United by research – spotlight on Flinders medical excellence

The inaugural Flinders Health Research Week will turn attention to the world-class health and medical research south of Adelaide.

From 4 to 8 September, the diversity of research excellence at the Flinders Medical Centre,  Flinders University, Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer (FCIC) and other biomedical centres in southern Adelaide will be on show for the public, staff, students, graduates, industry, government and the media. The work of 140 leading researchers and invited speakers will be showcased, including initiatives already saving lives or contributing to future medical breakthroughs.

Brought together by the SA Government Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) of SA Health, Flinders University and Flinders Foundation,  the Flinders Health Research Week illustrates how the partners are ‘United by Research’.

“For the first time, we are pleased to be able to shine a light on the passion and talent of our medical professionals, students, clinical researchers and health staff based in the South,” says Professor Villis Marshall,  Director of the SALHN Office for Research.

“We know research always improves the quality of patient care,” he says, “and it is in that light that we have come together to present an innovative program showcasing a broad cross-section of our current leading research.”

Research Week will offer a range of lectures, masterclasses and workshops, panels and professional development opportunities.

The program will promote a journey of discovering new medical knowledge and creating new methods of techniques for the community.

Along with discoveries in disease prevention and treatments, medical research benefits the community, individuals and the state, in a wide range of ways including access to better health services, reduced pain and suffering, reduced patient burden on the health system and creation of knowledge-intensive medical and health research economy in Australia.

Topics covered during Flinders Health Research Week range from aged care, cardiology and orthopaedics, to advances in mental health, sleep, gastroenterology and pain management, and nursing, public health, mental health and even the usefulness of the arts in clinical practice.

Health Minister Mr Jack Snelling, Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling, SALHN Chief Executive Officer Professor Michael O’Keefe and Flinders Foundation CEO Ms Amanda Shiell will launch the Research Week  at 9am on Monday 4 September at the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer (Flinders Drive, Bedford Park).

Professor Jeffrey Braithwaite of the Australian Institute of Health Innovation will give an opening address ahead of a range of updates at the Noarlunga Hospital and Repat General Hospital during the day.

On Tuesday 5 September, a day of updates on cardiology and cancer research is scheduled for the FCIC main lecture theatre. Professor Grant McArthur, from the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, will speak at a public lecture from 6-7pm on ‘The big questions and challenges in cancer control.’

Tours of the  Flinders Medical Device Research Institute (MDRI) laboratories will be offered at the University’s Tonsley building on Wednesday 6 September. The MDRI is based at the University’s state-of-the-art $120 million building at the Tonsley Innovation Precinct on South Road at Clovelly Park.

And at the Alere Function Centre at Flinders University’s main Bedford Park campus (5-8pm on Wednesday 6 September),  the Arts in Health panel (entitled ‘Synergy = art + science + research’) will explain the pioneering work in this realm of better approaches to health, wellbeing and recovery.

NHMRC Chief Executive Professor Anne Kelso AO will deliver the annual Flinders University Chalmers Oration at 12 noon on Thursday 7 September. Named for Emeritus Professor John Chalmers, the annual lecture will conclude with the official launch of the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University and another panel session to mark the 40th anniversary of the Flinders Centre for Neuroscience.

Emeritus Professor Chalmers will join a panel discussion with Emeritus Professors Ian Chubb and Laurie Geffen, Professor Janet Keast, Professor Marcello Costa and others on the impact of neuroscience research.

On Friday 8 September, Flinders specialists will give an overview of surgery and perioperative medicine and representatives from the Medical Device Partnering Program, TechinSA, BioMedical and Brandon Capital Partners will give the closing presentations.

Go to the website for program highlights, presentation summaries and oral and poster abstracts

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