The Research Led by Our Recipients
Since 1957, we have supported over 700 researchers dedicated to finding solutions for a wide range of illnesses. Through our funding programs, we have helped advance the careers of some of the world’s leading researchers, including Professor Fiona Stanley AC, Professor Peter Klinken AC, Professor John Newnham AM, and Professor Fiona Wood AO, as well as many other emerging researchers.
Fragmentomic features of cell-free DNA predict late-stage melanoma treatment benefit and survival

Dr Aaron Beasley
Research Collaboration Award
$29,914.00
2024
Edith Cowan University, in collaboration with Medical University of Graz, Austria
Funded by the Healy Foundation
Finding novel targets to prevent transplanted organ rejection

Dr Amy Prosser
Research Collaboration Award
$29,990.00
2024
The University of Western Australia, in collaboration with Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Victoria, Australia
Funded by the Healy Foundation
Reidentification with Birth-Registered Sex in a Western Australian Pediatric Gender Clinic – Inter-state extensions to inform a registered audit

Dr Blake Cavve
Research Collaboration Award
$13,078.00
2024
Funded by the Cockell Bequest
Cost-Effectiveness and Enhanced Co-Design of a Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Yoga and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to Improve Mental Health in Australians

Dr Danielle Mathersul
Research Collaboration Award
$29,964.00
2024
Funded by the Cockell Bequest
From prematurity to adult lung disease: harmonising data analysis to provide novel insights into chronic lung disease following preterm birth

Dr Denby Evans
Research Collaboration Award
$29,340.00
2024
The Kids Research Institute Australia & Curtin University, in collaboration with the University of Barcelona, Spain
Co-funded by the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, the BrightSpark Foundation and the Raine Foundation
Unravelling the mysteries of neonatal lung clocks to improve lifelong health and well-being of premature babies

Dr Jane Choi
Research Collaboration Award
$28,593.00
2024
The University of Western Australia, in collaboration with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA
Co-funded by the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, the BrightSpark Foundation and the Raine Foundation
Patient-Specific CT-Derived Computational Modelling to Optimise Outcomes in Aortic Stenosis

Dr Abdul Rahman Ihdayhid
Research Collaboration Award
$23,420.00
2023
Fiona Stanley Hospital, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Curtin University, in collaboration with Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Funded by the Healy Foundation
Comparing genetic variance with environmental risk factors in early-onset myopia.

Dr Jessica Mountford
Research Collaboration Award
$30,000.00
2023
The University of Western Australia, in collaboration with Umea Centre for Molecular Medicine, Sweden
Co-funded by the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and the BrightSpark Foundation
Advancing single-cell technologies for skeletal biology and diseases

Dr Kai Chen
Research Collaboration Award
$29,212.00
2023
The University of Western Australia, in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine, USA
Funded by the Healy Foundation
Assessment and Modification of Biased Expectancies to Predict and Optimize Emotional Wellbeing Across the Perinatal Period

Dr Mahdi Mazidi Sharafabadi
Research Collaboration Award
$26,047.00
2023
The University of Western Australia, in collaboration with University of Western Australia, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute (Australia) and University of Exeter (UK)
Funded by the Cockell Bequest
A Cross-Cultural Validation of an Inpatient Self-Harm Prediction Algorithm

Dr Michael Kyron
Research Collaboration Award
$25,618.00
2023
The University of Western Australia, in collaboration with The University of Sheffield, UK
Funded by the Cockell Bequest
Language difficulties and child mental health: Priority-setting for development of a global research agenda

Associate Professor Mark Boyes
Research Collaboration Award
$20,075.00
2022
Curtin University, collaborating with University College London, Macquarie University, Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation
Development of a New DNA Methylation-based Maternal Epigenetic Age Estimator as a Predictor for Perinatal Morbidity

Dr Amanuel Gebremedhin
Research Collaboration Award
$29,607.00
2022
Curtin University, collaborating with Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Improving Outcomes for Tuberculosis Patients

Dr Kefyalew Alene
Research Collaboration Award
$30,000.00
2022
Curtin University, collaborating with Harvard Medical School, Harvard University
Short chain fatty acids in human milk: Implications for infant health

