Six exceptional researchers have been awarded the prestigious WA Early-Career Child Health Researcher Fellowship, recognising their bold, community-driven projects aimed at transforming outcomes for children across Western Australia and beyond.
The new Fellows were presented with their awards at the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club by BrightSpark’s Patron Professor Lyn Beazley AO. The Fellowships highlight the power of translational research to address urgent health challenges. This year’s recipients represent a diverse range of disciplines—from audiology and microbiology to mental health, epidemiology, nanomedicine, and biomedical imaging—each united by a commitment to equity, innovation, and impact.
The Fellowship program is managed and administered by the BrightSpark and is co-funded with the Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund, the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and BrightSpark.
2025 Fellowship Recipients
- Dr Tamara Veselinovic
The Kids Research Institute Australia
Tackling preventable hearing loss in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, Dr Veselinovic’s project uses acoustic environment improvements and LENA technology to support language development and wellbeing through culturally safe, non-medical interventions. - Dr Noor-Ul-Huda Ghori
The Kids Research Institute Australia
Investigating the skin microbiome’s role in paediatric burn healing, Dr Ghori’s work aims to develop probiotic therapies that reduce infection, scarring, and long-term disability—ushering in a new era of personalised burn care. - Dr Anna Boggiss
The Kids Research Institute Australia
Addressing the “missing middle” in care for youth with Type 1 Diabetes and eating concerns, Dr Boggiss is co-designing stepped care pathways that integrate mental health into routine diabetes management, improving psychosocial outcomes for young people and families. - Mr Alemneh Liyew
Telethon Kids Institute
A global leader in infectious disease modelling, Mr Liyew’s Fellowship focuses on spatial epidemiology to prevent influenza and other childhood diseases—translating data into actionable insights for vulnerable communities across WA and the Western Pacific. - Dr Susbin Wagle
Curtin University
Developing a novel nanomedicine eye gel to treat inherited retinal diseases, Dr Wagle’s work offers a safer, mutation-independent alternative to gene therapy—positioning WA at the forefront of paediatric vision health innovation. - Dr Michael Hackmann
The University of Western Australia
Revolutionising diagnosis of infant tracheomalacia, Dr Hackmann’s imaging research enables direct assessment of airway cartilage during bronchoscopy, promising faster, more accurate diagnoses and improved long-term outcomes.
These Fellowships reflect BrightSpark’s decades-long commitment to advancing WA child health through research excellence, collaboration, and community engagement. Each project is poised to shape policy, improve clinical practice, and uplift the lives of children and families for generations to come.
