Rapid Applied Research Translation (RART)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are significantly disadvantaged in terms of health and infectious diseases in particular. The Rapid Applied Research Translation (RART) project is designed to achieve large-scale access to Point-of-Care (POC) testing for infectious diseases for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with a focus on rural and remote communities around Australia.
The RART is committed to closing the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people through the expansion of knowledge and evidence for infectious disease POC testing implementation through the involvement of all stakeholders, including community members, in co-design and translation of conducted research the RART will include the scaling up of existing programs that combat STIs, COVID, and hepatitis C as well as co-designing and implementing POC testing models for other infectious diseases such as Group A Streptococcus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Influenza, Human Papillomavirus Virus (HPV), and Tuberculosis.
The RART is focused on the scaling up of infectious disease POC testing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and will include a strong governance structure of Indigenous members that will provide program oversight that will ensure that governance practices are followed when interacting with Indigenous communities in which we operate.
We will continue to expand our knowledge and evidence for infectious disease POC testing implementation through the involvement of all stakeholders through co-design and translation of our research as we monitor and evaluate the uptake, clinical effectiveness, acceptability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of infectious disease POC testing.
The results from this study will be used to enable full POC testing integration into Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, as well as monitoring and evaluating the uptake, clinical effectiveness, acceptability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of infectious disease POC testing, using and incorporating Indigenous methodologies as appropriate.
This project is funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
