This annual seed grant round is made possible through the generosity of Flinders Foundation supporters, alongside funding from Flinders University, providing vital early-stage support for emerging and established researchers. 

With a total of 33 innovative research projects, led by researchers from Flinders University and the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN), this crucial funding aims to accelerate new ideas, strengthen early discoveries, and ultimately create positive change within our community and across the world. 

The projects span a broad range of illnesses, diseases and social challenges — from cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, to mental health, tobacco and nicotine dependence, and age-related conditions. Each of these innovative research projects is provided with up to $25,000 in funding.  

Research projects include:  

• Looking at new drugs to stop the lethal spread of Glioblastoma Brain Cancer (Dr Sunita Ramesh). 

• Looking at preserving memory in ageing brains through studying worms (Dr Yee Lian Chew).  

• Using a novel faecal test to determine when colonoscopy is needed in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (A/Prof Erin Symonds).  

• Exploring a novel intervention to slow childhood myopia (short-sightedness) in Australian Children (A/Prof Ranjay Chakraborty).  

• Looking at expanding the Donor Kidney Pool through a novel strategy for enhancing kidney viability and functionality (Dr Darling Rojas-Canales). 

Flinders Foundation Executive Director Ross Verschoor said the Health Seed Grants play a crucial role in turning promising ideas into meaningful outcomes. 

“These grants give researchers the space to test bold ideas, build evidence, and take those critical first steps toward larger-scale impact,” Mr Verschoor said. 

“Time and again, we’ve seen seed funding unlock discoveries that go on to attract major national and international support.” 

Mr Verschoor said the program has a strong track record of helping researchers progress to highly competitive funding schemes, including the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grant program. 

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see researchers who began with a Health Seed Grant go on to secure significant funding and make tangible improvements to patient care,” he said. 

“None of this would be possible without the generosity of our donors and the South Australian community, who are backing the researchers at Flinders University and SALHN as they tackle complex health challenges affecting individuals and families every day.” 

Mr Verschoor also acknowledged the impact of the Foundation's fundraising efforts. 

“Thanks to the recent success of our Ribbon Ball last year, we were able to support additional cancer-related research projects in this round.” 

Flinders University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Raymond Chan, said the funding reflects Flinders’ commitment to delivering world-class research with real-world impact. 

“Our researchers are making huge strides forward in tackling some of the most pressing health challenges of our time, particularly through early detection, prevention, and more personalised approaches to treatment and survivorship,” said Professor Chan. 

He said the Foundation’s support is instrumental in translating research into practice. 

“This investment strengthens our capacity in health and medical research, accelerates innovation, and helps move new technologies closer to real-world use,” he said. 

“Ultimately, it means better care, smarter health systems, and improved quality of life for people in our community.” 

SALHN Executive Director, Research Strategy, Professor Andrew Bersten, said research is fundamental to improving patient outcomes and healthcare delivery. 

“Healthcare organisations that are research-active consistently deliver better outcomes for patients,” Professor Bersten said. 

“The Flinders Foundation Health Seed Grant Round directly supports SALHN’s Innovation and Research strategic priorities and reinforces our strong, longstanding partnership with Flinders University.” 

“This funding provides vital support for shared research and innovation programs that will translate into tangible benefits for patients, consumers, and the wider community.” 

Flinders Foundation Health Seed Grant Recipients 

Dr Chad Yixian Han 

Involving Older Cancer Survivors in Co-Designing a Telehealth-Enabled Health Recovery Through an Integrated Virtual Exercise-Nutrition Intervention for Frailty (I-Can-THRIVE) 

Dr Sara Tommasi 

Investigation of the Cardio-Protective Effects of Methotrexate: A New Approach to Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Cardiovascular Complications 

Dr Mallika Prem Senthil 

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) as a Novel Biomarker for Early Detection of Peripheral Arterial Disease in At-Risk Individuals 

Associate Professor Nicola Dean 

Understanding the Experiences of Individuals Waiting to Access Gender-Affirming Surgery Within South Australia – A Qualitative Study 

