ANZCA Melbourne Anaesthesia Awards

Applications are now open for two awards for emerging anaesthesia researchers, sponsored by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists' Foundation and the Department of Critical Care.

Applications for the 2023 awards close at 5pm on Sunday 11th December 2022

ANZCA Melbourne Emerging Anaesthesia Researcher Award

The ANZCA Melbourne Emerging Anaesthesia Researcher Award has been established to foster multicentre research at University of Melbourne affiliated hospitals.

The award is open to ANZCA Fellows within five years of fellowship who are emerging researchers, working part time or full time at Departments of Anaesthesia at University of Melbourne affiliated hospitals.

Up to $10,000 will be awarded to a Fellow who proposes the best pilot or feasibility work for a larger clinical study.

The recipient will be determined by a panel of judges: Chair of Anaesthesia at The University of Melbourne, Chair of the ANZCA Trials Network (or delegate) and a member of the ANZCA Retired Anaesthetists Group, with final confirmation by the donor. In the event of a tie, the monies will be divided equally amongst the winners.

The panel will assess applications using a range of criteria including: the contribution of the pilot / feasibility work towards a larger study and the potential clinical value of the larger study.

Recipients must agree to be profiled in publications and websites of The University of Melbourne, ANZCA and the hospital in which they work.

How to apply

• All eligible ANZCA Fellows (see above) are invited to submit a proposal for a pilot or feasibility study.
• Proposals should be no more than 5 pages or 2,000 words.
• Please refer to the following publications when preparing your application:
  1) Moore CG, Carter RE, Nietert PJ, Stewart PW. Recommendations for planning pilot studies in clinical and translational research. Clin Transl Sci. 2011; 4:332-7.
  2) Thabane L, Ma J, Chu R, Cheng J, Ismaila A, Rios LP, Robson R, Thabane M, Giangregorio L, Goldsmith CH. A tutorial on pilot studies: the what, why and how. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2010;10:1.
• Applicants must include their contact details, including Anaesthesia department or workplace and year of admission to Fellowship.
• Email proposals to Anna Parker, Manager, Department of Critical Care.

Previous recipients

2022  Dr Geoffrey Wigmore, Western Health
2021  Dr Way Siong (Alex) Koh, Royal Melbourne Hospital
2020  Dr Patrick Tan, Royal Women's Hospital
2019  Dr Steven McGuigan, St Vincent's Hospital
2018  Dr Rachel Chapman, Royal Children's Hospital
2017  Dr Lachlan Miles, Austin Health
2016  Dr Hugh Taylor, Western Health
2015  A/Prof Laurence Weinberg, Austin Health

ANZCA Melbourne Emerging Researcher Scholarship

The ANZCA Melbourne Emerging Researcher Scholarship (AMERS) is designed to to support early-career researchers in Anaesthesia, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, enrolled in a Research Higher Degree at The University of Melbourne.

The scholarship recognises the strategic importance of supporting and encouraging relatively new FANZCAs and Provisional Fellows in establishing their research careers, to advance scientific knowledge and enhance the evidence base for practice in the specialties.

A scholarship grant of $20,000 will be awarded annually to a Fellow or Provisional Fellow who is enrolled in a PhD or other Research Higher Degree at the University of Melbourne, and under the oversight of the Anaesthesia, Perioperative and Pain Medicine program, Department of Critical Care.

This scholarship is a flexible funding grant that may be used either for a living expenses stipend or for research project expenses, or both.

The recipient will be determined by a panel of independent, appropriately qualified clinical academics, including a member of the ANZCA Research Committee and/or ANZCA Clinical Trials Network, with final confirmation by the donor. In the event of a tie, the monies will be divided equally amongst the winners. The process will be overseen by the Department's Executive Committee.

Eligibility

The scholarship is available to Provisional Fellows, and Fellows within five years of original specialist qualification in anaesthesia; and who are:

• currently working at a hospital in the state of Victoria
• enrolled in a PhD or other Research Higher Degree at the University of Melbourne under the oversight of the Anaesthesia, Perioperative and Pain Medicine program, Department of Critical Care
• planning or in the process of conducting research directly contributing to the thesis
• engaged in research activity for at least 20 hours per week.

How to apply

• Contact Anna Parker, Manager, Department of Critical Care, to obtain an application form.
• Applicants will be invited to submit a project overview of approximately 2,000 words.

Previous recipients

2022  Dr Earlene Silvapulle, Royal Melbourne Hospital
2021  Dr Ned Douglas, Royal Melbourne Hospital
2020  Dr Lachlan Miles, Austin Hospital
2019  Dr Bae Corlette, Royal Children's Hospital
2018  Dr Jai Darvall, Royal Melbourne Hospital

Sponsors

Department of Critical Care, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne and the
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists' Foundation.