For Researchers

2023 Research Poster Awards - instructions for applicants

Applicants submit a 250 word abstract about their research for review, in one of six categories:

• Basic science
• Clinical registry data analysis
• Clinical trials
• Cohort/ population studies
• Qualitative research
• Translational research

Abstracts submitted for the Best Poster Awards by eligible Barwon Health clinical staff will also be considered for Barwon Health Medical Staff Group (MSG) Prizes.

Authors of highly rated abstracts will be invited to prepare and submit a PDF/PNG poster about their research for display in the 2023 BH DU Virtual Poster Exhibition at bhduresearch.com. 

The best poster in each category will receive a prize of $500, with thanks to Barwon Health and Deakin University. Winning posters in each category will be announced and displayed at the Barwon Health Research Symposium.

Abstract submission instructions

Please click here to submit your 250 word abstract about your research by 5pm, Friday 6 October 2023.

• Click here to view the 2023 Research Poster Award Guidelines.
• Click here for the 2023 Research Poster Award judging criteria.
• Applicants must be primarily affiliated with either Barwon Health and/or Deakin University.
• Abstracts must adhere to the 250 word limit, and must include an introduction, aims, method, results and conclusion.

Authors of highly rated abstracts will be invited to prepare and submit a PDF poster about their research.

Poster submission instructions

Follow these instructions to prepare and submit your poster.

• Prepare your A1 size poster using the template provided below, taking into consideration the judging criteria below. You may use a different template if you prefer, but A1 size is required. 
  • Click here to download the 2023 BH DU Poster template (PowerPoint file).
  • Click here for the 2023 Research Poster Award judging criteria.
• Save your poster as a PDF file and also as a PNG image file. File size must be less than 10MB.
• Email both versions of your poster to [email protected] by 5pm Monday 30 October 2023.
• Authors of winning posters will be notified in late November 2023.

Key dates

• Deadline for abstract submissions: 5pm, Friday 6 October 2023
• Successful applicants invited to prepare posters: Monday 9 October 2023
• Deadline for poster submissions: 5pm, Monday 30 October 2023
• Winners announced and displayed at the Barwon Health Research Symposium: Tuesday 28 November 2023

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

2023 Best Paper of the Year - instructions for applicants

The Best Paper of the Year awards use academic peer review to select a paper of outstanding quality by a Barwon Health or Deakin University clinician researcher or scientist, accepted or published from Oct 2022 to Sept 2023. Applicants submit their research papers for review by a panel of experts from Barwon Health and Deakin University. The panel identifies the top papers from scientists and clinician researchers.

Shortlisted authors will deliver a 5 min presentation of their findings, followed by questions, at the Barwon Health Research Symposium on Tues 28 November 2023.

The best research papers will receive a prize of $1000, with thanks to Barwon Health and Deakin University.

Applicant conditions

The applicant must

• be primarily affiliated with either Barwon Health and/or Deakin University as a clinician researcher or scientist on the paper.
• be either the first or last author on the research paper, or if not, provide justification for inclusion in the competition
• have the paper published by, or accepted in, a peer reviewed journal from Oct 2022 to Sept 2023

Submission instructions

Please click here to submit your research paper by 5pm, Friday 13 October 2023.

• Click here to view the 2023 Best Paper of the Year Award Guidelines.
• Click here for the 2023 Best Paper of the Year Award judging criteria.
• Shortlisted authors will be notified on Monday 6 November 2023.
• Shortlisted authors will deliver 5 min presentations at the Barwon Health Research Symposium on Tues 28 November 2023.
• Winners will be announced at the Barwon Health Research Symposium.

Key dates

• Deadline for submissions: 5pm, Friday 13 October 2023
• Shortlist announced: Monday 6 November 2023
• 5 min presentations at the Barwon Health Research Symposium: Tuesday 28 November
• Winners announced at the Barwon Health Research Symposium: Tuesday 28 November

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

2022 BH DU Research Prize winners

The BH DU Best Paper of the Year Award

• Clinician Researcher Category - Professor Eugene Athan and the team from the BH Public Health Unit: Environmental risk factors associated with the presence of Mycobacterium ulcerans in Victoria, Australia. Read the paper here
• Scientist Category - Ms Yuan Gao and the team from the Barwon Infant Study: Maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy and the composition of immune cells in infancy. Read the paper here

The BH DU Research Poster Awards

• Allied Health/Pharmacy - Ms Erin Parker and the team from BH Social Work: Exploring primary care clinician’s perspectives of the social work role in community health.  View the poster here.
• Basic Science - Mrs Izel Eraslan and the team from IMPACT Trials: in vivo behavioural characteristics of novel RXFP3-acting drugs. View the poster here.
• Medical - Dr Christine Roder and the team from the BH Public Health Unit: Pregnancy -a key moment for engaging women with hepatitis B in care.  View the poster here.
• Nursing - Mr Nathan Herbert and the team from the BH Cath Lab: Impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on a Victorian regional ST-elevation myocardial infarction service. View the poster here.
• Population Health - Dr Naomi Clarke and the team from the BH Public Health Unit:  COVID-19 oral antiviral medication in South West Victoria: patterns, barriers, and use of targeted SMS messaging. View the poster here.
• Surgery - Dr John Kefalianos and the team from BH General Surgery: Does NELA accurately predict mortality in Australia.  View the poster here.

View the 2022 BH DU virtual poster exhibition here.

2021 BH DU Research Prize Winners

The BH DU Best Research Paper of the Year Award

• Scientist Category - Ms Kara Anderson, IMPACT & BH Dept of Diabetes & Endocrinology: Normative data for peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) bone parameters in Australian men
• Clinician Researcher Category - Ms Sharyn Milnes, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research & BH Intensive Care Unit: Values, preferences, and goals identified during shared decision-making between critically ill patients and their doctors

The BH DU Research Poster Awards

• Allied Health/Pharmacy - Mr Matthew Thackeray: Lean mass as a risk factor for Intensive Care Unit admission: an observational study
• Basic Science - Dr Richard Williams: Tissue Programmed Hydrogels Functionalized with GDNF Improve Human Neural Grafts in Parkinson's Disease
• Implementation Science - Dr Mary Lou Chatterton: Telehealth service delivery in an Australian regional mental health service during Covid-19
• Medical - Dr Anand Ganes: Early revascularization in NonSTEMI
• Nursing - A/Prof Debra Kerr: Responding to Nurses' Communication Challenges
• Population Health - Ms Behnaz Azimi Manavi: Is there any association between antipsychotic medications use and bone quality?
• Surgery - Dr Angela Holmes: Intravesical OnabotulinumtoxinA. A wonderful tool but are we underestimating urinary retention?