Research
STARS Education and Research Alliance
Research is essential to advancing healthcare, – driving innovation, improving outcomes, and ensuring care is evidence-based and responsive to community needs. The Alliance brings together world-leading researchers, clinicians, and educators to create knowledge and embed clinical research that transforms patient outcomes and clinical care. Our aim is that every patient in STARS is offered the opportunity to take part in research and every staff member is aware and able to undertake research at different levels.
As a research-active healthcare facility, we’ve led or collaborated on more than 130 research projects, with over 70 projects currently active (that is, in data collection, analysis, or dissemination) and many projects in development. The SERA team has developed a range of initiatives, processes, and resources to provide governance, strategy direction and support for research-related activities in STARS. If you’re interested in collaborating with STARS on a research project, please visit the conduct research page.
Since 2021, the Alliance has been awarded over $70 million in research funding. Our staff and students have received more than 70 national and institutional awards and together, we’ve published more than 350 peer-reviewed articles. We encourage any individual (whether employed by UQ or Metro North) to include the Alliance affiliation on their outputs, especially where it involves research collaboration with STARS, or it involves STARS patients or STARS facilities. This will help us to promotes the important partnership between the University of Queensland and Metro North and STARS as a research-active hospital. For more information on author affiliations on outputs, please refer to this guide.
Think Tanks
SERA staff coordinate multiple events each year that bring together clinicians, researchers, consumers, and policy makers to explore future research projects, consider applications for funding and foster dialogue across teams within and external to STARS. For example, during the planning of the Falls in Stroke randomised controlled trial, a dedicated Think Tank meeting engaged experts in hospital care, community health, telehealth, health economics, and research to design recruitment and follow-up strategies for stroke patients in STARS and other hospitals.
CAT groups
Our Critical Appraisal Topic (CAT) groups offer a collaborative space for clinicians, researchers, consumers, and health librarians to explore and answer important clinical questions, ensuring clinical practice is informed by the best available evidence. Learn more about the CAT process and watch a short introductory video created by UQ librarians on developing clinical questions for CATs (YouTube).
Between 2021 and 2024, the SERA team supported 18 CAT groups engaging 176 participants across diverse professional backgrounds, including nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, health librarians, researchers, and consumers. Interprofessional collaboration is a core feature of our approach: 88% of CAT groups involved two or more specific disciplines and one-third included representation from nursing, allied health, and medical professions.
We are evaluating the impact of CAT groups and how they have informed clinical care. For example, one CAT group explored the evidence on reducing surgical site infections, which led to clinician training and changes to patient care. Finalised reports from these groups are available in our “CAT Bank” in the reports and resources website. We are currently working with consumers to develop processes and resources that support meaningful consumer involvement in future CAT groups.
To propose a future CAT group topic, please email STARS_Research@health.qld.gov.au
Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI)
In 2021, we embedded consumer and community involvement (CCI) as a core part of the Alliance’s Strategic Plan. Building on this commitment, we established the STARS Research Consumer Network in early 2022 to bring the vision of ‘no research about us, without us’ to life. This initiative provides meaningful opportunities for consumers and community members to contribute to research, across all stages of the research cycle, and to shape the education of tomorrow’s healthcare professionals. For more information see the CCI in research webpage.
Building clinician research capacity
STARS has an active program to support clinician researchers through its partnership between The University of Queensland and Metro North. SERA is actively building clinician research capacity by providing tailored support and mentoring, strategic initiatives, resources and opportunities for research experience and collaboration. Through activities such as think-tanks, CAT groups, STARS support grants and our newly established internship program, clinicians are supported to develop research skills, engage in evidence-based practice, and lead or contribute to impactful studies. Learn more about how our nursing conjoint is supporting research capacity development for STARS nurses.
