A collection of five early-to-mid career researchers will share close to $40,000 in funding through the Skipper Jacobs Charitable Trust. The Skipper family has generously supported emerging research talent at the Kolling Institute for many years, providing invaluable travel and career opportunities.
This year’s group has welcomed the chance to travel internationally, meet with research leaders and extend their research experience. The opportunities will strengthen global partnerships, while also raising the Kolling’s profile internationally.
The 2026 Beryl and Jack Jacobs Travel Award recipients include:
Dr Matilda Longfield from the Renal Research Lab: travelling to Italy and the UK
Through this opportunity, Matilda will attend the 2026 European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference in Milan which will explore the latest advancements in diabetes research, treatment and care.
Matilda will also travel to Leicester University in the UK for a two-week research placement to develop an exciting collaboration, learn new cutting-edge research skills, and develop new ideas for future academic pursuits.
She is delighted to have received the award.
“I was over the moon to discover that my application was successful. This is a significant investment in my research career and future that I feel honoured to have received.”
Dr Shejil Kumar from the Cancer Genetics Laboratory: travelling to Belgium and Melbourne
Dr Kumar will travel to the premier European bone conference in Belgium in 2027 to present details of his world-first clinical trial investigating the combined musculoskeletal benefits of bone-building medication and bone-targeted resistance exercise in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
This award will also support a two-week laboratory visit to Monash University to conduct specialised experiments and strengthen collaborations between the Kolling and Monash in conducting innovative mechanistic research.
He says the award is delivering a broad impact.
“My supervisors saw the acceptance email before I did, and seeing their joy was such a lovely way to find out I had received the award,” he said.
Anh Pham from the Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Lab: travelling to Singapore and Malaysia
Anh will travel to the Human Proteome Organisation World Congress in Singapore and the Metaproteomic Symposium in Malaysia, two of the leading international bowel cancer research conferences.
The trips will support Anh’s research investigating an anti-diabetic agent, as a chemo- preventive therapy for colorectal cancer.
Anh said the trips will be a great opportunity to present her work to a global audience, connect with world-leading researchers, and bring back cutting-edge insights.
“Receiving this travel award is such an honour and I am incredibly grateful for the support,” she said.
“Travelling to Singapore and Malaysia will be a career highlight, which will help me gain expert knowledge from proteomic world leaders and further my research here at Kolling. I am excited to represent Kolling Institute and our research.”
Dingyuan Fan from the Osteoarthritis Clinical Research Group: travelling to Spain and Austria
Dingyuan will present his research poster at the World Congress on Osteoarthritis in Spain in 2027. Dingyuan’s research uses biomarkers to investigate structural cartilage changes following regenerative therapy, with a focus on improving the assessment of treatment response in osteoarthritis.
Following the conference, Dingyuan will visit Professor Felix Eckstein at Paracelsus Medical University in Austria. The trip will help build international collaborations and develop advanced imaging approaches to support the translation of regenerative therapies into clinical practice.
He said he is honoured to receive the award which came as a wonderful surprise.
“It is a great opportunity to build international collaborations and develop advanced imaging approaches that support the translation of regenerative therapies into clinical practice,” he said.
Helen Patterson from the John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research: travelling to London and Kuala Lumpur
The award will allow Helen to attend two international conferences where she will present a workshop on rehabilitation after nerve transfer in tetraplegia at the World TetraHand Congress in London, and present at the International Spinal Cord Society’s 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
The meetings will help Helen share the results of her work and learn more about the research and treatment advances for people with spinal cord injury. This will help extend Helen’s studies on a more robust protocol for rehabilitation after nerve transfer surgery.
“I felt lucky to have the opportunity to apply for a travel scholarship through the Kolling Institute, so was delighted when I found out that I was to be a recipient.
“To be supported to travel overseas is a privilege and I am incredible grateful,” she said.
These opportunities would not be possible without the financial boost delivered through the Skipper Charitable Trust.
Academic Director Professor James Elliott would like to thank the Skipper family for their wonderful ongoing support of our early and mid-career investigators, and the NORTH Foundation for their continued support.
“Their help is directly broadening the Kolling’s research expertise and impact,” he said.
