Dr Young accepted the award at a ceremony in Melbourne.

“A career in research can be a difficult path to forge, even if you’re lucky to have a great mentor as I do in Professor Phil Morgan. When the finalists were announced I was beyond inspired by the company I found myself in. It’s an honour to be named the overall winner and I can’t wait to use this support to create better health outcomes for men’s health,” said Dr Young.

The Emerging Health Researcher Awards acknowledge the valuable contributions of health researchers to improve the health and wellbeing of our community, and to provide resources and support to aid their career development.

In addition to the prizes awarded to each finalist, a number of nominees were invited to attend a workshop on research impact.

Delivered by Dr Tamika Heiden of Research Impact Academy, the interactive session provided valuable tools to help researchers demonstrate the impact of their work to funding bodies and the community.

Emerging Health Researcher Award 2019 – awarded $20,000 to further the recipient’s research career

Dr Myles Young, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Education, University of Newcastle

Finalists – awarded $5,000 to further each recipient’s research career

Dr Myles Young, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Education, University of Newcastle

Dr Jie Bin Lew, Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Cancer Research Division, Cancer Council NSW

Dr Gemma Sharp, NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow in the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University

Dr Saree Alnaghy, Research Associate, Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, The University of Wollongong

Dr Aideen McInerney-Leo, NHMRC Research Fellow, Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland

To learn more about each of the finalists read our announcement.

Commendations – awarded $1,000 to further each recipient’s research career

Dr Tatiana Soares da Costa, Research Fellow, Latrobe University - Developing new antibiotic products to overcome drug resistant bacteria

Dr Jane Davies, Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Menzies School of Health Research - Working to eliminate Hepatitis B virus in the Northern Territory.

Dr Lining (Arnold) Ju, Postdoctoral Fellow, Heart Research Institute, School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney - Developing biotechnologies for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Dr Mark Deady, Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW - Mental health of high-risk individuals and appropriate interventions.

Dr Kathryn Eastwood, Research Fellow, Critical Care Research, Monash University - Developing novel tools to reduce the burden on emergency health services.

Read more health news

Annette Schmiede, Executive Leader of the Bupa Health Foundation (BHF) announced the two successful recipients of the grants. They are:

• Best care, first time – Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney

• Follow my journey - Central Queensland Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast PHN

​This is the first time BHF has provided funding of this nature under a new grants submission process.

"We believe that these projects show great potential in addressing this pressing healthcare matter for Australia," said Ms Schmiede.

“Mental health has been a focus for the BHF for some time. As a health insurer, Bupa has seen mental health claims growth far exceed all other areas of claims. When talking to the community and Bupa customers we hear consistently that they want community-based care.”

“We undertook considerable testing across the research community and the general community to identify the challenges. We then asked the research sector to respond, with high impact research that would translate into improved services.”

Following an overwhelming response from the research community, the two successful projects were selected for their collaborative approach to research aimed at improving the consumers experience and wellbeing through new models of care.

Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre responded to the BHF’s call with a youth-focused, technology driven proposal. Professor Ian Hickie from the Sydney Brain and Mind Centre said it was important to measure the tangible benefits technology provides in empowering young people to access the best care.

"We want to test whether better coordinated care with new technology saves lives and makes more productive lives by better coordinating the care," said Professor Hickie.

Taking a person-centred approach, the Central Queensland Wide Bay Sunshine Coast PHN use their funding to evaluate and improve on care delivery following the recent introduction of a stepped care model in their region.

Assoc. Professor Pattie Hudson, CEO of Central Queensland Wide Bay Sunshine Coast Primary Health Network, said little is known about how consumers move through various stages of mental health care, or the emotional toll moving between providers may take.

"The research project will use evidence to determine the patterns of service usage across the system, but it will also be heavily informed by the voices and experiences of those that use these services. As far as we know, this will be the first system-wide evaluation of the mental health system from a consumer perspective," said Assoc. Professor Hudson.

This is the seventh year of the award which aims to highlight the important contribution early career researchers make toward improving health and healthcare for Australians.

