Research

Meet the team

The Discovery & Innovation Unit (DIU) orchestrates research excellence across Austin Health.

We implement the hospital-wide Research Strategic Plan by providing systematic support, guidance, and infrastructure for all research activities.

Our team manages the full research lifecycle—from ethics applications and protocol development to data management and publication support. We establish clear governance frameworks, maintain regulatory compliance, and build strategic partnerships with academic and industry collaborators. By streamlining processes and removing barriers to research participation, we enable clinicians and staff to translate their expertise into evidence-based improvements.

The unit serves as the central coordination point for Austin Health's research ecosystem, ensuring all initiatives align with organisational priorities and contribute to measurable advances in patient care.

Name and title

Areas of expertise

Dr Heidi Gaulke

Director of Operations
  • Strategic relationship development with industry partners, including innovation precincts
  • Strategy implementation
  • Accreditation implementation
  • Complaints to HREC and Research

Renata Phyland

Ethics, Integrity & Governance Operations Team Leader
  • Advice on the development of research protocols involving humans
  • Advice on research agreements and templates
  • Information relating to Human Research Ethics committee membership and recruitment

Brinda Kinakkal

Research Quality & Integrity Manager
  • Consultation, information and advice relating to human research ethics projects
  • Information relating to committee membership and recruitment

Nicole Nasreddine

Ethics, Integrity & Governance Advisor
  • Consultation, information and advice relating to human research ethics projects

Rama Ravinthiran

Research Quality & Integrity Advisor
  • Consultation, information and advice relating to human research ethics projects

Kevin Myers

Ethics, Integrity & Governance Advisor
  • Consultation, information and advice relating to human research ethics projects

Chloe Akyayli

Ethics, Integrity & Governance Advisor

Monday to Friday
  • Information and advice relating to human research ethics and governance
  • Processing confidentiality disclosure agreements
  • Finance queries

Mari New

Project Officer
  • All enquiries for the attention of DIU leadership team

Keely Bumsted-O'Brien

Learning & Development Lead
  • Design and deliver capability-building initiatives that strengthen understanding of ethical, regulatory, and governance requirements
  • Develop targeted learning programs to support continuous professional development across all stages of the research lifecycle

Contact us

Discovery & Innovation Unit

Level 1, Melbourne Brain Centre

245 Burgundy Road

Heidelberg VIC 3640

Phone: 03 9496 4090

Email: research@victri.org.au