RPH Research Foundation Fellows
RPH Research Foundation’s Career Advancement Fellowship program supports outstanding early to mid-career researchers to advance their careers while pursuing research that has the potential to improve patient outcomes, clinical practice and healthcare.
Through salary and research support, the RPH Research Foundation Fellows are provided with protected time to focus on high-quality, clinically relevant and translational research, while helping to build the next generation of research leaders in Western Australia.
First launched in 2020, the RPH Research Foundation Fellows are working across a diverse range of health challenges, from cardiovascular disease and diabetes to dementia, healthy ageing and emergency medicine.
The program returned in 2026 with a further $2.59 million committed to supporting emerging research leaders whose work has a strong and meaningful connection to the East Metropolitan Health Service.
Congratulations to the RPH Research Foundation Fellows
All queries related to this grant program should be directed to grants@rphresearchfoundation.org.au.
2026 Recipients
Dr Mayura Iddagoda
Improving Care for Older Trauma Patients Using a New Prediction Tool in Western Australian Hospitals
Mentor: Professor Leon Flicker AO
Royal Perth Hospital – Department of Geriatric Medicine
$734,000
Dr Iddagoda is the 2026 Lawrie Beilin Research Fellow.
Dr Jacques Malherbe
Faster and More Accurate Testing to Guide Treatment in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Mentor: Professor Wendy Erber
Royal Perth Hospital – Department of Haematology
$739,946
Dr Martin Rabey
PROTECT FROM PAIN: Unlocking Untapped Potential to Prevent Disabling Persistent Musculoskeletal Pain
Mentor: Professor Vinicius Cavalheri
Royal Perth Hospital – Department of Physiotherapy
$612,727
Dr Kevin Trentino
Investigating Continuous Real-Time Physiological, Haemodynamic, and Oxygen Delivery Parameters to Assess and Predict Red Blood Cell Transfusion
Mentor: Professor Grant Waterer
East Metropolitan Health Service – East CareConnect
$508,425
2020 Recipients
Dr Catherine Bondonno
Nitrate and Human Health – Villain or Superhero?
Mentor: Professor Jonathan Hodgson
Edith Cowan University
$166,622
Dr Bondonno is the inaugural Lawrie Beilin Research Fellow.
Dr Lakshini Herat
Protecting the Eyes and Kidneys from Diabetes-Induced Damage: An Important Role for a Novel Glucose-Lowering Drug Class
Mentor: Dr Vance Matthews
The University of Western Australia
$233,755
Dr Dona Jayakody
Hearing Aids to Reduce Risk of Dementia and to Improve Quality of Life in Aboriginal Older Adults
Mentor: Professor Leon Flicker AO
Ear Science Institute Australia
$227,872
Dr David McCutcheon
An Early Warning System for Emerging Drugs of Concern in the Emergency Department
Mentor: Professor Daniel Fatovich
Royal Perth Hospital
$125,493
RPH Research Foundation Fellows
Dr Marc Sim
Improving Muscle and Bone Health through Diet and Exercise to Reduce the Risk of Falls and Associated Injuries
Mentor: Professor Jonathan Hodgson
Edith Cowan University
$89,786
RPH Research Foundation’s Career Advancement Fellowship program supports outstanding early to mid-career researchers to advance their careers while pursuing research that has the potential to improve patient outcomes, clinical practice and healthcare.
Through salary and research support, the RPH Research Foundation Fellows are provided with protected time to focus on high-quality, clinically relevant and translational research, while helping to build the next generation of research leaders in Western Australia.
First launched in 2020, the RPH Research Foundation Fellows are working across a diverse range of health challenges, from cardiovascular disease and diabetes to dementia, healthy ageing and emergency medicine.
The program returned in 2026 with a further $2.59 million committed to supporting emerging research leaders whose work has a strong and meaningful connection to the East Metropolitan Health Service.
Congratulations to the RPH Research Foundation Fellows
All queries related to this grant program should be directed to grants@rphresearchfoundation.org.au.
2026 Recipients
Dr Mayura Iddagoda
Improving Care for Older Trauma Patients Using a New Prediction Tool in Western Australian Hospitals
Mentor: Professor Leon Flicker AO
Royal Perth Hospital – Department of Geriatric Medicine
$734,000
Dr Iddagoda is the 2026 Lawrie Beilin Research Fellow.
Dr Jacques Malherbe
Faster and More Accurate Testing to Guide Treatment in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Mentor: Professor Wendy Erber
Royal Perth Hospital – Department of Haematology
$739,946
Dr Martin Rabey
PROTECT FROM PAIN: Unlocking Untapped Potential to Prevent Disabling Persistent Musculoskeletal Pain
Mentor: Professor Vinicius Cavalheri
Royal Perth Hospital – Department of Physiotherapy
$612,727
Dr Kevin Trentino
Investigating Continuous Real-Time Physiological, Haemodynamic, and Oxygen Delivery Parameters to Assess and Predict Red Blood Cell Transfusion
Mentor: Professor Grant Waterer
East Metropolitan Health Service – East CareConnect
$508,425
2020 Recipients
Dr Catherine Bondonno
Nitrate and Human Health – Villain or Superhero?
Mentor: Professor Jonathan Hodgson
Edith Cowan University
$166,622
Dr Bondonno is the inaugural Lawrie Beilin Research Fellow.
Dr Lakshini Herat
Protecting the Eyes and Kidneys from Diabetes-Induced Damage: An Important Role for a Novel Glucose-Lowering Drug Class
Mentor: Dr Vance Matthews
The University of Western Australia
$233,755
Dr Dona Jayakody
Hearing Aids to Reduce Risk of Dementia and to Improve Quality of Life in Aboriginal Older Adults
Mentor: Professor Leon Flicker AO
Ear Science Institute Australia
$227,872
Dr David McCutcheon
An Early Warning System for Emerging Drugs of Concern in the Emergency Department
Mentor: Professor Daniel Fatovich
Royal Perth Hospital
$125,493
Dr Marc Sim
Improving Muscle and Bone Health through Diet and Exercise to Reduce the Risk of Falls and Associated Injuries
Mentor: Professor Jonathan Hodgson
Edith Cowan University
$89,786