Ten research grant projects will share $374,162 in grant awards for the 2021 Program. The successful research grant projects requested budgets ranging from $4,000 to $100,000.

In commenting on this year’s awards, the Co-Chair of the Foundation, Assoc Professor David Gattas said, “The announcement of this year’s successful grant applications is a very special occasion for the Foundation. The COVID pandemic necessitated cancellation of last year’s granting round. A great deal of new work has been invested into improving the program for this year”.

“The amount we have awarded this year is the largest in years. The initial expressions of interest (EOI) for this year’s program exceeded 50 applications. And, the application criteria successfully attracted a wide variety of projects, from teams comprising a wide range of people who work in Intensive Care”.

The assessments of the 2021 applications was conducted by the Foundation’s Scientific Committee, chaired by Assoc Professor John Santamaria. Some 17 Members of the Committee were drawn from all the professional groups that work each and every day in ICU’s in Australia and New Zealand.

John Santamaria comment, “The SARS COV-2 pandemic which started in 2020 has had an enormous toll on the community and healthcare workers. At the same time, we have seen what healthcare research can achieve in a remarkably short time with vaccinations and medications. Similarly the management of patients with severe respiratory failure in ICU has been studied, reported and translated into care pathways with rapid turnaround.

The attention to detail and a desire to improve the outcomes of all ICU patients has continued throughout this pandemic period. So it is truly amazing that the Foundation will be offering its largest distribution of grants in 2021.

We are all grateful to the donors, the staff who raise the funds, the researchers who undertake the studies, and to the patients who participate in the trials knowing that such research will improve the lives of the many patients care for within our ICUs.”

The Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Foundation has awarded nearly $5m in grants since its inception in 1990. Many past recipients of early career grants have gone on to complete significant research in both Australia and New Zealand. The Foundation is proud to have helped so many within the Intensive Care community over its 30 year history.