Dr Kathleen Finlayson

Biography

Background Dr Kathleen Finlayson has over 30 years of accumulated experience in:

• Nursing and midwifery, particularly care of older adults and community nursing;
• Preparing successful grant applications including the National Health & Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, and National Institute of Clinical Studies;
• Designing and implementing research projects covering a range of methodologies, including randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, implementation science, systematic reviews, longitudinal studies, evaluations of health service models of care and studies involving large interdisciplinary teams from the biological sciences, health sciences and biomedical engineering
• Data analysis, including survival analysis, multivariable modelling and qualitative data analysis;
• Supervising post graduate students;
• Managing projects; and,
• Managing research teams.

In 2013 Dr Finlayson was awarded an NH&MRC Early Career Fellowship because of her demonstrated ability in conducting research that informs evidence based practice in clinical settings. Her commitment and dedication to the management of chronic wounds – in particular, the prevention of leg ulcers in patients with chronic peripheral vascular disease and the evaluation of health service models for patients with chronic wounds, contributed to QUT’s Wound Healing and Community Outreach Service Program becoming an Australian leader in its field. Her research interests and project areas undertaken in partnership with industry include chronic wound care interventions and models of care, interdisciplinary research across cell/molecular biology and health, chronic disease management, preventing emergency health service use in older adults, systematic reviews, evaluating methods of implementation of evidence based practice and translational research.

Project Highlights

2020 - 2022:  AHRA Wound Care Initiative – Stream 4: Coordinated program of research excellence. Department of Health MRFF.

2020 - 2022: Evaluation of a nurse led translational research program to facilitate uptake and knowledge of evidence-based wound management, leading to improved healing of wounds in residents of regional/rural Queensland. Rosemary Bryant Foundation Accelerator Grant.

2020 - 2022: Distress from living with venous leg ulcers – the silent unknown. Wounds Australia Research Grant.

2018 - 2020: Validity of laser speckle contrast imaging for assessment of superficial perfusion in the lower limb of patients with vascular leg and foot ulcers. QUT Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation Mid-Career Grant.

2017 - 2020: Reducing the prevalence and severity of wounds through implementation of the Champions for Skin Integrity Model – Protecting Skin Integrity (PSI). Queensland Health Nursing and Midwifery Research Fellowship.

2017 - 2019: A comparative effectiveness trial of topical, anti-inflammatory agents on pain in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers. QUT School of Nursing Grant.

2013–2017: Preventing recurrence of leg ulcers in older adults with peripheral vascular disease: identifying predictors and evaluating strategies. NHMRC Early Career Fellowship - Australian Public Health Fellowship.

2014–2015: A holistic approach to healing wounds: Identifying the relationships between symptom clusters, biological markers and their impact on chronic wound healing. Princess Alexandra Research Foundation.

2012–2015: Development and validation of risk assessment tools to guide management and prevention of venous leg ulcers. Wound Management Innovation CRC.

2012–2015: Improving wound management for residents in RACFs: National dissemination and implementation of the evidence based Champions for Skin Integrity Program. Department of Health and Ageing.

2012 - 2013: Best Foot Forward: Determining the effectiveness of a leg and foot ulcer prevention program. Cecelia Kilkeary Foundation

2011–2014: Effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for healing chronic venous leg ulcers. Wound Management Innovation CRC.

2008 - 2010: Encouraging Best Practice in Residential Aged Care: Creating Champions for Skin Integrity. Department of Health and Ageing.