PhD Pathway: Paving the way for the next gen of clinician-researchers.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
PhD Pathway: Paving the way for the next gen of clinician-researchers.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
We’re shaping the future of kids’ health by investing in up-and-coming WA research talent.
PCHF is proud to support the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) PhD Pathway, an innovative five-year program enabling CAHS doctors, nurses, and other clinical professionals to continue to care for patients while completing their PhD.
By providing protected research time for clinicians on their PhD journey, participants can balance hands-on experience in the clinic with their academic pursuits – bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world patient care.
“Through the PhD Pathway program, we can help to ensure the latest scientific discoveries are directly translated into improved patient care, with the aim of making a lasting impact on the health of sick kids across WA,” Carrick Robinson, CEO, Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Dr Neha Jain: Exploring new treatments for childhood cancer.
PCH paediatric oncologist Dr Neha Jain successfully applied for the PhD Pathway program in 2022. She spent her first-year learning about different research methodologies, before diving into full-time research in 2023.
Her research aims to answer fundamental questions about how the immune system can be harnessed to recognise and attack cancer cells. Her ultimate goal is to develop new therapies for hard-to-treat childhood cancers.
Dr Jain admits it was intimidating at first to go from being an expert in treating patients to starting over as a researcher. However, she says it has been exciting to make progress, learn new skills, and begin shaping her research.
Having the opportunity to combine clinical practice with cutting-edge research is something she believes has the potential to make a lasting impact on paediatric oncology.
“For anybody wanting to do a PhD while still maintaining their clinical expertise, the pathway program provides a great opportunity” she said. “So many people shy away from doing a PhD, because it can be very difficult if you don’t have that financial or job security, so having the benefit of both with this program can make all the difference.”
Currently, Dr Jain is working on a systematic review of past clinical trials to identify which children may benefit most from immunotherapy, and to explore how different paediatric cancers respond to this type of treatment.
“The PCH oncology department is unique because it’s research-driven and clinically focused,” she said. “Not every oncology department around Australia has as many clinician-researcher leaders, so it’s really lovely to work in a department which embraces this. I’m very grateful to be at PCH.”
Dr Kate Lomax: Improving diabetes care for kids.
Dr Kate Lomax, a paediatric endocrinologist at PCH, began her PhD journey in 2024.
Passionate about improving the care of kids with diabetes, Dr Lomax’s research is focused on making diabetes technology more accessible for every family, regardless of their financial situation.
She believes early adoption of the right technology can help kids manage their condition from a young age, which can have a big impact on a child’s future health outcomes. In the first year of the program, Dr Lomax focused on building her foundational research skills, including ethics protocol submission, governance, and data management, all while continuing her clinical work.
Dr Lomax said the PhD Pathway has been invaluable. One of the biggest lessons she’s learnt during the early stages of the program has been the importance of patience and organisation.
Dr Lomax’s progress has been significantly supported by her supervisors and mentors, particularly Prof. Liz Davis, Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes at PCH, and Dr Craig Taplin, Clinical Lead of Diabetes at PCH, whose guidance, along with that of several others, has been instrumental in her development.
“I love working in paediatric diabetes, because it’s such a fantastic opportunity to work with kids and families to form good habits early on, as well as to be early adopters of some really innovative tech,” she said.
Moving into her second year in the program, she now feels more confident in navigating the research process as she begins work on her PhD.
“Surviving on a PhD wage would be very challenging for most clinicians,” she said. “Looking back at what I knew this time last year, taking on a PhD would have completely overwhelmed me. Now I feel a lot more confident and prepared to take on my PhD this year.”
How to get involved.
Applications for the CAHS Clinician Researcher PhD Pathway 2025 close on Friday, February 7. Applicants must be CAHS employees and eligible to undertake a PhD at UWA or Curtin University.
For more information, please contact CAHSResearchGrantsOfficer@health.wa.gov.au
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