Research

WCH Foundation Research

Health research is about exploring the unknown and discovering new ways of not just treating and curing disease, but finding ways of preventing the problem in the first place.

Through the generosity of South Australians, the WCH Foundation funds over a million dollars each year in health and medical research awards.

For additional information about any of the WCH Foundation Research awards, scholarships or fellowships please contact the Research Secretariat or the Research Grants Officer at the Women's and Children's Health Network (WCHN).

Director Research Administration
Dr Andrea Averis
Phone (08) 8161 7703
Email: andrea.averis@health.sa.gov.au

Research Grants Officer
Advice on Research Grants
Ms Katherine McPhail
Phone (08) 8161 8175
Email: katherine.mcphail@health.sa.gov.au

Further information is available at www.wch.sa.gov.au/research

WCH Foundation Funded Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards

 WCH Foundation Research Project Grants

The WCH Foundation Research Project Grants support research into the health of children, youth and women by providing funding for research projects on an annual basis.

Funding for up to $75,000 per project is awarded through a competitive grants process. Applications are called in May for funding in the next calendar year.

Applications will be accepted from hospital staff who hold paid or other appointments at the WCHN, WCHRI and SA Pathology (WCH campus). Members of the WCHN core University Departments who are located at the WCH site can also apply.

In addition, two grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to new researchers based at the WCH Campus, defined as those researchers who have not received previous funding from the WCH Foundation, are post-graduates who have completed a doctoral degree within the last five years and are up to, but not more than, 40 years of age.

 WCHF Malcolm Douglas Grant Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Malcolm Douglas Grant Research Fund was established in 2004 by Ms Natalie McConaghy in memory of her nephew, Malcolm Douglas Grant. The primary purpose of the Fund is to facilitate research of an international standard into the cause of, or treatments for, patients with Morquio syndrome, other mucopolysaccharidoses, or other genetic disorders involving bone dysplasias within the lysosomal storage disorders group.

The Malcolm Douglas Grant Research Fund will fund a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Campus, for a period of three years. Only one Fellowship will be offered at any one time.

Conditions of the Fellowship and application details are available at: http://www.wch.sa.gov.au/research/funding/index.html.

This Fellowship will be open to postdoctoral graduates with a minimum of two years’ postdoctoral research experience. Successful applicants will undertake research within one of the Departments of the WCHN or SA Pathology (WCH campus).

The stipend for the Fellowship will be $70,000 per annum for a maximum of three years. There will be a maintenance allowance of $5,000 provided in the first year, and a travel allowance in the final year of the Fellowship of $5,000 to support national and international presentations of the research undertaken

WCHF Matthew Scriver PICU Nurses Scholarship 

The Matthew Scriver Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Nurses Scholarship was established in 2006, in memory of Matthew Scriver. The Scholarship supports research initiatives by nurses working in PICU, either as PICU nurses or nurses appointed in other areas of WCHN who are working with children and their families who are admitted to PICU. All types of research projects may be supported by the Scholarship.

The Scholarship stipend is $2,000 and is offered annually.

WCHF May Fotheringham Fellowship

The May Fotheringham Fund was established as an endowment in 1971, following the death of Mrs May Fotheringham, who bequeathed a portion of her estate to the Women's and Children's Hospital.

The Fellowship is offered annually for research, study or professional development to WCHN only non-medical staff, who wish to undertake such a program in Australia or overseas. 

Applications (to the value of approximately $5,000) for this award are called in April of each year.

WCHF Midwifery Fellowship

The WCH Foundation Midwifery Fellowship provides an excellent opportunity for a midwife to gain research training and experience leading to a higher degree in any aspect of midwifery.

The Fellow will undertake a supervised research project in conjunction with the Department of Nursing and Midwifery Research and Practice Development and a relevant clinical area within the Women's and Babies Division of the Women's and Children's Hospital. The Fellow will be registered for the degree of Masters by Research or PhD at either the University of South Australia or Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia.

The Scholarship Stipend is $25,000 plus annual allowance of $2,000.

WCHF Population Health Medical Postgraduate Scholarship

The WCH Foundation will fund a Population Health Medical Postgraduate Scholarship at the WCHN, for a period of two to three years, and dependent on course enrolment for a Masters by Research or PhD degree. Only one award will be offered at any one time.

The scholarship provides an opportunity for research leading to a higher degree in any aspect of population health at WCHN. The scholar will undertake a supervised research project in conjunction with one of the Departments of WCHN (either the Women’s and Children’s Hospital or Child and Youth Health), the Women's and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) or SA Pathology and a South Australian university.

The Scholarship Stipend is $60,000 in 2010 plus annual allowance of $5,000.

WCHF Population Health PhD Scholarship

The WCH Foundation will fund Population Health PhD Scholarships at WCHN, for a period of up to three years. Only two awards will be offered at any one time.

The scholarship provides an opportunity for research leading to a PhD in any aspect of population health at WCHN. The scholar will undertake a supervised doctoral research project in conjunction with one of the Departments of WCHN, the Women's and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) or SA Pathology and a South Australian university.

The Scholarship Stipend is $25,000 plus annual allowance of $5,000.

M S McLeod Awards

The MS McLeod Research Fund is part of the WCH Foundation Research Fund. Established by a bequest from the estate of Murdoch Stanley McLeod, the purpose of this fund is to support in perpetuity paediatric research.

Medical Postgraduate Scholarship

• Eligibility: MBBS or equivalent, eligible to enrol in Masters by Research or PhD at a South Australian University
• Duration: 3 years with possible 6 month extension.  Up to two awards will be offered at any one time
• Value: $60,000 per annum, plus a $5,000 allowance for national / international presentations of the research
• for more information click here

PhD Scholarship

• Eligibility: Graduates with appropriate science or health sciences honours degree, eligible to enrol in a PhD at a South Australian University
• Duration: 3 years with possible 6 month extension - Up to three awards will be offered at any one time
• Value: $25,000 per annum
• for more information click here

Postdoctoral Fellowship

• Eligibility: Postdoctoral applicants with 2+ years postdoctoral research experience
• Duration: 3 years, with possible 1 year extension.  - Up to three awards will be offered at any one time
• Value: $75,000 per annum, $5,000 maintenance allowance 1st year and $5,000 allowance for national / international presentations of research in 3rd year.
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Paediatric/Child Health Nursing Fellowship

• Eligibility: Graduates with appropriate nursing/ health sciences degree, must study in a WCHN Paediatric Department and eligible to enrol in Masters by Research or PhD at a South Australian University
• Duration: 3 years with possible 6 month extension - Only one award will be offered at any one time
• Value: $25,000 per annum plus $2,000 per annum goods and services allowance
• for more information click here

Departmental Research Grants

• Eligibility: WCHN, SA Pathology (WCH Campus) and WCHRI staff, Department Heads can nominate one research project per department
• Duration: To be completed within 12 months
• Value: $10,000 per grant - Offered annually
• Change: 4 grants awarded per annum
• for more information click here