Research Week Scientific Abstract Prizes 2026

Alfred Research Alliance Consumer Involvement in Research Award

The Alfred Research Alliance Consumer Involvement in Research prize aims to recognises outstanding health and medical research that demonstrates meaningful consumer and community involvement. Research that demonstrates meaningful and impactful consumer involvement in the design, conduct, governance, translation, or dissemination of medical research. Submissions should show how consumer perspectives have strengthened the relevance, quality, and impact of the research.

Criteria 

• Demonstrates meaningful consumer partnership and co-design 
• Demonstrates consumer impact on research outcomes
• Research demonstrates an inclusiveness, equitable and cultural safe approach
• Commitment to feedback and reflection

A team of subject matter experts, including two consumers, will review and judge the submissions for this category.   

Alfred Research Alliance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ research

This category is for research that focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, health, and wellbeing of their communities. Research in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been included as consumers, partners or participants will also be considered. 

Submissions will be assessed using strengths-based, culturally responsive approaches that recognise Indigenous leadership, self-determination, meaningful engagement, community benefit, and alignment with Indigenous ethical research principles. 
Abstracts will be evaluated on both scientific merit and their contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including improvements in health, wellbeing, knowledge, capacity, and research practice.

Criteria
The research addresses a priority issue, need, strength, or opportunity identified by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, organisations, or services.
Demonstrates meaningful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, co-design, governance, authorship, or community partnership throughout the research process.
Research aligns with Indigenous research ethics principles, respects Indigenous knowledge systems, and demonstrates culturally safe approaches and practices
Potential to improve health, wellbeing, social outcomes, service delivery, policy, or community capacity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The abstract submission has to meet the research guidelines and principals outlined in marra ngarrgoo, marra goorrii HREC guiding principles.
 

Alfred Health Senior Medical Staff Association clinical research – Senior Medical Researcher

The Alfred Health Medical Services Prize for Clinical Research is awarded to the best abstract by a senior medical staff (SMS) at Alfred Health which exemplifies high quality and significant research and receives the highest score from judges based on:

• The quality of the abstract
• The potential importance and impact of the research
• The quality of the research detailed

Alfred Health Senior Medical Staff Association clinical research – Junior Medical Researcher

The Alfred Health Medical Services Prize for Clinical Research is awarded to the best abstract by a current doctor in training (JMS) which exemplifies high quality and significant research and receives the highest score from judges based on:

• The quality of the abstract
• The potential importance and impact of the research
• The quality of the research detailed

Allergy, asthma & clinical immunology - Professor Daniel Czarny prize for allergy, asthma and clinical immunology

The Prof Daniel Czarny Prize is awarded to the best abstract detailing research into asthma, allergy and clinical immunology. The winner will be selected by a panel of independent assessors, using the following selection criteria:

• Clarity of aims and methods
• Scientific quality of the presented data
• Originality and/or significance of the research for the discipline

Cancer – Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium (MPCCC) Prize for Best Abstract in Cancer Research

The Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium (MPCCC) aims to integrate cancer research and service improvement by creating a culture of collaboration and innovation that transcends organisational boundaries and drives improved cancer outcomes. MPCCC encourages and rewards research that demonstrates our shared values, including:

• Research excellence and innovation
• Collaboration – multi-organisation, multi-disciplinary
• Patient and community engagement
• Healthcare quality and value
• Improvement in cancer outcomes

Cardiovascular - Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute Prize for Cardiovascular Research

The BHDI Prize for Cardiovascular Research is awarded to the abstract which in the judges’ opinion best represents basic research in the cardiovascular field. The judges will make their decision based on:

• The quality of the abstract
• The potential importance and impact of the research
• The quality of the research detailed
• The presentation of the abstract

Cardiovascular - Noel & Imelda Foster Prize for Cardiovascular Research

The Noel & Imelda Foster Prize is awarded to the abstract which in the judges’ opinion represents the best presentation of cardiovascular research. To be eligible, abstracts must detail clinical, public health or epidemiological research. The judges will choose the winner based on:

• The quality of the abstract
• The potential importance and impact of the research
• The quality of the research detailed
• The presentation of the abstract

Diabetes - Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute Prize for Diabetes Research

