A collection of up and coming researchers will have the chance to broaden their experience thanks to funding provided through the Skipper Jacobs Charitable Trust.  

Close to $40,000 will be shared amongst five early-to-mid career researchers, allowing them to travel nationally and internationally expanding their research and developing new skills.

PhD student Lionel Leck from the Cancer Drug Resistance and Stem Cell Program at the Kolling Institute will visit the Seoul National University to gain first-hand experience of a new technique looking at the molecular mechanisms of specific cancers. It is hoped this will in turn, lead to the development of new drugs to fight cancer. 

Fellow PhD student Pich Chhay from the Cardiovascular Discovery Group will visit the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute in Adelaide. There she will learn an innovative technique using gas chromatography to measure omega-3 in blood samples as an indicator of early heart disease.

Samantha Hefferan from the Murray Maxwell Biomechanics Lab will visit the University of Auckland to broaden her understanding of the ultrastructure of human tendons. There she will use the lab’s new imaging methods to explore tendon structure and the impact of disease and injury.

Dr Mounir Boudali will visit the renowned Cleveland Clinic in the USA to enhance his knowledge of using robotics in biomechanical research for joint replacements. Mounir will visit the development team behind the software which is powering the Kolling’s new biomechanical robot.  

Dr Kenji Fujita has helped develop the frailty index for patients undergoing surgeries, while also leading research on the quality of pharmaceutical care. He is keen to share his knowledge and experience with international collaborators and will visit Denmark, Norway and Japan.  

It is anticipated the travel program will not only benefit research here on the RNSH campus, but will assist international collaborators, and improve health outcomes in Australia and beyond.