The PA Research Foundation (PARF)/Translational Research Institute (TRI) Collaborative Microgrant provides funding of up to $3,000 to drive new, short-term research projects between Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) clinicians and TRI-based researchers.
With the funding afforded by the program, Professor Selena Bartlett and Dr Emily Watson hope to get their project on the potential role of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Treatment Resistant Epilepsy off the ground.
Epilepsy is an incredibly difficult and challenging disorder for patients for many reasons, chief among which is the constant worry of having a seizure.
“20 to 30% of people, despite medications will still have seizures, even if even if they've seen the right specialists and tried all the right medications,” Dr Watson said
“The aim of our project is to look at the adverse childhood events that occur in patients who have epilepsy, and to see if there is a correlation between those events and treatment resistant epilepsy.”
“Beyond purely treating cognitive disorders with medication, the long-term view for this project is also to say, what can we do through psychology (improving brain health, treatment, rehabilitation etc.). What else can we do to improve patient seizure control and the quality of their life?”
Both Prof. Bartlett and Dr Watson first met at a neurology networking event where they first found common interest in this field of study. It was also at this event that they found out about the Microgrant program through advertising in the TRI reception foyer.
“Without that, we probably would not be working together. Money provides the opportunity for effective collaboration,” Prof. Bartlett remarked.
Initiating these novel research projects and the sourcing of funds is no small feat. Prof. Bartlett likens this process to preparing for the Olympic Games.
“When you're working with real people, huge ethics protocols which take up to a year to get approved are needed. Then you've got to recruit patients to participate in a longitudinal study for very little reward,” she said.
“There’s a lot of people doing the work behind the scenes to try and be selected for large grants, but few ever do. You must be in the top 1% of people doing research to then be allowed to carry out proper experimentation.”
“You sometimes even have to pilot data to even be considered because the competition is so big.”
For early-career researchers with clinical duties like Dr Watson, the Microgrant is a welcome affordance for overcoming these logistical hurdles and turning her interest into formal research.
“I see a lot of patients daily and don't have any earmarked time specifically to undertake research,” she said.
“While $3000 seems like a small amount, when looking at the bigger picture this funding goes a long way in helping me get started.”
Looking to future, following the successful start of the project through the funds granted through this program, Prof. Bartlett and Dr Watson aims to transform the holistic understanding of Epilepsy and other neurological conditions.
“Treatment is not just about administering medication. You must see someone for who they are beyond their label and consider what they’ve been through,” Prof. Bartlett said.
“This medical knowledge gleaned from research should also be integrated through layers of society such as social services and first responder services.”
Both individuals extend praise towards the introduction of the microgrant program and recommend current and future clinicians and early-career researchers to consider such avenues of funding.
“This month-by-month process is the best thing I’ve seen happen. It allows us to hit the ground running by providing project validity and seek further support without having to wait at least a year for an application outcome,” Prof. Bartlett said.
“The program is also a great starting place to get a project going when bigger grant opportunities are harder to access,” Dr Watson added.
Prof. Bartlett also said that without the generous people who chose the Foundation as their place to give, the agility and effectiveness of this program would not have been possible.
“The Foundation should strive to get more donors to further opportunities like this one.”
“I think it's so important to have this pool of money dedicated specifically for patient outcomes by intersecting the expertise of amazing doctors working here with that of scientists who are on the leading edge of the latest advances.”
You can help make research projects like this possible by choosing the PA as your place to give here.
