More than $3 million over five years allocated to new research units will boost South Western Sydney Local Health District’s reputation as an international hub of medical innovation.
The prestigious academic unit program, established in 2015, addresses the district’s most important health issues and inspires and motivates staff members to achieve ground breaking health outcomes.
The program has three levels – establishment of the unit (level one), enhancement of research (level two) and recognition as an academic unit (level three).
This year funding has been provided to establish two new research units:
- Women’s Health Initiative Translational Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District (Professor Annemarie Hennessy),
- South West Institute for Limb Preservation and Woundcare, Liverpool Hospital (Dr Matthew Malone).
In addition, two projects have been recognised with enhancement funds to further develop their research. They are:
- BestSTART-SW (System Transformation and Research Translation – South West Sydney): Children, Young People and Families health research translation unit, Liverpool Hospital (Professor Valsamma Eapen),
- Gut and the Microbiome: Role in Health and Disease, Liverpool Hospital (Associate Professor Susan Connor).
The two new units will receive $2.25 million over five years while the enhancement funds of $1.05 million over the same period will assist the two already established units to continue their research.
The NSW Government invested $58.8 million for teaching, training and research in the South Western Sydney Local Health District in 2018-19.
Of this amount, approximately $15 million is invested in research.
South Western Sydney Local Health District chief executive Amanda Larkin says the funding would assist the units to build expert teams who will conduct clinical trials, initiate research, deliver cutting-edge care and ultimately revolutionise health outcomes.
“I would like to congratulate the teams who have been awarded this important funding and recognition,” Ms Larkin said.
“We are proud to invest in our academic units to bring the latest innovations and treatment to provide safe and quality care to our community.
“It is inspiring to see the continuing high standard of research in south western Sydney and I look forward to seeing these units further develop our health services in such important clinical areas.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Our units will bring advances in care not only to our region but our nation and the world.’’[/social_quote]
South Western Sydney is the only Health District in the state to fund an academic unit program, reflecting a key direction of its Strategic Plan 2018-2021 to build its reputation as a leader in research and training and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
The title of academic unit is awarded to departments which provide services to patients which are multi-disciplinary, cover certain health problems or diseases and are based on one or more facilities in the health district.
The District’s academic units continue to conduct research in fields such as endocrinology and neurophysiology.
