2026 Grant Recipients

Celebrating Excellence in Patient-Focused Research

Our 2026 grant recipients are leading innovative, patient-focused research across the St Vincent’s Sydney Health Innovation Precinct. From clinician-led projects driving clinical excellence to multidisciplinary grants led by nurses and allied health professionals, these grants support diverse ideas with real impact.

Congratulations to all recipients – your work is shaping the future of patient care.

Every dollar we receive is directed to our grants, and it is through the generosity of our donors that this important research is possible.

Championing
those who are

unlocking medical breakthroughs

We passionately believe that high-quality research underpins high-quality clinical care, so we provide funding and support for medical research across St Vincent’s Darlinghurst campus.

Dr Seyhan Yazar

Garvan Institute of Medical Research

Sr Mary Bernice, Packer Family Foundation Research Grant – $120,000

“Stopping MS before it starts – discovering early warning signs in blood”

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling condition where the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord, causing fatigue, memory problems, and difficulty walking. Currently, MS is usually diagnosed only after clear damage has occurred, but research shows some people experience early symptoms such as mood changes, pain, or balance issues. This stage is called the MS prodrome. We believe MS may start even earlier, triggered by abnormal immune responses to viruses like Epstein-Barr. These responses may leave “fingerprints” in the blood. Identifying these clues could help doctors diagnose sooner, improve treatment, and potentially prevent MS altogether.

A/Prof David Croucher

Garvan Institute of Medical Research

Annual Research Grant – $100,000

“New ways to treat drug-resistant childhood cancers”

Neuroblastoma is a rare childhood tumour arising from nerve tissue, most often in the adrenal gland but sometimes in the pelvis, abdomen, chest, or neck. Despite being uncommon, it causes more deaths in children under five than any other cancer. About half of patients present with high-risk disease and often fail to respond to current treatments. Our team has developed a predictive model to identify resistant cases and match them with potential new drugs, delivered as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). These targeted therapies will be tested in the lab and advanced “avatar” mouse models, paving the way for future trials.

Dr Jeanette Villanueva

Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute

Annual Research Grant – $100,000

“Improving cold preservation techniques of donor hearts to increase transplant success”

Heart transplantation is the only life-saving option for end-stage heart failure, yet donor hearts are in short supply. Each year, up to 20% of patients on the waiting list die, while most continue waiting. Since 2014, research at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute has helped make more heart transplants possible by enabling donation after circulatory death (DCD). Because DCD hearts are more vulnerable to damage, they require special preservation. This project will test a simpler temperature-controlled storage device, combined with a novel spider venom–derived drug and a repurposed diabetes treatment, to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and make DCD heart transplants more accessible.

A/Prof James Otton

Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute

Annual Research Grant – $50,000

“Preventing heart disease with AI software that finds hidden heart risks in routine scans”

Heart disease is the world’s leading cause of death, current methods still miss most people at risk. The calcium score CT scan is a simple, low-cost test that measures calcium build-up in arteries, but it also holds hidden information. Our team has developed AI software that transforms routine non-contrast scans into detailed assessments, detecting enlarged chambers, thickened walls, and fat deposits that predict heart attacks, strokes, and arrhythmias. Using data from 15,000 people tracked for over a decade, we will validate these measures and create a new risk calculator, enabling affordable, advanced screening worldwide and preventing thousands of heart attacks and strokes.

Dr Vicky Tsai

St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney

Annual Research Grant – $50,000

“New ways to treat the severe weight and appetite loss seen in cancer and other illnesses”

Cachexia is a severe wasting syndrome affecting people with advanced cancer and with chronic heart, lung, or kidney failure. It strips away appetite, fat, and muscle, leaving patients weak, less able to tolerate therapy, and with poorer quality of life and survival. Our team discovered that a molecule called growth-differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) drives this process. In a Phase II trial, a GDF15-blocking antibody helped patients regain weight, strength, and wellbeing. Building on this, we will study the broader “cachexia signal,” the many substances released by tumours and diseased tissues that worsen wasting. By understanding these drivers, we aim to create combination therapies that restore strength, improve treatment tolerance, and enhance survival outcomes.

A/Prof Nick Vertzyas

St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney

Annual Research Grant – $50,000

“Investigating microplastic particles in the blood and knee joint tissue of joint replacement patients”

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that can be found in the human body and have been linked to inflammation and other health concerns. One possible source of exposure is knee replacement surgery, where synthetic implants may gradually release microplastics particles. In this study, we will measure microplastic particles in blood samples collected before and after surgery, as well as in knee tissue normally discarded during the procedure. We will also examine whether the presence of microplastics is associated with pain, stiffness, inflammation, and disability. Conducted in collaboration with St Vincent’s Clinic, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, and the Minderoo Centre – Plastics and Human Health, this first-of-its-kind study aims to inform the development of safer implants and improve care for patients undergoing knee replacement surgery.

