The Tamesis
Funding focuses on chronic disease, long-term COVID-19, and patient-informed technologies.
Australia is investing US$80.33 million (A$120 million) from the Medical Research Future Fund into 60 health research projects to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and patient care, the government said.
The University of South Australia’s Vital Steps project will lead the nation’s first large-scale trial of wearable activity trackers for rehabilitation.
The trial, led by Professor Carol Maher, will see the trackers introduced as part of routine care at seven rehabilitation centers in Adelaide’s south.
The project aims to make a patient’s movement a vital sign, allowing clinicians to monitor activity, support early independence and improve rehabilitation outcomes.
As patients become more active, hospitals can benefit from shorter hospital stays, lower costs and more efficient care.
Funding will focus on chronic respiratory diseases, unmet clinical needs, long-term COVID-19, and patient-informed health technology decisions.
