Prestigious award recognises lead paramedic-scientist for life saving research

Dr Nehme is a paramedic scientist aiming to improve clinical outcomes for cardiac arrest patients by reducing delays in CPR and defibrillation and advancing post-resuscitation care to improve long term survival and neurological outcomes.

The Health Minister’s Award recognises Dr Nehme’s outstanding health and medical research career in prehospital emergency care and resuscitation research.

The burden of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Australia is among the highest in the world, with more than 25,000 cases occurring annually. Despite advancements in emergency medical care, survival remains low, with only one in 10 patients surviving.

In this groundbreaking research project, Dr Nehme will bring technology, integration and sophistication to the health service response to OHCA by integrating advanced technology and improving early treatment.

With funding provided through National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)’s Investigator Grant scheme, Dr Nehme’s program will focus on better identifying OHCA during emergency calls, reducing delays in bystander CPR, testing community-based interventions to increase defibrillation rates before ambulance arrival, and strengthening the evidence base for resuscitation interventions.

This award is given to the NHMRC top ranked Investigator Grant in Emerging Leadership Level 2 category in the previous year’s round.

By accepting this prestigious award, Dr Nehme will receive a further $50,000 to support his research in addition to his recent 5-year NHMRC Investigator Grant.

The Investigator Grant scheme is one of NHMRC’s flagship funding schemes and provides 5-year funding security for high performing researchers by providing a salary and a research support package. It is extremely competitive with many high quality applications from exceptional researchers received in each round.

Quotes attributable to NHMRC’s CEO, Professor Steve Wesselingh:

• “Receiving the Commonwealth Health Minister's Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research is among the most prestigious forms of recognition for Australian researchers.
• “We know that every minute without CPR reduces the chance of survival after cardiac arrest by approximately 10%. Dr Nehme’s research is tackling this alarming statistic by providing immediate intervention with the aim of improving survival rates and patient health outcomes.
• ‘It’s always a privilege to honour the achievements of an exceptional researcher whose work is making a significant contribution to Australians, and I am delighted to congratulate Dr Nehme on this well deserved recognition.”

Quotes attributable to Dr Ziad Nehme:

• “While many in the community have expressed gratitude for the life saving work paramedics do, my journey in research has been shaped by a starkly different reality – the devastating experience of seeing the majority of OHCA patients die before they reach the hospital.
• “Through this NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship, I am committed to driving a paradigm shift in OHCA management – one that moves beyond traditional emergency response to an integrated, technology driven, and community focused system of care.
• “My ultimate vision is clear – a future in which every individual experiencing OHCA has the best possible chance of survival. No life should be lost due to delays, inaction, or missed opportunities for early intervention.”