Event Report
Sydney Health Partners Announces Recipients of the 2026 Implementation Science Pilot Grants
Sydney Health Partners is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Implementation Science Pilot Grant Program.
Published date:
Close to $220,000 has been awarded in funding to support 11 innovative projects that will accelerate the translation of research evidence into improved healthcare practice and patient outcomes across the partnership.
The highly competitive program attracted strong interest this year, with applications assessed through a rigorous two-stage review process involving independent academic and consumer reviewers.
Funding was awarded through two streams: the Sydney Health Partners (SHP) Implementation Science Pilot Grant Funding stream, supporting nine projects, and the Charles Perkins Centre (CPC) Implementation Hub Pilot Grant Funding stream, supporting two projects through co-funding from the Mackenzie Foundation and Sydney Health Partners.
Together, the funded projects address a wide range of healthcare challenges and reflect the growing implementation science capability across the SHP partnership, with an increasing number of applicants graduates of the SHP Implementation Science Academy Masterclass.
It’s incredibly encouraging to see the implementation science capability pipeline delivering results. We’re seeing clinicians and early career researchers progress from Masterclass programs to securing competitive funding and leading projects that will improve patient care. That’s exactly the capability-building trajectory we set out to create.
Implementation Science Academy Co-Lead and Masterclass Convenor, Professor Leanne Hassett
Early-career clinician researcher Dr Edel O’Hagan is among this year’s successful recipients. Together with Professor Vlasios Brakoulias, they will co-design a digital SMS support program to help people access community services after presenting to an emergency department with self-harm or suicidal thoughts. The team will work with consumers, clinicians and service providers to develop and test implementation strategies that support the program’s integration into routine care and inform a future large-scale trial.
This funding provides an opportunity to build on my evaluation experience and start applying implementation science frameworks to real-world challenges.
Dr Edel O’Hagan
Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District achieved its strongest result since the pilot grant program began. The outcome follows recent implementation science capacity-building initiatives in the district, including delivery of an SHP Implementation Science Masterclass at Nepean Hospital.
Supporting emerging and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) remains a cornerstone of the program. This year, 93.3 percent of submitted applications included at least one principal investigator identified as an EMCR, demonstrating a strong pipeline of future implementation science leaders.
Consumer and community involvement remains a key factor in assessing applications, helping ensure funded projects reflect the needs and priorities of patients, carers and communities.
Pilot grant recipient, Kathryn Clark, a physiotherapist from The Children’s Hospital at Westmead (Sydney Children’s Hospital Network) and SHP Implementation Science Masterclass graduate is applying the skills gained through the program to develop a consumer-centred project. Her partner principal investigator on the project, Dr Louise Pearce is also one of SHPs’ Consumer and Community Involvement training facilitators.
The masterclass showed me how to meaningfully partner with consumers, so our work reflects the needs of children and their families. Consumers will play a central role in shaping the project and co-designing our implementation plan.
Kathryn Clark
2026 Funded Projects
SHP Implementation Science Pilot Grant Funding
Principal Investigators: Dr Edel O’Hagan and Dr Vlasios Brakoulias (Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD)/ Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District LHD)
Principal Investigators: Dr Brenda Maria Rosales and Dr Angela Webster (Western Sydney LHD)
Principal Investigators: Dr Thilini Jayasinghe and Dr Purnima Sundaresan (Western Sydney LHD)
Principal Investigators: Dr Andrew Gamble and Dr James Van Gelder (Sydney LHD)
Principal Investigators: Associate Professor Kerrie Evans and Christos Avdalis (Northern Sydney LHD)
Principal Investigators: Dr Louise Pearce and Kathryn Clark (Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network)
Principal Investigators: Dr Aaron Schokman and Dr Sheila Sivam (Sydney LHD)
Principal Investigators: Professor Kate White and Dr Emma Verner (Sydney LHD)
Principal Investigators: Dr Bethany Van Dort and Dr Helen Crowther (Western Sydney LHD)
CPC Implementation Hub Pilot Grant Funding
Principal Investigators: Dr Elizabeth Machan and Dr Kathryn Williams (Nepean Blue Mountains LHD)
Principal Investigators: Dr Dion Candelaria and Vicki Paul (Nepean Blue Mountains LHD)
The successful projects represent the breadth of implementation science activity taking place across the SHP partnership and demonstrate the growing impact of SHP’s investment in capability development, consumer involvement and collaborative research. Sydney Health Partners congratulates all recipients and looks forward to following the progress and impact of these projects.