Grant recipients announced, $1M committed

St Vincent's Clinic Foundation celebrated the research underway on campus and congratulated its 2023 Grant Recipients — a combined sum of $1M for early research into clinical excellence and chronic disease, mental health and Indigenous health.

Prof. Peter Macdonald discussed a world-first heart transplant using a heart that had stopped beating, thanks to his "heart in a box" innovation. Dr. Jerome Greenfield shared his study repurposing approved medications for type 1 diabetes patients to harness their cardiovascular benefits. Dr. Lyn Chiem gave insight into her vision for mental health research at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney.

From lab bench to real-world care

Dr Craig Haifer and A/Prof Susan Tomlinson shared their unique perspectives on the journey from laboratory research to real-world healthcare solutions — Dr Haifer on faecal microbial transplantation for patients undergoing cancer treatment and autoimmune disease, and A/Prof Tomlinson on treatment options for persistent migraine, a growing public health concern.

"The event is one of the highlights of our calendar, as we hear from current researchers and the impact they're having today on patient outcomes."

AI's role in cancer and heart disease

Leading researchers from St Vincent's Darlinghurst Health Precinct discussed the transformative role of AI in healthcare. A/Prof Mayooran Namasivayam (Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute) and A/Prof Venessa Chin, a medical oncologist specialising in targeted immunotherapy, explored how new technology is advancing treatment and paving the way for earlier diagnosis.

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it. I believe that instead of being passengers, we should be drivers of change."

Osteoarthritis under the microscope

A/Prof Sean Mungovan (St Vincent's Private Hospital Sydney) and Dr Etienne Masle-Farquhar (Garvan Institute of Medical Research) explored how multidisciplinary research is changing the way osteoarthritis is understood and treated. A full-circle moment: the two first met at this event two years earlier, and their partnership has since grown into a promising collaboration.