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Recognition of our impact on the world stage
Kolling Institute Governance Committee Chair Michael Nugent said it is encouraging to see more than a dozen researchers from the Kolling have been profiled in an international study recognising the world’s best.

Published by Stanford University, the study has identified the top two per cent of researchers in the world across individual fields.

The study is based on metrics from Scopus, a database of peer-reviewed literature including scientific journals, books and conference proceedings. Researchers were ranked on standardised information including citations, h-index, authorship positions and a composite indicator.

“I am pleased to confirm 16 researchers from the Kolling have been highlighted in the study, demonstrating the unique expertise and experience we have across the institute,” Michael said.

“These results are a further indication of the ground-breaking scientific progress we’re making, and the tangible impact we’re having on healthcare models of care and quality of life. Importantly, this impact is benefitting communities on a national and international scale.

“I would like to acknowledge the following outstanding group of researchers, who all have an unrelenting commitment to improving the care we receive.”
- Professor Rob Baxter (AM) – Breast Cancer Research
- Professor Ian Cameron – John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research
- Professor Ashley Craig – John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research
- Professor Jim Elliott – Neuromuscular Imaging Research Lab
- Professor Manuela Ferreira – Back Pain Research Group
- Professor Gemma Figtree (AM) – Cardiovascular Discovery Group
- Professor Paul Glare – Pain Management Research Centre
- Professor Lisa Harvey – John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research
- Professor Sarah Hilmer (AM) – Laboratory of Ageing and Pharmacology
- Professor David Hunter – Osteoarthritis Research Team
- Professor Chris Little – Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Lab
- Professor Gin Malhi – Academic Psychiatry and CADE Clinic
- Professor Lyn March (AM) – Rheumatology Department
- Professor Mark Molloy – Bowel Cancer Research
- Professor Michael Nicholas – Pain Management Research Centre
- Professor Carol Pollock (AO) – Renal Research Team
“I would also like to acknowledge the Kolling’s former Executive Director Professor Carolyn Sue who has been recognised in the study profiling the global leaders in research.

“It is wonderful that so many of our researchers are among the world’s best, driving significant improvements in research and clinical care.”
27 February 2023
Innovative trial aims to reduce the impact of serious spinal cord injuries

A simple yet smart approach may hold the key to greatly improved health for those with life-changing spinal cord injuries.

Researchers from the Kolling Institute’s John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research are launching a project to assess whether a specific breathing technique can improve many of the challenges faced by people with a spinal cord injury, like chronic pain, life threatening unstable blood pressure, fatigue and poor mood.

The Spinal cord injury, Mind and HeART or (SMART) study has been made possible by $3 million in combined funding from the NSW Ministry of Health and the University of Sydney.

The research project, to be run at Royal North Shore Hospital, will see participants allocated to two groups. One group will continue with their usual care, while the other will undergo a 10-week specialised program involving guided breathing practice using computer feedback of heart rate function, and psychological strategies like mindfulness and visualisation techniques.

Study lead Professor Ashley Craig is looking forward to the unique project, with more than 300 adults suffering a spinal cord injury in NSW every year.

“Spinal cord injuries can have a devastating impact, with a broad range of short and long-term health issues, including some which can be life-threatening like unstable blood pressure,” said Professor Craig, Professor of Rehabilitation Studies at the Kolling Institute.

“Clinicians currently rely on a host of pain management and treatment approaches, but our team is keen to measure the benefits of this innovative breathing technique to determine if it could be an effective addition to existing treatment strategies.

“Yoga enthusiasts have long used rhythmic breathing to achieve tranquillity of the mind, and we now know that the way we breathe regulates our nervous system, in turn affecting our blood pressure and our ability to recover from stress.

“Our study aims to determine if rhythmic breathing can help people with a disrupted nervous system as a result of their spinal cord injury. It will assess whether the breathing and importantly, the feedback of heart function can improve the functioning of the nervous system.

“A disrupted nervous system can be likened to a car without brakes, with limited moderation of the effects of the nervous system.

“Our approach will involve a specific type of breathing to regulate heart function to a point where it influences neural function and the autonomic nervous system.

“The hope is this will in turn deliver wide ranging benefits for the brain, the gut, the heart, sleep and a host of other physical functions.