Dr Vaibhao Janbandhu

Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute

Tancred Research Grant – $50,000

“Using new knowledge to develop more precise therapies for valvular heart disease”

Valvular heart disease (VHD) affects millions worldwide. Valves become stiff and narrowed, reducing their ability to open and close properly and can lead to heart failure, stroke, or death. Current treatments, such as valve replacement, are invasive and address symptoms rather than underlying causes. Progress has been limited because the cells driving disease were not well understood. Our project focuses on two key cell types found in heart valves, one protective and one promoting harmful stiffening and calcification. Using advanced mouse models, we will study how these cells behave and interact, aiming to detect VHD earlier and develop therapies that prevent or reverse valve damage, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Dr Zoe Phan

Garvan Institute of Medical Research

Thelma Greig Cancer Grant – $50,000

“Targeting cancer cell metabolism to overcome drug resistance in ovarian cancer”

High-grade serous ovarian cancer is an aggressive disease with a survival rate of only 20–30%, a figure unchanged for decades. PARP inhibitors, used for patients with BRCA1/2 mutations, block DNA repair in cancer cells and can initially control tumour growth. Unfortunately, resistance develops in most patients, affecting an estimated 358 women annually in Australia, with no effective treatments once resistance occurs. Using ovarian cancer models that closely mimic human disease, we discovered resistant cells alter their metabolism but can be targeted with existing metabolic drugs. This project aims to repurpose these drugs to provide new treatments, extend survival, and improve quality of life.

Dr Ashraf Zaman

Garvan Institute of Medical Research

Kavan Neurology Grant – $50,000

“Targeting brain tumours at their source by studying how the parent tumour cells function and regrow”

Brain tumours, particularly adult-type diffuse gliomas, are extremely difficult to treat and often return even after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Our research analysing 1.2 million cells from hundreds of tumours has revealed a small group called “dormant parental cells.” These cells survive treatment by staying inactive, then regrow once therapy ends. We aim to develop new strategies to eliminate them. Using advanced bioengineering, we will create 3D bioprinted tumour models from patient samples and test potential drugs. By targeting these parental cells, we hope to delay disease progression, prevent recurrence, and improve survival and quality of life.

Ms Emma Pauley

St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney (Physiotherapy)

Multidisciplinary Research Grant – $50,000

“Improving mobility after surgery for a fractured hip by improving low blood pressure”

Patients who fracture their hip and require surgery are often elderly and have other medical conditions. Being able to get out of bed and walk even a few metres soon after surgery greatly reduces complications such as pneumonia, blood clots, and confusion, and improves survival. A three-month physiotherapy audit found that about one-quarter of patients were unable to walk on day one due to low blood pressure or related symptoms, making this the most common barrier to early mobilisation. To address this, a trial will test whether a safe, low-cost medication to increase blood pressure can support earlier walking, reduce complications, and shorten hospital stays.

Dr Jenny Le

St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney (Mental Health)

Multidisciplinary Research Grant – $25,000

“Co-designing and evaluating an online therapy resource to support parents with distressing thoughts”

For many new and expecting parents, the perinatal period is a time of joy, however it can also be a time of increased stress and vulnerability to mental ill-health. Some parents experience intrusive, unwanted thoughts which can be distressing and require specialised care. However, face-to-face treatment is often limited by shame, time, cost, and available psychological services. This project will co-design and evaluate an online therapy resource package with parents and clinicians to overcome these barriers. Delivered through THIS WAY UP, it will provide an accessible, evidence-based, and anonymous resource to support parents and expand perinatal mental health care.

Dr Nicola Straiton

St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney (Nursing)

Multidisciplinary Research Grant – $25,000

“Understanding what helps and hinders frailty management in heart valve disease treatment programs”

Heart valve disease affects over 600,000 Australians, primarily older adults, and can cause severe breathlessness and reduced quality of life. Aortic stenosis, a common form, is often treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), a less invasive alternative to open-heart surgery, especially for frail patients. However, around 30% of TAVI patients are already frail, and outcomes are poorer because frailty is not well managed.

The FRAIL-AS Response Trial, launched at St Vincent’s Hospital in 2024, is testing a Frailty Response Program across 15 hospitals. This project will explore what helps or hinders its adoption, guiding nationwide implementation to improve patient outcomes.

Dr Lauren Christie

St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney

Multidisciplinary Research Grant – $25,000

“Improving the health of bone marrow transplant survivors with an internet-based program combining exercise, mindfulness, and dietary support”

Advances in bone marrow transplant (BMT) have improved survival, but many recipients face ongoing health challenges, reduced quality of life, and economic impacts. This study will test a six-week, virtually supervised program combining exercise, mindfulness, and dietary support for BMT survivors, building on a successful world-first randomised controlled trial. We will assess whether the program reaches survivors in both local and remote communities, including First Nations Australians, improves outcomes in mobility, strength, diet, and quality of life, and identify barriers or enablers to routine adoption, informing scale-up across other health services.