Research support and contacts
- The STARS Research Committee is chaired by Professor Pip Logan. Queries via the committee secretary on STARS_EducationandResearch@health.qld.gov.au
- The STARS Research Support Officer (RSO) supports the STARS Research Portfolio, working collaboratively with research stakeholders including researchers, clinicians, consumers, and support staff to enable the development, approval and conduct of clinical research projects at STARS. If you have a question about Metro North or STARS research processes including ethics and governance submissions, or research funding applications, please contact STARS_research@health.qld.gov.au
- The Project Officer, Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) supports the STARS Research Consumer Network and consumer involvement in research, with major input into Standard 2 initiatives and reporting for STARS. Email stars_researchconsumer@health.qld.gov.au
- If you have any STARS-related research achievements/outcomes (publications, funding, awards), research translation and impact stories that you’d like to share or promote, please contact the Conjoint Senior Manager on susan.sullivan@uq.edu.au
Spotlight on STARS projects
Title:
Implementation of heart rate variability biofeedback for emotional self-regulation (Bio-E.R.) during rehabilitation
Investigators
Elizabeth Beadle, Emmaline Falconer, Hannah McGlashan
Synopsis:
This project is exploring the use of heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback as a tool to support patients undergoing rehabilitation at STARS. HRV biofeedback is a simple technique where patients learn to regulate their breathing and heart rhythms through real-time feedback. By practicing these strategies, patients may improve their ability to manage stress, regulate emotions, and support recovery during their rehabilitation journey. The aim of the project is to understand how HRV biofeedback can be used in a busy hospital rehabilitation setting, and how it might improve patient wellbeing and engagement in therapy. Patients are guided to practice short exercises using biofeedback equipment, with the goal of helping them feel calmer, more focused, and better able to participate in their rehabilitation. This project is still in the implementation and early evaluation phase. If successful, HRV biofeedback could become a practical, low-cost tool for helping rehabilitation patients manage stress, support emotional wellbeing, and enhance participation in therapy.
Title:
Co-designing an action plan to deliver high quality and accessible rehabilitation services for Queenslanders.
Investigators:
Niru Mahendran, David Copland, Lisa Anemaat, Haylee Kajewski, Andrew Wong, Rohan Grimley, Emmah Doig, Jess Riggall, Dan Trestrail, Cate Cameron, Brooke Wadsworth, Kim Scott, Ben Hackwood, Bernie Sharpe, Meredith Ogilvie-Brown, Vikram Joshi
Synopsis:
The number of Australians living with disability is increasing, with 5.5million Australians (21.4%) now living with long-term disability. Hospital-based rehabilitation is an effective solution for reducing disability. However, only 13% of patients can do everything they previously did when returning home from hospital-based rehabilitation. This project, funded by the RBHW Foundation, builds on our previous work highlighting gaps in quality and access to rehabilitation services. It will bring together a diverse team of people with lived experience of our rehabilitation services, and those who work to deliver and innovate in rehabilitation, to collaboratively develop and prioritise solutions and co-design ways to improve how we deliver rehabilitation. This will enable targeted and coordinated efforts to improve service design that will enable improved patient experience and outcomes for over 4200 Australians who access STARS rehabilitation services each year.
Title:
Implementation of the Comprehensive, High-dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT) at the Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service.
Investigators:
Jade Dignam, David Copland, Kate O’Brien, Kirstine Shrubsole, Kylie Short, Emma O’Neill, Katherine Roxas Penni Burfein, Jessica Campbell, Adele Coleman, Caitlin Fraser, Jessica Halpin, Annie Hill, Renee Stuckey, Hannah Wedley.
Synopsis:
Intensive, Comprehensive Aphasia Programs (ICAPs) are considered the gold-standard of aphasia rehabilitation, however, they are rarely realised in clinical practice. The Comprehensive, High-dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT) program is a modified-ICAP, incorporating 50 hours of evidence-based, goal-directed aphasia therapy delivered over 8 weeks. In a clinical-research collaboration, the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) partnered with the Queensland Aphasia Research Centre (QARC), to evaluate the clinical implementation and effectiveness of CHAT when delivered as part of the STARS speech pathology service.
