ANZCA Foundation named research awards 2026
Twelve ANZCA Foundation named research awards for 2026 were presented to worthy recipients at the ANZCA Foundation Reception.
Research Committee chair and ANZCA councillor Associate Professor Stuart Marshall announced the awards and presented certificates to the recipients. Foundation general manager Rob Packer gave highlights of the achievements of foundation-supported fellows in research and health equity, and thanked donors including the college. ANZCA President Professor Dave Story spoke to the large audience of Foundation donors, friends, and researchers about challenges in, and opportunities for, the advancement of the specialties through high-quality academic and clinical research.
The award recipients were:
The Harry Daly Research Award for the highest-ranked grant
Dr Chris Bain, Alfred Health and Monash University, and his team, for “Understanding Sex-Specific Infection Risks After Cardiac Surgery: The CALIPSO Multi-omic Study”.
The Academic Enhancement Grant Award
Professor Simon Mitchell, University of Auckland, and his team, for “Exploring the impact of pre-dive exercise and microparticles on venous gas emboli formation after diving”.
The Russell Cole Memorial ANZCA Research Award (for a study in pain medicine)
Dr Porhan Kang, Flinders Medical Centre, and his team, for “Proof-of-concept translation study for a biosensor-based blood test to enhance chronic pain diagnosis and treatment.”
The John Boyd Craig ANZCA Research Award (for a study in pain medicine)
Dr Chris Hayes, Hunter Medical Research Institute, and his team, for “A Personalised Anti-inflammatory NuTRition studY for chronic pain (PANTRY): a pilot randomised controlled trial”.
The ANZCA Innovation and Technology Research Award
Dr Liam O’Doherty, Perth Children’s Hospital, and his team, for “AI & Large Language Models Generating Positive Paediatric Anaesthesia Trial Outcomes (ALLIGATOR)”.
The Elaine Lillian Kluver ANZCA Research Award
Dr Angela Tognolini, The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and her team, for “Plasma concentrations and outcomes of an optimised intraoperative lidocaine infusion regimen in patients with obesity”.
The Patricia Mackay ANZCA Research Award (for a study in education or patient safety)
Associate Professor Neil Hauser, Perth Children’s Hospital, and his team, for “SEALION: a Study on the Effectiveness of Additional oxygenation in Little children during Intubation using Oxygenation delivered by Nasal cannula”
The ANZCA Patrons Emerging Investigator Grant
Dr Kate Goldstone, from Waikato Hospital, and her team, for “Investigating the impact of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist semaglutide on the gastric pacemaker.”
Provisional/New Fellow ANZCA Research Award
Dr Sophie Liang, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, and her team, for her Professional Practice Research Grant, for “GOPRO Trial: A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial of goal-directed neuromuscular block monitoring and management “
The W. John Russell ANZCA Research Award (for a study in anaethestic engineering, education, or patient safety)
Dr Steven McGuigan, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, and his team, for “Identifying EEG biomarkers that predict postoperative delirium in older adults undergoing anaesthesia and surgery”
The Robin Smallwood Bequest
Professor André Van Zundert and Associate Professor Michelle Roets, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and The University of Queensland, and team, for “Reconciling pre- and postsynaptic effects of general anaesthesia in a mouse model”
The Skantha Vallipuram ANZCA Research Scholarship
Dr Michael Boules, The Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, to support the objectives of his PhD at the university of Queensland, through his study “Density spectral array, can it add a layer of safety against inadvertent disconnection in total intravenous anaesthesia?”
Sincere thanks to all research grant applicants and our dedicated voluntary reviewers for their significant efforts. We encourage all eligible applicants to apply in future grant rounds.