Dr Lisa Stinson
Research Collaboration Award
$27,039.00
2022
The University of Western Australia, collaborating with Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Ultrahigh-resolution and rapid breast tumour margin assessment using full-field optical coherence elastography

Dr Qi Fang
Research Collaboration Award
$28,668.00
2022
Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and The University of Western Australia, collaborating with Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
Influence of early life diet on intestinal epithelial cell development and function

Dr Akila Rekima
Research Collaboration Award
$29,986.00
2021
Telethon Kids Institute and The University of Western Australia, collaborating with Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC)
Raine Brightspark Research Collaboration Award
An innovative diagnostic tool for children with high-risk leukaemia

Dr Henry Hui
Research Collaboration Award
$29,864.00
2021
The University of Western Australia, collaborating with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Raine Brightspark Research Collaboration Award
Reducing the Side-Effects of Cancer Immunotherapy

Dr Jonathan Chee
Research Collaboration Award
$27,812.00
2021
The University of Western Australia, collaborating with University of Melbourne/St Vincent's Institute
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Creating tools to help clinicians protect the mental health of children with chronic pain

Dr Julian Basanovic
Research Collaboration Award
$12,768.00
2021
The University of Western Australia, collaborating with The University of Western Australia, University of Sydney, Western Kids Health
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Investigating the negative relationship between social anxiety and interpersonal coordination: Identifying mechanisms and developing interventions

Dr Lynden Miles
Research Collaboration Award
$17,208.00
2021
The University of Western Australia, collaborating with Macquarie University, Wise Realities, Institute for Healthcare Emerging Technologies Research, UWA
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Enablers and barriers to accessing digital oral health resources: caregivers and health providers’ perspectives

Dr Mohamed Estai
Research Collaboration Award
$29,915.00
2021
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Developing novel treatments for stroke

Dr Alexander Tang
Research Collaboration Award
2020
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, collaborating with University of Otago (New Zealand)
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Bright light therapy to improve sleep and mental health outcomes for young people with depression

Dr Cele Richardson
Research Collaboration Award
2020
Centre for Sleep Science and School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, collaborating with Flinders University (Adelaide), University of Reading (UK)
Charter Hall / Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Challenging the core autism phenotype - investigating motor impairments in children on the autism spectrum using whole genome sequencing

Dr Jess Reynolds
Research Collaboration Award
2020
Centre for Child Health Research, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, collaborating with Garvan Institute of Medical Research (NSW)
Raine Brightspark Research Collaboration Award
Dietary nitrate intake and its associations with cardiometabolic, cognitive and mental health outcomes

Dr Lauren Blekkenhorst
Research Collaboration Award
2020
School of Health and Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, collaborating with Erasmus University (The Netherlands), Deakin University (Melbourne)
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Does lack of colostrum feeding in neonates lead to impaired growth and immune development, and enhanced disease susceptibility in later life

Dr Lieke van den Elsen
Research Collaboration Award
2020
School of Molecular Science, The University of Western Australia, collaborating with South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (Adelaide)
Raine Brightspark Research Collaboration Award
Computational modelling of the neural deficits in schizophrenia

Dr Zachary Howard
Research Collaboration Award
$16,500
2020
School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, collaborating with The University of Newcastle (NSW), Australian National University (Canberra)
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
The role of emotion regulation in mental illness

Professor Penelope Hasking
Research Collaboration Award
2020
School of Psychology, Curtin University, collaborating with Stanford University (USA)
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Identifying early life physical health factors to improve mental health outcomes in children

Dr Amy Finlay-Jones
Research Collaboration Award
$29,433
2019
Mental Health and Youth, Telethon Kids Institute/CCHR, University of Western Australia, collaborating with Brain and Body Lab (University of California, Los Angeles, USA)
Raine Brightspark Research Collaboration Award
Adverse birth outcomes and interpregnancy interval in Australia and Norway: A new international collaboration on the influence of pregnancy loss

Dr Gizachew Tessema
Research Collaboration Award
2019
Public Health, Curtin University, collaborating with Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Charter Hall Research Collaboration Award
Investigating “flashforward” mental imagery of self-injury as a proximal risk barometer and modifiable treatment target

