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The Perth Convention Bureau (PCB) is responsible for marketing Western Australia both nationally and internationally as a destination for conferences. Conferences hosted in Western Australia build the profile of the conference convener, the national organisation, disseminate knowledge locally as well as attract investment and tourism.

The Aspire Program is a highly successful initiative of PCB which facilitates PCB’s novel business methodology of recruiting local conveners within the West Australian community to support bids for international and national conferences.

PCB currently partners with Western Australia’s Universities, the City of Perth, the City of Fremantle, the City of Mandurah, the Australian Institute of Management WA, Giving West and the Telethon Kids Institute.

The aim of the program is to assist the individual’s personal and professional development, either through attendance at a relevant international conference, or by undertaking further study in their chosen field of endeavour. The funding covers travel, accommodation and registration expenses to the maximum value of the award.

For more information regarding each individual 2020 Aspire award and how to apply, please refer to the PCB website or contact the bureau at aspire@pcb.com.au.

The Western Australian node of the National Imaging Facility (NIF) is expanding and acquiring a dedicated human research 3T MRI. The new MRI will be located at the QEII campus, available to all WA researchers and provided at the lowest sustainable cost. The expected commissioning date is Q1 2021.

An information workshop is being held to inform WA researchers about the opportunities the MRI provides and how to access and take full advantage of the machine when it is installed.

Graham Galloway, the CEO of the NIF will be presenting and there will also be discussion on how to incorporate the MRI activities in this round of grant applications (NHMRC and ARC).

The workshop is a good opportunity to get all the relevant information about the new MRI and meet other researchers who will also be using the MRI.

The workshop will be held on Tuesday, November 19 from 3 – 4 pm at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. If you would like to attend please RSVP.

Supporters

Thank you to all supporters of this expansion:

• National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)
• WA State Government
• Lotterywest
• The University of Western Australia
• Cancer Council WA
• Curtin University
• Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science
• Ian Potter Foundation
• Edith Cowan University
• Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research
• Murdoch University

Graham Galloway

Professor Galloway is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Imaging Facility (NIF). He has been instrumental in establishing imaging collaborative research infrastructure in Australia.

He is passionate about providing open access to the imaging resources and enabling effective use of those resources. Graham’s research interests include the use of in vivo Magnetic Resonance to test the efficacy of pharmaceutical agents, novel applications for the use of Magnetic Resonance in physiological studies and material sciences, and pushing the boundaries of the technology into new applications.

His role in all projects is characterised by his multidisciplinary background, which ensures that he is able to draw together apparently disparate threads.

User Survey

Over the past year, WAHTN has been working with the WA research community to procure a research-dedicated human MRI and human PET-CT. We are asking you to complete a short survey to estimate the potential usage of the two machines once they are commissioned.

Please click on this link and answer a few quick questions. The survey takes less than a couple of minutes to complete.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have made a call for applications for the Development Grants 2020 round.

The objectives of the Development Grant scheme are:

• to increase, facilitate and expedite the translation of health and medical research outcomes through to commercialisation, within a foreseeable time frame.
• to support proof-of-concept research with a feasible commercialisation pathway and a high likelihood of producing protected IP.
• to provide a potential mechanism through which research outcomes can be progressed to a stage that makes them competitive to receive industry investment through other government schemes or from the private sector.
• to encourage collaboration between health research, the private sector and industry (domestic and international).

Applications close: 5pm (ACT Local Time) Wednesday, 11 December 2019. 

For more information about this grant opportunity please visit Grant Connect.

The State’s insurer, the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA), has released the results of its research with the Brightwater Care Group, to improve the independence and reduce the cost of care for people with an acquired brain injury.

The 18-month research project trialled assistive toileting technologies, devices and continence management practices.

The research demonstrated that the use of assistive devices, along with comprehensive continence assessment and a tailored management plan, can increase independence, and reduce intervention from carers to support a person with an acquired brain injury.

Specifically, the research outcomes were:

• increased independence in cognitive and functional tasks associated with toileting;
• reduced toileting care hours on average by 4.3 hours per client per week; and
• reduced toileting consumable costs on average by $10 per client a day.

The research is a positive outcome for people involved in the research project with acquired brain injuries.

The project identified opportunities for enhancement of continence management in the health and disability sector, including recommendations to:

• Adopt a client-centred approach to continence care;
• Review current continence policies and procedures against clinical practice guidelines;
• Ensure standardised clinical documentation to enable the effective exchange of information between staff and to ensure continuity of care;
• Improve continence management role clarity and understanding;
• Promote a multidisciplinary approach; and
• Increase staff education and training.

The research materials and continence management tools are available on the Insurance Commission and Brightwater websites so continence and care practices can be enhanced across the sector.

A community workshop to explain the results of the research will be hosted at the National Disability Services WA on October 29. Register for the workshop.

The Ian Potter Foundation is seeking to support outstanding tertiary institutions, medical research institutes or suitably qualified public health organisations which conduct translational public health research projects.

In assessing the research project, The Ian Potter Foundation is particularly interested in the applicant’s program to involve and support outstanding individuals that strengthen the public health research workforce.

You must speak with a Program Manager before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) to be considered eligible to apply. After the initial conversation, the Program Manager will invite suitable candidates to apply.

Applications for this program area are considered once a year by the Board of Governors.

Expressions of interest close on Friday, 22 November 2019.

For more information about this funding opportunity, including the application process, please visit The Ian Potter Foundation website.

The Future Fellowships reflects the Australian Government’s commitment to excellence in research by supporting excellent mid-career researchers to undertake high quality research in areas of national and international benefit.

The Future Fellowships grant duration is four consecutive years on a full-time basis. There is an opportunity to undertake the Fellowship on a part-time basis subject to the employment conditions of the Administering Organisation and provided that the Fellowship does not exceed eight years from the project start date.

The Future Fellowships scheme objectives are to:

• support excellent basic and applied research and research training by outstanding mid-career researchers to be recruited and retained by universities in continuing academic positions,
• support national and international research collaboration, and
• enhance the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas.

Applications close: 5pm (ACT local time), Wednesday 27 November 2019 

For more information about this grant opportunity, including eligibility criteria, and to apply please click here.

The Australian Laureate Fellowships grant opportunity encourages applications from the highest-quality researchers by providing eligible Australian Laureate Fellows with project funding in addition to a salary supplement and salary-related (on-cost) support.

The Australian Laureate Fellowships funding and grant duration is five consecutive years on a full-time basis.

The objectives of the fellowship are to:

• support ground-breaking, internationally-competitive basic and applied research,
• forge strong links among researchers, the international research community and/or industry and other research end-users,
• enhance the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas,
• attract and retain outstanding researchers and research leaders of international reputation, and
• provide an excellent research training environment and exemplary mentorship to nurture early-career researchers.

Applications Close: 5pm (ACT local time), Wednesday 4 December 2019

For more information about this grant opportunity, including eligibility criteria, and to apply please click here.