Avondale University is pleased to announce a new multi-year research collaboration with GAMA Healthcare, a global leader in infection prevention solutions. This partnership will support the work of Professor Brett Mitchell, Professor of Health Services Research and Nursing, in advancing research that aims to reduce healthcare-associated infections and improve patient outcomes. Healthcare associated infections have a big impact for tens of thousands of Australians every year. 1 in 10 people in hospital today have an infection acquired in hospital, since their admission.
The collaboration will help fund vital research into preventing and control infections, particularly in healthcare settings. It will also enhance the impact of existing research awarded to Professor Mitchell, funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), as well as future grants, enabling broader reach and greater value for money.
“This partnership allows my team to expand the scope of our work and accelerate the development of new knowledge and translation of research into practice,” said Professor Mitchell. “Collaborations like this are essential to improving the health of people in our region and internationally, by reducing the risk of infections through evidence-based, practical solutions.”
Avondale University values the opportunity to work with industry partners like GAMA Healthcare, who share a commitment to improving health outcomes. The collaboration reflects a model of research that is both independent and impactful, grounded in academic integrity and focused on real-world application.
Professor Malcolm Coulson, Vice-Chancellor at Avondale, welcomed the collaboration. “The research by Professor Brett Mitchell and his team is highly significant. It informs clinical practice of nurses and clinicians, national and international guidelines, as well as improving patient safety globally by reducing the risk of infections acquired in healthcare. His research, often conducted in our community, has global reach. It positively affects a huge number of people who received healthcare in Australia and abroad,” says Professor Coulson.
GAMA Healthcare, known for its innovative infection prevention products and commitment to evidence-based practice, sees this partnership as an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of healthcare. “Brett conducts groundbreaking research that challenges assumptions, traditional resource and budget allocations and changes policy,” says Suzie Hammouche, CEO of GAMA Healthcare Australia. “Brett’s research has provided strong evidence for and validated the importance of the environment in infection prevention - and provided knowledge and understanding that our products are used in the most impactful way.” This collaboration reinforces the value of academic-industry partnerships in addressing real-world challenges. “The academic and industry partnership has been vital for our future product development,” says Ms Hammouche. It highlights how shared goals and complementary expertise can lead to innovative solutions that improve health outcomes and strengthen healthcare systems.