Dr Julie Ji
Research Collaboration Award
2019
School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, collaborating with Uppsala University (Sweden)
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Efficacy of a novel self-appraisal induction in Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Dr Laura Dondzilo
Research Collaboration Award
2019
School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, collaborating with University of Münster (Germany)
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
The role of dietary nitrate and vitamin K in improving cardiovascular outcomes

Dr Nicola Bondonno
Research Collaboration Award
$29,722
2019
School of Health and Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, collaborating with The University of Western Australia, Gentofte Hospital (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Unravelling the (epi)genomic regulatory mechanisms governing memory to understand cognitive decline in aging

Dr Olivier Clement
Research Collaboration Award
2019
Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, University of Western Australia, collaborating with Trinity College (Dublin), Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Prevention of maternal morbidity and deaths due to obstetric emergencies in Gaborone, Botswana

Dr Tina Lavin
Research Collaboration Award
2019
School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, collaborating with University of Botswana, University of Pretoria (South Africa), Burnet Institute (Melbourne)
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Synthesis and characterisation of cutting-edge magnetic nanoparticles for anti-cancer treatment

Dr Anabel Sorolla Bardaji
Research Collaboration Award
2018
Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, University of Western Australia, collaborating with Spanish National Research Council
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Facial features as a potential biomarker to assist early identification and intervention of autism

Dr Diana Tan
Research Collaboration Award
$7,600
2018
School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, collaborating with University of Cambridge (UK)
Raine Brightspark Research Collaboration Award
Increased stress precedes increased blood glucose levels in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

Dr Keely Bebbington
Research Collaboration Award
$14,911.80
2018
Children’s Diabetes Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, collaborating with The Interdisciplinary Center of Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University Medical Centre of Groningen (Netherlands)
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Developing health coding analyses in efforts to track and improve outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease

Dr Lee Nedkoff
Research Collaboration Award
$15,972
2018
School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, collaborating with University of Auckland (NZ)
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Targeted suicide prevention for LGBTIQ young people

Dr Yael Perry
Research Collaboration Award
2018
Youth Mental Health, Telethon Kids Institute, collaborating with Orygen (Melbourne)
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Why is the impact of urban birth on risk for schizophrenia reversed in Western Australia compared to Denmark? A proof-of-concept collaboration

Professor Vera Morgan
Research Collaboration Award
2018
Medical School, Population Health, University of Western Australia, collaborating with Aarhus University (Denmark)
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
How does maternal immunisation affect childhood health?

Dr Annette Regan
Research Collaboration Award
2017
Curtin University
Raine Brightspark Research Collaboration Award
Establishing cell culture models for fibrotic progression in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms

Dr Belinda Guo
Research Collaboration Award
2017
University of Western Australia
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Mental health issues affecting doctors working in intensive care units

Dr Diane Dennis
Research Collaboration Award
$13,650
2017
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Novel methods to understand cholesterol balance

Dr Haibo Jiang
Research Collaboration Award
$10,000
2017
University of Western Australia
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Developing Preterm Infant Nutrition Research Capacity
Dr Nathanael Yates
Research Collaboration Award
2017
University of Western Australia
Raine Brightspark Research Collaboration Award
Western Australia Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia (WA ATOM) study

Dr Samantha Lee
Research Collaboration Award
$5,000
2017
Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Prevalence of Mental Illness and Treatment Pathways among people who are homeless in Perth, Western Australia

Associate Professor Lisa Wood
Research Collaboration Award
2016
University of Western Australia
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Enhancing the treatment of depression through the delivery of attentional bias modification procedures

Dr Ben Grafton
Research Collaboration Award
2016
University of Western Australia
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Mental health outcomes of adolescents with ASD as they transition to adulthood

Dr Benjamain Milbourn
Research Collaboration Award
2016
Curtin University
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Impact of heatwave exposure on pregnancy outcomes
Dr Gavin Pereira
Research Collaboration Award
$9,868
2016
Curtin University
Raine Brightspark Research Collaboration Award
Characterizing innate lymphoid cells in steady state and infection

Dr Iona Schuster
Research Collaboration Award
2016
Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Identification of novel drug combinations to cure high-risk infant leukaemia

Dr Laurence Cheung
Research Collaboration Award
2016
Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia
Raine Brightspark Research Collaboration Award
Optical imaging of conjunctival lymphatics for better glaucoma treatment

