ANNUAL REPORT 2014–2015 CONTENTS OVERVIEW 1 Message from the IHMRI Chair 3 About IHMRI 4 RESEARCH PROGRAM 5 Research Program Highlights 6 Chronic Conditions and Lifestyle 7 Diagnostics and Therapeutics 13 Mental Health and the Ageing Brain 20 Illawarra Insights 24 IHMRI-AFFILIATED RESEARCHERS AND NETWORK 27 IHMRI-Affiliated Researchers 28 Collaborators 29 IHMRI Network 30 GRANT SUCCESS 31 Australian Competitive Grants 32 Other Grant Programs 35 IHMRI Grants 36 MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS 39 Achievements 40 GOVERNANCE INFORMATION 49 Board and Committees 50 Stakeholder Support 51 FINANCIAL INFORMATION 52 PUBLICATIONS 53 CONTACT DETAILS Communications Coordinator Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute Building 32, University of Wollongong campus, Front Cover: IHMRI Chair, New South Wales, Australia, 2522 Professor Alan Pettigrew with Dr Aleta Pupovac who this year T: +61 2 4221 4333 completed a PhD in immunology. F: +61 2 4221 8130 E: [email protected] CONTACT DETAILS Communications Coordinator Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute Building 32, University of Wollongong campus, New South Wales, Australia, 2522 OVERVIEW T: +61 2 4221 4333 F: +61 2 4221 8130 Above: IHMRI Post Doc Dr Hua (Peter) Zhao (back) with E: [email protected] PhD candidate, Benjamin Buckley. 1 OUR VISION Excellence, innovation and growth in health and medical research, supporting better health care and leading to a healthier Illawarra community. OUR PURPOSE To build a nationally and internationally-recognised centre of health and medical research targeting regionally- relevant health improvements through novel treatments, better clinical practice and preventative health. OUR GOALS • achieve excellence, innovation and translation in targeted health and medical research • enhance the resourcing of health and medical research in the region • shape an environment that builds research capacity and fosters collaboration • inform and engage our local community, the broader public and international audiences • continually develop our organisation and our people for a sustainable future. MESSAGE FROM THE IHMRI CHAIR Building bridges between academic and clinician For IHMRI, the 2014-15 financial year got off to a flying researchers remains a key priority for the Institute. This year, the ISLHD appointed a new Chief start when the NSW Office for Health and Medical Executive, Ms Margot Mains, whose commitment to Research (OHMR) announced that the Institute had been research was articulated in a Research Directions successful in its bid for recognition as an independent whitepaper which aims to build a shared vision Medical Research Institute (MRI). This not only unlocked for research in the ISLHD. The district’s Research Central team also published their first-ever Research two years’ worth of substantial Medical Research Report which reflects the diverse range of activities Support Program (MRSP) funding, but made IHMRI conducted by medical, allied health and nursing eligible to apply for future funding rounds, which we feel professionals in 2014. confident about securing. With supplementary funding from the OHMR (see page 51) this year we commenced expanding our top-level executive structure to ensure a duality This achievement reflects the hard work that the of scientific and clinical research leadership at the executive team put into ensuring that IHMRI’s highest level. We conducted a wide search to recruit governance and business frameworks, and our a new IHMRI Executive Director and, for the first time, research strategy, met the OHMR’s strict criteria. a Clinical Director who will foster clinical research These included formal agreements with our key within the ISLHD and develop IHMRI’s clinical research partners, the University of Wollongong (UOW) and programs. Announcements on these appointments Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD), will be made in the 2015-16 financial year. and the formalisation of relationships with more These strategies and initiatives will be critical than 160 UOW-employed researchers who signed to IHMRI’s future success and I continue to be affiliation agreements. impressed by the level of cooperation within IHMRI, The OHMR process highlighted the goodwill, spirit of and the commitment shown by the UOW and ISLHD, cooperation and willingness of different stakeholders to helping us achieve our vision of excellence, to work together to build a world-class Institute innovation and growth in health and medical and led to the development of a five-year Strategic research, supporting better health care and leading Business Plan and three-year Research Strategy, both to a healthier Illawarra community. of which articulate strong, clear performance goals. While we still have a lot of work to do in meeting the REPORT ANNUAL I have very much enjoyed working with my fellow ambitious goals set out in the Strategic Business Board members, IHMRI’s executive team and Plan and Research Strategy, I believe we have made operations staff this year on implementing these significant progress this year. As you will read on strategies and considering how we can further support the following pages, IHMRI-affiliated researchers IHMRI researchers and build a culture of excellence. made important contributions to regional, national and international health efforts and I very much look This year we appointed six eminent academics and forward to reporting on our progress in next year’s 2014–2015 clinicians to lead the research program. These theme Annual Report. leaders (see page 6) have already demonstrated strong strategic skills and a commitment to bringing – Professor Alan Pettigrew, more IHMRI-affiliated researchers together to IHMRI Chair and from February 2015, collaborate on projects that can be translated into IHMRI Interim Executive Director valuable community health outcomes. 3 ABOUT IHMRI IHMRI provides its affiliated researchers with The Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute is a the benefits of a medical research institute joint initiative of the University of Wollongong (UOW) and environment and culture, including research leadership, mentoring, coordination and linkages, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD). state-of-the-art infrastructure, facilities, services and other support. IHMRI’s research program (see page 6) is inclusive Established in 2008 and based on the UOW of diverse research interests and disciplines and campus in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region fosters collaborations which seek to: of New South Wales, IHMRI’s state-of-the- art headquarters and research facilities were • discover mechanisms and pathways underlying completed in 2010. clinical conditions, especially age-related diseases, chronic conditions and mental illness, The Institute houses around 120 laboratory, all particularly prevalent in the Illawarra region clinical and population health researchers and post- graduate students, with a further 160 researchers • improve the range and effectiveness of clinical and students accessing the facilities on a regular treatments, including lifestyle interventions, new basis. Many other IHMRI-affiliated researchers and drugs and delivery methods, innovative medical post-graduate students are located within other implants and devices health, medical, science, engineering and informatics • develop and test new models of health care and research centres and facilities across the UOW and population health-based interventions. ISLHD campuses and in other health service and community service settings around the region. IHMRI-affiliated researchers align their research with IHMRI’s vision and Research Strategy, which includes targeted strategies and actions to build research capacity, boost local, national and international collaborations, advance research excellence and research translation and address global and regionally-relevant health issues. 4 IHMRI Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute RESEARCH PROGRAM 5 RESEARCH PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS To drive the research program forward, IHMRI PROGRAM OVERVIEW appointed three prominent professors to the scientific leadership roles in August 2014 (see below). IHMRI’s IHMRI’s research program targets health and medical leadership structure is based on a dual leadership conditions prevalent in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven model, whereby academic and clinician perspectives region but also seeks to address national health are sought and encouraged. As such, IHMRI priorities and contribute to international efforts to subsequently appointed three highly experienced reduce the global burden of disease. health professionals to the clinical leadership roles The broad-based program embraces the diverse skills in December 2014 (see below). and interests of almost 600 academic and clinician The calibre of the leaders, and their combined researchers and Higher Degree Research students, knowledge and experience, has already advanced the emphasises the need for translational research program significantly and led to the establishment and provides a framework for cross-disciplinary of theme leadership groups (see below) which are collaborations. providing a valuable forum to develop ideas, set Streamlined in 2013-14, the program is now based on priorities and coordinate strategies for advancing three core themes: research within each theme. • Chronic Conditions and Lifestyle As you will read on the following pages, IHMRI- affiliated researchers made important contributions • Diagnostics and Therapeutics to the program this year and to regional, national