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Update from the Dean Research and FHMRI Director
2025 began with a bang, bagging 7 NHMRC Investigator Grants, 4 of them to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, highlighting our First Nations health researcher strengths. In fact, 2025 is FHMRI’s most successful NHMRC year ever, attracting over $27 million across 13 grants and (currently) ranked 8th institution in Australia. This was just the beginning of the winning, with grants and fellowships from MRFF, ARC, Heart Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, Cancer Council, state health departments and many others to power your research.
We are ambitious, the data tells us so. Our research intensity is 36%, one of the highest in Australia. In 2025, we submitted 306 grants, including our first 2 MRFF Frontiers bids worth $25 million each, supervised 255 HDR students, 29 to completion and published 1,026 papers. This year Nature, Lancet, NEJM, and JAMA journals shared our findings with the world.
To support our researchers, FHMRI awarded 12 ECR KickStart grants, 8 conference travel grants, 7 publication grants, 8 consumer micro-grants, 4 small equipment grants, 16 summer scholarships and over $2.5 million in salary gap for our growing cohort of externally funded fellows. FHMRI contributed $120,000 to the Flinders Foundation Seed grants and with great generosity from donors, awarded 2 Wattchow and 4 Chalmers additional travel grants. We have flown in speakers from 4 interstate research institutes and Universities of Sydney, Melbourne, Wollongong and Pennsylvania to deliver 9 truly inspiring Research Leaders Seminars. We organised grant-writing and paper-writing workshops, external grant writing support and peer review panels. We support communities of practice, journal clubs, fortnightly Research Roundtables and a Consumer and Community Involvement Group. This year, we established a FHMRI Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee with 10 community leaders from across SA and NT. Our HDR students delivered 115 milestone presentations every Friday in HMRB. Our Road to Research recruitment event attracted 70 next-generation researchers.
All of this support is delivered by an extraordinary group of college leaders, generously serving on College Research Committee, FHMRI-RED Committee, HDR Coordinators and Advisors, Mentoring Program Coordinators and RDS to whom I am profoundly grateful. They make my job a joy.
Thank you for 2025, enjoy your summer break and get ready for a dazzling 2026.
Dean Research and Flinders Health, Medical Research Institute (FHMRI) Director, College of Medicine and Public Health
Final reminder: CMPH End of Year Celebration and Staff Awards
A quick reminder that our 2025 College of Medicine and Public Health End of Year Celebration and Staff Awards are nearly here (3pm - 5pm, Friday 12 December, HMRB Level 2 Seminar Rooms). Join us as we recognise the achievements, dedication, and teamwork that have shaped another successful year across the College. It is a great opportunity to come together, reflect on our collective impact, and enjoy an afternoon with colleagues. A livestream will be available from 4pm for those unable to attend in person.
Welcome
Welcome to Waltraud Haberberger (she/her), a Senior Lecturer in Anatomy and Histology within the College of Medicine and Public Health. She joins the team at Bedford Park after her role in CNHS at Sturt, where she taught Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology across Health Sciences, Midwifery and Speech Pathology. Waltraud has been part of Flinders University since 2007, contributing to a wide range of disciplines across both CMPH and CNHS.
Congratulations
Student-Led Teaching Awards 2025
Flinders students once again recognised exceptional educators through the student-driven Student-Led Teaching Awards.
For CMPH, the 2025 College Award was presented to David Lam. Students praised his leadership of the fourth-year rural MD cohort, highlighting his “Lanyard Series” sessions as some of the most practical and supportive teaching of their degree. His approach created a low-pressure space to ask questions, strengthened rural cohort connection and built genuine day-one readiness for internship. Honourable Mentions went to Elke Sokoya, Joshua Tranter and Larissa Taylor.
