Sex, gender and health , addressing inequity

Research objective: • To generate knowledge and establish how to most effectively implement evidence-based approaches that address sex and gender differences in healthcare. Research could focus on disease outcomes (including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, orthopaedics, cancer, and stroke events), models of care or healthcare reform. Sex and gender are determinants of health that impact susceptibility to, and experience of many common diseases, including mechanisms, health seeking behaviours, symptoms, and responses to health, medical and behavioural interventions. A health system blind to sex and gender differences contributes to inequities and variations in care, which negatively impacts health experience, costs, and outcomes. Developing drugs, devices, or therapies without considering sex and gender differences has significant human and economic costs. This PhD will explore and generate new knowledge and implement evidence from research into clinical practice to address sex and gender differences, and improve safety and quality, outcomes, and value in healthcare. Here research may focus on improving equity of outcomes in one or more conditions including heart disease, stroke, orthopaedics, cancer, and mental health. This also involves fostering and building capacity for sex- and gender-inclusive primary and translational research, including a sex- and gender-inclusive research workforce. Potential research topics under this opportunity could include: - Improving outcomes for females experiencing acute cardiovascular and stroke events. For example, research may focus on optimising evidence-based diagnoses and clinical pathways, including the development of novel preventative pathways for care. - Supporting the development and implementation of strategies to improve health equity for chronic diseases (including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, orthopaedics, and cancer) focusing on prevention. - Implementing value-based health care reform and funding models that address health inequities experienced by those with sex and gender differences. Relevant expertise and skills: • Relevant expertise in public health, health economics, data computer science, data analytics, data linkage, and/or with a clinical background. • Would suit a researcher interested in sex and gender, cardiovascular disease and/or other chronic diseases, or expertise in funding models, including value-based health care. This opportunity is cofunded by Vic Dept of Health with a generous stipend top up and the student will have a government cosupervisor and opportunity for immersion with policy makers. The lead program area in government is Policy and Programs, Public Health division.