Queensland Health Fellowship to advance AI innovation in the ICU
The Critical Care Research Group (CCRG) is celebrating the success of emerging clinician-researcher Luke Churchill, who has been awarded a prestigious Queensland Health Clinical Research Fellowship to advance artificial intelligence (AI) research in intensive care.
Mr Churchill, who is a Senior Physiotherapy Researcher with CCRG, is one of only four emerging researchers across Queensland to receive the Fellowship, which will support a collaborative project between CCRG and Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
The project will introduce AI into the intensive care unit at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) to predict atrial fibrillation (AF) - a potentially dangerous heart rhythm disturbance experienced by around half of patients following cardiac surgery. By analysing routine clinical data collected after surgery, the AI model aims to enable earlier interventions to reduce complications, including stroke and prolonged hospital stays.
The research represents the next phase of CCRG's ICU of the Future programme, which is focused on creating a smarter, more proactive intensive care environment through innovation and technology.
Mr Churchill said the Fellowship was an exciting opportunity to continue building on the research skills developed during his PhD.
“The working relationships and collaborations that I have fostered during my PhD journey with CCRG were integral in applying for and successfully obtaining a Queensland Health Clinical Research Fellowship.”
Currently in the final six months of his PhD, Mr Churchill said the Fellowship would allow him to continue asking clinically relevant research questions.
“Working alongside AI experts from QUT and experienced researchers and clinicians within CCRG and Queensland Health provides the ideal foundation to translate research into better patient care” he said.
Dr Oystein Tronstad, Luke’s PhD supervisor and Lead, CCRG Clinical Research said the award highlighted the importance of investing in emerging clinician-researchers.
“This Fellowship brings together clinical expertise, research excellence and AI to tackle a common complication following cardiac surgery.
“It's an exciting example of how CCRG’s ICU of the Future is using data and technology to support clinicians, improve decision-making, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for patients."
Mr Churchill’s Fellowship application was also recognised for its outstanding consumer engagement strategy, with reviewers highlighting the project's commitment to partnering with patients and consumers throughout the research journey. The recognition reflects CCRG's patient-centric approach to healthcare innovation, where meaningful consumer involvement ensures that research addresses the real-world priorities and experiences of patients, resulting in solutions that are both clinically impactful and relevant to those receiving care.
“Keeping patients at the centre of every research question is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a clinician-researcher and I encourage others to pursue research that has the potential to make a genuine difference.
“Research can be challenging, but there's nothing more rewarding than investigating a question that matters to patients and leads to better care and outcomes for future generations. There is something incredibly satisfying about asking your own clinical research question, investigating this, and finding out that you and your research team facilitated improved patient care and future outcomes for patients.”
CCRG’s Lead, Clinical Research, Dr Oystein Tronstad, with Luke Churchill, one of only four emerging researchers across Queensland to receive the prestigious Queensland Health Clinical Research Fellowship
About the Critical Care Research Group (CCRG)
Based at The Prince Charles Hospital, CCRG brings together clinicians, engineers and scientists to address some of the most complex challenges facing critically ill patients. With an internationally recognised research programme spanning extracorporeal life support (ECMO), mechanical circulatory support, organ preservation, critical care innovation, and translational medicine, CCRG is committed to rapidly transforming discoveries into better outcomes for patients globally.
About the Queensland Health Clinical Research Fellowships (CRF)
The CRF program was established in 2018 to support Queensland Health clinician researchers to undertake research linked to their practice. The program recognises that clinician researchers (including doctors, nurses, dentists, allied health practitioners, public health professionals and clinical scientists) are uniquely placed to identify clinical issues that can benefit from further research, lead patient-focused research discoveries, and facilitate improved patient care through research translation.
Since inception, six Rounds of CRF have been undertaken, with a total of $18.7 million awarded to 98 Fellows. These Fellows are undertaking a range of valuable projects that aim to improve healthcare delivery and health outcomes.
In 2023, this program was expanded to include the Targeted CRF program with Fellowships awarded to clinician researchers across different targeted streams. To date, $2.93 million has been awarded to 26 Fellows through two rounds of the Targeted CRF. Continue reading.