Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson today announced a $2.2 million package to support a range of ground-breaking programs in Western Australia's health and medical research and innovation sectors.
A total of nine new projects and initiatives were supported by the McGowan Government's Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund, based on recommendations by the FHRI Fund Advisory Council.
The $2.2 million funding is distributed through the inaugural Innovation Fellowships Program, the Clinician Research Fellowships Program and the Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program.
Under the Clinician Research Fellowships a total of $1.4 million has been allocated to support four recipients. The Clinician Research Fellowships Program provides support to WA Health employees so they can pursue high-quality research projects that will lead to better outcomes in WA's public health system.
An allocation of $600,000 has been made under the inaugural Innovation Fellowships 2022 Program to support five health and medical-related innovation projects. The fellowship funding is used to identify and nurture the development of early-stage innovations. These innovations range from a potential new approach to preventing childhood ear infections to addressing resistance to antibiotics.
In addition to the two fellowship programs, the FHRI Fund has also supported the participation of 21 WA clinicians in the first cohort of the Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program (AusCEP) through a $200,000 contribution. The program is designed to build the entrepreneurial skills of clinicians developing innovations that may reform health service delivery and provide benefit to the treatment of patients.
More details about all the programs can be found on the FHRI Fund website.
As stated by Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson:
"WA is home to some of the most innovative health and medical research and innovation programs being undertaken anywhere in the world.
"The McGowan Government is injecting $2.2 million to support a wide range of exciting and innovative research and innovation fellowships through our Future Health Research and Innovation Fund.
"All of these successful recipients are to be commended for what they have achieved and the amazing work they do to contribute to our burgeoning local medical research and technology sector that has the potential to improve lives around the world.
"The Innovation Fellowship recipients will look at new pathways to combat challenges in our health system. We are proud to be funding and supporting these programs to explore alternative solutions to care and treat more Western Australians.
"Congratulations to this year's four Clinician Research Fellowship recipients, whose research projects have the potential to translate to evidence-based practice and quality health outcomes.
"I would also like to acknowledge and commend the 21 successful AusCEP applicants, which include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and mental health professionals. I wish you good luck and good fortune on your entrepreneur program."