Outcomes and impact:
Thirty-five people were trained in the delivery of CHAT at STARS (including speech pathologists, students and allied health assistants). Fourteen cohorts of CHAT were delivered by the STARS speech pathology service as part of the hybrid clinical implementation and effectiveness study. Sixty-eight patients with post-stroke aphasia participated in CHAT. A high dose of CHAT therapy was achieved (mean = 47 hours), with a 97% program completion rate. CHAT resulted in positive gains in participants’ language impairment, functional communication, communication-confidence and quality of life immediately post-CHAT (p < .05) and therapy gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up.
The feasible and acceptable implementation of CHAT has resulted in service-level changes within Metro North Health Service, including the successful translation of the clinical-research service to usual care within the STARS Day Rehabilitation service. CHAT is the first program of its kind to be embedded within an Australian healthcare service and this outcome enables access to high-value, person-centred care.
This partnership has also resulted in upskilling of the allied health workforce, with a multidisciplinary CHAT case conference, interprofessional group therapy, and 35 allied health professionals trained in the delivery of CHAT at STARS. The CHAT partnership has won multiple awards, including the Queensland Health Research Excellence Award for embracing research and innovation. CHAT is now being implemented at sites in QLD, South Australia, and NSW as part of a NHMRC Partnership Grant.
Title:
CollaborativeEd: Co-designing digital learning for enhanced consumer involvement in healthcare
Investigators:
Kimberley Baxter, Lisa Anemaat, Scott Harding, Hannah Olufson, Peter Window, Karina O’Leary, Adrienne Young, Jo Sherring, David Copeland, Gail Robinson, Tamsin Mahoney, Ben Ballard, Shona Clayton
Synopsis:
CollaborativeEd will strengthen the capability of health professionals and researchers at the Herston Precinct to collaborate more effectively with consumers and the community. Consumers are “people who access or may need access to health services, including their family and carers” (MH Health). Involving consumer perspectives in the design and improvement of healthcare and research is crucial for delivering quality, patient-centred services.
Building on a previous project, this work will create a learning package tailored to staff needs to fill a recognised training gap. Staff and consumers will co-design the package. The project will use a novel digital learning approach called microlearning, which breaks down information into single-concept modules. These modules are delivered via media-rich web links that facilitate learning through short, engaging sessions. Participants will receive these targeted modules via SMS, allowing flexible learning. CollaborativeEd will be piloted with 100-150 staff members and evaluated for engagement, knowledge, acceptability, and satisfaction. The project, funded by the RBWH Foundation, is currently under ethical review and is expected to start in early 2026.
Concept mock-up of CollaborativeEd Consumer Involvement Foundations microlearning course, creator view
Title:
Informing a national system-level approach to coordinated secondary prevention support for adults living with stroke.
Investigators:
Niru Mahendran, Lisa Anemaat, Nicole Freene, Rohan Grimley, Suzanne Kuys, Andrew Wong, Natasha Lai
Synopsis:
Adults living with stroke are at a higher risk of having another stroke, with one in three experiencing another stroke within their first five years. One way of reducing the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular events is through improved, tailored and well-timed secondary prevention strategies, such as education on lifestyle (e.g. improving diet, increasing physical activity, stopping smoking), diagnosing and prescribing medications for new health conditions that increase risk of another stroke (e.g. high blood pressure, cholesterol, irregular heart rhythms) or targeted behaviour change treatments. While there has been improvement in the provision of secondary prevention support after stroke across Australia over the past few decades, our rates of recurrent stroke and cardiovascular events remain high. To help develop such a national system-level approach, we need to understand current practice and needs of stroke care coordinators, health professionals and adults with lived experience of stroke. Thus, we aim to co-create a national, system-level approach (and implementation plan) to deliver long-term secondary prevention support after stroke across two phases. Phase 1: includes a national survey to identify gaps and needs across Australia’s post-stroke services; potential referral pathways and opportunities to meet secondary prevention support needs and guide design of the approach in phase-2. Phase-2: utilising co-design with adults affected by stroke, their significant others, healthcare professionals, health managers, and private organisations, we will co-create a National, system-level approach to secondary prevention (with implementation strategy).
