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RACGP announces 2006 RACGP Research Foundation research grants and awards

5 October 2006

The recipients of 2006 RACGP Research Foundation research grants and awards will be announced at the Academic Session of the RACGP Annual Scientific Convention held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland on Thursday 5 October 2006.

"The Foundation was established to build the capacity for general practitioners to undertake research to improve the health of all people in Australia. The RACGP congratulates all the grant and award recipients," said RACGP President, Professor Michael Kidd.

CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH GRANTS IN GENERAL PRACTICE
The Cardiovascular Research Grants in General Practice are a joint initiative of the RACGP and the Australian Association of Academic General Practice. The program is sponsored by Pfizer Australia. Individual grants of up to $25,000 are awarded to fund projects investigating different areas of cardiovascular disease including hypertension, stroke, lipid disorder, health promotion and lifestyle changes.

2006 winners:
Professor Mark Nelson
A grant of $23,000 has been awarded to support research into Secondary prevention in acute coronary syndromes: identifying the smoking cessation strategies and smoking related beliefs of people who successfully stop smoking after an acute coronary event.

Dr Tania Winzenberg
A grant of $24,000 has been awarded to support research into the assessment of physical activity in general practice.

Dr Marie-Louise Dick
A grant of $25,000 has been awarded to support research into the effectiveness of general practitioner and exercise physiologist interventions in decreasing primary cardiovascular risk in the overweight general practice population.

Dr Oliver Frank
A grant of $25,000 has been awarded to support a pilot study into the acceptability and effectiveness of exercise and dietary supplementation in reducing blood pressure in people with prehypertension.

RACGP/CONROD RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
The RACGP/CONROD Research Fellowship (originally Queensland Motor Accident Insurance Commission Fellowship) was jointly established by the RACGP and the Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine (CONROD). Fellowships of up to $20,000 are available to support research into general practice patient populations who have experienced motor vehicle related trauma. Fellowships encompass all types of motor vehicle related trauma including, but not limited to, a particular interest in whiplash.

2006 winner:
Dr Md Moniruzzaman
A grant of $19,000 has been awarded to support research into identifying the gaps in global health care of traumatic spinal cord injury patients with disability.

FAMILY MEDICAL CARE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH GRANT
The Family Medical Care Education and Research grants have been offered by the RACGP since 1980. The objective of the grants is to advance education in, and research into, medical knowledge and science. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to provide new general practice researchers with an opportunity to conduct research that benefits primary health care.

2006 winners:
Dr Catherine Speechly
An award of $9000 has been granted to explore: When is dementia recognised and diagnosed?

Dr Andra Dabson
A grant of $8000 has been provided to fund research into Osteoporosis: general practitioner identification of barriers to screening and treatment.

RACGP/APHCRI Indigenous Health Award
Improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is one of Australia's highest health priorities. This is recognised in the joint funding by the RACGP and the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI) of the Indigenous Health Award.

The award is a grant for a 12 month research or education project to support improvements in indigenous health and is open to indigenous medical students, medical students who wish to gain experience in indigenous health, indigenous medical graduates undertaking general practice training, registrars and general practitioners undertaking research and educational projects in indigenous health, and other activities supporting the provision of high quality health care to indigenous people.

The award was established by a grant by RACGP President Michael Kidd and first presented in 2004. APHCRI began co-sponsoring the award in 2005 allowing two awards to be made this year.

2006 winners:
Ms Marion Davies
Has been awarded a grant of $2000 to establish a website, specific to Australian medical student research and elective opportunities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Dr Elizabeth Grey
Has been awarded a $2000 grant to explore whether employees quit smoking when a Health Service enforces a restricted smoking policy.

PWH GRIEVE MEMORIAL AWARD
Dr PWH Grieve was the second Secretary General of the RACGP and made an outstanding contribution to our profession. The award is to the value of $2,500 and is to support a plan of study in medical education for a general practitioner or for research in general practice.

2006 winner:
Dr Paul Grinzi Has been awarded $2499 to explore Optimising general practice alcohol management: are the next generation of GPs ready to have an impact?

REX WALPOLE TRAVELLING FELLOWSHIP WINNER
The RACGP has established a fund to provide a travelling fellowship in memory of one of its most dedicated Fellows, Rex Outhwaite Walpole. The fellowship is to the value of $2,500 and is to support a plan of travel for a general practitioner, allowing for them to travel to an important event or conference. Applications are judged on benefits gained from travel to the individual, to the profession, and to our College.

2006 winner:
Dr Margaret Kay has been awarded $2500 to travel to the AMA/CMA International Conference on Physician Health in Ottawa, Canada.

VICKI KOTSIRILOS INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE GRANT
The Vicki Kotsirilos Integrative Medicine Research Scholarship was offered for the first time in 2005. Dr Vicki Kotsirilos is a respected general practitioner who has a particular interest in holistic health care and health promotion. She has had many years of experience in the field of medicine, including clinical general practice and has held positions on a variety of committees and working parties particularly relevant to integrative medicine. The scholarship encourages research that assists the integration of safe and ethical forms of natural and complementary medicines or therapies into mainstream general practice. A Grant of up $5,000 is offered to applicants for general practice research.

2006 winner:
Dr Oliver Frank
Has been awarded $5000 to undertake a literature review and cost assessment of dietary supplements which are effective in reducing blood pressure.

ALAN CHANCELLOR AWARD
Dr Alan Chancellor Award, who passed away in 1996, donated this award in 1990 for new researchers in the field of general practice. A recipient of the Rose Hunt Award for a lifetime of service to the College, Dr Chancellor was Chairman of the National Research Committee, a founding supervisor of the RACGP Training Program and a foundation member of the College Research and Evaluation Ethics Committee. The Alan Chancellor Award is presented each year to the general practitioner considered to be the best first time presenter of a research paper at the RACGP Annual Scientific Convention. The prize is $500 and an engraved medallion and is given in memory of Dr Chancellor.

The winner be announced at the end of the RACGP annual conference on 8 October.

NATIONAL ASTHMA COUNCIL RESEARCH AWARD
The National Asthma Research Award is awarded annually by the National Asthma Council to the best presenter of an asthma related abstract or poster at the RACGP Annual Scientific Convention. The award is to the value of $500.
The winner be announced at the end of the RACGP annual conference on 8 October.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training, and research in Australian general practice. The RACGP has the largest general practitioner membership of any medical organisation in Australia, with the majority of Australia's general practitioners belonging to their professional college. Over 22,000 general practitioners are members of the RACGP Continuing Professional Development Program. The RACGP National Rural Faculty, representing more than 4500 members, has the largest rural general practitioner membership of any medical organisation in Australia.

Publication Date: 5 October 2006
Authorised By: Media