$150k boost for BIRCH’s regional research

THE Ballarat Innovation and Research Collaboration for Health has received one hundred and fifty thousand dollars from the State government, to support the clinical research hub through their COVID-19 recovery.

Associate Professor, Mark Yates is BIRCH’s executive director. He said the hospitals and institutions involved in the collaboration, including Ballarat Health Services, St John of God, Australian Catholic University and Federation University, are thankful the State government has boosted their research model.

“BIRCH’s key principle is converting what we do now to a better sort of care, to cut costs and improve patients’ lives,” he said.

“We will work with what is a fabulous collaboration, across two health services and six universities, to transform the way we practice in hospitals and across health services.

“I am enormously grateful for the faith the Victorian government have demonstrated by further supporting BIRCH for another year.”

Associate Professor Yates said this extra funding in the current economic climate is critical.

“Universities are under enormous pressure…with their own challenges, so government support is important.

“But more importantly, cost savings that translational research can deliver will come back into the State hospital and broader Federal health systems,” he said.

In the last year, BIRCH has brought together lead mentors for clinical researchers, and have assisted these researchers in hospitals, looking into hysterectomy rates, and urinary tract infections in nursing homes.

The collaboration recently clinically evaluated mining equipment producer, Gekko Systems’ medical grade ventilator, engineered in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Ethics approval has just been given for an electric toothbrush oral hygiene project with elderly patients in nursing homes.

“Ballarat is home to the largest publicly provided residential aged care service in Victoria, and Ballarat has an opportunity through its collaboration to demonstrate change,” Associate Professor Yates said.

He added the city is ideal for BIRCH’s transformational and translational research like this, but for it to be achievable and then sustainable, they constantly need external funding.

“Traditional university and NHMRC funding does not meet that need. We need to go out to government, philanthropy and to community to make that change.”

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison said BIRCH is well placed to research the unique regional health problems in its community.

“BIRCH’s leadership is vital in the ongoing pursuit of better health outcomes for regional Victorians. This funding will allow their innovative and important work to continue,” she said.

Deakin University, The University of Notre Dame, The University of Melbourne and La Trobe University are also partners in BIRCH.