The Kirby Institute The National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research (NCHECR) was established 25 years ago as part of the response by the Australian government to the emerging HIV epidemic. In the intervening years, the NCHECR has leveraged knowledge and research findings into other blood-borne viruses, notably viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections. To reflect this broader research base, NCHECR was renamed the Kirby Institute in 2011. While HIV and viral hepatitis remain the core clinical concerns, the scope of the Kirby Institute has expanded to include Indigenous sexual health, justice health and a broad skills-transfer program in the Asia Pacific region, with a particular interest in Papua New Guinea. Now comprising eleven programs and groups, the Kirby Institute is well positioned for further expansion into related research areas. Throughout 25 years of research, NCHECR and the Kirby Institute has valued its close and productive working relationship with St Vincent’s Hospital and St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, with whom it is a partner in the Institute of Virology. Nursing Research Institute The Nursing Research Institute has enjoyed two fruitful and productive years due to ongoing support from SV&MHS and the Australian Catholic University (ACU). The scope of nursing-led multidisciplinary research is governed by a vision of generating evidence useful for clinical practice and health services. University-clinical collaborative initiatives such as these and the housing of a nursing-led research team within a clinical institution, is essential for clinically informed research. Grant income to the Nursing Research Institute for 2010 (calendar year) exceeded $460,000, which allowed important research work to continue. Research highlights from the Nursing Research Institute during 2010 include the completion of data collection for the five year National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funded Quality in Acute Stroke Care (QASC) study. The Nursing Research Institute has completed an important qualitative study on the views and experiences of key stakeholders regarding outcomes, barriers and facilitators to successful clinical networks which was led by A/Professor Elizabeth McInnes. A/Professor McInnes also led an international collaboration to update one of the most highly cited systematic reviews in
38
St Vincents & Mater Health Sydney
the Cochrane Library, ‘Support Surfaces for Pressure Ulcer Prevention’ and updating the Cochrane review, ‘Support Surfaces for Treating Pressure Ulcers.’ Professor Kim Walker has continued his work, with Jed Duff, Clinical Research Fellow on venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention and a new project around improving clinical handover. In 2010, the Nursing Research Institute implemented a new model for aspiring nurse researchers, where new nursing graduates were seconded one day a week from their clinical area to work in the Nursing Research Institute as research assistants. The first new nursing graduates to be involved went on to obtain scholarships from ACU to support them to conduct their own research as part of a Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) degree in 2011. The Nursing Research Institute currently has 25 people working on a variety of multi-disciplinary projects which includes 19 clinicians from St Vincent’s, St Vincent’s Private and Mater Hospitals. Sally Sutherland-Fraser, CNC for Perioperative Practice Development and a Nursing Research Institute clinician was awarded the 2010 Australian College of Operating Room Nurses’ (ACORN) Excellence in Perioperative Nursing Award. This award was presented for her research on improving pressure ulcer prevention and treatment in the perioperative setting which was conducted at St Vincent’s and Mater Hospitals. Patricia Ritchie Centre for Cancer Care & Research Based at the Mater Hospital, the centre’s core role is to conduct cancer clinical trials and supportive care research. In 2010/2011 the centre hosted a comprehensive clinical trial programme in collaboration with local academic groups, national and international breast cancer research groups and commercial sponsors. This allowed researchers to involve many Mater breast cancer patients in practice changing research. The support of the Friends of the Mater Foundation, BUPA Foundation and the Cancer Institute NSW has been instrumental in these endeavours. During 2011 the unit moved to a new facility, made possible through the generosity of Mrs Ritchie and The Friends of the Mater Foundation. Claverton, a federation mansion previously owned by the Sisters of Mercy, was renovated to house the outpatient chemotherapy service and provide additional space for research staff and multidisciplinary meetings. The building was officially opened by Her Excellency Marie Bashir in February 2011.