Title:
Consumers shaping our future workforce through interprofessional simulation
Investigators:
Geerthika Galister, Karina O’Leary, Christy Noble, Lisa Anemaat, Joanna Mollison, Leanne Hepnar, Elizabeth Beadle, Kate Schultz, Dale Trevor, Sandra Thornton, Jason Warnock, Adriana Penman.
Synopsis:
Person-centred care places the patient’s needs, goals, and preferences at the heart of therapy and treatment planning. While this is a vital skill, it can be challenging to teach effectively. Many Australian healthcare students learn the principles of person-centred care but struggle to apply them in real-world clinical settings—including across Metro North Health. Simulation-based training is one proven method for developing these skills. Traditionally, staff members act as patients in these sessions. This project, funded by the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation Research Grant, aims to enhance the authenticity and impact of simulation training by partnering with consumers—individuals with lived experience of our healthcare services—to take on the role of the patient. By co creating a toolkit this research bridges this gap by developing a toolkit to enable effective recruitment, training, and active involvement, including student feedback.
By involving consumers directly in simulation-based education, we aim to improve the quality of teaching and better prepare students to deliver truly person-centred care. This approach empowers consumers to shape the future healthcare workforce and reflects Metro North’s commitment to meaningful consumer involvement. Through this project, we will gain valuable insights into how consumer-led simulations influence educational practices. These findings will inform future refinements to simulation design. Planned follow-up research will evaluate the impact of this approach on student learning outcomes, clinical behaviours, and the quality of care delivered by graduates.
Title:
Enhancing interprofessional collaborative practice – Harmony in healthcare
Investigators and Co-designers:
Karina O’Leary, Rebecca Olson, Lisa Anemaat and Nadine Foster
Synopsis:
Healthcare professionals are like musicians—each skilled in their own discipline. Interprofessional collaborative practice can be considered the was musicians come together with patients and carers to deliver care. The harmony of this collaboration is shaped by the local context, influencing how teams work together.
Karina’s PhD research program uses experience-based co-design to explore and enhance current rehabilitation practices. Through staff and leadership surveys, practice observations, and interviews with patients, families, and staff, we examine how teams interact—particularly during team meetings. These insights are shared with local teams, who then co-design tailored interventions to strengthen interprofessional collaboration and improve patient care.
Title:
A randomised controlled trial to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of the Stroke Action Falls rehabilitation program compared to usual care alone to reduce falls in stroke survivors: the FISS-Australia trial
Investigators:
Emmah Doig, Nadine Foster, Pip Logan, Niru Mahendran, Aparna Arjunan, Jennifer Muller in collaboration with a national team
Synopsis:
Up to 75% of stroke survivors fall, with most falls occurring at home in the first year after stroke, which can have devastating impacts including injury and reduced confidence due to fear of falling impacting participation in everyday activities. There is surprisingly little evidence about how to reduce falls after stroke and high quality randomised trials are needed. Stroke Action Falls is a systematic falls prevention intervention involving clinician-led assessment of falls risks, followed by personalised action planning. This NHRMC funded, national, randomised controlled trial will determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Stroke Action Falls in stroke survivors who are discharged from hospital to home.
The FISS-Australia trial involves hospital sites across Australia, including STARS clinicians and patients, with STARS being the lead site for tele-delivery of Stroke Action Falls to participants across Australia. The FISS-Australia trial is being conducted in parallel with FISS-UK (two trials, running in parallel across two countries). Together, FISS-Australia and FISS-UK will provide world-leading evidence to inform policy and practice internationally.
