In September, 28 EMCRs received EMCR grants for flexible and diverse needs, and to strengthen and boost career development and women’s health research. Congratulations to all recipients. Read about some of the researchers and projects below.

Dr Simone Radavelli-Bagatini

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute (NHIRI), School of Medical and Health Sciences at ECU

Investigate the link of diet with stress, mental and physical health in people with cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related conditions. She is interested in finding new strategies to increase fruit and vegetable intakes, to alleviate stress levels and improve physical and mental wellbeing.

“I am honoured to have received this grant, which will be a stepping stone for my research career. It will help me become a more independent researcher and attract future larger research funding. It will also provide me with the opportunity to develop my leadership skills and to enhance my research impact and profile in the nutrition and CVD field”

In Australia, stroke is the second largest cause of death in women following breast cancer, with more women dying of stroke compared to men. Whilst the exact causes for this remain unclear, this may be partly related to an unhealthy diet and increased stress. Increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables is a cornerstone of a healthy diet, essential for physical and mental wellbeing.

Despite this, less than 1 in 20 Australian adults reach the recommended intakes of fruit and vegetables. Consumption of fruit and vegetables in stroke survivors may be even lower due to dysphagia (swallowing difficulties). Our aim is to understand what will encourage and discourage increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in post-stroke women, be it access to food, availability, price or psychosocial and physical factors. We will consider the viewpoints from women who have had a stroke, and also their carers – a group who are also at a high risk of experiencing stroke.

The study will also evaluate whether women post stroked will accept novel approaches to increasing fruit and vegetable intake, such as freeze-dried powders and/or 3D-printed foods.

Dr Sharon James

Research Fellow and Project Manager, CRE SPHERE

Investigating interconception care (ICC), the time between pregnancies, which enhances women’s health outcomes and the health of a future pregnancy.

“ The project aims to build my project management skills, capacity leading a research project as a chief investigator, as well as build capacity for new collaborations, leading and managing larger projects in the future.“

Interconception care (ICC) enhances women’s health outcomes and the health of a future pregnancy. The time between pregnancies, or interconception period, presents many challenges for women that include juggling caring, family and work responsibilities. Women often prioritise family needs over their own health, and medical as well as other health professionals are often not co-located, leaving many not accessing or having difficulty prioritising the care they need. There are also increased risks to health due to a mother’s age, pre-existing health conditions and impact of previous pregnancies.

This is at a time when women need support about issues including breastfeeding, chronic conditions, contraception, pregnancy spacing, and/or a poor pregnancy outcome. This project aims to address these issues by understanding women’s healthcare preferences between pregnancies. A ‘discrete choice experiment study’ will be undertaken to survey what attributes are the most important and what influences women’s choices when accessing ICC. Research outcomes will then be used in the development of further research supporting the implementation of a model of care supporting women’s interconception health.

Dr Lauren Lines

Teaching and research academic in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences - Flinders University

This project identifies effective ways to promote non-stigmatising, therapeutic care for mothers during pregnancy, postpartum and early motherhood (0-5 years).

“This award has multiple benefits for my career development. It will expand my networks of academic collaborators, demonstrate strong industry partnerships and further establish my track record of high-quality research with real-world impact.”

This project identifies effective ways to promote non-stigmatising, therapeutic care for mothers during pregnancy, postpartum and early motherhood (0-5 years). Having a baby is a transformative event, but is also a time of increased support needs for women. Social pressure to be a ‘good’ mother presents barriers to help-seeking; mothers often feel judged or stigmatised for reaching out.

These challenges are intensified for mothers from marginalised groups, including women experiencing violence/abuse, racism, mental illness or disability, who are more likely to experience child protection intervention. Creating non-stigmatising, supportive partnerships during pregnancy, postpartum and early motherhood is essential for early support that promotes health and welfare of mothers and babies. However, professionals working with pregnant and parenting women are not always equipped to develop and nurture non-stigmatising, supportive partnerships.

