Spinnaker-Health Research Foundation

Researchers get a helping hand thanks to Spinnaker

Researchers at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Fremantle Hospital and collaborating universities will share in $360,000 worth of grants and scholarships to pursue innovative medical research, helping improve the health of the south metropolitan community.

Awarded as part of Spinnaker Health Research Foundation’s annual grants program, the grants will support a diverse range of projects in areas such as heart failure, cancer, diabetes, postnatal depression and burns.

Among the winners was Fiona Stanley Hospital Clinical Psychologist Dr Melanie Burkhardt, who received an Edith Hearn Bequest Grant for her work evaluating the effects of behavioural intervention on self-care and psychological wellbeing in adults with complex diabetes. This project will be conducted at Fremantle Hospital.

Exercise Physiology Professional Lead Associate Professor Andrew Maiorana received a Spinnaker Grant for his team’s work in determining why exercise intolerance in chronic heart failure patients is so severe and improving quality of life for these patients.

Also awarded was Senior Physiotherapist Associate Professor Dale Edgar and his team who are looking at the effect of individualised prehabilitation exercise programs on recovery time and outcomes for patients undergoing scar surgery.

Foundation Chairman Mark Balfour acknowledged the support of the South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS), saying a shared vision was vital in advancing local medical research

“Collaboration with SMHS hospitals has been integral to our success in fostering a prolific research culture in the south metropolitan area,” Mark said.

“We are indebted for the support and strong common vision shared by SMHS A/Chief Executive Paul Forden and hospital group A/Executive Director Janet Zagari.”

The Foundation has awarded more than 235 health research projects over the past 20 years, investing well over than $3 million in medical research grants, PhD scholarships and research equipment.