Bloom Research Program

Creating a family is an incredibly precious time, nurturing new life through pregnancy and beyond. However, the path to healthy, thriving babies and children is not always a smooth one. From challenges conceiving, complications during pregnancy resulting in babies entering the world before they’re due, through to chronic childhood diseases and conditions – how do we ensure mums, babies and their families flourish?

Bloom Research Program is an initiative of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation, supporting research that delivers big thinking for the health and wellbeing of South Australia’s little people and their mums.

With big thinking comes big outcomes

We’ve doubled our investment into health and medical research so that the Bloom Research Program can increase research capacity and lay a solid foundation from which new ideas can be tested, knowledge can be gained and practices can grow.

At the heart of the Bloom Research Program is collaboration and uniting like-minded researchers with common goals to open greater possibilities for research outcomes to foster healthier mums, children and their families.

Each year, applications will be sought for research projects targeting priority areas based on need, and the potential for the research outcomes to have a genuine impact on health and medical care in South Australia.

The 2023 Bloom Research Grant round saw more than $5.7 million in research grants awarded to four projects focusing on enhanced treatments for childhood brain cancer, digital technology for the self-management of asthma, and folic acid supplementation in mid-to-late pregnancy and the relationship with gestational diabetes.

We all aspire—and deserve—to live healthy and happy lives. Through supporting critical health and medical research enabled by the Bloom Research Program, we play our part in improving the health and wellbeing of mums, children and their families for generations to come.

Find out more about our Bloom Research Program from our Research Program Manager, Dr Chelsea Mauch, and Head of Mission, Verity Gobbett.

For information about the Bloom Research Program Grant round opening and closing dates, see our Research Funding Opportunities page.

FAQ's

Why has the WCH Foundation set up the Bloom Research Program?

Our goal is to improve the health and wellbeing of women, children and families who receive care from the Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN). One way we can achieve this is by supporting evidence-based health and medical research that will further enhance the quality of healthcare provided by WCHN to South Australian women, children and families.

What type of research does the Bloom Research Program support?

The Bloom Research Program will support research that delivers tangible outcomes to reduce the burden of maternal and paediatric disease in South Australia. Each year, the Bloom Research Program will direct its funding toward priority research areas. These priority areas will be announced at the opening of the round.

How is the Bloom Research Program funded?

The Bloom Research Program is made possible by the generosity of our community who shares our goal to improve the health and wellbeing of women, children and their families.

Can I make a donation to the Bloom Research Program?

Donations can certainly be made to the WCH Foundation and directed to the Bloom Research Program. We welcome —and are very grateful for —the support of the community to help us deliver big thinking and big outcomes for little people and their mums.

When is the Bloom Research Program open for applications?

The Bloom Research Program Grant Round generally opens early in the year (quarter one). Monitor our Research Funding Opportunities page for updates, or contact us to be added to our research mailing list.

Who can apply for a Bloom Research Program Grant?

Expressions of Interest can be lodged by researchers at any stage of their careers, including those working for WCHN, University of Adelaide, SAHMRI, Flinders University, University of South Australia and Torrens University.
The Bloom Research Program aims to encourage collaboration and capacity building within WCHN. All proposals must demonstrate an affiliation with, and involvement of, WCHN.

How are grant applications assessed?

A rigorous application process has been developed to ensure the Bloom Research Program supports high-calibre projects that can create tangible outcomes for mums, babies and children. Applications are assessed by an independent Research Grants Committee comprising experienced peer reviewers with relevant expertise, against criteria modelled on National Health and Medical Research Council peer review guidelines.

If you are an experienced researcher interested in joining the WCH Foundation Research Grants Committee, please email us your expression of interest.

How can I stay up to date with the progress of Bloom Research Program funded projects?

Look out for updates from the Bloom Research Program and the important work of our researchers here, newsletter and social media, or contact us to be added to our research mailing list.

The outcomes of our 2023 Bloom Research Program can be found here.