Herston Healthcare Symposium | Metro North Health

After so much planning and preparation, the three days of this wonderful event seem to go by so quickly, in a flurry of activity.

I would like to acknowledge the Symposium Steering Committee, headed by Associate Professor Joel Dulhunty and Susan Taylor, who led all that planning and brought this whole event together so successfully.

Their hard work over many months paid off, as the program this year was exceptional, and that was reflected in a great attendance across the three days – the Education Centre was buzzing.

There were hundreds of attendees present, as well as: 187 submitted abstracts, 70 printed posters on display, 61 e-posters on display, 45 reviewers of abstracts, 39 oral presentations and eight exhibition tables.

Other highlights included the panel discussion, ‘Innovative research pathways for clinicians and consumers’, The Great Debate on whether quantitative research is better than qualitative and the Keynote Presentation by Professor Elizabeth Powell, ‘Aspiring clinician- researchers – the Herston Health Precinct needs you!’

Many people commented on the ambiance provided by the Stairwell Project Musicians throughout the event – a lovely touch. Thank you to our presenters, organisers, sponsors and to everyone who participated.

Lastly I’d like to congratulate the award winners across the eight categories, all very deserving amid stiff competition:

Award Winners

Award	Winner	Title	Highly Commended	Title
Allied Health Research Award	Elise Byrne	MOVIN in ICU: An observational study of mobiliasation on vasopressors & inotropes in intensive care	Clare Burns	Co-design, development, and evaluation of an immersie virtual reality therapy tool for communication rehabilitations
Dr Stephen Morrison Best Clinical Research Award	Julie Wixey	Impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration of neurodevelopmental outcomes in small for gestational age neonates	A / Professor James Roberts & Dr Kerstin Pannek	Advanced neonatal brain MRI and EEG for prediction of neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Consumer Partnership in Research Award	Dale Trevor	How good was your meal? Partnering with consumers to improve the quality of hospital food.	Laura Austin & Jenny Kirby	Improving information provision and shared-care planning in Kidney Supportive Care (KSC): a consumer engagement project.
Professor William Egerton Best Discovery and Innovation Research Award	Jaikrishna Balakittnen	Beyond conventional biopsies: The promise of salivary miRNAs in the diagnosis and prediction of oral cancer	Dr Selin Pars	Anti-seizure medication screening in epilepsy patient-derived brain organoids
Professor Lawrie Powell AC Early Career Research Award	Dr Aurélie Benfield	Cyclic host-defense peptides kill proliferative, non-proliferative anddrug-resistant melanoma cells without inducing resistance	Dr Jessica Schults & Dr Jessica Rahman	Predicting central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)
Higher Degree Research Award	Hannah Olufson	From documents to digital: Co-design nutrition videos to improve patient care	Jaikrishna Balakittnen	Beyond conventional biopsies: The promise of salivary miRNAs in the diagnosis and prediction of oral cancer
Nursing & Midwifery Research Award	Dr Deanne August	Neonatal skin injury measurement: A prognostic and feasibility trial	Alexandra Cation & Lorraine Garry	One-year evaluation of the Metro North Adolescent and Young Adult Kidney Clinic
Professor Jeffrey Lipman AM Best Translational Research Award	Dr Jen Setchell, Caroline Zanussi & Morgan Brodhurst-Hill	What does propa collaborative design of a persistent pain service for mob really look like?	Associate Professor Helen MacLaughlin & Marguerite Conley	A journey through low energy diets in adults with kidney disease: insights from the SLOW CKD feasibility study