2026 Early Career Researcher Award Applications now open
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Applications are now open for the 2026 Derek Frewin Early Career Researcher Award.
This $5,000 prize is given annually to an early career researcher undertaking research relevant to the general public and health care professionals in the northern communities of Adelaide.
The Board welcomes applications for small research projects and community engagement activities over one or two-year periods. Consideration is given to research rigor and potential for the project to lead to further funding opportunities. This year, NCHRF are particularly encouraging applications for projects connected to wellness and ageing.
The Derek Frewin Early Career Researcher Award was established by the The Northern Community Health and Research Foundation in recognition of the outstanding contribution Emeritus Professor Derek Frewin AO has given to both the NCH Research Foundation and the University of Adelaide.
This award can open important doors for early career researchers, enabling them to secure further research funding and to amplify the impact of their research in both academic fields and general practice.
More information and the application form are available here.
Applications will close 17 April 2026.
Mentoring and inspiring students for over 60 years:
Derek Frewin AO
Emeritus Professor Derek Frewin AO has been at the forefront of medical and community education for almost 60 years, including heading up the Faculty of Health Sciences at the then University of Adelaide until his retirement in 2005. He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2003 for his service to the advancement of medical education, his research in the field of hypertension and his service to the community which included a focus on aged care and drug addiction.
Professor Frewin served on the Board of the Northern Community Health & Research Foundation from 2005 until 2017 and was awarded Life Membership in 2026. The Derek Frewin Early Career Researcher Award was established in his name in recognition of his unfailing dedication to mentoring and inspiring students throughout his career.
Award recipients
Past recipients of the Derek Frewin Early Career Researcher Award have included:
2017 - Associate Professor Rajiv Mahajan
2018 - Associate Professor Tongzhi Wu
2019 - Dr Sebastian O Sterling
2021 - Dr Vasilios (Bill) Panagopoulos
2022 - Dr Ashleigh Hull
2023 - Dr Jessica Stanhope
2024 - Dr Patrick Asare
2025 - Dr Sonia Nath
Their research topics have ranged from brain and gut health, treatments for auto-immune diseases and improving therapeutic outcomes for patients with prostate and other cancers, to radiopharmaceuticals, the role of micronutrient-microbiome interactions in respiratory disease, and the impact of green space on management of chronic pain and arthritis.
The 2026 recipient, Dr Sonia Nath (pictured above) is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Adelaide Dental School. Her research is focused on the nature of the oral microbiome and its potential to revolutionise oral health care, leading to improvements in overall health.
Read more about Derek Frewin Early Career Award recipients, their research and the impact of winning the award on their careers in the NCHRF Research Impact Update.
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