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  • New collaboration to drive world leading research into osteoarthritis treatment

    New collaboration to drive world leading research into osteoarthritis treatment

    An innovative partnership with industry will see our researchers at the Kolling Institute develop evidence-based strategies to improve osteoarthritis management in Australia and globally.

    Consumer healthcare company Haleon is sponsoring a five-year fellowship to investigate the role of supplements in managing osteoarthritis and digital health technologies to improve mobility.

    Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability, impacting more than two million Australians and 595 million people globally. It represents a significant public health burden particularly among older populations.

    The fellowship will fund a postdoctoral researcher to work under the guidance of world leading osteoarthritis expert, rheumatologist and researcher Professor David Hunter. Dr Jocelyn Bowden has been awarded the fellowship and is looking forward to broadening our understanding of the use of supplements and innovative digital technologies.

    Professor Hunter said the research collaboration represents a shared focus and investment in improving osteoarthritis management.

    “This is a painful and disabling disease that has a huge impact on the people affected.”

    “A collaborative effort between researchers and manufacturers will drive innovation and hopefully improve the lives of those affected by this disease.

    “Use of supplements and natural ingredients in managing osteoarthritis is an exciting area with a lot of potential. I’m not aware of any other long-term project like this focusing on osteoarthritis.”

    Dr Bincy Thampi, Medical and Scientific Affairs Lead at Haleon ANZ said they were excited to work with researchers to deliver better management strategies for the disabling disease.  

  • Research driving the development of new implants and improving outcomes

    Research driving the development of new implants and improving outcomes

    Our researchers at the Kolling Institute have joined with international collaborators to develop a revolutionary implant for hip replacements.

    The ceramic implant, designed for hip resurfacing procedures, doesn’t require the long stem used in common hip replacements.

    This means surgeons are not removing the bone which they would generally remove for a hip replacement.

    Professor Bill Walter, a leading surgeon at Royal North Shore Hospital and investigator with the Murray Maxwell Biomechanics Lab, said that with this approach, the hip feels more natural and is a bit stronger, particularly for activities such as running and jumping.

    “Importantly, feedback from patients has informed the development of the device,” he said.

    “Patients reported excellent pain and symptom relief, and 45 per cent of patients returned to high-level sports.”

    Female patients also benefitted from the procedure, marking a significant development for the surgery.

    “In the past, resurfacing has not worked well in female patients but with the ceramic on ceramic resurfacing, we’re getting very good results.”

    The ceramic device also alleviates concerns around metal toxicity with the traditional implants.

    Currently about 50,000 hip replacements are performed in Australia each year, with resurfacing procedures representing less than one per cent.

    Professor Walter said that trend is expected to change, with up to 50 per cent of patients potentially eligible for resurfacing.

    Full TGA approval is expected this year, with further studies to examine the long-term results of the ceramic resurfacing implants. 

  • Research to improve postmenopausal women’s bone and muscle health

    Research to improve postmenopausal women’s bone and muscle health

    Kolling Institute researchers Dr. Shejil Kumar and Professor Rory Clifton-Bligh have embarked on a pioneering study to enhance bone health in postmenopausal women.

    The study, titled “Combining Osteoanabolic Pharmacotherapy with Osteogenic Exercise in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis and Osteopenia “The ROLEX-DUO Study,” is set to recruit 100 women aged 50 and above.

    The primary focus of the study is to assess the effectiveness of combining exercise plus medication in improving bone and muscle health.

    “We know that exercise has benefits for bone and muscle health, and there are effective treatments available to strengthen bones,” Dr. Kumar said.

    “However, what we don’t know is whether combining exercise plus medication at the same time can lead to even greater improvements in bone and muscle health than treating with either alone.”

    The study will utilise a medication that has been shown to increase bone density and reduce fracture risk in previous international studies. Participants will be randomly assigned to different treatment groups, including a supervised group class focusing on weightbearing exercises and a home-based exercise program concentrating on mobility and balance.

    “We are investigating if this combination will be more effective and could change the way we treat and prevent osteoporosis going forward.”

    Postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 80 are encouraged to participate, as they are at high risk of poor bone health. The study aims to assess how different combinations of treatment improve bone density, muscle strength, body composition, physical function and risk of falls.

    The study will primarily be based at Royal North Shore Hospital.

    If you would like to be part of the study, you can register here:

    If you have any queries, you can email Dr. Kumar at shejil.kumar@health.nsw.gov.au  

    The study has obtained ethics approval from the NSLHD ethics committee (2022/ETH01794).

  • Special Research Feature – Year in Review 2023

    Special Research Feature – Year in Review 2023

    Our Kolling Institute Year in Review profiles our innovative and life-changing research across the Kolling Institute.

    Our researchers are driving investigations into some of the most challenging health conditions from heart and kidney disease to musculoskeletal conditions, chronic pain, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

    Our teams have continued to increase their research impact, while forging significant new collaborations. They have maintained a commitment to research excellence, while securing large-scale funding, receiving high profile awards and publishing impactful studies.

    We hope this feature will give you a better insight into our impressive and unique teams, and their ground-breaking research. We would like to extend our thanks to our many wonderful donors who help us deliver real improvements to the care we all receive. Click here to read the feature:

  • Innovative musculoskeletal program heads to the bush

    Innovative musculoskeletal program heads to the bush

    In a sign of the strength of the Kolling Institute’s research and clinical capabilities, Professor Trudy Rebbeck has been awarded a $2.5 million grant to offer a musculoskeletal care program in rural and remote parts of Australia.

    As a Professor of Allied Health and a physiotherapist, Trudy will lead the collaborative project involving University of Sydney, NSLHD and Kolling Institute researchers Michael Nicholas, Ian Cameron, Annette Kifley and Claire Ashton-James.

    She is excited to launch the initiative which has been funded as part of a $20 million boost for improved primary care and chronic pain treatment.

    Trudy said an increasing number of people are experiencing chronic musculoskeletal conditions like back, neck pain and arthritis, but few people in rural and regional areas are being offered evidence-informed care involving good advice and an exercise plan.

    “We know that people in these communities have poorer access to appropriate care and ultimately poorer musculoskeletal health,” she said.

    “Our large-scale program, named PACE RURAL, will be offered across the country for the first time, providing a high quality and yet low-cost solution.”

    It will involve a simple online tool at the point of care to identify people who may recover well and those who may not. Those who are likely to recover well can be guided by the online resource (Mypainhub.com) which provides accurate advice and exercises to aid recovery.

    People needing extra care will receive early virtual access to an expert allied health clinician.

    The allied-health specialist will work with the local GP through an advanced assessment of risk factors and develop an individualised treatment plan.

    “For many people living in rural and remote parts of Australia, one of the biggest challenges is access to specialised healthcare, so we hope that through this program, we will broaden access to evidenced-based, effective care and importantly, improve long-term musculoskeletal health,” she said.

    “We know from our work in metropolitan regions that increasing support from allied-health clinicians delivers better health outcomes for higher risk individuals, so we expect this project will now provide a cost-effective solution in rural and remote Australia too.” 

  • Researchers inform next-gen space suit design

    Researchers inform next-gen space suit design

    Leading researchers from the Kolling Institute have welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with Metakosmos as it pioneers the development of a next-generation space suit.

    Led by CEO Kiriti Rambhatla, Metakosmos is working to revolutionise human spaceflight technology. Their Kosmosuit architecture has garnered acclaim and the interest of the Kolling Institute’s Academic Director Professor James Elliott.

    Since 2020, Metakosmos has worked with the CSIRO and the Department of Defence to improve production processes. Their research focuses on three key areas: wearer protection, aesthetic design and mitigating physiological impacts such as space radiation and microgravity.

    Space radiation for example, can have detrimental effects on the musculoskeletal system, including bone density loss, muscle atrophy, joint degeneration, impaired healing and increased injury risk. Astronauts can come back to Earth five to eight centimetres taller.

    There is also a risk of injuries during extra vehicular activity preflight training periods prior to space radiation or microgravity exposure. Metakosmos is working on designing systems that can protect the users from injuries during the entire lifecycle of human spaceflight.

