The inaugural Flinders Health and Medical Research Symposium marked an exciting new chapter for collaborative research at Flinders University, bringing together researchers from across FHMRI, MDRI, CFI and FIMHWell for a full day of shared learning, discussion and connection.
Focused on collaboration for impact, the symposium showcased the depth, diversity and real-world relevance of health and medical research underway across the University.
Setting the scene for collaboration
The day opened by our MC Prof. Billie Bonefski with an acknowledgement of country from Prof. Tamara MacKean with reflections on the importance of collaboration in driving meaningful research outcomes, followed by joint opening keynotes from Prof. Peter Catcheside (FHMRI) and Prof. Karen Reynolds (MDRI). Their presentations set the tone for a program centred on interdisciplinary thinking, translation and collective impact.
Research excellence across institutes and disciplines
Across a packed program of rapid-fire talks, oral presentations and poster sessions, attendees heard from researchers at all career stages tackling some of today’s most pressing health challenges.
Research highlights spanned:
- Cancer care, survivorship and treatment-related cognitive impacts
- Neuroscience, memory and brain health
- Mental health, wellbeing and digital interventions
- Indigenous health and community-led research
- Ageing, chronic disease, rehabilitation and health services innovation
Presenters throughout the day included Lisa Beatty (FIMHWell), Aelon Rahmani (FHMRI), Bek O’Loughlin (MDRI), Claudia Virdun (CFI), Alicia Mitchell (MDRI), David Mansueto (MDRI), Mark Hassall (FHMRI), Dhani Dharmaprani (MDRI), Dylan Hicks (FIMHWell), Anya Arthurs (FHMRI), Egon Perilli (MDRI), Jacqueline Warren (CFI), Maayken van den Berg (CFI), Trish Williams (MDRI), Amy Marshall (FHMRI), Robyn Young (FIMHWell), Suzanne Dawson (CFI), Tim Windsor (FIMHWell), Joshua Dubowsky (FHMRI), Marcela Radunz (FIMHWell), Joanne Thai (FHMRI), Lankika Dhanushi Jayathilaka (CFI), Claire Gough (CFI), Ora Suebkinorn (CFI), Melanie Takarangi (FIMHWell), Miriam Lynn (FHMRI), Nathan Caruana (FIMHWell), Pip Granfield (CFI), Ryan Balzan (FIMHWell), Thomas Beltrame (MDRI) and Tuan Anh Vuong (MDRI) — reflecting the strength and breadth of health and medical research expertise across Flinders University. The rapid-fire sessions were a standout, offering concise insights into innovative projects and sparking strong engagement and cross-disciplinary discussion.
Recognising excellence across career stages
The symposium placed a strong emphasis on supporting and celebrating researchers at different career stages, with dedicated poster sessions and presentation opportunities for Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students and Early and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCRs). To recognise outstanding contributions, the following awards were presented on behalf of Prof Ray Chan, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Flinders University:
🏆 Higher Degree by Research
• Best Poster Prize: Amelia Scott
• Best Presentation Prize: Thomas Beltrame
🏆 Early and Mid-Career Researcher
• Best Poster Prize: Bastien Lechat
• Best Presentation Prize: Aelon Rahmani
These awards celebrated excellence in research quality, communication and impact, and highlighted the emerging and established talent across the Flinders research community.
Conversations that extend beyond the day
The symposium concluded with a closing plenary and panel discussion featuring keynote speakers Prof. Tracey Wade (FIMHWell) and Prof. Gill Harvey (CFI), exploring what makes collaborations successful. Themes of trust, shared purpose, communication and long-term relationships resonated strongly, reinforcing the importance of building connected research cultures.
Looking ahead
The inaugural 2026 Flinders Health and Medical Research Symposium demonstrated what is possible when researchers come together across institutes, disciplines and career stages. It was a celebration of collaboration, curiosity and collective ambition and a strong foundation for future symposia to come.
Thank you to all presenters, prize winners, chairs, organisers and attendees who made this first symposium such a success. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to strengthen collaborative health and medical research at Flinders.