NEWS & EVENTS

BDHP receives $6.1 million to improve the health of Queenslanders

13 April 2018

Minister for Rural Health, Senator Bridget McKenzie today announced $6.1 million in funding over three years to support Brisbane Diamantina Health Partners (BDHP) to deliver improved healthcare for Queenslanders through innovation, education and training. “We know that health and medical research, and its translation to frontline service delivery, has the ability to improve health outcomes for Queenslanders,” said Dr Robin Mortimer, BDHP Chairperson. “The funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) will give our Partners an opportunity to further strengthen capability and provide solutions for the healthcare challenges faced in Queensland.” BDHP brings together researchers, clinicians and educators in multidisciplinary partnerships to identify and address current and future community and clinical needs across Queensland through a range of programs of work. “The Federal Government funding will allow BDHP to take local and international research and accelerate its application to new treatments across the spectrum of healthcare, meaning faster and better treatment for people within our community affected by a wide range of conditions, illness and disease,” said Areti Gavrilidis, BDHP General Manager. BDHP organisations are currently undertaking research across the continuum of care. Some of the research priorities include:

telehealth services in particular to improve access for older Queenslanders, rural and remote communities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
coordinating data, genetics and imaging for precision medicine
vaccine therapies
understanding cancer and cancer treatments
integrated care for chronic disease
health systems improvement.

In 2017, BDHP was recognised as an Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). “The funding is part of the Government’s investment to support Advanced Health Research and Translation Centres (AHRTC) and Centres for Innovation and Regional Health (CIRH) to conduct rapid transformation research that delivers real solutions to health service challenges,” Minister McKenzie said. “Brisbane Diamantina Health Partners will work with health professionals—such as the doctors and nurses caring for patients—to identify areas of research need or problems and collaborate with expert researchers to find solutions tailored to patients.” The Centre provides national leadership and collaboration in world-leading health research, systems improvement and evidence-based clinical care, with programs and activities to improve health systems and deliver better patient outcomes. “Through a tremendous amount of collaboration and effort from researchers, clinicians and educators, we have built a partnership that integrates a patient’s care to achieve excellence in clinical service,” said Areti Gavrilidis.