Children’s Hospital Foundation is proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the Mary McConnel Career Boost Program for Women in Paediatric Research, thanks to the generous support of DISSH.
By offering vital support and financial aid to female researchers at critical stages of their careers, from pre-PhD through to early and mid-career phases, the Children’s Hospital Foundation helps foster equal representation and transformational impact for children and young people in Queensland and beyond.
Meet the 2025 grant recipients
This year, the program will support four exceptional female researchers across Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service:
- A/Prof Jasneek Chawla – An early-career researcher focusing on optimising sleep disordered breathing treatment for children with neurodisability
- Dr Trisha Soosay Raj – A novice researcher committed to improving learning practices in paediatric oncology across the Pacific region
- Ms Tricia Kleidon – A novice researcher dedicated to exploring practice variation and outcomes of peripheral intravenous catheters and vein health across rural and tertiary paediatric healthcare
- Mrs Kristen Storey – A novice researcher exploring the use of negative pressure wound therapy in acute paediatric burns.
A powerful program
Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Lyndsey Rice said the Mary McConnel Program is committed to recognising and celebrating the powerhouse women working at the bedside, in laboratories and on the wards – helping them feel seen, supported and empowered to advance their careers with autonomy and personal agency.
“Traditional funding models often come with invisible strings, including assumptions about what women need,” Ms Rice said.
“The Mary McConnel Career Boost Program gives women the agency to turn their decisions into impact – offering up to $50,000 in funding that recipients can use on what they deem most helpful, whether that’s on childcare, research time or professional development.”
Since its launch on International Women’s Day in 2018, the program has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to 32 outstanding female researchers – covering diverse areas such as paediatric vascular access, immunotherapy, chronic kidney disease, cerebral palsy, palliative care and infectious disease.
Honouring Mary McConnel
This year is especially significant for the Children’s Hospital Foundation, as we celebrate 40 years since our inception – a journey that first began in 1878 with the vision of one woman – Mary McConnel – who believed every child deserves a fighting chance.
The Mary McConnel Career Boost Program was established to honour Mary McConnel – a pioneering woman who inspired Queenslanders to elevate the care and treatment of sick children and young people.
In a time when women had limited rights, Mary helped to establish Queensland’s first paediatric hospital in 1878, setting a powerful precedent for future generations.
Through the Mary McConnel Career Boost Program, we can support the advancements of women in paediatric research and ensure a brighter, healthier future for our children.
To learn more about our support of groundbreaking research, head here.
The difference that shapes their world
Through supporting the Children’s Hospital Foundation, you can improve childhoods and ensure all children and young people have access to treatment - sooner.
