High quality research is a safe and ethical way to improve the way that we deliver health care and improve the health of our society. Research is an integral of being a tertiary intensive care facility.
Research is a broad area; it often involves a new drug or device. A large proportion of our research focuses on comparing existing treatments or strategies to review their place in modern healthcare.
Our unit has over 30 years of experience in conducting impactful research. It strengthens our
collaborations with other leading centres worldwide and allows us to assess and implement best practice for the care of our patients. Several studies have demonstrated that participation in research improves the outcomes of healthcare facilities.
We are always actively engaged in several research initiatives. This is always done in a safe, ethically and scientifically approved way (WMA Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects – WMA – The World Medical Association).
Our Departmental Research Program
The primary aim of our Research Program is to support Investigators to generate clinically relevant, practice changing research that has the potential to impact patient-centred outcomes, thus improving the health of our community and society.
- We encourage the involvement of all our clinical staff and collaborate with supporting departments.
- Our Research Office staff have experience in performing research in this setting and can provide guidance and support.
- As there is a limit to the number of projects that can be accommodated in the department, prospective planning is essential.
We participate in investigator-initiated collaborative clinical research projects and programs, often funded by national governments
- These projects have undergone expensive peer and ethical review in their development, and as they are funded by independent national agencies, they are likely to impact national/global health.
- They are an excellent way to become familiar with the design and conduct of high-quality research.
We build research capacity through:
- All staff feeling comfortable and connected with clinical research as part of their daily clinical practice.
- Supporting early career researchers through higher degrees and related research.
- Supporting trainee (e.g. College Formal projects) and student projects (e.g. Independent Learning Projects and Honours projects) and related research experience.
We consider commercially sponsored studies as partnerships with industry can contribute to the development of new treatments, improving health outcomes.
We have an internal departmental SharePoint location where Governance Information, Our Research Strategy and key information regarding our Research Projects are available to all our staff (requires intranet access).
Our Partners
Our Research Partners
Our research program involves partnering with several organisations: our main
collaborators include:
- The George Institute, which is part of University of New South, and
- The Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group
We are also collaborating with colleagues at Liverpool Hospital in SWSLHD – exploring the role of coagulation pathways in acute inflammation and sepsis.
Our Funding Partners
We actively submit proposals to national and international bodie
Consent Models in our Research
Our patient population includes people who have unexpected serious illnesses that require life
support. In this context, patients often have altered levels of consciousness because of their illness or necessary treatment. We discuss our research with the patient where possible, and often with their designated next of kin.
For research studies that evaluate new treatments, the ethical standard is prior consent from the patient.
For research studies that are evaluating existing treatments or strategies, ethical approval may be given for either waiving of consent, or consent to continue in the study after the patient has been included in the study.
Trainee Research Projects
St George ICU is committed to supporting JMOs in their research endeavours including fulfilling the CICM training requirement.