The finalists have been recognised for their research in the following areas:

• Reducing hospital readmission and death after heart failure

• Reducing obesity through nutrition guidelines and programs in childcare centres

• Using technology to improve the physical and mental health of Australian adolescents

• Identifying new therapies for colorectal cancer using the immune system

Annette Schmiede, Bupa Health Foundation Executive Leader, said the entrants for this year’s awards were quite diverse.

“The role of the Foundation is not only to support research through funding and partnerships, but also to develop the capabilities, skills and networks of researchers to improve the translation of their findings to have real impact on health and care,” said Ms Schmiede.

The Bupa Health Foundation Emerging Health Researcher Award recipient will be announced on 5 December 2018, at an evening event in Melbourne.

Bupa Health Foundation 2018 Emerging Health Researcher Award Finalists

Dr Katrina Champion, Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, NDARC, University of New South Wales

Nominator: Professor Maree Teesson, Director, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use.

Research Area: Using technology to improve the physical and mental health of Australian adolescents

Dr Katrina Champion is currently working to reduce the risk of chronic disease in high school students by helping them to modify key lifestyle risk behaviours.

She has been working with a range of professionals and young people across Australia to develop a digital intervention that uses computers, smart phones and interactive cartoons to educate young people about six key risk behaviours that are associated with chronic disease. The big six risk behaviours are identified as: alcohol use, smoking, inactivity, poor sleep, poor diet and excessive recreational screen time.

Dr Champion will lead a trial to evaluate the Health4Life program among 8,000 Year 7 students across Australia to show if the intervention can improve both physical and mental health during adolescence and reduce risky behaviours before they become entrenched.

Dr Jennifer Huynh, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI)

Nominator: Professor Matthias Ernst, Scientific Director, ONJCRI

Research Area: Identifying new therapies for colorectal cancer using the immune system.

Dr Huynh has a keen interest in understanding how the immune system works and how cancer cells can evade detection by the immune response. She has discovered that a molecule produced in our bodies called IL-11 can drive the growth of tumours, by preventing the immune system from attacking and killing colorectal cancer cells.

Dr Huynh is currently actively working with clinicians, researchers and industry to develop and test drugs that can block IL-11 to deliver a new therapy for cancer patients.

With colorectal cancer being among the deadliest cancers, Dr Huynh’s work has the potential to have lasting impact on the survivorship of Australian’s suffering from colorectal cancer.

Dr Quan Huynh, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

Nominator: Professor Tom Marwick, Director, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

Research Area: Reducing hospital readmission and death after heart failure

Dr Quan Huynh has developed a risk assessment tool to predict patients who are at greater risk of readmission and death following heart failure. With this information cardiologists can target the appropriate interventions to those at high risk. This will not only improve prognosis for patients but will also reduce health care costs.

Dr Huynh has validated the tool with an Australia-wide sample of heart failure patients and his findings on the interventions are already being adopted into clinical practice. The next step for his research is to improve efficiency by integrating mobile technology into the care of heart failure patients after hospital discharge. This model of care also has promising potential to help solve the barriers of those living in rural or remote areas.

Dr Serene Yoong, University of Newcastle

Nominator: Associate Professor Luke Wolfenden, MHMRC Career Development Fellow, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle

Research Area: Reducing obesity through nutrition guidelines and programs in childcare centres

Dr Yoong’s background as a behavioural scientist and experienced dietician has led to her research to help prevent obesity in children by implementing effective nutrition guidelines and programs in childcare centres.

Dietary habits are established in early childhood and can persist into adulthood, so by educating the childcare centres and giving them the right tools, knowledge, resources and support, Dr Yoong aims to reduce the burden of obesity. Dr Yoong is actively applying her research by engaging with end-users to deliver effective and scalable strategies targeting an important population group.

In addition to the four finalists, four outstanding nominees have been recognised with Commendation Awards and will receive a $1,000 prize.

