Dr Natalie Bradford awarded NHMRC Investigator Grant

Dr Natalie Bradford has received an NHMRC Investigator grant to continue health services research in children’s cancer and palliative care. Over the next five years Natalie’s aim is to improve symptom management across the continuum of cancer care, including long-term survivorship and in palliative care.  Natalie’s background as a children’s cancer nurse, and her strong clinical links have been integral to developing this program of work. Working with the CHQ Digital Engagement team and Oncology Services, this research will develop and test mechanisms to monitor symptoms, deliver personalised self-management strategies and communicate about symptoms in a systematic way, when they are most problematic. This has the potential to avoid escalating symptoms that may cascade into longer-term problems. The research will examine both the implementation and effectiveness of symptom monitoring systems across the cancer continuum, empowering children and parents as partners in shared decision making.