Year in Review 2021

INNOVATION & QUALITY WSLHD YEAR IN REVIEW 5

Research & Education Network

Auburn Hospital are participating in the fortnightly meeting. A pharmacy-led research program in personalised medicine was the first multicentre study investigating the impact of different practices (personalised dosing versus standard dosing) of an antimicrobial drug which is used for severe infections with resistant bacteria in 11 NSW hospitals. At Westmead we were able to include data from over 200 patients. A second multicentre study has now been launched on personalised dosing of an anticoagulant in obese patients. With these initiatives we are building a community of research excellence in clinical pharmacy. A pharmacy research laboratory was established at REN to support these projects. Several studies demonstrated that laboratory services to support safe and effective use of medicine can be improved. A project was started to design an evidence-based approach to develop a future-focused service model and laboratory infrastructure. In addition to clinical evidence, mapping of infrastructure, utilisation and budget will be considered to develop a service to provide patients with best possible care.

WSLHD’s Research & Education Network (REN) has had an eventful year continuing to provide support to clinical research and education while rising to new challenges. Highlights have been providing COVID-19 education to staff in all Aged Care Facilities across Western Sydney, preparing staff to work safely within our COVID-19 vaccination centres and coordinating a large clinical trial exploring the immunological responses to the COVID-19 vaccine. REN has also developed a unique Leadership Development program for medical staff in their senior training and early consultant years, supported a large Nursing and Midwifery Leadership program and established a Professional Support Unit to provide insights and help to challenged clinicians and teams. Professor Mark McLean joined REN as interim Director of Research in 2020 and has been instrumental in supporting the WSLHD research office to achieve 100% compliance with ethics and governance metrics alongside the significant growth of clinical trial activities. Clinical Pharmacology WSLHD Pharmacy Journal Club was introduced to improve patient care by incorporating evidence into practice based on structured education and discussion on new developments in a range of clinical areas. It will also develop skills in critical appraisal of research such as trial design, methods, and data analysis. Pharmacists fromWestmead Hospital, Blacktown Hospital and

reporting capabilities to support trainees. We developed a leadership program ‘Fostering Leadership Across Systems in Health’ (FLASH) which was oversubscribed by medical leaders 3:1 demonstrating a real appetite from young clinicians to learn leadership skills. We also developed a Professional Support Unit led by world-renowned Professor Carmelle Peisah to support individuals and teams in difficulty within the District. Grants In the 2020/21 financial year WSLHD received the largest volume of new research applications in NSW. Some of the grants awarded were: • WSLHD Associated Researchers • WSLHD Associated Researchers awarded over $20m in competitive research funding in 2020-2021. • WSLHD Associated Researchers awarded nearly $3.5m in NHMRC Partnerships Project grants funding for 2021. • $3 million investment in Phage Australia, a Westmead spin off which will focus on the rapid translation of phage therapeutics into clinical practice. Clinical Research Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) received $4.5mil from OHMR to implement this important awarded over $9m in NHMRC Investigator grant funding for 2021-2026.

Medical and Corporate Education

The Research and Education Network has been developing a new Moodle platform to support online clinical education. The upgraded platform includes new features and enhanced

Above, from left WSLHD’s new Head of Research and Education Network Professor Mark McLean. WSLHD Acting Director of Medical Services Professor Peter Hockey. Blacktown Hospital Pharmacist Christina Kali, Pharmacy Technician Baskaran Subramaniam and Intern Pharmacist Margaretta Lin celebrate Valentine’s Day.

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