• Dr Jing Jing Wang, Flinders University of South Australia

• Dr Natalie Bradford, Queensland University of Technology

• Dr Annmarie Hosie, University of Technology Sydney

• Dr Bridget Kelly, School of Health and Society and Early Start, University of Wollongong

Previous Emerging Health Researcher Award winners:

2017 Dr Amanda McCullough, Bond University

2016 Associate Professor Gail Garvey, Menzies School of Health Research

2015 Dr Gabrielle McCallum, Menzies School of Health Research.

2014 Dr Greg Ebert, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

2013 Dr Andy Hsu, Peter McCallum Cancer Centre

2012 Dr Priya Sumithran, University of Melbourne

More information on the Bupa Health Foundation and Emerging Researcher Awards

The Bupa Health Foundation is one of Australia’s leading corporate foundations dedicated to health. We are committed to improving the health of the Australian community and ensuring the sustainability of affordable healthcare through collaborative partnerships.

The Bupa Health Foundation was established in 2005 and has invested more than $30million to support over 120 projects in real health and care improvements.

The Emerging Health Researcher Awards is celebrating its sixth anniversary after being established in 2012.

For more information please visit www.bupa.com.au/foundation.

UP NEXT:

Researcher focused on reducing the threat of antibiotic resistance wins Bupa Health Foundation Award

Bupa Health Foundation recognises future leaders in health and medical research

Indigenous health researcher wins Bupa Health Foundation Award 2016

Advancing Australia's healthcare system

There are growing fears globally about strains of bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotic drugs. Due to the nature of illness and vulnerability of elderly residents, it is of particular concern in aged care homes.

To help identify the source and spread of the superbug bacteria, researchers from Mon­ash University and Alfred Health will use ­cutting-edge genomic technology as part of the $2.3m program.

Dr Tim Ross, Director of Medical Services, Bupa Villages and Aged Care said the aged care environment is a great place to do this sort of research and show support.

“Research in aged care has generally been light on. This is a good example of industry and researchers working together to solve problems, translate findings and improve resident outcomes more rapidly.

“The use of antibiotics is an issue throughout all of the Australian population. Having an opportunity to co-create programs that lead to a better use of antibiotics is something that Bupa is proud to be a part of.

“Our residents often have multiple medical problems and can be on many medications. Rationalising the use of these medications is one of the key aims when a resident enters one of our homes to reduce the chance of antibiotic resistant bugs developing.

” Whenever superbugs are mentioned, people get nervous, so refering to superbugs in good context and actively doing something to help prevent them from occurring in our homes, or minimizing them from coming into our homes, is a good outcome for the residents and their families.

“Our residents take a lot of interest in what we do in the homes and research is an important part of that,” said Dr Ross.

Once the initial program is reviewed and refined it will be rolled out across the 72 Bupa aged care homes in Australia, with the potential to roll it out in Bupa New Zealand aged care homes too.

UP NEXT:

Researcher focused on reducing the threat of antibiotic resistance wins Bupa Health Foundation Award

She will receive $25,000 to further her research to improve cancer treatment for Indigenous Australians after being announced as the winner of the Bupa Health Foundation Emerging Health Researcher Award last night at the Research Australia Awards dinner.

“My research is focused on cancer and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and I’m doing that because cancer has impacted on my family and my community and it’s an important issue that requires addressing,” said Assoc. Prof. Garvey.

“My research involves looking at Indigenous people’s participation in prevention strategies such as cancer screenings and investigating the support needs of Indigenous cancer patients and how that can impact on their uptake of services.”

Bupa Health Foundation Executive Leader, Annette Schmiede, said a record number of nominations were submitted this year.

“There were many outstanding researchers so choosing the finalists was rather a daunting task. Our finalists are a very special group and I congratulate each of them and look forward to watching their careers’ progress.

“Our 2016 Emerging Researcher Awards finalists have already made significant contributions that have been recognized at home and globally,” she said.

“Early career researchers often work in an uncertain environment and the Bupa Health Foundation’s funding helps to provide additional financial support.

“We want to keep encouraging our Australian researchers to think big and make breakthroughs that can improve the health of all Australians. Supporting and funding emerging researchers is vital to our research sector remaining a leader and globally competitive.” she said.

Along with the winner’s grant, the other four finalists were each awarded $5,000 to continue their research in clinical and translational science. Another five shortlisted researchers will receive $1000 to use towards their research career. (Full background on projects available below)

About the Bupa Health Foundation

The Bupa Health Foundation is one of the country’s leading private charitable organisations dedicated to health. The Foundation has invested almost $30 million since its establishment in 2005 to support over 100 projects to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians.