The BHDI Prize for Diabetes Research is awarded to the abstract which in the judges’ opinion best represents basic, clinical, public health or epidemiological research in the field of diabetes. The judges will choose the winning entry based on:

• The quality of the abstract
• The potential importance and impact of the research
• The quality of the research detailed
• The presentation of the abstract

Infectious diseases - Burnet Prize for Infectious Diseases Research

This prize is awarded for excellence in infectious diseases research. It is judged from eligible research abstracts displayed during Alfred Health Week by an independent panel appointed by Burnet Institute who make their decision based on the following criteria:

• Quality of the abstract
• Scientific quality of the data presented
• Significance and potential impact of the research described
• Presentation of the work in the abstract

Neuroscience – School of Translational Medicine, Monash Prize for Neuroscience Research

The School of Translational Medicine Monash prize for neuroscience research is awarded to the best abstract which exemplifies high quality and significant neuroscience research and receives the highest score from judges based on:

• The quality of the abstract
• The potential importance and impact of the research
• The quality of the research detailed

Psychiatry - Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc) Prize for Psychiatry Research

The MAPrc Prize for Psychiatry Research is awarded to the abstract which:

• Most effectively improves the understanding of mental illness aetiology, or
• Best describes the development of innovative treatments for mental health conditions

Respiratory medicine - Dr Michael J Hall Memorial Prize for Respiratory Medicine

The Dr Michael J Hall Memorial Prize is awarded for the best abstract detailing research into respiratory medicine, including physiology. It will be judged by a panel of independent assessors who will award the prize based on the following criteria:

• Clarity of aims and methods
• Scientific quality of the presented data
• Originality and/or significance of the research for the discipline

Allied Health - Best Allied Health Research into Practice Award

The Best Allied Health Research into Practice Prize is for an Alfred Health allied health researcher whose project demonstrates sustainable improvements to evidence-based practice at Alfred Health. To be eligible for this award, the researcher must be an Allied Health staff member who reports operationally or professionally within the Allied Health Directorate at Alfred Health. Additionally, to be eligible for this prize, the project will have used implementation methods and included an evaluation specific to implementation, such as: feasibility, acceptability, barriers/enablers to behaviour change/implementation, effectiveness of implementation, cost effectiveness, sustainment and/or scalability. To be awarded the Best Allied Health Research into Practice Award, the awardee must be available to present their research at the Allied Health Research Forum in Alfred Health Week. The criteria for the award are:

• Quality of the abstract
• Demonstrated impact on clinical practice and patient outcomes

Allied Health - Henrietta Law Memorial Prize for Best Novice Allied Health Research

The Henrietta Law Memorial Prize is awarded annually to an Allied Health researcher who is leading a research project for the first time. The research must have been carried out at Alfred Health. To be eligible for this award, the researcher must be an Allied Health staff member who reports operationally or professionally within the Allied Health Directorate at Alfred Health. To be awarded the Henrietta Law Memorial Prize, the awardee must be available to present their research at the Allied Health Research Forum in Alfred Health Week. The criteria for the award are:

• Quality of the abstract
• Likelihood of impact on clinical practice and patient outcomes

Allied Health - Lucy Battistel Memorial Prize for Best Allied Health Research

The Lucy Battistel Memorial Prize is awarded annually to an Allied Health researcher whose research was carried out at Alfred Health. To be eligible for this award, the researcher must be an Allied Health staff member who reports operationally or professionally within the Allied Health Directorate at Alfred Health. To be awarded the Lucy Battistel Memorial Prize, the awardee must be available to present their research at the Allied Health Research Forum in Alfred Health Week. The criteria for the award are:

• Quality of the abstract
• Likelihood of impact on clinical practice and patient outcomes

Nursing - The Alfred Senior Medical Staff Nursing Research Award for Best Nursing Abstract

This prize is awarded to the nursing research abstract which exemplifies high quality and significant research and receives the highest score from judges based on:

• Written abstract
• Quality of the project/results

Nursing - The Alfred Emerging Researcher Award for best Nursing Research Abstract

This prize is awarded to the nursing research abstract which exemplifies high quality and significant research and receives the highest score from judges based on:

• Written abstract
• Quality of the project/results