PHARMACY PhD student, Louisa Handyside, is set to focus on instilling a culture of research in community pharmacy, after being named as the 2021 Alan Grant-Taylor Memorial Scholarship recipient.
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia National President, Associate Professor Chris Freeman, and UQ Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences Director of Interprofessional Education, Associate Professor Neil Cottrell, are set to act as advisors.
Handyside said she "caught the bug for research" while she was completing an extended research project as part of a Masters of Pharmaceutical Public Health at James Cook University.
"This scholarship will give me the opportunity to build my research skills and explore ideas with other inspiring pharmacists," she said.
"I hope to take steps to instil a culture of research in community pharmacy - opening the door to new insights and continual improvements in pharmacy practice, medicines use and patient care.
"My PhD will explore how we can enable primary care pharmacists to be involved with high quality research that makes a real difference.
"I'll investigate how pharmacists can contribute ideas for research projects, invite their community to get involved, learn more about research and develop supportive relationships with other pharmacists and academics.
"Ultimately, I'll be exploring how to support pharmacists to find answers to the most pressing medication-related research questions in their community."
Handyside added that the scholarship would ease the burden of financial concerns while she completes her PhD.
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