Congratulations to respiratory health researcher and clinician Dr Pam Laird, who was last night named joint winner of Early Career Scientist of the Year at the 2024 WA Premier’s Science Awards.
Dr Laird, a senior clinician research fellow at The Kids Research Institute Australia and paediatric respiratory physiotherapist at Perth Children’s Hospital, was recognised for her significant contribution towards reducing the chronic respiratory disease burden in Aboriginal children.
Through her work within the Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre – a powerhouse partnership between The Kids Research Institute Australia, Perth Children’s Hospital and the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation – Dr Laird has provided world-first data on the prevalence of the life-shortening ‘orphan disease’ of bronchiectasis and its precursor, chronic wet cough, both of which disproportionately affect Aboriginal children.
Working closely with Aboriginal medical services, leaders and communities, she has contributed to national guidelines and created highly accessible resources that, together with her research, have already helped save more than 1000 little lungs.
The Kids Research Institute Australia Executive Director, Professor Jonathan Carapetis, said Dr Laird had worked tirelessly to increase awareness of chronic wet cough and bronchiectasis, using a combination of rigorous science, collaboration and creative approaches to health promotion.
“Dr Laird has demonstrated enormous dedication to addressing the significant gaps in health service and health outcomes for Aboriginal children in regional and remote Western Australia, where barriers to access are serious,” Dr Carapetis said.
“Her efforts have dramatically improved awareness and health-seeking for these two conditions in Aboriginal communities and have resulted in a 900 per cent increase in appropriate management by GPs.”
Dr Laird was named joint winner alongside Dr Neil Robinson from The University of Western Australia, who was recognised for his innovative work on next-generation energy approaches.
Congratulations also to Winthrop Professor Fiona Wood AM, who was inducted into the WA Science Hall of Fame in recognition of her groundbreaking and globally acclaimed contributions to burns research and treatment.
In addition to roles with Perth Children’s Hospital, Fiona Stanley Hospital and The University of Western Australia, Professor Wood leads the Paediatric Burn Team and is Co-Head of the Perioperative Care Research Program at The Kids Research Institute Australia.
“Professor Wood is a well-known and highly respected West Australian who is rightly recognised as an Australian Living Treasure for her outstanding medical expertise and research, which have revolutionised burns treatment and saved countless lives,” Professor Carapetis said.
Professor Wood was inducted to the Hall of Fame alongside UWA Professor Peter Quinn, recognised for his lifelong contribution to astrophysics.
Professor Carapetis also congratulated The Kids Research Institute Australia’s five other finalists in last night’s awards:
- Louis Landau Chair in Child Health Research at The Kids and UWA Professor Aleksandra Filipovska, who was a finalist for Scientist of the Year in recognition of her pioneering work in mitochondrial disease and synthetic biology
- PhD student Stephanie Enkel, who was a finalist for Student Scientist of the Year for her research focused on understanding and finding acceptable and effective ways to prevent the spread of Strep A in Aboriginal communities
- PhD student Tamara Veselinović, also a finalist for Student Scientist of the Year for her highly impactful program of research to improve Aboriginal ear health
- Noongar woman and UWA anatomy and human biology student Jaida Penny, a finalist for Aboriginal STEM Student of the Year in recognition of her work with the Early Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health team at The Kids Research Institute Australia
- The inaugural The Kids Research Institute Australia Broome Festival of STEM, run as part of the Institute’s education and outreach program, which was a finalist for Science Engagement Initiative of the Year.
“We are enormously proud of all of our finalists, whose exceptional work is contributing in diverse and meaningful ways to the health and wellbeing of children throughout Western Australia and beyond,” Professor Carapetis said.
For more information on this year’s WA Premier’s Science Awards winners, see Premier Roger Cook and Science and Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson’s media release here.