The true impact of Intensive Care Foundation funding can be seen in the achievements of grant recipients and the research they bring to life.

One recent example is Stephen Surace, recipient of a 2021 Intensive Care Foundation Research Grant and lead investigator of the prospective observational study, Biochemically Verified Nicotine Use in a Critically Ill Population Compared with Self-Reporting and Collateral History. Stephen's work has recently been published in the Critical Care and Resuscitation journal, demonstrating how Foundation-funded research can translate into meaningful contributions to critical care knowledge and practice.

Reflecting on the impact of the grant, Stephen shared:

"The ICF grant allowed us to procure the equipment required to prove the feasibility and utility of urinary cotinine screening as a method of verifying smoking status in an ICU population, as well as identify a link between cotinine positivity and need for mechanical ventilation, behavioural events and ICU length of stay.

On a personal note, the grant and this project have taught me an immense amount about clinical research, and working with the ICF and the project team has truly allowed me to grow my skills as a researcher.

I hope to have the opportunity to work with the ICF again in the future."

Stephen's journey highlights the far-reaching impact of Foundation funding. Beyond supporting innovative research that enhances our understanding of critical illness, grants also provide researchers with the resources, experience and mentorship needed to build successful research careers.

By investing in projects like Stephen's, the Foundation helps generate new evidence, improve patient care, and foster the next generation of clinician-researchers dedicated to advancing intensive care medicine across Australia and New Zealand.

Every grant awarded represents more than a research project. It is an investment in discovery, professional development, and better outcomes for critically ill patients and their families.

Help Fund the Next Breakthrough

Research funded by the Intensive Care Foundation is helping improve patient outcomes, advance clinical practice, and support emerging intensive care researchers.