Biography
Dr Farnaz Sanaei is a Research Associate with the Population Child Health Research Group at UNSW Sydney. With over 30 years of experience across clinical care, academic research, and project management in both Australia and the UK, she brings a deep understanding of healthcare systems and interdisciplinary research.
Farnaz leads the BUBs Quit smoking cessation study and has previously managed numerous multi-site clinical trials and service...view more
Dr Farnaz Sanaei is a Research Associate with the Population Child Health Research Group at UNSW Sydney. With over 30 years of experience across clinical care, academic research, and project management in both Australia and the UK, she brings a deep understanding of healthcare systems and interdisciplinary research.
Farnaz leads the BUBs Quit smoking cessation study and has previously managed numerous multi-site clinical trials and service evaluations at North Shore Private Hospital, including initiatives in ethics governance and medical education. She holds a PhD in Health Studies from Bournemouth University and has an extensive publication and grant record in the fields of health promotion, interprofessional learning, and patient-centred care.
Her clinical background as a nurse and midwife informs her practical and person-centred approach to research. Fluent in English and Farsi, Farnaz is also passionate about community engagement, education, and improving health outcomes for diverse populations.
My Grants
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Funding for the training of Advanced Trainees in 6 specialities (2010–2015)
Funding: >$500,000 | Funder: Department of Health and Ageing
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Evaluation of the Preceptorship rotational programme for nurses (2002)
Investigators: F Heidari | Funding: £1,900,000 | Funder: Local Primary Care Trust
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Interprofessional shared mentoring and learning (2000–2001)
Investigators: F Heidari & C Andrewes | Funding: £184,500 | Funder: NHS Executive South and West Region (1 year)
My Qualifications
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PhD in Health Studies | Bournemouth University, UK (2002–2007)
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MSc in Health Education and Health Promotion | Southampton University, UK (1999–2001)
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BSc in Health Studies | Bournemouth University, UK (1996–1999)
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Nursing and Midwifery Studies | Bournemouth and Southampton Universities, UK (1989–1995)
My Research Activities
Here is a professionally edited version of your research activities and publications, structured with clear headings, consistent formatting, and strong impact-driven language suitable for an academic profile or CV.
Research Activities
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BUBs Quit Study (BQ Midwife) | Project Manager (2023 – Present)
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) in New South Wales and Queensland evaluating midwife-led counseling and embedded technology to assist pregnant women with smoking cessation. Funded by the NHMRC Partnership scheme in collaboration with the NSW Ministry of Health.
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International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) – Low Back Pain | Project Coordinator (2016 – 2023)
Coordinated international health outcome measurement and standardization projects focused on low back pain care.
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International Long-Term Follow-Up Study of Patients Implanted with a Portico Valve | Project Coordinator (2015)
Coordinated clinical follow-up research evaluating long-term outcomes in patients with transcatheter aortic valve implants.
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The MitraClip System Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trial | Project Coordinator (2015)
Managed trial operations across Australian and New Zealand sites evaluating the safety and efficacy of the MitraClip System.
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Medical Training in the Private Health Sector | Lead Investigator / Project Manager (2010)
Evaluated the acceptability and feasibility of medical training in private healthcare settings. Designed and implemented clinical teaching programs for medical students and advanced specialty trainees across private hospitals.
Funding: Department of Health and Ageing / Health Workforce Australia (~$2,000,000).
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Preceptorship Rotational Programme for Nurses | Lead Investigator (2002)
Evaluated a one-year rotational preceptorship program across primary and secondary care settings, investigating nurses' perceptions of support, skill development, and transitional learning.
Funding: Local Primary Care Trust (£1,900,000).
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Interprofessional Mentoring of Pre-registration House Officers and Newly Qualified Nurses | Project Manager (2001)
Managed the day-to-day operations and mixed-methods evaluation of an interprofessional mentorship project across four NHS Trusts in the South West region. Designed to pair newly qualified staff with senior nurse mentors and facilitate shared learning workshops between nurses and doctors.
Funding: NHS Executive South and West Region (£180,000).
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Homelessness: Perspectives on Health Needs | Lead Investigator (2001)
Explored available health services for the homeless population in Bournemouth, evaluating service utilization and patient perspectives on local healthcare access.
