Early Career Research Prize Winner Announced
Monash Rural Health (MRH) Senior Lecturer Dr Michael Leach has won the 2026 MRH Early Career Research (ECR) Prize, enabling him to increase the reach and real-world impact of his research.
The annual $3000 prize recognises outstanding early career researchers who make a significant contribution to MRH research priorities. Dr Leach commenced at MRH in February 2020 and served as an Early Career Researcher Representative over 2021-2024.
During his time at MRH, Dr Leach has published 26 peer-reviewed research papers with colleagues across the Loddon-Mallee and Gippsland regions: 11 as a leading author and 13 as sole data analyst. Almost two-thirds of the papers focussed on rural populations. Dr Leach’s findings have led to improvements in rural clinical practice and informed the implementation of a nurse-led, oral anti-cancer care clinic in Gippsland.
Dr Leach is also a mentor and supervisor who has co-authored a high-impact paper on access to cancer clinical trialS. Led by PhD student Narelle McPhee, the paper was recognised as a Wiley Top Cited Article in the Australian Journal of Rural Health. Dr Leach’s more recent research considered the availability of community pharmacies and access to orally administered anti-cancer medications across rural and metropolitan areas.
Dr Leach said he would use the prize money to help develop a patient resource and publish or present project findings.
“These research activities are all about getting information, firstly, to patients who need that information and, secondly, to those who could use that information to improve rural health services and the health of rural communities,” Dr Leach said. “I saw this prize as a unique and wonderful opportunity for my collaborative research to be formally recognised and further supported. This prize will help me increase the reach and real-world impact of my current research.”
Michael said the win had also bolstered his confidence as he approaches the transition from early-career to mid-career researcher.
“While I have previously co-won prizes for delivering industry education at Monash University, this is the first time I have won a research prize since commencing in my current role,” he said. “Receiving this prize has helped to alleviate imposter syndrome and bolster my self-confidence as a researcher.”
“When I heard that I had won the MRH ECR Prize, I felt grateful to my colleagues for all they have done to support me and help me grow as a researcher. I felt especially grateful to Associate Professor Rebecca Kippen and Associate Professor Eli Ristevski, who have mentored me, worked with me on several funded research projects, and co-authored many research papers with me.”
MRH Director of Research Professor Belinda O’Sullivan said Michael had made a significant contribution to rural health research so far.
“Michael has demonstrated an outstanding ability to collaborate across several rural health research projects, and has executed complex analyses around community pharmacies and access to orally administered anti-cancer medications with rigour,” Professor O’Sullivan said.
“The MRH ECR Prize is designed to recognise those who demonstrate excellence, impact and leadership, and to support their ongoing work as an early career researcher. We are delighted to award this year’s prize to Michael.”