New batch of inspiring research projects to kick-start in 2020

Last week the St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation awarded its 2020 research grants to talented researchers and practitioners, helping them spearhead new medical studies.

On 30 October the St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation held its annual event, the Sandra David Oration, to celebrate its 2020 research grant recipients, and to gather the research community across the St Vincent’s Darlinghurst campus.

Amongst the successful applicants, Dr Simon Ghaly received the SVPHS Ladies’ Committee Sr Mary Bernice Research Grant of $120,000. This fund will help him investigate a new treatment delivery method for Ulcerative Colitis patients, who suffer from chronic inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. 

The other grants were awarded to remarkable research projects covering a wide range of areas, such as breast cancer, Type 1 diabetes, primary immunodeficiency diseases, Crohn's disease, and more. To conduct their studies, a number of researchers will rely on cutting-edge technology - for example imaging technology and 3D patient-derived models to improve the treatment of breast cancer. All of the research will be conducted on the St Vincent’s Darlinghurst and St Joseph’s campuses.

View the full list of 2020 research grant recipients awarded at the Sandra David Oration (PDF 315.8KB)

Each year the St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation presents research grants and multidisciplinary patient-focused grants to support projects that are critical in continuously improving clinical care. Since its inception, the foundation has donated over $17 million for medical research. It has committed another $1 million in 2020 that includes this new batch of grant recipients, as well as other key research projects, such as the De Angeli Cancer research and prostate cancer research.

The Sandra David Oration is held in honour of Sandra David, a former Sister of Charity at St Vincent’s College who died of cancer on 13 September 1994. The event acknowledges the David’s family support to the foundation.