Funding: NHS Bournemouth Central Primary Care Trust.
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Distributed Learning Workbooks & Action Learning Groups | Lead Investigator (2001)
Conducted an evaluation exploring final-year pre-registration nursing students’ perceptions of workbooks and action learning groups in developing clinical knowledge.
Funding: Internal University Grant.
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Drug and Alcohol Misuse Services for Young People in Dorset: A Needs Assessment | Lead Investigator (2000)
Assessed youth drug and alcohol misuse services across Dorset, quantifying service accessibility and identifying gaps in regional healthcare coverage.
Funding: Dorset Health Authority.
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Evaluation of the Nottinghamshire Drug and Criminal Justice Partnership | Co-Investigator (2000)
Evaluated inter-agency criminal justice and substance misuse interventions across Nottinghamshire.
Funding: External Grant.
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Giving Hope in Brain Injury: Families’ Experiences of Brainwave | Co-Investigator (1999)
Explored family experiences with the Brainwave organisation, focusing on complementary therapy use and family coping mechanisms following pediatric brain injury.
Funding: External Grant.
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Bournemouth, Dorset, and Poole Drugs Education Project | Co-Investigator (1998)
Evaluated regional drug education initiatives across school and community environments.
Funding: GEST / External Grant.
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
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Sanaei, F., Schnitzler, M., Arnold, M., & Foster, K. (2013). Medical student teaching in private hospital – A positive experience for patients, students and staff. MedEdPublish, 2(3).
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Davidson, P., Nolan, M., Heidari, F., & McGrath, S. (2009). Approaches to doctoral degrees for nurses and dissertation format options. International Network for Doctoral Education in Nursing, 8(3), 3–5.
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Heidari, F., & Galvin, K. (2003). Action learning groups: Can they help students develop their knowledge and skills? Nurse Education in Practice, 3(1), 49–55.
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Heidari, F., & Galvin, K. (2002). The role of open learning in nurse education: Does it have a place? Nurse Education Today, 22(8), 617–623.
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Heidari, F., Dumbrell, A., Galvin, K., & Holloway, I. (2002). Giving hope in brain injury: An exploration of families’ experiences of the Brainwave organisation and therapy. Children & Society, 16(3), 182–194.
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Heidari, F., Dumbrell, A., Galvin, K., & Holloway, I. (2001). Brain injury: The uncertainties of using complementary therapies. Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery, 7(2), 66–71.
Published Research Reports
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Heidari, F., Andrewes, C., Galvin, K., Pendlebury, R., & Graham, I. (2002). Shared learning and mentoring for newly qualified staff: Support and education using an interprofessional approach. Bournemouth: Bournemouth University. ISBN 1-85899-140-4.
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Heidari, F., & Galvin, K. (2001). Homelessness: Perspectives on health needs. Bournemouth: Bournemouth University.
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Heidari, F. (2001). An evaluation of the distributed learning workbooks used in pre-registration nursing education: A longitudinal study. Bournemouth: Bournemouth University.
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Crossen-White, H., Galvin, K., Gibson, S., Heidari, F., & Morgan, O. (2000). Evaluation of the Nottinghamshire Drug and Criminal Justice Partnership. Bournemouth: Bournemouth University.
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Heidari, F., Morgan, O., & Galvin, K. (2000). Drug and alcohol misuse services for young people in Dorset: A needs assessment. Bournemouth: Bournemouth University.
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Heidari, F., Dumbrell, A., Galvin, K., & Holloway, I. (2000). Giving hope in brain injury: An exploration of families’ experiences of the Brainwave organisation and therapy (Executive Summary). Bournemouth: Bournemouth University. ISBN 1-85899-093-9.
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Dumbrell, A., Heidari, F., Galvin, K., & Holloway, I. (1999). Giving hope in brain injury: An exploration of families’ experiences of the Brainwave organisation and therapy. Bournemouth: Bournemouth University. ISBN 1-85899-084-X.
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Heidari, F., & Galvin, K. (1998). An evaluation report on the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Drugs Education Project. Bournemouth: Bournemouth University. ISBN 1-85899-070-X.
Location
School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health
Level 3, HTH Building, UNSW Sydney