The outstanding achievements of Mater People across the health, education, research and foundation ministries were recognised at the annual Mater People Awards on Friday 4 October. Mater Research was well represented with seven finalists across three categories including Mater Research Excellence, Mater Clinical Excellence (Team) and Mater Innovator of the Year.
With incredible nominees across all award categories, Mater Research recognises and congratulates all 70 finalists, selected from more than 300 nominations across the state.
In particular, we acknowledge Mater Research 2024 winners. Congratulations to:
- Associate Professor Jake Begun, co-winner, Mater Research Excellence
- Professor Janet Hardy, co-winner, Mater Research Excellence
- MIDAS EASY Health Project Team, winner, Mater Clinical Excellence (Team)
- Catherine's House Research Team, winner, Mater Innovator of the Year.
Read on to learn more about the recipients.
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Associate Professor Jake Begun
A/Prof Begun leads the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Research Group, and is also the Director of Gastroenterology at Mater Hospital Brisbane. Dedicated to improving patient outcomes, he is leading innovative research that aims to identify novel therapeutic targets to help treat people with IBD.
A/Prof Begun leads research activity from discovery science, with a TRI based research lab, through to investigator lead clinical trials and biobanking, all aimed at identifing novel therapeutic strategies to treat people with IBD. His successful leadership of this multidisciplinary team, including biomedical researchers, clinicians, clinical trial specialists and students, , while maintaining a significant patient care load, is a testament to his commitment to improving patient outcomes.
A/Prof Begun’s collaborative approach and commitment to translating research findings into clinical applications has positioned him as a leading figure in his field, garnering significant funding and recognition. By leveraging the core-facilities at the Translational Research Institute and commercialisation support through UniQuest, A/Prof Begun has also created a start-up company to develop innovative treatments.
Professor Janet Hardy
Prof Hardy leads the Palliative Care Research Group and, until recently, was the Director of Palliative Care at the Mater Cancer Care Centre. She is a dedicated researcher who has made significant contributions to her field with a focus on the implementation and testing of new drugs and symptom relief methods to improve clinical practice and reduce patient suffering.
Prof Hardy has made several notable discoveries through clinical trials, receiving international recognition, and has played a role in shaping government policy.
Her collaborative approach and commitment to translating research findings into clinical applications has positioned Prof Hardy as an industry leader, and under her guidance, there is a strong research team with a unified approach.
Securing significant funding and recognition, Prof Hardy has played a pivotal role in numerous scientific committees and collaborations and remains dedicated to improving patient outcomes, making a significant impact on the lives of individuals facing life-limiting illnesses.
EASY-Health Project Team
Led by Director Dr Cathy Franklin, the MIDAS team, which is now part of the newly established Queensland Centre of Excellence in Autism and Intellectual Disability Health (QCEAIDH), was recognised for its outstanding achievements in clinical outcomes and patient care. The team worked together to develop EASY-Health (Enhancing Access to Services for Your Health),to improve healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes towards working with individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism.
Prior to this project, the team recognised the importance of consumer involvement and successfully hired and supported individuals with lived experience. Through qualitative research and collaboration, the team co-designed scripts and created educational videos that challenge stereotypes and promote understanding. The team members with intellectual disabilities played a crucial role in sharing this education with more than 700 staff across three Queensland hospitals, significantly improving staff knowledge, confidence, and attitudes towards working with individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism, contributing to better health outcomes and a more inclusive healthcare system. In fact, more than 80 per cent of people who completed the training said it positively changed the way they consider patients with intellectual disability and those on the autism spectrum.
Catherine's House Research Team
Led by Honorary Fellow Dr Grace Branjerdporn, the Catherine’s House Research Team has made significant contributions to the field of perinatal mental health by developing innovative solutions to improve the well-being of mothers and their babies.
Their team’s work has received the support of various grants and stakeholder collaboration to help deliver a suite of solutions to both address immediate problems, , and hope to have their work implemented both statewide and nationally. By providing high-quality, evidence-based care, the team is helping Queensland families to develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
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Mater Research Executive Director Professor Maher Gandhi acknowledged other Mater Research finalists, Professor Helen Liley, Professor Geoffrey Faulkner and Professor Jake Gratten.
“It is a testament to the high calibre of our researchers and the breadth of our research program that two individuals were awarded for Research Excellence this year and two teams were recognised for their work than spanned four of our five research programs. Congratulations again to all finalists and winners,” Prof Gandhi said.
“I would particularly like to take the opportunity to recognise Prof Hardy, who despite being just weeks from retirement, is still conducting research and submitting research papers to journals. Her incredible dedication to her work as a clinician researcher is a shining example to us all.”
Mater Research Director of Biomedical Research Professor Allison Pettit congratulated all Mater People who were finalists at the 2024 Mater People Awards and said that it was wonderful seeing the hard work of Dr Franklin and her team recognised.
“The newly established QCEAIDH will continue the leading research and clinical work that the EASY-Health project team has been working on to improve healthcare outcomes. I am really looking forward to seeing the way our Mater Researchers can continue to improve healthcare outcomes for our community over the next year,” Prof Pettit said.
Learn more about our winners:
- Queensland Centre of Excellence in Autism and Intellectual Disability Health
- Associate Professor Begun
- Professor Janet Hardy
- Catherine’s House for Mothers, Babies and Families.
