Department of Research

Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Health Care Group (SCGOPHCG) has a national and international reputation for ground breaking research and is the largest public sector research hospital in Western Australia.

We are home to highly acclaimed researchers in a number of fields and undertakes a wide range of translational research and clinical trials.

The SCGOPHCG Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is certified by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to provide ethical approval for research nationally, one of three in WA and the only one within the North Metropolitan Health Service.

SCGOPHCG HREC is certified to review the following research categories:

  • Clinical trials of drugs and devices Phases I - IV
  • Clinical interventional research other than clinical trials
  • Population health and/or public health; and,
  • Qualitative research

Due to the variety and volume of research submitted at this site, the HREC delegates review of the scientific merit and integrity to two subcommittees: The Clinical Drugs Trial Committee (CDTC) and the Scientific Review Subcommittee (SRS). The CDTC reviews all research involving the administration of a drug and the SRS reviews all other non-drug research.

The HREC and its subcommittees meet eleven times a year with meetings occurring between February and December.

All research within WA Health needs to be submitted via the Research Governance Service (RGS) (external site).

All research studies undertaken at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Osborne Park Hospital must undergo a research governance review (or site specific assessment (SSA)) before the study can commence.

Research Governance is a framework through which institutions are accountable for the research they allow to be conducted under their auspices. The process involves consideration of the ethical, legal, professional, financial, insurance and intellectual property issues for each research project.

The governance process is separate to ethical and scientific review and can be conducted in parallel to the ethics approval process. That is, it is not necessary to wait for the ethics outcome before preparing and submitting a governance application.

For more information on research governance please visit the Research Governance Service (RGS) (external link).

Monitoring

Once a research project has received ethics approval and site authorisation, investigators must adhere to a number of reporting requirements. This includes submitting the following to the SCGOPHCG Research and Governance Office:

  • annual and final reports
  • amendments (any changes to project documentation or conduct)
  • requests for an extension of approval
  • requests to add new sites or personnel
  • serious and unexpected adverse events that occur at the local site.

All monitoring forms are the same for ethics and governance and are available from RGS (external link). Forms should be submitted to SCGH.RGO@health.wa.gov.au

The SCGOPHCG Statistical Consultation Service is available to all researchers employed at SCGH or OPH and who are conducting research at either of these sites.

Investigators may initially access up to 10 hours of free statistical consultation time, after which justification for ongoing support will need to be provided. Access to this service will be prioritised on the basis of the expected output (e.g. manuscript > grant > abstract ).

Where there is a reasonable contribution to any publication through analysis and interpretation of data, there is an expectation of inclusion in the authorship of the paper, as per NHMRC guidelines.

To apply for access please complete the SCGOPHCG Statistical Consultation form (Word) and forward to scgh.research@health.wa.gov.au

Note: these services are provided at the discretion of the SCGOPHCG Department of Research.

SCGOPHCG Library and Information Service provide a range of services for those conducting research.

Libraries provide an invaluable service and resource for researchers including access to:

  • Online journals
  • Search engines
  • Endnote
  • Researcher profiles

Further information can be found on the SCGOPHCG Library (external site). Staff using the library outside of the WA Health network need to login with their usual network credentials.

To contact the library phone (08) 6457 4143 or email: library.scgh@health.wa.gov.au.

Applications for RAC grants 2019/20 are now closed.

The Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Health Care Group (SCGOPHCG), in collaboration with the Ray Florence Shaw Trust, offer funding of up to $30,000 for short-term research projects in cardiovascular or ophthalmology research conducted at SCGH or OPH. Funding is available to support projects that promote the advancement of knowledge and training with SCGOPHCG by means of study and research into the causes, prevention and treatment.

Cardiovascular research can encompass diseases of the heart and blood vessels as well as coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias and valvular heart disease.

Ophthalmology research can encompass disease of the eyes as well as retinal diseases, glaucoma, the pathology of scarring in the eye, studies in corneal tissue typing, keratorefractive surgery, laser treatment, tissue culture, therapeutic diagnostic and surgical modalities, clinical medical and surgical ophthalmology, optics, electrophysiology of the eye and the pharmacology of drugs used in eye treatment.

In 2019/20, one grant each for cardiovascular and ophthalmology research was available.

Applications for 2019/20 are closed.

