​Sydney Research offers a number of opportunities across Sydney Local Health District and its partners to support up-and-coming and established researchers, their professional development, and the funding of their research.

Sydney Innovation and Research Symposium

The following opportunities are open every year as part of the Sydney Innovation and Research Symposium:

The Big Idea

This commercialisation challenge provides seed funding for early stage ideas, devices, technology or systems that could transform the way we deliver healthcare. If you have an idea that could transform healthcare, we want to hear from you!

Find out more

Sydney Research Awards and Scholarships

These prestigious awards celebrate and encourage up-and-coming researchers, research leaders, standout supervisors, and outstanding publications across the Sydney Research partnership.

Find out more

Clinical Trials Awards

Each year two Clinical Trials Awards are offered to Sydney Local Health District staff recognising Supervision and Support and the Clinical Trial of the Year.

Find out more

Tim Trigg Scholarship for Glioblastoma Research

The Tim Trigg Scholarship for Glioblastoma Research encourages and supports researchers seeking to pursue research and find innovative solutions in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an aggressive type of brain cancer that is difficult to treat, with fewer than 5 per cent of patients surviving beyond two years.

The Scholarship will provide up to $35,000 per annum for up to three consecutive years to a full-time University of Sydney postgraduate student to fund their living expenses while undertaking laboratory research within the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Neuropathology department.

The recipient of the Scholarship will perform research and support the Brainstorm collaboration between Sydney Local Health District and University of Sydney. To find out more about Brainstorm, visit the Brainstorm website.

Apply now! 

Sydney Cancer Institute Seed Grant Scheme

The Sydney Cancer Institute Seed Grant Scheme seeks to support research in the areas of cancer diagnosis, prevention, treatment or care. It is a joint initiative between Sydney Local Health District, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, and The University of Sydney.



In 2022, there were twelve (12) x $25,000 Seed Grants available, to support projects investigating any aspect of cancer and its various sub-types. These grants aim to expand existing cancer research capacity and collaboration across disciplines to improve care, outcomes, and quality of life for patients with cancer. Grants preferenced early and mid-career researchers whose careers have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the application, applicants to this scheme must provide a one-page statement to explain how their career has been impacted by COVID-19 and how the grant would help them regain momentum. 

2022 grant recipients

• Dr Alison Pearce, Senior Lecturer, Health Economics, USYD
  
  ‘Artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance breast cancer screening: Women’s preferences and uptake’
  
  A discrete choice experiment (economic method) to quantitatively examine women’s preferences for the use of artificial intelligence in breast cancer screening and model breast screening uptake if it were implemented.

• Dr Ann Kwan, Senior Research Fellow, USYD
  
  ‘An engineered protein coating for improved bone implants’
  
  The study seeks to determine if modified fungal hydrophobin proteins can act as superior coating for bone implants to reduce bacterial infections and increase adhesion and growth of osteoblasts.

• Dr Yu Heng Lau, Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow, USYD
  
  ‘Nanoparticle-based delivery of potent cyclic peptides for the treatment of adolescent osteosarcoma’
  
  This study seeks to develop a nanoparticle-based strategy for delivering potent peptide inhibitors of ALT to their intracellular drug target in osteosarcoma cells.

• Dr Dannel Yeo, Postdoctoral Fellow, USYD
  
  ‘Improving small cell lung cancer patient management using circulating tumour cells’
  
  This study will assess the ability of a specialised liquid biopsy technology, RareCyte, platform in detecting and characterising circulating tumour cells in small cell lung cancer patients.

• Emma Charters, Senior Speech Pathologist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse
  
  ‘MDPS: A novel process for transferring medical device manufacturing technology across the health industry’
  
  The focus of this study is to improve equitable access to Restorabite using a medical device production system and understand its cost-effectiveness. Restorabite is a 3D-printed, investigator-led device designed to stretch and strengthen the jaw in patients with trismus.

• Dr Kimberley Alexander, Head of Brain Cancer Research, USYD
  
  ‘A “liquid gold biopsy” for brain cancer?’
  
  The focus of this project is to develop minimally-invasive tumour monitoring approaches to improve the clinical care and survival of glioblastoma patients. Specifically it will seek to answer whether GBM biomarkers are carried in extracellular vesicles captured from patient urine.

• Dr Marion Dimigen, Lead Research Staff Specialist, Radiology, RPA and Dr Phuong D (Yun) Trieu, Research Fellow (BREAST), USYD
  
  ‘ENHANCE: Enhanced diagnostic efficacy in breast radiology via artificial intelligence education’
  
  This study seeks to investigate the effectiveness of individualised training test sets when applying artificial intelligence support to clinicians who interpret breast imaging at RPA, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and BreastScreen, Sydney Local Health District.

• Laura Castasellti, Research Scientist, Cell and Molecular Therapies, Sydney Local Health District
  
  ‘Preclinical trial in pigs testing the feasibility and safety of CAR T cell delivery directly into the pancreas and liver’
  
  This clinical trial seeks to assess the feasibility and safety of the delivery anti-Mesothelin CAR T cells directly into the tumour mass of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and sites of metastasis in the liver.

• Dr Robin Hill, Head of Research and Education, Radiation Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse
  
  ‘Point-of-care development of personalised 3D printed boli for radiotherapy patients’
  
  The project seeks to develop advanced point-of-care 3D printed boli for radiotherapy. A bolus is tissue-equivalent material placed on the skin to act as a ‘build-up of material’ to ensure maximum dose is located as clinically required.

• Dr Susannah Hallal, Postdoctoral Researcher, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Honorary Research Officer, RPA Neuropathology
  
  ‘Characterising the extracellular vesicle “surfaceome” for the development of glioblastoma blood tests’
  
  This study seeks to examine whether a new blood test method for the targeted capture of glioblastoma extracellular vesicles can improve the sensitivity of diagnosis and surveillance blood tests. The anticipated outcome is a well-defined, reproducible panel of GBM surface markers.

• Tracy King, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Multiple Myeloma, RPA
  
  ‘Personalised Care for older People with Multiple Myeloma’
  
  This study seeks to explore patients’ and carers’ perspectives of older individuals receiving treatment for multiple myeloma and how they navigate the complex treatment pathways. It also seeks to review the evidence for geriatric assessment/tools and examine factors at diagnosis and during treatment that impact overall outcomes.

• Dr Yao Wang, Postdoctoral Fellow, USYD
  
  ‘Novel synergistic mechanomedicine combining cytoskeletal inhibition and 3D organoid approach to treat ovarian cancer’
  
  This study seeks to examine the impact of mechanobiology in promoting anti-microtubule resistance in ovarian cancers and new opportunities to prevent this resistance by inhibiting pathways of force generation.

Details for the 2023 round to be announced soon.

If you would like help applying for an opportunity, or guidance on opportunities available to address your needs, email the Sydney Research team at SLHD-SydneyResearch@health.nsw.gov.au

To stay up-to-date with the latest opportunities, subscribe to the Sydney Research eNewsletter.​