year to all emergency clinicians working in public EDs and at the Queensland Ambulance Service and Retrieval Services Queensland. 

EMF thanks the Queensland Government for its support for this program through Queensland Health.

Visit the Grants Awarded page for more information.

Successful grants in EMF Queensland Research Program Round 41