The Avant Early Career Research Program provides funding and support for doctors at a time when it can be difficult to combine research with a career in medicine.
This was the situation for Dr Tess Evans, a recipient of an Early Career Research Program grant, who commenced a PhD program at the University of Western Australia in early 2022.
A microbiome study of critical illness
It is arguable that few conditions in the hospital setting see a more pressing need than sepsis, which accounts for one-fifth of global deaths. Even in Australia, up to 30% of ICU patients who develop sepsis will die.
The average cost for 24 hours in the ICU is approximately $4,375,1 multiplied tenfold for a sepsis admission. Since the advent of antimicrobials, no new specific treatments for sepsis have been developed in the last 50 years.
Taking a closer look
In Dr Evans’ research, the Prospective Observational Embedded Microbiome Study (POEMS) of critical illness will identify meaningful patterns of the gut microbiome to improve the outcome and hasten recovery of critically ill patients with septic shock.
“The funding from the Early Career Research Program grant will profile the gut microbiome of patients admitted to ICU with and without sepsis,” Dr Evans explains.
“I hope to identify subclinical groups within the sepsis population. We can use these to prognosticate, to understand the impact and response to usual care and ultimately, match them to existing therapeutic candidates in a novel clinical trial of enhanced recovery from critical illness.”
Understanding changes to gut bacteria
The human gut microbiome is the community of bacteria that normally live in our stomach and intestines. Healthy commensal bacteria of the gut microbiota encompass 500 – 1,000 species that are necessary for immune system development and regulation, hormonal homeostasis, macromolecule and biliary acid metabolism, synthesis of otherwise inaccessible vitamins and anti-inflammatory pathways.
However, changes to these bacteria may drive many major chronic diseases and their role in the ICU caring for patients remains poorly understood. This study will use cutting-edge techniques and lead laboratory and clinical investigators to identify microbiome patterns and their effects to set up a clinical trial of individualised therapy in patients with severe infection.
“Once I have surveyed a topic at the edge of our knowledge from every possible vantage, I will have the skills to communicate it, propose and test solutions, and eventually move on to all the other questions that bug me at the bedside,” Dr Evans says.
About the program
Started in response to the challenges of early career doctors securing research funding, the Early Career Research Program has, so far, awarded 176 grants worth over $4.3 million.
In 2023, the program will offer up to $450,000 in funding across a total of 29 grants and microgrants with research coaching and a skills development program offered to Avant interns, resident medical officers and doctors in training members.
Applications for the 2023 Avant Early Career Research Program are now open. For full criteria, terms and conditions and information on how to apply, visit our website.
“Avant puts words into practice that we all hold true – that medical training, quality care and research should not be siloed. As an embedded point-of-care study, POEMS is an example of this integrative paradigm.” – Dr Evans
References
1 Hicks, Peter, et al. The financial cost of intensive care in Australia: a multicentre registry study. Med J Aust 2019; 211 (7): 324-325. doi: 10.5694/mja2.50309
https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2019/211/7/financial-cost-intensive-care-australia-multicentre-registry-study