L-R: Professor Rachel Davey, Prof Jason Trubiano, Dr Michelle Dang, Jodie Geissler, Dr Garry Hamilton, Prof Elif Ekinci, Prof Mark Howard

11 August 2026

Austin Health and the University of Melbourne are proud to announce the inaugural recipients of three Early Career Research Fellowships, a landmark joint initiative designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and leadership in clinical and scientific research.

Launched during ResearchFest 2025, the fellowships provide protected research time over three years, helping early career researchers establish independent research programs while maintaining strong connections to clinical care.

The inaugural recipients are Dr Ben Kirk (Senior Research Fellow), Dr Michelle Dang (Research Fellow) and Dr Garry Hamilton, recipient of the George Jerums Fellowship for Senior Clinical Research Fellows.

Austin Health’s Director of Research, Professor Jason Trubiano, is excited about this latest chapter in research investment.

“We are incredibly proud to recognise Ben, Michelle and Garry as the inaugural recipients of these fellowships. Their work reflects the strength of our research culture and the vital role research plays in improving patient care, and we are excited to continue building this partnership with the University of Melbourne to support the next generation of clinician-scientists.”

For Dr Michelle Dang, a neurologist, epileptologist and clinician-scientist at Austin Health, the fellowship will support the expansion of Australia's nationally unique epilepsy twin research program. It will allow her to expand recruitment beyond the program's existing cohort of more than 500 twin pairs and strengthen national and international collaborations.

"My hope is that within a few years, findings from this programme are directly informing how clinicians diagnose and manage epilepsy, not just how we understand it," she said.

Looking ahead, Michelle believes the fellowship will provide the foundation to build a sustainable research career.

“It gives me the protected time and support to build this into a dedicated programme of work, rather than fitting it around clinical practice. That step lets me grow a team, secure further funding, and establish this as a long-term research career alongside my clinical practice.”

Through the George Jerums Fellowship, cardiologist and clinician-scientist Dr Garry Hamilton will develop a program of cardiovascular research focused on improving the management of coronary artery disease, enhancing structural heart interventions and exploring innovative models of care such as virtual wards.

He hopes the fellowship will help him build a strong, independent research program and foster new collaborations across Austin Health and the University of Melbourne.

"The Fellowship will provide protected time and support to develop a coherent program of clinically meaningful cardiovascular research," he said.

“Ultimately, I hope to establish a career in which clinical practice, research and health-service innovation are closely integrated, with research findings translated directly into better cardiovascular care.”

Professor Elif Ekinci, Head, Department of Medicine, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne is pleased to see the legacy of an inspirational leader live on through the work of these early career researchers.

"I am delighted that, in partnership with Austin Health, we have been able to award three fellowships to support three outstanding early-career clinician researchers based at Austin Health,” she said.

“These fellowships will help nurture the next generation of clinical research leaders and advance research that improves patient care. One of these awards is the George Jerums Fellowship, named in honour of Professor George Jerums who devoted his career to the Austin to improve patient care. George was an exceptional clinician-scientist and a valued mentor to many working in the field of metabolic health. His influence extended far beyond his own research through the countless individuals he inspired and supported throughout their careers," said Prof Ekinci.

“I am proud that we are able to recognise his legacy by naming one of these fellowships in his honour.”

Professor Mark Howard, Academic Lead, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, is confident the future of research is in good hands.

“We are excited to be collaborating with Austin Health to foster the next generation of clinician researchers, who are driving innovation to improve healthcare,” he said.

“Michelle, Garry and Ben are outstanding early career researchers leading impactful research programs and we are delighted to host them in the joint fellowship program to accelerate their roles as future research leaders.”

Congratulations to Ben, Michelle and Garry on this significant achievement. Their fellowships represent an investment in the future of research at Austin Health and the University of Melbourne, supporting innovative clinician-scientists whose work has the potential to transform patient care and health outcomes for years to come.