2022 SVHA Research Report
Innovation is the heart of translational research.
Introduction
Paul McClintock
In 2022, St Vincent’s Health Australia launched its first organisation-wide Research Strategy, aligned with the organisational strategy “Go Beyond” and titled, “Our Life-Changing Research”. This strategy aims to link…
Michael Coote
Research is central to the St Vincent’s story. So many of our organisation’s achievements – and the good health of millions – are built on the research carried out in our co-located institutes and facilities….
Ruth Martin
We are particularly proud of our work at the margins: in homelessness, addiction medicine and palliative care, all of which are at a world-class level. All of this work is at the core of St Vincent’s Health Australia’s mission…
Erwin Loh
All of you, our very talented scientists, and clinician-researchers, have dedicated your lives to translate science into clinical practice in order to change the lives of our patients, residents and the wider community.
Megan Robertson
This report is a tasting plate of what is happening in and around St Vincent’s, and it is worth reading just to get a sense of that cumulative achievement. It is formidable. But as I wrote in last year’s report its main…
SVHA Research
SVHA Research builds on the power of our whole organisation to lift our research to a national level with global impact, improving healthcare for our community and the world.
Research Snapshots
Innovation in HIV and Hepatitis C testing brings SVHA values to life.
Sometimes, the most significant innovations lie, not in ground-breaking clinical or technological discoveries but in the application of existing technology and the power of public health.
This is true of the work led by A/Prof Philip Cunningham in central Sydney, where he and his team have brought self-administered Dried Blood Spot collection to those at high-risk of HIV and Hepatitis C.
Responding to the pressing need for substance misuse disorder treatments
Novel therapies such as psychedelics and cannabinoids are receiving a lot of attention, not least because consumers are seeking treatment options in areas where current offerings are limited. Motivated to fill these gaps, Assoc Prof Bonomo and her team at Addiction Medicine have embarked upon a program of research aimed at providing a robust evidence base to guide the safe and effective use of these therapies in the context of the broader management of addiction.
Realising a vision for effective research translation
Rising up from the St Vincent’s Melbourne campus and reflecting the city skyline and treescape, the future vision for ACMD is an inspiring one. But, spend some time with ACMD CEO and entrepreneur Dr Erol Harvey and you soon appreciate that the vision also lies in a unique collaborative concept that merges medicine and engineering to help solve some of our biggest health challenges.
So, what does engineering have to do with it?
Innovating for process improvement and value in healthcare
When we think about research in healthcare, our minds turn to trials of new treatments, techniques, and technologies. However, health and medical research more broadly also encompasses understanding good operational management and best clinical practice and care processes to improve the quality and experience of care. Increasingly, researchers around the world are also considering the value or financial benefit of improvement activities as a way of addressing the significant healthcare sustainability issues that…
Transforming surgical management of colorectal disease
Minimally invasive techniques have been a focus in many areas of surgery over the past three decades as we seek to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with major open surgery.
For colorectal disease, Queensland has been at the centre of much of this innovation, through pioneers such as Professor Russell Stitz who undertook the first laparoscopic colectomy in the Southern Hemisphere…
Improving options and outcomes in lung cancer treatment
Well-known for their ground-breaking work in the field of minimally invasive thoracic surgery, A/Prof Gavin Wright and his team at St Vincent’s Surgical Oncology have continued to innovate to bring lifesaving and life-changing interventions to patients affected by lung cancer and other
serious lung conditions such as emphysema.
Their work in the emerging field of ‘liquid biopsies’ is particularly exciting…
Innovation in HIV and Hepatitis C testing brings SVHA values to life.
Sometimes, the most significant innovations lie, not in ground-breaking clinical or technological discoveries but in the application of existing technology and the power of public health.
This is true of the work led by A/Prof Philip Cunningham in central Sydney, where he and his team have brought self-administered Dried Blood Spot collection to those at high-risk of HIV and Hepatitis C.
Responding to the pressing need for substance misuse disorder treatments
Novel therapies such as psychedelics and cannabinoids are receiving a lot of attention, not least because consumers are seeking treatment options in areas where current offerings are limited. Motivated to fill these gaps, Assoc Prof Bonomo and her team at Addiction Medicine have embarked upon a program of research aimed at providing a robust evidence base to guide the safe and effective use of these therapies in the context of the broader management of addiction.
Realising a vision for effective research translation
Rising up from the St Vincent’s Melbourne campus and reflecting the city skyline and treescape, the future vision for ACMD is an inspiring one. But, spend some time with ACMD CEO and entrepreneur Dr Erol Harvey and you soon appreciate that the vision also lies in a unique collaborative concept that merges medicine and engineering to help solve some of our biggest health challenges.
So, what does engineering have to do with it?
Innovating for process improvement and value in healthcare
When we think about research in healthcare, our minds turn to trials of new treatments, techniques, and technologies. However, health and medical research more broadly also encompasses understanding good operational management and best clinical practice and care processes to improve the quality and experience of care. Increasingly, researchers around the world are also considering the value or financial benefit of improvement activities as a way of addressing the significant healthcare sustainability issues that…
Transforming surgical management of colorectal disease
Minimally invasive techniques have been a focus in many areas of surgery over the past three decades as we seek to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with major open surgery.
For colorectal disease, Queensland has been at the centre of much of this innovation, through pioneers such as Professor Russell Stitz who undertook the first laparoscopic colectomy in the Southern Hemisphere…
Improving options and outcomes in lung cancer treatment
Well-known for their ground-breaking work in the field of minimally invasive thoracic surgery, A/Prof Gavin Wright and his team at St Vincent’s Surgical Oncology have continued to innovate to bring lifesaving and life-changing interventions to patients affected by lung cancer and other
serious lung conditions such as emphysema.
Their work in the emerging field of ‘liquid biopsies’ is particularly exciting…
KPIs
In research funding
1878 Research Publications
1129Active Interventional Clinical Trials
421Higher Degree Research Students
St Vincent’s Health Australia
Founded by the Sisters of Charity more than 180 years ago, St Vincent’s Health Australia is a clinical, research and education leader working in private hospitals, public hospitals, and aged care services in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
Our founder, Mary Aikenhead’s vision, commitment and inspiration lives on in us and the work we do. We bring compassion and the love of Jesus to the many who are in need of a word of hope and encouragement, a helping hand, and a listening ear.
Our Mission
As a Catholic healthcare service we bring God’s love to those in need through the healing ministry of Jesus. We are especially committed to people who are poor or vulnerable.
Our Values
Compassion, Justice, Integrity, Excellence
Our Creed
We believe in the dignity of all people because each one is created in God’s image. We are committed to justice and compassionate care for all.
Our Vision
We lead through research drive, excellent and compassionate health and aged care.