Falls in stroke survivors Australia logo
Title:
Investigating Unmet Needs For Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People Impacted by Prostate Cancer
Investigators:
Natasha Roberts, Saira Sanjida, Jonathan Leitch, Gail Garvey
Synopsis:
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and the third most common cause of cancer death in 2020. Across the Metro-North of Queensland, 5-year survival rates are lower than the national average. Based on national data available, we estimate that these are a further 20% lower for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
This study is a collaboration between the Indigenous Urban Institutes for Indigenous Health (IUIH), The University of Queensland (UQ) and Metro North Health (MNH). Using funding from the Research Alliance for Urban Goori Health (RAUGH) scheme, this research has been building a better understanding of what is needed to guide co-designed intervention studies to directly meet the needs of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people when impacted by prostate cancer.
Title:
Reverse or Anatomical (replacement) for Painful Shoulder Osteoarthritis: Differences between Interventions (RAPSODI)
Investigators:
Nadine Foster and Jonathan Quicke, in collaboration with a national team led by Richard Page
Synopsis:
Shoulder replacement for osteoarthritis (OA) has grown rapidly across the globe and in Australia, yet there is very little evidence to base decisions about which type of shoulder replacement to offer to patients. This NHMRC funded, multicentre, randomised controlled trial is investigating if reverse shoulder replacement is superior to anatomical shoulder replacement at improving shoulder pain and function, and it also is investigating the comparative cost-effectiveness of the two approaches.
The RAPSODI trial involves many clinical sites in Australia, including STARS clinicians and patients, and is being conducted in parallel with RAPSODI-UK (so two trials, one in Australia and one in the UK). Investigating the best surgical treatment for OA of the shoulder will benefit the many Australians who suffer from the condition.
RAPSODI AUS logo
Title:
Beyond Words: Silent Films for supporting multicultural consent and decision making in medical settings
Investigators:
Lisa Anemaat, David Copland, Pip Logan, Tamara Robson, Diana Padilla, Clare Burns, Emmah Doig, Natasha Roberts, Kim Baxter, Ben Ballard, Gail Robinson, Tamsin Mohoney, Pamella D’Netto, and Karina O’Leary
Synopsis:
Every year, a significant part of healthcare expenditure is allocated to ensure effective communication with patients who have limited English proficiency, crucial for providing quality care and ensuring patient safety. However, managing all language groups is just not possible, and often, for those from minority groups, an interpreter with the appropriate language skills is not available. We are serious about reducing the health equity divide, and finding ways to address the under-representation of multicultural peoples in health and medical research. Health outcomes and responses to treatments vary significantly across cultural, racial and ethnic groups. Ensuring people from multicultural backgrounds are involved in research, can result in therapies that are optimally effective for all. Silent Films, a communication medium that relies on visual storytelling rather than words to convey meaning, have been used across cultures since the late 1800’s. Beyond Words draws from the genre of ‘silent films’, to employ wordless-visual storytelling using 2D animation, to convey complex ideas through images, gestures, and expressions to transcend cultural divides.
Title:
Shoulder Osteoarthritis Research Priorities
Investigators:
Jonathan Quicke, Nadine Foster, Ritwika Vinayagam, Kim Bennell, David Hunter, Ilana Ackerman, Brooke Conley, Samantha Bunzli, Richard Page, Rachelle Buchbinder, Hugh Seward, Jonathan Gower, Jessica Neri, Lisa Anemaat, Julie Ayre, Chris Beanland, Sue Williamson, Aunty Maureen Woodward, Shirani Wright, Nicole Rayner, Ben Darlow, Kore Tombs, John Stevens, Helen Ingoe
Synopsis:
Joint pain due to shoulder osteoarthritis is common and disabling. The impact of this condition on patients, families and the healthcare system is growing. However, unlike osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, much of clinical practice for people with shoulder osteoarthritis is not based on research evidence. To improve the care and management of people with shoulder osteoarthritis there is a need to first identify and then prioritise important questions for future research.
