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Nursing Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences
Areas of expertise: cardiovascular research; nursing; implementation science; digital health
Email: nicola.straiton@acu.edu.au
Location: ACU North Sydney Campus
ORCID ID: : 0000-0002-5013-0159
Associate Professor Nicola Straiton is a nurse and researcher at the Nursing Research Institute, a collaboration between St Vincent's Health Network Sydney, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, and Australian Catholic University. Her research focuses on cardiovascular disease, frailty, health services research and implementation science. In the three years since completing her PhD, A/Prof Straiton has secured over $27.5 million in competitive research funding across 15 grants, including six as Lead Chief Investigator. She has delivered more than 30 invited national and international presentations and received five awards recognising research excellence and leadership. A/Prof Straiton is committed to advancing evidence translation into clinical practice and building research capacity among clinician researchers.
Straiton N, Holman T, McDonagh J. Exercise-based prehabilitation in cardiac surgery and interventional procedures: what does the evidence really tell us?, European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 2026; 00:1-2. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvag136
Brijnath B, Welch V, Habibzadeh F, Dawson S, Li T, Richards DP, Chinembiri O, Ghersi D, Orkin AM, Cameron KA, Coase D, Golub RM, Heuschkel M, Jasicki L, Leigh L, Benn R, Papadopoulos G, Siegfried N, Straiton N, Treweek S, Chan N, Green H, Owusu-Addo E, Feldman P, Muoio, R. Measurement of ethnicity in clinical trials: Delphi survey and consensus statement. BMJ 2026; 394:e409503. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2026-409503
Holman T, Macdonald P, Slade D, Goncharov G, Middleton S, Watts JG, Williams M, Carr G, Mitchell I, McErlean G, Sheppard-Law S, Jones K, Paull G, Templeton N, Rayner S, Davis S, Gao Y, You W, Kennedy R, Clifford B, Proctor R, Algoso C, Ng P, Myhill B, Lowe D, Devlin E, Lennox K, McVeigh J, Ryan M, Straiton N. Improving end-of-life care for patients in Australian cardiology wards: A retrospective medical record audit. Heart, Lung and Circulation 2026; 35(6):845-854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2026.04.111
Straiton N, Muller D, Macdonald P, Wilson K, Arriagada A, Roy D, Mills N, Frost SA, McInnes E, Inglis SC, Lauck S, Herrero M, Doja-Gore X, McCreanor V, Harrison S, Holman T, Ferguson C, McDonagh J, Wan CS, Dale S, Middleton S. Frailty response in aortic stenosis patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (FRAIL-AS Response Trial): Study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. Heart, Lung and Circulation 2026; 35(6):787-794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2026.04.114
Uchmanowicz I, Jędrzejczyk M, Kułaga K, Jurczyk A, Straiton N, Barisone M, Durante A, Lee C, Gonos J, Kubielas G. Bridging the implementation gap in cardiovascular prevention: A narrative review and call to action. International Journal of Public Health. Epub ahead of print. 10 June 2026. https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2026.1609454
Hickman IJ, Graffini J, Liu M, Straiton N, Mthethwa-Pitt T, Yeo H, Howell T, Hewson K, Tavender E, Taylor N. Implementation science and the clinical trial workforce: A national needs assessment of training and practice. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2026; 52:101658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2026.101658
Lewis KB, Straiton N, Graham ID, Lauck SL. Designing an implementation study: Rationale and considerations for design. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 2026; 00:1-12. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvag078
McMahon J, McInnes E, Wan CS, Straiton N, Lam L, Rodgers J, Dickson J, Fulbrook P. Effectiveness of organisational strategies for pressure injury prevention and treatment in acute hospital settings: A systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing 2026; 82(3):2004-2021. doi: 10.1111/jan.17090.
Cartledge S, Rawstorn JC, Bourne C, Astley CM, Akbar H, Bardsley K, Bart NK, Driscoll A, Eddington R, Goodman A, Hall T, Hendriks JM, Scott AC, Straiton N, Thomas EE, Tofi U, Candelaria D, Clark RA, Davidson PM, Gallagher R, Indraratna P, Kaur DJ, Lattimore JD, Livori A, Mahoney R, Maiorana AJ, Nesbitt K, Nolan MT, O'Connor M, O'Neil A, Ooi SY, Packer NJ, Paratz ED, Partridge SR, Prichard RA, Stiekema G, Verdicchio CV, Inglis SC. CSANZ and ACRA Position Statement on Quality Use of Telehealth in Cardiovascular Care. Heart, Lung, and Circulation 2026; 35(3):298-314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2025.12.001.
Mazariego C, Gul H, Liang S, Kelly-Hanku A, Brady B, Allida S, Baffsky R, McErlean G, Crespo C, Hodgins M, Christie LJ, Peiris D, Debono D, MacMillan F, Ferguson C, Heneka N, Kennedy SG, Liu H, Morrow A, Fontaine G, Findlay M, Middleton S, Lim D, Straiton N, Taylor N. Critical actions for embedding research evidence into practice: How to get the most out of your implementation scientist. JBI Evidence Implementation 2026; 24(1):223-231. doi: 10.1097/XEB.0000000000000518
Bekker-Jensen D, Kjaergaard J, Skou ST, Wieghorst A, Elnegaard CA, Bruvik SM, Schmidt H, Straiton N, Borregaard B. Danish cross-cultural adaption of the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability questionnaire. Danish Medical Journal 2026; 73(3):A07250547. doi: 10.61409/A07250547
Neubeck L, Nichols S, Straiton N, Dunford LJ, Banerjee A, Dawkes S, Fitzsimons D, Hayes M, Lawson A, Lyons AA, McAuley M, McLaggan J, Mindham R, Mills NL, Modi R, Pearsons A, Pitkethly A, Strachan FE, Hanson CL. Setting research priorities for the use of digital technology in the self- management of heart health: The results of the James Lind Priority Setting Partnership. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 2026; 25(3):490-497. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvaf219
Straiton N, Gallagher R, Gullick J. A descriptive qualitative study of patient and carer perspectives on the acceptability of transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Journal of Advanced Nursing 2026; 82(5):5305-5318. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.70180
Lauck SB, Gulati M, Lewis KB, Straiton N, Takkenberg JJM, Sardar Nia P, McGongile S, Padilla K, Ross E, Eltchaninoff H, Prendergast B. A path forward for the implementation of shared decision-making in valvular heart disease: global joint recommendations from clinicians, patients, and researchers. Health Research and Policy Systems 2025; 23:136. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-025-01393-x
Weight C, Vinette B, Laritz R, Mooney M, Castiglione SA, Maheu-Cadotte MA, Argiropoulos N, Konnyu K, Cassidy CE, Collins SE, Semenic S, Straiton N, Middleton S, Taylor N, Gagnon MP, Liang S, Crump L, Di Lalla O, Meyers T, Elakpa DN, Fontaine G. How well are implementation strategies and target healthcare professional behaviors reported? A secondary analysis of 204 implementation trials using the TIDieR checklist and AACTT framework. Implement Science 2025; 20(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s13012-025-01442-7
McMahon J, McInnes E, Wan CS, Straiton N, Lam L, Rodgers J, Dickson J, Fulbrook P. Effectiveness of organisational strategies for pressure injury prevention and treatment in acute hospital settings: A systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing 2025; 82(3):2004-2021. doi: 10.1111/jan.17090
McMahon J, McInnes E, Wan CS, Straiton N, Lam L, Rodgers J, Fulbrook P. Nurses' perspectives on the use of prophylactic dressings to prevent pressure injury: A qualitative study. Journal of ClinicalNursing 2025; 34(5):1866-1877. doi: 10.1111/jocn.17595
Johnson M, Straiton N, Ferguson C, Mcinnes E, Thornton A, Everett B, Tuqiri K, Meedya S, Hackett K, Cruickshank M, Fry M, Perry L, Sheppard-Law S, Hosie A, Inglis S, Mcerlean G, Debono D, Fernandez R, Wynne R, Chow J, Hickman L, Del Olmo G, Middleton S. Pre-implementation context and implementation approach for a nursing and midwifery clinician researcher career pathway: A qualitative study. Journal of Advanced Nursing 2025; 81(2):1052-1068. doi: 10.1111/jan.16307
Ramsden V, McInnes E, Wilson P, Babl FE, Kuhn L, Cowie J, Campbell P, Middleton S, Wilson C, Straiton N, Tavender E. Sustainability of healthcare system improvements, programmes, and interventions in acute care settings: protocol for a mixed methods systematic review. BMJ Open 2025; 15(2):e094174. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-094174
Weight C, Laritz R, Collins SE, Mooney M, Vinette B, Castiglione SA, Straiton N, Chicoine G, Liang S, Presseau J, Konnyu K, Gagnon MP, Semenic S, Middleton S, Taylor N, Bitzas VB, Hupé C, Folch N, Vachon B, Rouleau G, Patey A, McCleary N, Porat-Dahlerbruch J, Fontaine G. Reported use of implementation science theories, models, and frameworks in 151 implementation trials: secondary analysis of a systematic review targeting nursing practice. Translational Behavioral Medicine 2025; 15:ibaf043. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibaf043
Weight C, Laritz R, Collins SE, Mooney M, Vinette V, Castiglione SA, Straiton N, Chicoine G, Liang S, Konnyu K, Gagnon MP, Semenic S, Middleton S, Taylor N, Bitzas VB, Folch N, Vachon B, Rouleau G, Patey A, McCleary N, Porat-Dahlerbruch J, Fontaine G. Using the behavior change technique ontology to characterize the content of implementation strategies: a secondary analysis of 151 trials targeting evidence-based nursing practice. Translational Behavioral Medicine 2025; 15:ibaf046. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibaf046
Straiton N, Lauck SB, Lewis KB. The nurse, the framework, and the digital future. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 2024; 23(8):e197-e198. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvae123
Lewis KB, Straiton N, Lauck SB. Collaborative research approaches for the creation and translation of cardiovascular nursing knowledge. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 2024; 23(8):e183-e184. doi: 10.1093/eurjcn/zvae111
Fontaine G, Vinette B, Weight C, Maheu-Cadotte MA, Lavallée A, Deschênes MF, Lapierre A, Castiglione SA, Chicoine G, Rouleau G, Argiropoulos N, Konnyu K, Mooney M, Cassidy CE, Mailhot T, Lavoie P, Pépin C, Cossette S, Gagnon MP, Semenic S, Straiton N, Middleton S. Effects of implementation strategies on nursing practice and patient outcomes: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Implementation Science 2024;19(1):68. doi: 10.1186/s13012-024-01398-0
Straiton N, Moons P, Verstrael A, Liu M, Winter MM. Beyond validation: Getting wearable activity trackers into cardiovascular care - A discussion paper. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 2024; 23(6):685-689. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvae019
Prichard R, Maneze D, Straiton N, Inglis SC, McDonagh J. Strategies for improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in cardiovascular research: A primer. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 2024; 23(3):313-322. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvae002
Straiton N. AllClear Travel Scholarship - International. Total funds awarded: $9,150.
Straiton N. Embedding Frailty Clinical Champions in Cardiac Care, SPHERE Health Innovation Fellowship (2026-2028). Total funds awarded: $150,000.
Straiton N, Muller D, Roy D, Macdonald P, Middleton S, de Tullio N, Arriagada A, Mills N, Holman T, McGee L, Wan CS, McInnes E, Coughlan K, Jiang F. A Process Evaluation of Factors Driving Uptake of Frailty Management in Transcatheter Heart Valve Disease Programs. 2026 St Vincent's Clinic Research Foundation Grant. Total funds awarded: $25,000.
Jones C, …Straiton N et al. NHMRC 2025-26 Supporting RTC_SPHERE, 2025-26 Supporting Research Translation Centres Grant. Total funds awarded:$1,000,000.
Chaffer C, Croucher P…Straiton N et al. Giving the AllClear - stopping breast cancer relapse and death. National Breast Cancer Foundation, Collaborative Research Accelerator Grant Scheme 2025. Total funds awarded:$25,000,000.
Straiton N. ACU 2025 SoNMP Grant Conference Support. Total funds awarded:$5,000.
Straiton N, Holman T, Mills N, Arriagada A, Montgomery E, Gardner E, Noyes L, Chandra L, Nielsen S, Lachonius M, Whittam S,Middleton S. Frailty on the Frontline: Evaluating the Impact and Integration of Frailty Clinical Champion in Australian and Swedish Cardiovascular Clinical Programs. 2024 Frailty-ADD CRE Seed Grant Scheme. Total funds awarded:$10,000.
McMahon J, Wan CS, Rodgers J, Straiton N, McInnes E. A qualitative study of nurses' views of the use of prophylactic dressings to prevent pressure injuries for patients in acute care wards. Research Endowment Fund (REF). Total funds awarded:$9,507.
Middleton S, Holman T, MacDonald P, Slade D, Lowe D, Watts G, Kennedy R, Clifford B, Patat L, Williams M, McErlean G, Paull G, Sheppard-Law S, McVeigh J, Ryan M, Templeton N, Algoso C, You P, Goncharov L, Carr G and Straiton N. Improving End-of-Life Care for Patients in Australian Cardiology Wards. St Vincent's Clinic Research Foundation Grant. Total funds awarded:$30,000.
Straiton N, Goldsmith H, Brogan E, Ferguson C, Middleton S. Charting the Future of Healthcare: Making Research Core Business of Early to Mid-Career Nursing and Midwifery Researchers. Australian Academy of Science, Theo Murphy Initiative 2023/2024. Total funds awarded:$46,000.
Straiton N, MacDonald P, Muller D, Frost S, McInnes E, Inglis S, Lauck S, Roy D, Mills N, Arriagada A, Herrero M, Thornton A, Dolja-Gore X, McCreanor V, Harrison S, Middleton S. Frailty response in aortic stenosis patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A pilot, cluster randomised trial (FRAIL-AS Response Trial). Cardiovascular Research Capacity Program, EMCR Grant 2023. Total funds awarded:$449,826.
Jun M, Gallagher M, Simmons D, Straiton N, Usherwood T, Rajaratnam R, Campain A, Si L, Tai E, Kotwal S, Katz I, Higgins K, Wallace H. Reducing cardiovascular and kidney risk in people with diabetes (the REVERSE study). Cardiovascular Research Capacity Program, Senior Career Researcher Grant 2023. Total funds awarded: $444,229.
Prior J, Egglestone P, Goodwin N, Lovell N, Oates Smith C, Jahantigh BJ, Dadich A, Debono D, Straiton N, McIntyre E, Liu E. Understanding reception of care technology for healthy ageing at home. SPHERE Big Ideas 2023 Grant Scheme. Total funds awarded: $167,934.
Fontaine G, Vachon B, Gagnon MP, Presseau J, Rouleau G, Patey A, McCleary N, Porat-Dahlerbruch J, Cassidy C, Semenic S, Middleton S, Straiton N, Chicoine G, Vinette B, Castiglione SA, Bitzas VB, Hupé C, Martel B, Folch N, Smith M. From theory to practice: Unveiling the theoretical basis and components of effective implementation strategies for improving nursing practice and patient outcomes. Quebec Network on Nursing Intervention Research 2023. Total funds awarded: $57,381.
2024: Winner, Rising Star Young Investigator Award. Sydney 2024 Cardiovascular Symposium. Australia.
2024: Winner, Research Rumble Early-Mid Career Researcher, St Vincent's Sydney Health Innovation Precinct (SVSHIP) 2024 Research Week. FRAIL-AS Response Trial.
2023: Winner, Best Early-Mid Career Researcher Oral Presentation Award. St Vincent's Sydney Health Innovation Precinct (SVSHIP) 2023 Research Week. Patient Acceptability of Nurse-Led Physical Assessments and Bedside Handovers.
2020: Winner, Digital Influencer Prize. eHealth Sydney 2020.
Appointments
Associate Professor, Nursing Research Institute, Australian Catholic University and St Vincent's Health Network Sydney
Affilitations
2026: Lead, development of the Nursing Research Institute - Research Strategic Framework 2026-2031.
2026-ongoing: Chair, Australasian Nursing and Midwifery Clinical Trials Network (ANMCTN), Early-Mid Career Researcher (EMCR) Committee
2025-ongoing: Chair, Senior Leadership Committee, Nursing Research Institute
2024-ongong: Executive Committee Member, Australian Academy of Science: Early-Mid Career Researcher (EMCR)
2023-ongong: Co-Lead, Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA) Special Interest Group for Translating Research into Practice (TRIPSIG)
20023-ongong: Co-Chair, Maridulu Budyari Gumal (SPHERE), Nursing & Midwifery Implementation Science Academy: EMCR group
2023-ongoing: Member, Maridulu Budyari Gumal (SPHERE), Nursing and Midwifery Implementation Science Academy
2023-ongoing: Co-lead, Maridulu Budyari Gumal (SPHERE), Nursing and Midwifery Implementation Science Academy: Early Career Research Group
2023-ongoing: Member, Maridulu Budyari Gumal (SPHERE) Implementation Science Collaborative
2022-ongoing: Executive Committee Member, Digital Health for Heart Health, Priority Setting Partnership
2020-ongoing: Member, Scientific Advisory Committee and the Steering Committee, Australian and New Zealand Alliance for Cardiovascular Trials network (ANZACT)
2018-ongoing: Consumer Engagement, Equity, and Diversity Working Group, Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA)
Editor of the Knowledge Translation Corner of the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.