Igniting Innovation in Medical Research
The RPH Research Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its inaugural Ignition Grants Program for 2025.
With a total funding pool of $500,000, this new initiative was created to ignite innovation across the East Metropolitan Health Service and support the next generation of research leaders.
Through the Ignition Grants, the Foundation provided up to $100,000 to support novel and innovative health and medical research projects. The program challenged early, and mid-career researchers to bring bold new ideas to life, advancing healthcare, expanding knowledge, and paving the way for real clinical outcomes.
The grants also enabled researchers to build a foundation of preliminary data, strengthening future applications to major national or international competitive funding programs such as the NHMRC.
We are proud to announce the five successful recipients, whose projects span diverse disciplines but share a common goal of improving the health and wellbeing of all West Australians.
Congratulations to the 2025 Ignition Grant Recipients:
Upscaling MicroSTREAM ACS: Novel Smart Applications in the detection and management of Coronary Microvascular Disease
$100,000
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Aswin Babu
Advancing the diagnosis and treatment of coronary microvascular dysfunction, a hidden but common cause of heart disease, using innovative new techniques to improve recovery after heart attack.
Upscaling MicroSTREAM ACS: Novel Smart Applications in the detection and management of Coronary Microvascular Disease
$100,000
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Aswin Babu
Advancing the diagnosis and treatment of coronary microvascular dysfunction, a hidden but common cause of heart disease, using innovative new techniques to improve recovery after heart attack.
Multimodality imaging of the sympathetic nervous system for cardiovascular disease risk assessment
$99,850
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Jamie Bellinge
Developing a safe and accurate way to measure the body’s “fight or flight” system using advanced MRI and PET scans, enabling earlier identification and treatment of those at greatest risk of heart disease and stroke.
Multimodality imaging of the sympathetic nervous system for cardiovascular disease risk assessment
$99,850
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Jamie Bellinge
Developing a safe and accurate way to measure the body’s “fight or flight” system using advanced MRI and PET scans, enabling earlier identification and treatment of those at greatest risk of heart disease and stroke.
Coronary Artery disease SCreening in young ADult relativEs of individuals with premature Myocardial Infarction using cardiac computed tomography coronary angiography (CASCADE-MI study)
$99,593
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Nick Lan
By combining CT coronary angiography with standard risk assessments, this study seeks to better detect and manage heart disease in families with a history of premature heart attack, paving the way for earlier intervention and prevention.
Coronary Artery disease SCreening in young ADult relativEs of individuals with premature Myocardial Infarction using cardiac computed tomography coronary angiography (CASCADE-MI study)
$99,593
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Nick Lan
By combining CT coronary angiography with standard risk assessments, this study seeks to better detect and manage heart disease in families with a history of premature heart attack, paving the way for earlier intervention and prevention.
Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial of Enteric R-1,3-Butanediol in Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury with a Nested Dosing Study
$99,350
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Robert McNamara
Testing whether a ketone-containing drink can safely provide an alternative energy source to the injured brain, laying the groundwork for a potential new therapy to improve recovery after traumatic brain injury.
Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial of Enteric R-1,3-Butanediol in Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury with a Nested Dosing Study
$99,350
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Robert McNamara
Testing whether a ketone-containing drink can safely provide an alternative energy source to the injured brain, laying the groundwork for a potential new therapy to improve recovery after traumatic brain injury.
Informing Design and Development of a GMP Facility for Bacteriophage Manufacture
$99,558
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Renee Ng
Establishing Australia’s first scalable manufacturing framework for bacteriophage (“phage”) therapy, positioning Western Australia at the forefront of global efforts to combat antibiotic resistance with safe, effective alternatives.