The Bupa Health Foundation is listed on the Australian Competitive Grants Register. For more information, go to: www.bupa.com.au/foundation.

Details on research projects below

Bupa Health Foundation 2016 Emerging Health Researcher Award finalists

Associate Prof. Gail Garvey, Menzies School of Health Research - winner

Area of research: Improving cancer treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Nominator: Professor Joan Cunningham, Senior Principal Research Fellow, Menzies School of Health Research

Associate Prof. Gail Garvey is an Aboriginal research leader based in Brisbane whose research is committed to closing the gap through improvements in cancer treatment for Indigenous Australians. Her project aims to reduce deaths from cancer through earlier detection and appropriate treatment, as well as improving overall quality of life for Indigenous people with cancer by reducing their unmet needs. An emerging leader in this field, Associate Professor Garvey’s early achievements include pioneering a tool to assist with measuring the supportive care needs of Indigenous cancer patients which is now being used across Australia.

Dr Laura Dagley, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research - finalist

Area of research: Innovating more accurate ways to identify acute rheumatic fever in Aboriginal children Nominator: Dr. Andrew Webb, Laboratory Head, Proteomics, Systems Biology and Personalised Medicine Division at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

When acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is left untreated, it can lead to rheumatic heart disease (RHD), with disease-affected children often requiring multiple open-heart surgeries over their lifetime. ARF and RHD remains disproportionally high in Indigenous communities where Aboriginal people are nearly 20 times more likely to die from RHD than other Australians. This project aims to combat a clear need, with diagnosis of ARF changing little over the last 50 years. Dr Dagley has helped to innovate more accurate ways to identify ARF in Indigenous children. This new test identifies certain diagnostic markers circulating within the blood and will be available to clinics, therefore having the potential to reduce instances of RHD and its burden on Indigenous communities and our health system.

Dr Johana Paola Tello Velasquez, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University - finalist

Area of research: Preparation for a large-scale trial that aims to repair spinal cord injury following recent successful restoration of partial function in a human Nominator: Dr James St John, Head of the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith University

Dr Johana Paola Tello Velasquez is an emerging innovator in neuroscience who is preparing for an upcoming trial that aims to repair spinal cord injuries; a devastating condition that currently has no effective treatment. With over 12,000 Australians currently living with spinal cord injury, the total economic cost in Australia is $2 billion annually. The upcoming trial follows recent exciting results – including successful restoration of partial function in a human – that indicate we are on the verge of a life-changing discovery. The trial will involve transplanting olfactory ensheathing cells taken from a patient’s nose into their injured spinal cord, to promote repair and regeneration. Dr Velasquez will provide intellectual input in preparation for the clinical trial as part of a large team of experts.

Dr Emily Reeve, Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital - finalist

Area of research: Guidelines to withdraw low-value medication for people with dementia Nominator: Professor Sarah Hilmer, Head of Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Sydney

Dr Reeve’s research focuses on deprescribing (withdrawing) medications that are high risk or unnecessary, where the risks of taking the medicine(s) outweight the benefits. Deprescribing is a neglected and under-researched area, despite its impact in improving health outcomes and reducing financial costs from low-value health care. Dr Reeve’s current project will develop and implement deprescribing guidelines for people with dementia, which is important for our ageing population. She is already an emerging leader in this area, having developed the world’s first questionnaire to understand patients’ attitudes to deprescribing and developed this further to understand attitudes of carers of older people. It has been adopted across Australia, in Europe and in North America.

Dr Joseph Doyle, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred - finalist

Area of research: Improving Hepatitis C treatment in highly vulnerable patients to ultimately eradicate the disease from society Nominator: Professor Anton Peleg, Director, Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Health and Monash University

Dr Doyle’s research aims to improve hepatitis C treatment for vulnerable populations and ultimately eliminate it as a public health problem in Australia. His projects focus on delivering hepatitis C treatment to vulnerable people, with nearly 800 people so far receiving treatment. He has achieved this through innovative models of care, with a focus on greater support services in community settings. Dr Doyle shares his expertise as an advisor to the World Health Organisation and plays a significant role in the Elimination of Hepatitis C Partnership, which is among the first programs set up to eliminate viral hepatitis globally. Improved health of people with hepatitis C – and reduced transmission rates – using new oral combination treatments, indicate that it may be possible to eliminate hepatitis C.

