A total of $155,000 was awarded towards research grants in the third round of the NSLHD and NORTH Foundation Grants Program towards these five projects:
- A project to determine the utility of whole-body MRI screening in identifying individuals with high tumour burden, and therefore increased cancer risk, to inform ongoing surveillance.
- A study to improve survival rates for liver cancer sufferers by enabling early diagnosis and identification of those at higher risk of cancer development, while minimising physical harm and emotional distress for low-risk groups.
- A study to identify and compare the blood bacterial composition in breast cancer survivors undergoing Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) therapy, specifically distinguishing between those experiencing hot flushes and those without. Secondary aims of the study include exploring the blood microbiome’s relationship with sleep quality, anxiety, depression, joint pain, stiffness and oestrogen levels.
- A project to measure and test the significance of change in muscle quality between pre and post operative periods and estimate the proportion of poor surgical outcomes following rotator cuff repair which will offer insight into whether the functional outcomes of surgery are influenced by muscle degeneration, and by extension, the structural success of the surgery.
- Research to obtain high quality data from those with inherited blood disorders that will allow more clinical guideline recommendations to be grounded in evidence, which will address the many facets required to care for patients and carers, as well as understanding the needs of their families and loved ones.
Applications for the Grants Program are assessed by the NORTH Foundation and the NSLHD Funding Advisory Committee (FAC). The purpose of the FAC is to work in partnership with the NORTH Foundation to distribute untied and semi-tied funds fairly and equitably across the NSLHD.
The Grants Program launched in June 2021 to provide a new opportunity for staff across the NSLHD to access untied funding received from compassionate donors who are committed to healthcare and better patient outcomes. In collaboration with the NSLHD Executive, we are in the process of reviewing the program and how it can continue to support initiatives across the district.
We look forward to being in touch about the Grants Program and when funding opportunities become available. If you have any specific questions or would like to discuss an upcoming project that would a good fit for philanthropic funding, please contact the NORTH Foundation on [email protected].
Click here to learn more about the NSLHD and NORTH Foundation Grants Program.