The Shoulder Osteoarthritis Research (SOAR) study is a research priority setting partnership between people with shoulder osteoarthritis, expert clinicians, arthritis charities, policy-makers and research leaders across Australia and New Zealand. It uses a highly respected research method called a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership. The study has five key steps: 1) An initial online survey of patients, carers and clinicians to identify areas of clinical uncertainty and research questions of interest; 2) Categorisation of unanswered research questions into themes; 3) A second online survey to help prioritise unanswered questions; 4) The top 25 unanswered research priorities will then be considered at a workshop to agree on a ‘top 10’; 5) Sharing the ‘top 10’ priorities with key interest holders including health and medical research funders. This study will impact future international shoulder osteoarthritis research and funding and will, in turn, transform shoulder osteoarthritis care. To find out more, or take part see our SOAR website.
SOAR Logo
Full title:
Technology-enhanced, group-based (TEG) model of hand therapy management versus usual care following carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgery: a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial.
Investigators:
Emma Taylor, Trevor Russell, Emma Ballard, Haitham Tuffaha, Mohammadreza Amiri, Tamsin Mahoney, Semele Robinson (CCI), Ridzwan Namazie, Nadine Foster, Caroline Wegrzyn, Emmah Doig
Synopsis:
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy, affecting 3-4% of the population. At STARS, carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgery is the most common hand/upper limb surgical procedure, with over 400 surgeries performed between February 2021 to March 2023. Usual hand therapy post CTR is in-person, one-to-one outpatient therapy. Given the high volume of CTR surgeries, we will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of new model of care – technology-enhanced, group-based hand therapy (TEG). The TEG model has the potential to increase efficiency and access, reduce costs and meet demand.
Outcomes and impact:
This study has led to clinical practice change locally to enable sustained implementation of TEG including scheduling to accommodate booking of group sessions to meet demand, and to achieve service efficiencies, routine offering of telehealth for post-CTR review appointments in addition to in-person, and routine offer of the developed app-based home program in addition to a paper-based option depending on patient preference. Other health services have contacted the research team to explore implementation of aspects into their health services, including Prince Charles Hospital, Gold Coast Hospital, QEII Hospital, PA Hospital and Roma Hospital.
- Capacity building: This research was led by STARS clinician Emma Taylor with mentoring by OT conjoint Dr Emmah Doig. Interprofessional research team included a consumer, nursing, medical and AH professionals and academic researchers.
- 32 patients recruited: usual care (1:1 F2F appointments, paper-based home program) versus technology-enhanced, group-based (TEG) care: group-based F2F and telehealth follow up plus app-based home program.
- TEG hand therapy was feasible and acceptable to patients.
- TEG cost saving of $42 per participant
- Four conference presentations, paper in preparation
- Supported by HP Research Scheme (2023) grant
- Awarded one of the ‘best posters and pitches’ award at the QLD Health Research Excellence Showcase on 30th May 2025
Title:
Co-creating virtual environments with consumers to enhance self-awareness and preparedness for home after brain injury
Investigators and Co-designers:
Emmah Doig, Sarah Prescott, Lisa Anemaat, Elizabeth Beadle, Nadine Foster, Jennifer Muller (CCI) and a wider team of researchers and clinicians across STARS, Metro North, RECOVER and UQ. Codesign team members are STARS consumers, STARS clinicians and virtual reality developers.
Synopsis:
Safely trying community activities during hospital rehabilitation to understand abilities after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is challenging. Immersive virtual reality (VR) offers a potential solution. VR can simulate everyday scenarios providing opportunity to practice in safe environments. However, currently there has been limited development of VR scenarios for use in clinical settings, especially ones that have been co-designed together with people with TBI and clinicians. This project aimed to co-design, develop and test a VR-based intervention to increase confidence and preparedness for home after brain injury.
A series of workshops and co-design advisory group meetings were held over a ten-month period to design VR Brain Aware. The co-design team included STARS clinicians and consumers with lived experience of TBI or caring for a person with TBI, SERA researchers and VR developers. As well as co-designing a home and transport simulation, a facilitator application was designed in conjunction with a tutorial to enable people with TBI to learn how to use immersive VR. The next step will to be to assess the feasibility of the codesigned VR-based intervention at STARS with STARS patients through-out 2026.
The VR Brain Aware co-design team creating the scenarios.
A STARS clinician testing the virtual reality scenarios.