Due to the high calibre of this year’s nominees, an additional ‘Commendation Award’ category has been included this year. Five nominees who were shortlisted but not selected as finalists will receive $1000 to use towards their research career:

• Dr Quan Huynh, Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute for Prediction and prevention of heart failure readmission
• Dr Ruth Webster, The George Institute for Global Health – Reducing Heart Attacks and Stroke by innovative use of Cardiovascular Preventive Medications
• Dr Andrew Gardner, Hunter New England Local Health District - Sports Concussion and Neurotrauma
• Dr Jocelyn Bowden, University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Northern Clinical School – Optimising primary care management of knee osteoarthritis: the PARTNER project
• Dr Katy Bell, University of Sydney/ Sydney School of Public Health - How are tests driving over diagnosis, overtreatment and over servicing of patients with chronic disease and what can be done about it?

$5000 will be awarded to each of the five finalists as part of the Bupa Health Foundation’s annual Emerging Health Researcher Awards, with the winner to be announced on 16 November and awarded a further $20,000 towards their research career.

The Foundation’s purpose is to support the role that research plays in improving the delivery and efficiency of our health system, as well as improving sustainable quality of life.

On the eve of the Awards’ fifth anniversary, the 2016 finalists have been recognised for the following projects:

• Closing the gap through improvements in cancer treatment for Indigenous Australians;
• Innovating more accurate ways to identify acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in Indigenous children to reduce the incidence, and devastating consequences, of rheumatic heart disease;
• Preparing for a large-scale trial that aims to repair spinal cord injury following recent successful restoration of partial function in a human;
• Developing guidelines to withdraw low-value medication for people with dementia; and
• Improving hepatitis C treatment in vulnerable patients to ultimately eradicate the disease.

Bupa Health Foundation Executive Leader Annette Schmiede said the Awards support the bright future of Australia’s health researchers to become global leaders.

“Australia has a proud history of pioneering and life-changing health science and research,” Ms Schmiede said.

“Supporting and funding emerging researchers is vital to our country remaining a leader in the field of health research. If we want to protect and enhance that reputation it’s critical that we nurture these skills and expertise.

“We want to keep encouraging our Australian researchers to think big and make discoveries that can change the health landscape.

“Young researchers in particular need a stable working environment to reach their potential, and the Bupa Health Foundation’s funding helps to deliver this support.

“Our 2016 Emerging Researcher Awards finalists have already made significant contributions that have been recognised at home and globally.

“I congratulate them on their achievements and work so far, and look forward to watching their potential progress our society’s health and future,” Ms Schmiede said.

The winner will be awarded $25,000 towards furthering their research career, while the other four finalists will each receive $5,000.

The Bupa Health Foundation 2016 Emerging Health Researcher Award winner will be announced at an event on 16 November 2016 in Sydney.

The Bupa Health Foundation has invested more than $29 million to support over 100 projects to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians since its establishment in 2005.

More information about the Bupa Health Foundation 2016 Emerging Health Researcher Awards can be found at www.bupa.com.au/foundation.

Bupa Health Foundation 2016 Emerging Health Researcher Award finalists

Associate Prof. Gail Garvey, Menzies School of Health Research

Area of research: Improving cancer treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Nominator: Professor Joan Cunningham, Senior Principal Research Fellow, Menzies School of Health Research

Associate Prof. Gail Garvey is an Aboriginal research leader based in Brisbane whose research is committed to closing the gap through improvements in cancer treatment for Indigenous Australians. Her project aims to reduce deaths from cancer through earlier detection and appropriate treatment, as well as improving overall quality of life for Indigenous people with cancer by reducing their unmet needs. An emerging leader in this field, Associate Professor Garvey’s early achievements include pioneering a tool to assist with measuring the supportive care needs of Indigenous cancer patients which is now being used across Australia.

