ANZCA Foundation update - April 2023
13 April 2023
Updates include: ASMR president to speak at foundation cocktail reception, presentation of Named Research Awards, Skantha Vallipuram ANZCA Research Scholarship.
2024 research grant applications
Applications for ANZCA Foundation research grants for projects to commence from January 2024 are now closed. We'd like to thank all applicants for the significant work involved in writing high-quality grant applications, and we hope to once again see a high success rate for this round with as many applicants as possible receiving grants.
Special guest speaker for the foundation cocktail reception
We're delighted to announce that Dr Emily Colvin, President of the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR), will be the special guest speaker at the foundation’s cocktail reception at the upcoming ANZCA Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Sydney.
Dr Colvin is a gynaecological cancer researcher based at the University of Sydney’s Kolling Institute. Her current research has received funding from the Cancer Institute NSW and Cancer Australia, and aims to characterise the role of non-coding RNAs in the ovarian tumour microenvironment, particularly their role in the spread of ovarian cancer. She is also investigating the potential of using “liquid biopsy” rather than tissue biopsy to monitor treatment response in patients with ovarian and endometrial cancers.
She completed her PhD in the Pancreatic Cancer Group at the Garvan Institute in 2011 focussing on aberrations in embryonic signalling pathways in pancreatic cancer, and collaborating on several other projects with researchers and clinicians from the Pancreatic Cancer Group and researchers from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. Twelve publications were produced from these collaborations including in the journals Nature, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Cell Stem Cell.
As an early career scientist, in 2009 Dr Colvin received the NSW Premier’s ‘Outstanding Cancer Research Scholar of the Year’ award, and she also received funding from the University of Sydney to investigate the role of the tumour microenvironment in ovarian cancer.
Dr Colvin is a keen advocate for the health and medical research sector and has been involved with ASMR since 2018, initially as a member of the ASMR NSW Committee, joining the board of directors in 2021 and becoming President of ASMR in November 2022.
The ASMR is the peak professional society representing Australian health and medical research.
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ANZCA Foundation Named Research Awards presentation
A highlight of the foundation reception will be the presentation of the prestigious ANZCA Named Research Awards. These include awards that acknowledge significant donor contributions to support medical research in anaesthesia, pain medicine and perioperative medicine, and the contributions of significant people in the specialties.
Awardees, their funded work, and their research teams will be acknowledged, and principal investigators presented with certificates by
Research Committee deputy chair Dr Matthew Doane. We look forward to celebrating and recognising the leadership and achievements of our inspirational researchers, amid good company, and an excellent range of drinks and canapes.
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Event details
This first ANZCA Foundation face-to-face celebration since the Covid-19 lockdowns will be held in the International Convention Centre’s Cockle Bay 1 room, from 6.30-8pm on Sunday, 7 May. We are delighted to again be able to hold this event for foundation friends and supporters attending the meeting. Delegates can register through the ASM meeting registration page on the ANZCA website.
Environment and Sustainability Research Grant
We continue to seek donor support for this important grant. Any donor interested in supporting the advancement of environmentally sustainable practices in anaesthesia, pain medicine and perioperative medicine is encouraged to donate using the link below or contact the foundation.
Skantha Vallipuram ANZCA Research Scholarship
We've extended the application period for this scholarship – which assists fellows or trainees in establishing their research careers – to 5pm AEST on 28 April 2023.
The
scholarship has been set up by Mrs Asoka Vallipuram as a memorial to Dr Skantha Vallipuram, FANZCA, FFPMANZCA.
The scholarship will support an ANZCA or FPM fellow or trainee novice or emerging investigator enrolled in a higher research degree (PhD, Masters or equivalent) in Australia or New Zealand, and may be used for either a stipend or basic costs of a planned research project.
The maximum amount available for the scholarship is $A15,000. Details and application criteria can be found on the
scholarship page. Please contact the
Research and Administration Coordinator if you require any further details.
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ANZCA clinical trials network
News Zealand platelets trial funded. Congratulations to ANZCA fellows Dr Shay McGuiness and Professor Michael Reade on being awarded an NZ$1.4 million Health Research Council (HRC) of New Zealand grant to run CLIP-II in New Zealand, a definitive trial to determine if cryopreserved platelets are as safe and effective as liquid-stored platelets in high-risk adult cardiac surgery patients.
The ANZCA CTN’s April newsletter is now available.
Thank you all President’s Patrons and donors
Thank you to all of our generous donors and particularly our Patrons, who regularly support our efforts to assist the wonderful work of our fellows in research, and global and Indigenous health.
Contact and support
To donate, please click here.
For queries, contact:
Research grants program:
ANZCA Clinical Trials Network: