As one of the inaugural recipients of the IARU Early-Career Collaboration Award, Dr Sheena Ramazanu seized the opportunity to further her research in health economics through a visit to the College of Health and Medicine at the Australian National University (ANU).
During her time at ANU, Dr Ramazanu worked closely with experts in health economics and public policy to investigate how Asian patients value access to innovative but often costly drug therapies, such as advanced cancer treatments. Her project focused on the use of discrete-choice experiments — an advanced method for quantifying trade-offs in healthcare decisions — to better understand public preferences and willingness to pay for novel therapies.
This collaboration not only deepened her technical expertise but also led to the development of a systematic review of economic policies and financing mechanisms related to drug reimbursement in Singapore and the region. The research has already resulted in the submission of a peer-reviewed journal article and laid the groundwork for ongoing collaboration.
Reflecting on her experience, Dr Ramazanu noted that the award had a transformative impact on her career. It expanded her international research network, provided new interdisciplinary perspectives, and offered invaluable experience in applying cutting-edge research methods to real-world policy questions. Beyond academia, she also valued the cultural experience of working in Canberra and engaging with the local community, including learning about the Ngunnawal people, the traditional custodians of the land.