    Metakosmos and colleagues are close to unveiling an application that will redefine the way human spaceflight lifecycles are monitored and managed at scale.

    Incorporating biomarker tracking, Metakosmos’ suits monitor astronauts’ musculoskeletal health, stress levels and radiation exposure in real-time. With a 40 per cent increase in efficiency and 50 per cent reduction in total mass, these suits support performance in extreme conditions.

    Metakosmos’ designs cater to various environments, from deep-sea operations to international space station missions. Their collaboration with the Kolling Institute underscores a commitment to advancing human spaceflight capabilities and terrestrial based health, performance and wellbeing.

    James Elliott first met Kiriti Rambhatla at a space consortium hosted by the Kolling Institute in collaboration with the Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine.

    “We immediately realised we had synergies,” he said.

    “Kiriti was interested in our collaborative multidisciplinary work towards measuring wellbeing after trauma. Not much is known about long-term post-trauma recovery, and no two recoveries are the same.

    “Kiriti was intrigued by our methodology, which involves collecting comprehensive physiological data, creating pathways that work on simulated models, and addressing modifiable environmental factors, such as trip hazards and fall risks.

    “Our research is continually evolving as we measure and refine our approach. The Kolling Institute’s interest in muscle mapping aligns perfectly with the goals of Metakosmos, and we are integrating our findings to support this area.

    “By leveraging their combined expertise, Metakosmos and the Kolling Institute, among other institutions, are breaking new ground in wearable technology for extreme environments, marking a significant step forward in human health and performance on earth and beyond.” 

  • 269 million people to experience neck pain by 2050

    269 million people to experience neck pain by 2050

    New research led by investigators from the Kolling Institute has identified a concerning global trend which will see the burden of neck pain dramatically increase over the next 30 years.

    The research analysed data from more than 200 countries, measuring the prevalence of neck pain from 1990 to 2020.

    It found 203 million people now experience neck pain across the globe, a figure which has remained stable over the last 30 years and not improved.

    More women than men live with neck pain, while the condition primarily affects people between 45 years and 74 years.

    Despite the high prevalence of neck pain, its causes have not been clearly defined across populations.

    Investigators say the evidence suggests a range of factors from muscle strains, work or sports related events through to degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis, car accidents, or neurological issues are contributing to the painful condition.

    Lead author and Kolling Institute Academic Director Professor James Elliott said the data points to a sharp rise in expected cases due to a rapidly ageing global population.

    “Concerningly, the projections indicate a 32 per cent increase in cases between 2020 and 2050, bringing the total number of cases of neck pain to 269 million,” he said.

    “This will lead to a tremendous burden on health systems across the globe, as well as a significant individual toll.

    “We know that neck pain has a considerable economic, social and personal cost, and we would like to see more effective interventions introduced on a large scale.

    “Currently, there is no gold standard diagnostic test for neck pain, no known pathophysiology and no universally effective treatment for it.

    “We need to shine a light on the condition and drive new technology, new assessments and new management options that are economically viable, effective and broadly available.

    “We hope that following this historic research there will be a renewed commitment to improving our understanding of the different causes and risk factors for neck pain, and an escalation in the collection of global neck pain data.”

    Senior author and leading rheumatologist Professor Lyn March has welcomed the focus on neck pain, saying this research represents a call to action for policy makers to strengthen the capacity of their health systems to deliver quality musculoskeletal care services.

    “It’s crucial the community has access to early detection, management and long-term care, and that greater resources are invested in research to reduce the global burden of neck pain,” she said.

    The research, which has been published in The Lancet Rheumatology, was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health.

  • Research helping the community tap into the best osteoarthritis care

    Research helping the community tap into the best osteoarthritis care

    While a large share of the community experiences osteoarthritis, many people are not receiving the latest, evidenced-based care leaving them with poorer and more painful outcomes.

    Health and government bodies are working to address the shortfall, investing resources to increase awareness of high-value care.

    As part of this national approach, Kolling Institute researcher and physiotherapist Dr Jillian Eyles has received a prestigious $660,000 NHMRC investigator grant to promote best-practice osteoarthritis care.

