Supporting the next generation of clinical research leaders
The Clinical Science Incubator is a Melbourne Medical School initiative developed with partner hospitals to strengthen the clinical research workforce across the health system.
Clinician-scientists and clinically-focussed discovery scientists play a vital role in translating research into better patient care. Yet many emerging research leaders face significant barriers, including limited protected research time, increasing clinical demands and highly competitive funding environments.
Why it matters?
With philanthropic support, the Clinical Science Incubator empowers emerging clinical research leaders to navigate these challenges by providing the time, mentoring and flexibility needed to build independent research programs, lead innovation and improve outcomes for patients.
Building a clinician or discovery scientist career takes years of dedicated investment:
- 15+ years of combined clinical and research training before many clinician-scientists reach independence
- 10+ years of advanced research training before many discovery scientists establish independent research careers
Without tailored support, we risk losing this investment as growing pressure from clinical workloads and funding constraints makes it increasingly difficult for these talented individuals to sustain their engagement in research.
Our impact:
Retaining outstanding talent, accelerating better care, improving health outcomes with stronger research leadership and future health breakthroughs.
Who and how we support?
Emerging Clinical Research Leaders
Within 8 years post-PhD; Academic Level B/C
We aim to provide essential research time and career development to establish sustainable careers in clinical and translational research.
Future Clinical Research Leaders
Mid-Career Researchers 8-15 years post-PhD; Level D
We aim to strengthen research leadership, retain exceptional talent and maximise long-term impact across healthcare and research systems.
Research support initiatives
Clinical Research Capability and Grant Development
Across a range of supports including grant development, collaborative research initiatives and translational research capability building, the clinical science incubator aims to strengthen the broader clinical research ecosystem, increase competitiveness for national and international funding opportunities and maximise healthcare impact across the University and its health service partners.
 | Prof Jo DouglassProfessor Jo Douglass AO is the director of the Clinical Science Incubator. She is an academic clinician and currently holds the James Stewart Chair of Medicine at the University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital where she was formerly Executive Director of Research. Graduating from Monash University in Medicine, she has worked in Australia and the UK. She is a practicing clinician in respiratory medicine and allergic disease and has funded research projects in severe asthma, including thunderstorm asthma. |
 | A/Prof Barbara WhiteAssociate Professor Barbara White is Deputy Lead of the Clinical Science Incubator and Head of the Islet Biology and Metabolism Group at Austin Health. She is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations (ACADI) and an Honorary Senior Fellow at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. With more than 20 years of experience in diabetes and obesity research, her work spans discovery science, translational research and academia-industry collaboration. |
 | Neslisah AkcanNeslisah Akcan is the Research Assistant for the Clinical Science Incubator. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Neuroscience) and a Master of Biotechnology from the University of Melbourne. Previously, she worked as a Research Fellow with the Cancer Health Services Research Unit at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, contributing to research on the clinical, economic and reimbursement considerations of genomic testing in rare cancers. |
Interested in getting involved?
Join us to create an enduring pipeline of clinical research talent by supporting exceptional individuals, strengthening collaborative research capability and building the leadership needed to drive future advances in healthcare.