CMPH also celebrated Lakshana Sankaramoorthy, winner of the TA (Teaching Assistant) that Saved the Day Award. Her nominator commended her engaging leadership in BIOL1102 Supervised Study sessions, noting that she made complex concepts enjoyable and created a supportive learning environment for new students. Congratulations to all CMPH recipients. See all awardees
Out and About
More than 20 Year 12 students joined us on 3 December for an immersive Medical Mystery Taster Day experience at Bedford Park. Students worked through a patient journey to uncover a diagnosis, explored possible treatment pathways, and gained hands-on insights into Medicine, Public Health, Medical Science, Laboratory Medicine and Paramedicine. The day included a workshop at Flinders Medical Centre, lunch, and a guided tour of the Health and Medical Research Building, where students had the chance to speak with current students, academics and researchers about study pathways and careers. A big thank you to all staff involved in delivering such an engaging and informative experience.
Expressions of Interest
EOI: Manager, Clinician Support (Leave Cover) February - April 2026
Are you an experienced or developing leader, keen to work more closely with our MD Clinicians and support the teaching of tomorrow’s doctors? The Clinician Support Team is offering a fantastic short-term opportunity to step into the Manager, Clinician Support role.
Dates: 16 February – 10 April 2026 (includes 6 weeks of leave cover + 2 weeks of handover). This 8-week engagement is perfect for an experienced leader looking to broader their scope, or a developing leader seeking an opportunity to lead a team passionate about clinician engagement and academic collaboration. You’ll be supporting the clinicians who teach into our Medical Program — a great chance to build relationships and gain leadership experience.
Please submit an EOI outlining your interest and experience to lorraine.karunaratne@flinders.edu.au by 5pm, Friday 12 December. For more details or a discussion about the role, contact ellen.giles@flinders.edu.au
CMPH / FHMRI HDR & ECR Mentoring Programme – EOIs now open!
EOIs are now open for the 2026 mentoring programme, running for up to one year with 1:1 mentor–mentee matching based on goals and expertise. Places are limited.
Mentees: Open to HDR students at any stage and ECRs within eight years post-PhD (including casual and short-term contracts). A chance to gain tailored support for your career development. Apply here by 22 December 2025.
Mentors: Open to Level C–E academics interested in supporting emerging researchers and strengthening leadership capability. Apply here by 22 December 2025. For queries, contact Dr Yee Lian Chew
Events
- Fri 12 Dec: CMPH 2025 End Of Year Celebration and Staff Awards (3pm - 5pm, HMRB or Livestreamed from 4pm SA Time)
- 1pm Wed 24 Dec - Mon 5 Jan: 2025 University Closure Period
- Tue 24 Feb: Health and Medical Symposium (9:30am - 6pm, HMRB)
- 3 - 5 Mar: International Symposium: Human Nervous System Models to Accelerate Clinical Translation (Learn more or register)
- Wed 15 Jul: 2026 CMPH Retreat (U City Function Centr, Adelaide City)
Save the date: 2026 CMPH Retreat
Mark your calendars! The 2026 CMPH Retreat will be held on Wednesday 15 July 2026 at the U City Function Centre. Further details will be shared in the New Year.
FHMRI Inspiring Leaders Seminar: Thomas Cox (Monday 8 December)
No need to register – livestream link is in the calendar invitation. Join FHMRI Inspiring Leader Seminars to hear research leaders share their career journeys and research highlights.
Join Thomas Cox – "The Extracellular Matrix: More than Just a Scaffold" (Garvin Institute of Medical Research) from 12pm (lunch provided), at Level 2 Seminar Rooms, HMRB. Open to all disciplines, these seminars offer valuable insights for everyone. Email cmph.research@flinders.edu.au to meet with any of the presenters, or nominate a speaker.
Join the HDR Community of Practice for an afternoon of trivia, food, and celebrating the end of the year with fellow HDR students. 3:30pm, Friday 12 December in HMRB 577/8. Email cmph.hdrcop@flinders.edu.au with dietary requirements.
Higher Degree by Research Milestone presentations (Friday 12 December)
Join from 12:30pm in the Horseshoe Seminar Room, 5E 132, FMC or online via Teams. CMPH HDR milestone presentations will recommence on Friday, 23 January 2026.