Dr Peijun Gong
Research Collaboration Award
2016
University of Western Australia
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Development of an inducible Helicobacter pylori cag-T4SS system for in vitro and in vivo studies
Dr Aleksandra Debowski
Research Collaboration Award
2015
School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UWA
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ)L and international validation study
Dr Anna Waterreus
Research Collaboration Award
2015
School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, UWA
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Investigating the role of taurine in disease pathology of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) using the GRMD dog model
Dr Jessica Terrill
Research Collaboration Award
2015
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UWA
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Smart needles for better lung cancer assessment
Dr Jiawen Li
Research Collaboration Award
2015
School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, UWA
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Social Reward and Impulsivity in Disruptive Behaviour Problems: The Roles of Oxytocin and Serotonin
Dr Kevin Runions
Research Collaboration Award
2015
Centre for Child Health Research, UWA
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Light therapy in the treatment of Bipolar Disorder
Dr Wayne Davies
Research Collaboration Award
2015
School of Animal Biology, UWA
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Very early intervention in infants at risk of autism: Bringing a novel therapy to Australia
Professor Andrew Whitehouse
Research Collaboration Award
2015
Centre for Child Health Research, UWA
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Using support vector machine-based learning techniques to explore medical, developmental and psychiatric disorders
Dr Ashleigh Lin
Research Collaboration Award
2014
Telethon Kids Institute
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Understanding how genetic mutations to gene regulatory proteins cause childhood brain disorder
Dr Julian Heng
Research Collaboration Award
2014
Centre for Medical Research, UWA
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
How does repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation affect the brain? A cellular and systems approach
Dr Kristyn Bates
Research Collaboration Award
2014
School of Animal Biology, UWA
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Targeting epigenetic markers to modulate G-quadruplex DNA topology as a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer
Dr Nicole Smith
Research Collaboration Award
2014
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UWA
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Multifunctional targeted nanoparticles for the effective delivery of therapeutics in models of colorectal cancer
Dr Tristan Clemons
Research Collaboration Award
2014
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UWA
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Neuroinflammation in Type 2 diabetes: A PET study using (18F)p FEEPPA
Professor David Bruce
Research Collaboration Award
2014
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, UWA
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Studying the role of serotonin in anxiety in adolescence – An iterative translational research approach
Professor Florian Zepf
Research Collaboration Award
2014
School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, UWA
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Preclinical optimization of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for youth with treatment refractory depression
Professor Jenny Rodger
Research Collaboration Award
2014
School of Animal Biology, UWA
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Autism Spectrum Disorder in middle to late adulthood: Phenomenology, behavioural correlates and societal costs
Professor Sergio Starkstein
Research Collaboration Award
2014
School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, UWA
Cockell Research Collaboration Award
Stimulation of HIV-specific cytolytic effector function using allogeneic cell immunotherapy
Assistant Professor Coral-Ann Almeida
Research Collaboration Award
2013
School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Healy Research Collaboration Award
An investigation of the relationship between traumatic brain injury, mental illness and subsequent criminal offending
Dr Eva Malacova
Research Collaboration Award
2013
Emergency Medicine/School of Population Health
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Identifying genetic risk factors for cardiovascular disease in extended pedigrees in the Busselton Health Study
Dr Gemma Cadby
Research Collaboration Award
2013
Centre for the Genetic Origins of Health and Disease
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Does zoledronic acid decrease back pain and slow spinal radiographic progression in those with radiographic osteoarthritis?
Dr Helen Keen
Research Collaboration Award
2013
School of Medicine and Pharmacology
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Dr Alexander Gout
Research Collaboration Award
2012
UWA Centre for Child Health Research/Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
Healy Research Collaboration Award
Three-dimensional modelling and analysis of soft-tissue and hard-tissue facial features for Craniofacial Surgery
Dr Syed Islam
Research Collaboration Award
2012
School of Dentistry/Oral Health Centre of Western Australia
Healy Research Collaboration Award
The Critical Illness Journal – prehospital to rehabilitation: A data linkage project
Dr Teresa Williams
Research Collaboration Award
2012
Emergency Medicine/School of Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health Care
Healy Research Collaboration Award