For example, professionals often experience challenges when managing complex social situations, collaborating across disciplines/sectors and balancing children’s safety with women’s support needs. As such, this project draws upon women’s perspectives to explore what change is needed to promote supportive, empathetic care for mothers by professionals who are equipped for responsive care

Dr Audrey Adji

Senior Postdoctoral Scientist at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and a Research Fellow at St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research

To clinically characterise AS (Aortic valve stenosis the most common heart valve disorder) in women, and to identify alternative diagnostic markers that are clinically relevant to women and their outcomes.

“The WHRTN grant will support my track record as a women academic researcher from under-represented (CALD) groups and allow my to become a leader in cardiovascular hemodynamic research, inspiring and empowering other women from various background to pursue their research career, while building a network of women researchers to engage in future translational research.”

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is currently most common heart valve disorders. Unfortunately, around 40% of patients – predominantly women – will continue to experience troublesome symptoms following correction of AS. There is a diagnostic gap between women and men, resulting in women experiencing poorer access to treatment and health outcomes. Audrey’s study aims to clinically characterise AS in women, and to identify alternative diagnostic markers that are clinically relevant to women and their outcomes. The project is expected to provide evidence that there are inequalities in survival between males and females, and management should be addressed to ensure that female AS patients receive equivalent care.

Dr Wendy Li

A/ Professor of Psychology and Associate Dean for Research in College of Healthcare Sciences at James Cook University

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Group Intervention for Victim/Survivors of Violence against Women in Regional and Rural North Queensland

“This grant will support my career development and enhance my research capacity, and national and international standing in the field of MBSR intervention for women who are vulnerable to mental health problems. This grant will provide the necessary financial support to conduct this preliminary study and help me collect data, test hypotheses, and generate preliminary results, which can be used to strengthen subsequent grant applications and attract further funding.”

My proposal activity is entitled “Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Group Intervention for Victim/Survivors of Violence against Women in Regional and Rural North Queensland.” Violence against women (VAW) is a major public health problem in Australia. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023 report, 23% Australian women experienced violence by an intimate partner and 12.6% women experienced sexual harassment in the past 12 months. Women living in regional, rural and remote areas are more likely to experience VAW compared to metropolitan women. VAW commonly results in post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) that is often a comorbid condition of depression and anxiety. Prolonged exposure, cognitive processing and cognitive behavioural therapies are the most well-studied first- and second-wave psychotherapies, which have demonstrated effectiveness for individuals with PTSD.

However, about 30-60% individuals do not respond well to these treatments, indicating a critical need for research into alternative treatments for PTSD among victim-survivors of VAW, such as third-wave psychotherapies. As a prominent third-wave psychotherapy, MBSR has been employed as a safe and effective treatment for victim-survivors of VAW in the past decade; but is predominately USA-based. My proposal activity is to deliver MBSR to 30 victim-survivors of VAW in Townsville and evaluate its effectiveness for this population. To my knowledge, this study is the first in Australia to evaluate the effectiveness of MBSR for this population.

Dr Amy Bestman

School of Population Health, UNSW

Understanding the interplay between violence and gambling harm, and exploring appropriate policy measures to support women experiencing violence and gambling harm.

“Returning from parental leave in early 2023, this grant enables me to lead pilot work across the intersection of two areas I am passionate about (preventing violence against women and gambling harm prevention). I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity this grant and the WHRTN network have given me.”

Within Australia, evidence shows a complex relationship between gambling harm and domestic violence. This includes that male problem gambling can reinforce the gendered drivers of violence resulting in more frequent and severe violence perpetrated towards women.

Additionally for some women, gambling in venues such as pubs and clubs can provide respite from home for those experiencing violence. To address gambling harm in Australia, there have been recent discussions on the need for gambling reform. While there is no doubt gambling causes significant harm to Australian women, it is crucial that any policy measures consider their implications on women experiencing (or with the potential to experience) violence. Taking a gender mainstreaming lens, which integrates a gender equality perspective, this work will explore how gambling policy can support Australian women and mitigate unintended harm to those experiencing violence.

This project will involve qualitative interviews with Australian women to better understand the interplay between violence and gambling harm. Additionally, it will explore appropriate policy measures to support women experiencing violence and gambling harm.

Spotlight on 2023 EMCR Awardees