Dr Shawgi Sukumaran 

Integrating Vedanta Principles to Alleviate Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR) in Cancer Survivors 

Associate Professor Jacqueline Stephens 

Adenovirus Faecal Shedding in South Australian Adults 

Associate Professor Erin Symonds 

FIT for Colonoscopy? Using a Novel Faecal Test to Determine When Colonoscopy Is Needed in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease 

Dr Molla Wassie 

Identifying Nutritional Challenges Following Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Mixed-Methods Study 

Dr Rami Al-Dirini 

A Digital Prescription Tool to Improve Prevention and Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers 

Associate Professor Vi Khanh Truong 

Ultrasound-Triggered Gallium Hydrogel Therapy for Periprosthetic Joint Infections 

Dr Darling Rojas-Canales 

Expanding the Donor Kidney Pool Through PIK3α Activation: A Novel Strategy for Enhancing Kidney Viability and Functionality 

Associate Professor Ranjay Chakraborty 

Cyan Light – A Novel Intervention to Slow Childhood Myopia (Short-Sightedness) in Australian Children: MY-CYAN Study 

Professor David Lynn 

Defining the Mechanisms Through Which a Probiotic Intervention Boosts Immune Responses to Vaccination in Early Life 

Associate Professor Yogesh Sharma 

Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of Vitamin C Supplementation in Hospitalised Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Effect on Inflammatory Biomarkers 

Dr Radwan Ansaar 

Wound Healing: Understanding the Molecular Pathobiology of Surgical Failure in Glaucoma 

Dr Yee Lian Chew 

Preserving Memory in Ageing Brains: Lessons From Long-Lived Worms 

Professor Geraint Rogers 

Targeting Gut Health to Reduce Osteoporosis Risk During Perimenopause 

Dr Elke Sokoya 

Feasibility of a Diet and Lifestyle Program Guided by Real-Time Glucose Monitoring in Postmenopausal Women at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes 

Associate Professor Matthew Hong 

Unravelling the Contribution of the Gut Microbiome to the Efficacy of BCG-Immunotherapy for Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) 

Dr Ramin Hassankhani 

PRE-ADAPT: Preliminary Evaluation of Anti-Cancer Drug Assays for Personalised Treatment 

Associate Professor Mary-Louise Rogers 

CIPN-FOCUS – Functional Outcomes, Clinical and Biomarker Understanding in CIPN Survivors 

Dr Jasmin Pople 

Investigating the Biological Activity of a New Class of Sulfur-Based Antimicrobials Called Poly(trisulfides) 

Dr Jocelyn Choo 

Contribution of Vaginal Microbiota Dynamics to Genitourinary Health in Perimenopause 

Dr Sunita Ramesh 

New Drugs to Stop the Lethal Spread of Glioblastoma Brain Cancer 

Dr Long Yu 

Discovery of Natural Inhibitors Targeting Cell Wall Biosynthesis and Remodelling in Rhizopus oryzae for Potential Antifungal Therapy 

Dr Eva Hesping 

Exploiting Targeted Protein Degradation to Expand Antiviral Activity of JNJ-1802 

Dr Yuri Ogawa 

How Does Hoverfly Sleep Disruption Affect Motor and Visual Function 

Dr Amal Osman 

Pulse Oximeter Function in Different Populations: Implications for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and Beyond 

Dr Ian Zajac 

Towards Zero Suicide: Co-Designing STRONG Intervention Pathways for Men After Separation (Supporting TRansitions Of meN through separation and Grief) 

Dr Cody Lindsay 

Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Falls Screening in Older Adults  

Dr Muktar Ahmed 

Development and Validation of an Artificial Intelligence–Driven Predictive Triage System for Colonoscopy Referral in Australian Primary Care 

Associate Professor Bart Eijkelkamp 

Developing a Novel Anti-Pneumococcal Intervention That Capitalises on a Major Evolutionary Constraint 

Dr Joshua Trigg 

Extending the Sober Curious Movement to Reduce Use of Tobacco and Nicotine