Celebrating Recent MSH Grant Wins at The Hopkins Centre

Advancing Innovation in Cognitive Health, VR in Occupational Therapy, Disability Health, and Oral Health Services

 

The Hopkins Centre is delighted to celebrate four successful research grants awarded through the 2026 Metro South Health Research Support Scheme. These competitive grants recognise the exceptional work of Hopkins researchers, collaborators and partners who continue to push the boundaries of rehabilitation, health innovation, and consumer-led research.     

These newly funded projects address critical challenges:

• supporting choice and agency when cognition is compromised
• enabling sustainable VR integration into occupational therapy practice
• co-designing healthy lifestyle interventions with people with disability and
• improving oral health care for children with disability by reducing reliance on general anaesthesia.

 

MSH SERTA Project Grant 

 

Facilitating Choice and Agency When Cognition Is Compromised
Principal Investigator: Prof Timothy Geraghty, Director, The Hopkins Centre

This project, 'Facilitating Choice and Agency When Cognition is Compromised: Enhancing Self-Advocacy Skills for System Navigation for People with Acquired Brain Injury', aims to strengthen self-advocacy skills for people with acquired brain injury (ABI). By improving the ability to navigate complex health and community systems, the project seeks to enhance autonomy and support better long-term outcomes.

Research Team:
Prof Tamara Ownsworth, Dr Jessie Mitchell, Dr Kerrin Watter, Dr Melissa Kendall, Areti Kennedy, Dr Annerley Bates, Dr Ryan Bell, Dr Mandy Nielson, Dr Kelsey Chapman, Karen Hannah (Consumer Advocate), David Curry (Consumer Self-Advocate), Dr Rachel Brough, Janelle Griffin, Val Pick, Courtney Carlson, Clare Morgan, Sue Wright.

 

MSH SERTA Early Career Researcher Grant 

 

Co-Designed Implementation of Virtual Reality in Occupational Therapy
Principal Investigator: Ms Soo Oh, Clinical Team Leader Occupational Therapist

This project 'Implementation of Tailored, Co-Designed Approaches to Enable Evidence-Informed and Sustainable Uptake of Virtual Reality into Occupational Therapy Practice', will explore the integration of VR into clinical occupational therapy services at Logan and Princess Alexandra Hospitals. Through co-design and tailored implementation strategies, the project will support the sustainable adoption of VR-based interventions.

Research Team:
Prof Louise Gustafsson, A/Prof Jacki Liddle, Kerry Ann Anderson Kay, Rebecca Connors, Margo Coffey, Dr Jessie Mitchell, Dr Michael Norwood, John “JJ” Hitchens (Consumer Researcher).

 

Co-Funded Collaboration Grant (MSH SERTA + Griffith University Health)

 

Co-Designing Healthy Lifestyle Interventions in Supported Independent Living
Principal Investigator: Dr Leigh Bramwell, Senior Community Nutritionist, Metro South Health

The project 'Staying Healthy in Supported Independent Living' will work collaboratively with people with disability to co-design practical, person-centred healthy lifestyle interventions. The focus is on long-term health promotion, empowerment, and equity for those living in supported independent living environments.

University Partner: Griffith University Health Group
University Co-Lead: Dr Kelsey Chapman

Research Team:

Simone Johnston, Dr Maria Schwarz.

 

Project Grant – Oral Health Focus

 

Improving Access to Oral Health Services for Children with Disability
Principal Investigator: A/Prof Anura Ariyawardana, Clinical Principal Dentist, Oral Health Services, Community and Oral Health

The project Improving Access to and Experience of Oral Health Services for Children with Disability by Reducing Reliance on General Anaesthesia aims to understand the clinical, behavioural and systemic factors influencing the Metro South Health waiting list. The project seeks to reduce the need for general anaesthesia in children with disability by identifying better pathways, supports, and service delivery models.

Research Team:
Dr Kelsey Chapman, Dr Sumit Sachdeva, Martine Waters, Debbie Cowan, A/Prof Jessica Paynter, Prof Elizabeth Kendall, Prof Tamara Ownsworth, Dr Candy Fung, Gia Lowry.

Looking Ahead

These four diverse, high-impact research projects demonstrate the strength of collaboration across Metro South Health, The Hopkins Centre, Griffith University, the University of Queensland, and consumers with lived experience. Each project reflects a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and improving real-world health outcomes for people with disability, cognitive challenges, and complex care needs.

The Hopkins Centre congratulates all grant recipients and research teams and looks forward to supporting the progress and impact of these important initiatives.