Dr Laura Dagley, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Area of research: Innovating more accurate ways to identify acute rheumatic fever in Aboriginal children

Nominator: Dr. Andrew Webb, Laboratory Head, Proteomics, Systems Biology and Personalised Medicine Division at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

When acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is left untreated, it can lead to rheumatic heart disease (RHD), with disease-affected children often requiring multiple open-heart surgeries over their lifetime. ARF and RHD remains disproportionally high in Indigenous communities where Aboriginal people are nearly 20 times more likely to die from RHD than other Australians. This project aims to combat a clear need, with diagnosis of ARF changing little over the last 50 years. Dr Dagley has helped to innovate more accurate ways to identify ARF in Indigenous children. This new test identifies certain diagnostic markers circulating within the blood and will be available to clinics, therefore having the potential to reduce instances of RHD and its burden on Indigenous communities and our health system.

Dr Johana Paola Tello Velasquez, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University

Area of research: Preparation for a large-scale trial that aims to repair spinal cord injury following recent successful restoration of partial function in a human

Nominator: Dr James St John, Head of the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith University

Dr Johana Paola Tello Velasquez is an emerging innovator in neuroscience who is preparing for an upcoming trial that aims to repair spinal cord injuries; a devastating condition that currently has no effective treatment. With over 12,000 Australians currently living with spinal cord injury, the total economic cost in Australia is $2 billion annually. The upcoming trial follows recent exciting results – including successful restoration of partial function in a human – that indicate we are on the verge of a life-changing discovery. The trial will involve transplanting olfactory ensheathing cells taken from a patient’s nose into their injured spinal cord, to promote repair and regeneration. Dr Velasquez will provide intellectual input in preparation for the clinical trial as part of a large team of experts.

Dr Emily Reeve, Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital

Area of research: Guidelines to withdraw low-value medication for people with dementia

Nominator: Professor Sarah Hilmer, Head of Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Sydney

Dr Reeve’s research focuses on deprescribing (withdrawing) medications that are high risk or unnecessary, where the risks of taking the medicine(s) outweight the benefits. Deprescribing is a neglected and under-researched area, despite its impact in improving health outcomes and reducing financial costs from low-value health care. Dr Reeve’s current project will develop and implement deprescribing guidelines for people with dementia, which is important for our ageing population. She is already an emerging leader in this area, having developed the world’s first questionnaire to understand patients’ attitudes to deprescribing and developed this further to understand attitudes of carers of older people. It has been adopted across Australia, in Europe and in North America.

Dr Joseph Doyle, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred

Area of research: Improving Hepatitis C treatment in highly vulnerable patients to ultimately eradicate the disease from society

Nominator: Professor Anton Peleg, Director, Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Health and Monash University

Dr Doyle’s research aims to improve hepatitis C treatment for vulnerable populations and ultimately eliminate it as a public health problem in Australia. His projects focus on delivering hepatitis C treatment to vulnerable people, with nearly 800 people so far receiving treatment. He has achieved this through innovative models of care, with a focus on greater support services in community settings. Dr Doyle shares his expertise as an advisor to the World Health Organisation and plays a significant role in the Elimination of Hepatitis C Partnership, which is among the first programs set up to eliminate viral hepatitis globally. Improved health of people with hepatitis C – and reduced transmission rates – using new oral combination treatments, indicate that it may be possible to eliminate hepatitis C.

Due to the high calibre of this year’s nominees, an additional ‘Commendation Award’ category has been included this year. Five nominees who were shortlisted but not selected as finalists will receive $1000 to use towards their research career:

• Dr Quan Huynh, Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute for Prediction and prevention of heart failure readmission
• Dr Ruth Webster, The George Institute for Global Health – Reducing Heart Attacks and Stroke by innovative use of Cardiovascular Preventive Medications
• Dr Andrew Gardner, Hunter New England Local Health District - Sports Concussion and Neurotrauma
• Dr Jocelyn Bowden, University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Northern Clinical School – Optimising primary care management of knee osteoarthritis: the PARTNER project
• Dr Katy Bell, University of Sydney/ Sydney School of Public Health - How are tests driving over diagnosis, overtreatment and over servicing of patients with chronic disease and what can be done about it?