USQ receives $570K in research funding

USQ has received $570K in funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) under the latest round of the ARC Linkage Projects scheme.

Established by the Australian Government, ARC Linkage Projects fund collaborative research initiatives between university researchers and partner organisations, including businesses, community organisations, industry bodies and other public sector agencies.

In the latest round of funding the University was granted $570,313 for two projects involving USQ staff members, Dr Aileen Cater-Steel, Professor Mark Toleman and Associate Professor Raj Gururajan.

Dr Aileen Cater-Steel and Professor Mark Toleman's collaborative project based on an existing partnership with Queensland Health and IT Service Management Forum (itSMF) will develop a performance measurement framework for Information Technology (IT) service management to improve crucial IT infrastructure in private and public sector organisations.

'Many organisations invest heavily in IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) recognising the critical role played by their information systems,' Dr Cater-Steel said.

'This project represents the first rigorous attempt to identify benefits gained by organisations implementing ITIL.

'It also addresses the complex interactions of benefits, performance metrics and methods to enable CIOs and IT service managers to measure and realise the benefits of improved IT service management.

'The outcomes of this project will compel organisations to implement practices and processes that significantly reduce risks.'

Associate Professor Raj Gururajan's project will focus on the remote assessment of patients using digital stethoscope for telehealth systems.

This public health research project aims to produce a $15,600 saving per patient and involves Queensland Statewide Telehealth Services, the Australian Centre for Rural & Remote Evidence Based Practice and RMK Engineering College.

Associate Professors Jeffrey Soar and Trudy Yuginovich were also successful through the Linkage Project and, with colleagues at Griffith University, will undertake a project which concerns inappropriate admissions to hospital of elderly frail people. This project attracted over $350,000 in ARC funding.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Scholarship) Professor Graham Baker congratulated USQ recipients and said that the funding was an example of how University was working with industry.

'This recent success reflects the University's commitment to excellence in fundamental research and our desire to undertake research that maintains our relevance by linking with industry and business,' he said.

The projects will commence in 2008, with the funding from the Linkage Grants scheme allocated for three years.

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628