YOUR IMPACT ON WOMEN’S AND NEWBORN HEALTH
MORE THAN MATERNITY: THE EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT OF WOMEN’S AND NEWBORN SERVICES It takes time and patience to establish a vibrant research culture. It also takes resilience, particularly in the face of challenges of the kind we have all confronted in the last year.
Associate Professor Karin Lust RBWH Women’s and Newborn Services Director
While maternity and obstetrics care have long been the cornerstone of Women’s and Newborn Services (WNS), its dedicated team has also established RBWH as a premier centre for neonatology, obstetric medicine, gynaecology and gynaecological oncology. WNS Director Associate Professor Karin Lust said research lay at the heart of the Service’s success and was embedded into every aspect of WNS f rom clinical patient care to international collaborations on disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention. “Clinical staff f rom all disciplines in WNS undertake research and share their outcomes which are presented locally, nationally and internationally,” said A/Prof. Lust. “These outcomes not only improve patient outcomes within Queensland, but also impact national and global practice.” An appetite for research has recently seen WNS involved in seven maternity clinical trials, 16 neonatal clinical trials, one gynaecology clinical trial and five Gynaecology Oncology clinical trials. The RBWH Foundation has championed WNS life-changing research and patient care since it was founded in 1985. Support is provided through research grants, purchase of new technologies and patient care projects such as facility upgrades and renovations, and educational videos. Early-career research grants, awarded annually by the RBWH Foundation, were particularly coveted and WNS has been successful in
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securing a number of these as well as Metro North and NHMRC research grants. “Many grants are awarded to clinicians based on their previous research experience so if you’re not an experienced researcher, it’s difficult to get your foot in the door,” said A/Prof. Lust. “That’s where early career research grants play a crucial role and we have a number of excellent researchers who are working towards or have completed their PhDs in our Department. Many commenced their research through the RBWH Foundation research grants.” Professor Leonie Callaway, Director of Research WNS, who received one of her f irst RBWH Foundation grants in 2004 was named f inalist in the 2020 Metro North Hospital and Health Service (MNHHS) Researcher of the Year Awards.
I N TE RN ATI O N A L I MPACT RBWH Women’s and Newborns Services is involved in a number of national and international collaborations and research trials including Women’s Healthcare Australasia, Australia and New Zealand rbwhfoundation.com.au
