The 2017 Vice Chancellor’s Research Excellence Awards took place at the Nathan campus, where Health researchers excelled. The Vice Chancellor and President Professor Ian O’Connor AC congratulated the full list of award recipients, with Chancellor Mr Henry Smerdon AM Duniv on hand to present. Griffith University is dedicated to changing the world for the better through remarkable research and the leading researchers awarded are a fantastic example of the industry-leading research being conducted.
From the Health Group the Research Awards recognised Professor Rod Barrett, Dr Amanda Ullman and the research group comprised of Professor Suzanne Chambers AO, Tamara Ownsworth, Associate Professor Stefano Occhipinti, Professor Paul Scuffham, Dr Shu-Kay Angus Ng and Professor David Shum.
Excellence Award for Research Supervision:
Professor Rod Barrett, Deputy Head of School (Research) Allied Health Sciences, took out the Research Supervision Award for his leadership at University, Group and School levels.
“Working closely with HDRs has been one of the most challenging, yet rewarding aspects of my academic career. It’s such a pleasure to see a student graduate and then go on to be successful in their own right and to know you played a small part in helping them get there,” Professor Barrett said.
Excellence in Early Career Research:
Dr Amanda Ullman, School of Nursing and Midwifery received the Early Career Researcher Award, following her NHMRC Early Career Fellowship for “Innovation to improve the experience and outcomes of paediatric central venous access devices: the e-Vascular Access Passport”.
However Dr Ullman’s research program is more broad and as a paediatric nurse and researcher, and with support from colleagues, she is aiming to prevent these complications through innovation and pragmatism.
“The insertion of a central line signals a turning point in a child’s life – the beginning of chemotherapy, undergoing a critical operation. The majority of the child’s treatments are administered through these central lines, however they are associated with significant harm, including bloodstream infection and thrombosis.
“It is pretty surreal to be receiving this award for the work I completed only 12 months after my PhD. I am excited to see what I can achieve over the next 30 years to transform paediatric healthcare, as a clinician and a researcher.”
Excellence of a Research group or team
Professors Suzanne Chambers and Tamara Ownsworth from Griffith’s Menzies Health Institute Queensland head up the study group which took out the Research Team Group Award.
Other staff in the group include Associate Professor Stefano Occhipinti, Professor Paul Scuffham, Dr Shu-Kay Angus Ng and Professor David Shum.
With a vision to undertake quality research in the health and behavioural sciences delivering effective and accessible psychosocial and survivorship care for people affected by cancer, the group has taken a multidisciplinary approach.
This culminated in the establishment of a Centre for Research Excellence in Prostate Cancer Survivorship in 2017.
“We believe that our strong collaborative partnerships within the team and with consumers and community services underpin our translation-focused research program,” Professor Chambers said.
“We are delighted to have won this award which recognises the prevalence of cancer in the community and the high burden that it carries. It is crucial that researchers continue to support these communities.”
Full list of 2017 recipients:
- Excellence in Research Leadership – Professor Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Excellence in Early Career Research – Dr Amanda Ullman
- Excellence of an Individual Mid-Career or Senior Researcher – Associate Professor Guillermo Diaz-Pulido and Dr Lara Herrero
- Excellence Award for Research Supervision – Professor Rod Barrett
- Excellence of a Research group or team – Professor Suzanne Chambers AO, Tamara Ownsworth, Associate Professor Stefano Occhipinti, Professor Paul Scuffham, Dr Shu-Kay Angus Ng and Professor David Shum.
- Remarkable Minutes awardees – Dr Catheryn Khoo-Lattimore and Dr Diana Tolmie