    Dr Eyles said we know that the first-line approach for osteoarthritis involves non-surgical treatments based on education, self-management, exercise and weight control.

    “This approach works well for many people and is consistently recommended by the clinical guidelines, and yet 64 per cent of people with osteoarthritis are not offered these treatments,” she said.

    “We can see there are many barriers to delivering the best care from a lack of knowledge and skills of health professionals to traditional referral pathways.

    “There is an urgent need to reduce the use of treatments that are not recommended such as unnecessary surgical procedures, and we will be working with surgeons to gain a better understanding around the existing pathways.

    “As part of this grant, we will also be looking at new ways to educate and train the health workforce to deliver best-evidence care, and we’ll be working to improve the uptake of programs which offer best-evidence models of care.

    “This will involve phasing-out low-value osteoarthritis treatments which should no longer be used.

    “A large amount of research has made considerable progress in recent years, and its crucial that this new advice and understanding of the joint disease is broadly incorporated into both the hospital and community settings.

    “More than eight per cent of Australians lives with osteoarthritis, so it’s important everyone has good access to the best available advice and treatment.”

  • Our researchers making an impact on the world stage

    Our researchers making an impact on the world stage

    Internationally respected investigator Professor Chris Little has been recognised for his remarkable contribution to orthopaedic research at an event in Long Beach California.

    Infront of a large international audience, Professor Little was elected a Fellow of the Orthopaedic Research Society for his exemplary service and leadership.

    The accolade acknowledges Chris’ achievement, expert knowledge and contribution to the society and the field of musculoskeletal research over more than 20 years.

    Fellows are recognised as thought leaders and serve as role models for those beginning their research journey.

    Chris has welcomed the honour.

    “Since its inception 70 years ago, the US Orthopaedic Research Society has arguably become the pre-eminent international scientific society dedicated to musculoskeletal research,” he said.

    “I am therefore very honoured and humbled to have been nominated as an Orthopaedic Research Society Fellow.

    “Such personal accolades are really a reflection of the extraordinary members of the Raymond Purves Research Lab team that I’ve have the privilege of leading over the past 20 years.

    “Ultimately, it’s the work that they do to increase knowledge of the mechanisms of musculoskeletal disease to help develop new treatments, that is the most important thing.

    “Societies like the Orthopaedic Research Society enable us to both disseminate what we learn in our research and learn from others around the world, so that together we can hopefully change the lives of patients.”

  • New research challenges the link between the weather and joint pain

    New research challenges the link between the weather and joint pain

    Many people believe there is a connection between the weather and joint or muscle pain, but a team of researchers from the Kolling Institute and the University of Sydney say their latest study has found there is no link between the two.

    Lead author Professor Manuela Ferreira said there is a longstanding belief that changes in weather conditions, such as rain or temperature variations, can trigger or worsen muscle and joint pain, but based on their analyses, they have found the weather has no direct influence on the most common musculoskeletal conditions.

    “We looked at data from over 15,000 people from seven different countries,” she said.

    “Together, these people reported over 28,000 episodes of pain, mostly back pain, knee or hip osteoarthritis. We also included people with rheumatoid arthritis and gout.

    “We then looked at the frequency of those pain reports in different types of weather, hot, cold, humid, dry, rainy and found no difference.

    “In other words, people do not experience more pain or pain flares when it is hot, or cold, or humid or raining suggesting there is no direct link between the weather and joint or muscle pain.

    “The only exception was gout where we found hot and dry weather can increase the risk of a flare in people with gout.”

    Professor Ferreira said the study highlights a wider issue that even though more than a quarter of Australians are affected by a chronic musculoskeletal condition, there are still widespread misconceptions and limited treatment options.

    “Patients are often left to navigate and understand their medical condition without access to reliable information,” she said.

    “Our research has debunked a common myth, and we hope shifted attention to evidenced based care.

    “When seeking pain prevention and relief, both patients and clinicians should focus on how to best manage the condition, including weight management and exercises, and not let the weather influence any treatment.”

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