2019-20 successful projects:

  Title CPI Department
2019-20/001 Safety, tolerability and effect on inflammatory marker of colchicine in people with advanced diabetic chronic kidney disease Clinical Professor Wai LIM Renal Medicine
2019-20/003 Defining the earliest dynamic alterations to the macular microcirculation in diabetes mellitus using optical coherence tomography angiography Dr Vignesh RAJA Eye Clinic

SCGOPHCG, in collaboration with the Charlies Foundation for Research, each year offer funding of up to $30,000 for research projects that can be completed within one year and that are conducted at SCGH or OPH.

Charlies Foundation for Research have generously provided $500,000.00 of funding for the 2019-20. projects

Researchers who are employed at SCGOPHCG for at least 0.25FTE can apply. Researchers are only allowed to be the Principal Investigator on ONE application. The allocation of grants is subject to funding being made available. Final decisions regarding funding are made by the SCGOPHC Research Advisory Committee (RAC)

Applications for 2019/20 are closed.

2019-20 successful projects:

  Title CPI Department
2019-20/001 Identifying risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma in NASH Cirrhosis A/Professor Leon ADAMS Department of Hepatology, SCGH
2019-20/002 Vasopressor dependent shock: intravenous vitamin C versus placebo on vasopressor use. The VALENCIA study Dr Matthew ANSTEY Intensive Care
2019-20/004 Point of care (POC) testing to improve outcomes in peritoneal dialysis associated peritonitis Dr Aron CHAKERA Renal Medicine
2019-20/005 Loss of BAP1 and CDKN2A/p16 in malignant pleural mesothelioma: effect on survival and response to chemotherapy Professor Jenette CREANEY Respiratory Medicine
2019-20/006 Clinical implementation of 3D printed Brachytherapy surface-applicators for high dose rate Brachytherapy in Radiation Oncology Dr Martin EBERT Radiation Oncology, SCGH
2019-20/007 Increased adipose tissue within the airway wall and its relation to lung function Mr John ELLIOT Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine
2019-20/010 Application of an ex-vivo hydrogel model to assess and reverse airway smooth muscle cell stiffness in COPD Professor Alan L JAMES Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine
2019-20/011 The role of NKT cells in the outcome of liver transplantation in a murine model Professor Gary JEFFREY Hepatology
2019-20/012 The role of soluble citrate in the pathobiology of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) Professor Y C Gary LEE Dept of Respiratory Medicine
2019-20/013 Midodrine for the prevention and treatment of postoperative hypotension after total hip arthroplasty - MIHIP Trial Mark Lennon Anaesthesia
2019-20/014 Early cancers occurring after kidney transplantation: can these be prevented? Clinical Professor Wai LIM Department of Renal Medicine
2019-20/015 Assessing the role of IL-33 in short and long-term lung transplant outcomes. Professor Michaela LUCAS Immunology
2019-20/016 Ethanol abstinence compliance optimisation using measurements of erythrocyte phosphatidylethanol Professor Gerry MACQUILLAN Hepatology
2019-20/019 Pushing the length of stay in stroke rehabilitation: what has lateropulsion got to do with it? Jessica NOLAN Physiotherapy
2019-20/021 Contribution of the gut microbiome to autoimmune thyroid disease. Vijay PANICKER Endocrinology and Diabetes
2019-20/023 The Second Steroid Therapy and Outcome of Parapneumonic Pleural Effusion (STOPPE-2) trial for patients with Hospital-acquired Pneumonia Ms Natalia POPOWICZ Pharmacy
2019-20/024 Morbidity Outcomes in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Clinical Professor Bronwyn STUCKEY Diabetes and Endocrinology
2019-20/025 The use of novel magnetic resonance imaging techniques to investigate lung structure and ventilation during airway clearance techniques in adults with cystic fibrosis Dr Anna TAI Respiratory Medicine
2019-20/026 Prevalence of pelvic floor injury and clinical symptoms in post-partum primiparous women at Osborne Park Hospital Mrs Mieke TYE Radiology
2019-20/027 Nutritional support and exercise training to improve muscle mass in those with advanced thoracic cancers. Dr Rajesh THOMAS Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands
2019-20/028 Neuropsychological deficits, mental health and thyroid metabolism. Clinical Professor John WALSH Endocrinology and Diabetes
2019-20/029 Functional characterisation of novel mutations in the CASR gene detected in patients with Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcaemia (FHH) Dr Bryan WARD Endocrinology and Diabetes
2019-20/030 Improving efficiency of functional screening assays for genetic regulatory elements in common complex disease A/Professor Scott WILSON Endocrinology and Diabetes
Last Updated: 16/09/2019