NEWS & EVENTS

Success for the first virtual Children’s Health Precinct BDHP Research Week and Postgraduate Student Symposium

12 November 2020

The Children’s Health Precinct BDHP Research Week (19-23 October) featured a broad range of diverse and vibrant topics about research happening at the precinct. Presenters delivered 50 novel research poster and oral presentations over five days, including during the all-day HDR Student Symposium. We heard from Higher Degree Research (HDR) students, Early Career Researchers, Mid-Career Researchers and Senior Researchers. The inaugural virtual program was a successful mixed-platform of presentations deployed from the Centre for Children’s Health Research in South Brisbane and via Zoom videoconference links. There were up to 45 virtual participants for each session, as well as the on-site attendees. The majority of conference attendees who joined the online platform also participated in interactive sessions, including question and answer sessions and a panel discussion. For Children’s Health Precinct BDHP Research Week 2020, the participating BDHP institutions included The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, the Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service and the Mater Research Institute. Griffith University and The University of Southern Queensland also joined the week. Prize Winners During the week, researchers received prizes for the best presentations. HDR Best Oral Presentation (First): Kavindri Kulasinghe (UQ), Mental Health of Mothers of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Australia: a cross-sectional survey. HDR Best Oral Presentation (Second): Sarah Steane (UQ), The effect of periconceptional alcohol exposure on maternal plasma B-group vitamins: implications for epigenetic reprogramming. HDR Best Poster Presentation: Pevindu Abeysinghe (QUT), Exosomes derived from dairy cows of divergent fertilities for diagnostic and therapeutic use. EMCR Best Oral Presentation winners (dual): Dr Nicole Hayes (UQ), Parent-reported sleep problems in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Associations with child, caregiver and family functioning Dr Ran Wang (MRI-UQ), Targeting interleukin-22 to limit respiratory viral infections The 2020 Dignan-Stephens Bursary award for the best oral presentation by an Allied Health Professional at the symposium went to Rose Gilmore (UQ) for The friends project: a randomised controlled trial of a social skills program to improve social functioning in adolescents with acquired brain injuries and cerebral palsy. A memorial presentation seminar for the Dignan-Stephens Bursary is planned for noon on 18 November 2020. Details to follow. Thank you to the presenters, the HDR and EMCR organising committees, the CCHR Research Committee, Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Dignan and Stephens families for making this year’s activities a success.