PhD Stipend Scholarship  (Applications due by 24th June 2020)

One three (3)-year full-time / six (6)-year part-time stipend scholarship is being offered to support the work of a PhD candidate. The scholarship is partially funded by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) Centre of Research Excellence in Paediatric Emergency Medicine NHMRC Grant and partially funded by Australian Catholic University through the Australian Government Research Training Program;

A snapshot of information is below. Full details may be found here.  Further questions may be addressed to the nominated people in the description (Sandy.middleton@acu.edu.au  or Emma.tavender@mcri.edu.au).

The Scholarship is available for a high-performing candidate who meets the following eligibility criteria:

  • Eligible for admission to a PhD Program at ACU. The eligibility criteria for the PhD program at ACU can be found in the Higher Degree Research Regulations and consist of an appropriate undergraduate degree with Honours at a minimum level of Second Class Division A (Distinction average) (or equivalent); or a Master degree with appropriate research training in a relevant field; or an equivalent qualification and/or demonstrated research experience, with evidence of capacity to undertake independent research work (e.g. an authored publication);
  • Relevant professional experience, training and/or health services research experience;
  • Academic publications and/or conference presentations relative to career opportunities to date;
  • An interest or experience in quality improvement/implementation science and exploring the issues impacting the sustainability of clinical care improvements in paediatric emergency care;
  • Knowledge of and/or experience in the Australian Health care system.

Congratulations to Donna Franklin

Congratulations to Donna Franklin for being awarded an early careers researcher grant with NHMRC.  Donna was in the top 3% of the country in her category and has secured funding for the next 5 years (total funding $650,000) for her research on respiratory therapies in children in ED, Gen Paeds and ICU.

This is a huge achievement after a lot of hard work.  Well done Donna.  We look forward to working with you on future research projects.

 

 

PREDICT endorsement process – update

All projects (including surveys and pilot studies) to be carried out with PREDICT endorsement must first be submitted to the PREDICT Executive for review.  We have recently updated our endorsement process – please read the latest information here.

ACTA Trial of the Year Award – ConSEPT nominated

The ACTA Trial of the Year Award was established in 2016 to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of members who advance clinical practice and save or improve the lives of patients every year through investigator-driven clinical trials.  This year we have nominated the ConSEPT study.

The winner will be announced publicly during the ACTA Trial of the Year Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 20 May, 2020.

Top 10% most downloaded papers

The following research published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, is among the top 10% most downloaded papers!  This means that among work published between January 2018 and December 2019, these publications received some of the highest downloads.

  • Australasian bronchiolitis guideline
  • National guidelines for bronchiolitis
  • ‘Rational use of high‐flow therapy in infants with bronchiolitis. What do the latest trials tell us?’ A Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative perspective

Congratulations to all authors involved in this research.

Project Snapshot – PERN Pneumonia

Predicting Severe Pneumonia in the Emergency Department: A Global Study of the Pediatric Emergency Research Networks (PERN)

Prospective cohort study of community acquired pneumonia

AIM
  • To identify predictors of disease severity in paediatric CAP; including the need for hospitalization, empyema, respiratory failure, sepsis and death.
  • To develop a clinical prediction rule that would accurately identify children with CAP who are at risk for low, moderate and severe disease.
RECRUITMENT STATS AS @ 30/4/20

Study commenced February 2019 (within the PREDICT Network) and is running for 24 months

  • Sample size: <4700
  • Current Overall Enrolment Total: 2156
  • Current Enrolment total within PREDICT Network: 229
  • Perth Children’s Hospital have been in top enrolling sites overall every month since September 2019.
SITES CURRENTLY RECRUITING AS @ 30/4/20
  • Children’s Hospital at Westmead- First enrolment 17/11/2019. Total enrolled: 21
  • Gold Coast University Hospital- First enrolment 09/04/2019. Total enrolled: 14
  • Logan Hospital- First enrolment 19/02/2019. Total enrolled: 14
  • Monash Medical Centre – First enrolment 02/05/2019. Total enrolled: 04
  • Perth Children’s Hospital- First enrolment 28/02/2019. Total enrolled: 57
  • Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. First enrolment 10/02/2019. Total enrolled: 45
  • Royal Hobart Hospital. First enrolment 03/04/2019. Total enrolled: 15
  • Starship Children’s Hospital. First enrolment 08/10/2019. Total enrolled: 14
  • Sydney Children’s Hospital. First enrolment 31/10/2019. Total enrolled: 23
  • Townsville Hospital. First enrolment 18/05/2019. Total enrolled: 01
  • Women’s and Children’s Hospital. First enrolment 28/05/2019. Total enrolled: 21
NEWS:

We have partaken in 2 PERN PREDICT Teleconferences (December 2019 & May 2020) to encourage/cajole/support sites, and to ensure all PREDICT sites have access to the data locally to understand what is going on with enrolment.

All 11 participating centres are up and recruiting now. Enrolment has slowed significantly, as expected due to the COVID crisis. Amendments have/are being submitted to provide an option to make this a “no contact” study.

 

Getting to know you – Gaby Nieva

Our “Getting to Know You” segment ensures PREDICT members are aware of new members, their interests and areas of expertise and where they are located.

This month we introduce Gaby Nieva from Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide.

“Hi everyone.  I work in the Paediatric Emergency Department at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide as a Clinical Nurse. In 2014, I leapt into the exciting world of clinical research when I was appointed to the role of Clinical Research Nurse. In my everyday nursing, I value being able to incorporate evidence-based practice into the care that I provide for children and young people. So now it’s great to be part of the team who are responsible for building that evidence base further.”

Welcome Gaby!