Travis Croft (confirmation of candidature): Targeting CDK4 in lethal prostate cancer
Alvin Lee (final thesis review): Feasibility pilot study on a shared model of care involving primary practice for patients with compensated cirrhosis
Need to know
Education Capacity Building Scheme: Applications Now Open
Applications are now open for the College’s new Education Capacity Building Scheme for 2026, designed to strengthen teaching and learning across our community. Guidelines and application forms for the Education Conference Scheme and the Education Professional Development Scheme are available on the CMPH Education Teams site, along with the Education Skills Development Framework. Staff are encouraged to review all materials and speak with their supervisor before preparing a submission. Deadlines:
Education Conference Scheme: Guidelines | Application Form. Friday 30 January 2026
Education Professional Development Scheme: Guidelines | Application Form. Friday 30 January 2026 (applications may be approved throughout the submission period)
For further information, or if you are unable to access the files or require Education Teams access, email the Education team at cmph.deaned@flinders.edu.au.
CMPH 2026 Travel Schemes: Apply before Friday 12 December
The College is accepting travel applications for academic and professional staff travelling between February – July 2026. Support is available for domestic and international travel for conferences and professional development opportunities. Full details of the schemes and links to the online applications can be found on the CMPH Funding page. Closing deadline for Round 1 applications is 5pm, Friday 12 December. Please forward any enquiries to cmph.operations@flinders.edu.au
Reminder: Gifts and benefits over the festive season. Staff should be mindful of conflicts of interest when offered gifts or hospitality. Gifts over $50 must be disclosed, and those over $250 require approval via the Gifts and Benefits register on Service One.
Certain gifts should always be declined, including cash or gift cards, gifts from suppliers during procurement processes, and gifts from students or their families that could create a perceived expectation of favourable treatment. For guidance on disclosing other conflicts of interest, visit the Conflict of Interest webpage.
Summer trading breaks for on-campus food and retail. As we head towards the summer period, please note upcoming closure dates for food and retail outlets across campus. Most retailers will finish trade from 12–23 December and reopen in early to mid-January, with a few venues returning later in the month. Wildernest will resume trade in mid-February. Please check the full schedule to plan ahead for your visits to campus: 2025 Trading Dates
December Foodbank Drive: Join the Joy of Giving
The Flinders Health and Wellbeing Programme’s December theme is ‘The Joy of Giving’. Thank you for your support throughout 2025. CMPH staff are invited to contribute to this year’s Foodbank Drive, with donation boxes available from 25 November to 9 December. CMPH collection points:
Health Sciences Building – reception, lvl 3
HMRB – kitchenette, lvl 7
Foodbank accepts unopened, in-date non-perishable items, or you may donate online. Every $5 provides 10 meals for people in need. Read more
Funding Opportunities
Multiple Myeloma Research Funding Opportunity: Thanks to the generous support of Jane Watson Ramsey and Bill Ramsey, Flinders Foundation is calling for applications to fund Multiple Myeloma research. Projects can include direct funding costs and salary support. Please submit your 2-page application, a 1-page budget, and a brief CV for all named Chief Investigators to Flinders Foundation Grants at grants@flindersfoundation.org.au. Budgets up to $110,000 (including on costs) will be considered for a one-year project, and applicants must be employed by SALHN or Flinders University. Submissions close 5pm on Monday 15 December 2025. For further details, contact: michael.michael@flinders.edu.au
- MRFF 2025 Research Data Infrastructure – Deadline: 11 Dec | Up to $2.5m | GrantConnect GO7714
ARC Discovery Projects Expressions of Interest: NOW OPEN – This is the final round of the current DP scheme and we encourage anyone interested in applying to notify CMPH.research@flinders.edu.au. Please reach out if you have questions or would like to discuss eligibility. Find out more on ResearchLink and Grant Connect.
ARC DP EOIs close Friday 12 December.Ian Potter Foundation – Medical Research Grant. Applications open 2 February - 26 March (more information).
MRFF 2025 Genomics Health Futures Applications close: 4 Feb | Up to $10m | GrantConnect GO7833
MRFF Childhood Mental Health - Applications open November 5 and close 25 March 2026. More information
NFMRI General Grant Round (Portfolios 2 & 3) – EOI open 27 Jan. EOI close 27 Mar 2026. Further information
MRFF – CTA Initiative – 2025 Clinical Trials Activity Grant Opportunity. Minimum Data: 4 March | Applications Close: 1 April. GrantConnect: GO7923