“We are keen for at least 100 people to join our study and potentially help establish a new and effective, evidenced-based approach to care.”

How to participate

Researchers are now recruiting for the study and are encouraging those interested in taking part to contact them. Please email smart.trial@sydney.edu.au or call 0420 378 157

1 November 2022
Program supporting injured workers wins top award

Kolling researchers have taken out a highly-competitive, national award for an innovative program helping people get back to work after injury.

Professor Michael Nicholas and Dr Manasi Mittinty from the Pain Management Research Centre were part of a team which received a National Safety Award of Excellence for their initiative targeting injured workers.

The program was trialled with staff from Australia Post and involved early identification and intervention for workers at risk of delayed recovery following a work-related injury.

Participants in the intervention arm of the trial were offered up to six sessions with a psychologist or counsellor, and a workplace rehabilitation provider to assist with barriers returning to work. This was in addition to the medical and physiotherapy care normally provided for such injured workers.

Professor Nicholas said while the long-term follow-up is continuing, the benefits of this approach have been so clear that Australia Post has already implemented the program for injured workers across the country.

“We have shown that by adopting this additional, targeted support, injured workers are getting back to their job in less than half the time of those receiving usual care,” he said.

“Workers felt the connection to positive people and the consistent reassurance were particularly helpful.

“This is a wonderful example of robust research influencing healthcare models and health outcomes, and improving real-life workplace protocols.

“Importantly, the benefits of this research will not just impact workers and their individual organisations, but will extend to the broader community as well.”

There has been further recognition of Professor Nicholas’ contribution to healthcare with the announcement that he is to receive the International Association for the Study of Pain’s John D Loeser Prize for 2022.

This award recognises the recipient’s distinguished lifetime achievement in the clinical science of pain and Professor Nicholas is the first Australian to receive the accolade.

He has welcomed the honour, saying it reflects the standing of our work at the Pain Management Research Centre in pain education, research and clinical services.

8 February 2022
Research identifies swallowing problems following whiplash

Research conducted by a team from Kolling Institute has found that swallowing difficulties after a whiplash injury appear to be an under-recognised consequence of the injury.

The study investigated a group of 60 patients with low-grade whiplash, finding 50 per cent of patients reported swallowing problems within 12 months of their whiplash injury.

In 31 of these patients, there was a statistically significant worsening of their swallowing problems between three and 12 months post injury.

Clinical specialist speech pathologist and PhD student Danielle Stone said the study was the first of its kind to use a standard patient-reported outcome measure to investigate whether swallowing issues were an under-recognised condition following whiplash.

“Before our study, there was a small amount of literature suggesting swallowing difficulties were a possible consequence of whiplash, but following our work, we now have additional data linking the two conditions.

“Further research is needed, but this information will help in the treatment of whiplash by encouraging clinicians to consider a broader range of symptoms following a whiplash injury.”

The study also investigated whether swallowing changes were related to a change in volume of the pharynx (throat) as prior studies demonstrated a narrowing of the pharyngeal lumen in people presenting with persisting disability.

“Contrary to what we thought, there was no change in the volume of the pharynx in our cohort and therefore, no association with swallowing problems.

“Our investigations have played an important part in raising awareness of the conditions.

“As our study was the first to explicitly look at swallowing and whiplash using a well-accepted outcome measure, we now have more confidence that swallowing may be a feature of whiplash that warrants further investigation.”

The research has been published in the medical journal, Dysphagia.

6 December 2021
Kolling researcher takes out coveted award

Congratulations to Kolling researcher Dr Jillian Eyles who’s been named one of the inaugural research translation fellows by Sydney Health Partners.

Facing tremendous competition from a large group of outstanding researchers, Jillian is one of just five people to have been awarded a fellowship, which means they’ll be able to dedicate a greater amount of their time to research.

Sydney Health Partners says the fellowships are aimed at building research translation capability in the workforce by supporting researchers to improve their translational skills while remaining in their substantive position. The fellowships will also involve learning support and professional development.

Sydney Health Partners Executive Director Professor Don Nutbeam says the new fellows were successful in a highly competitive process.

“We are very pleased to be able to support such able clinicians and researchers through Sydney Health Partners. The standard of applications was very high and we are disappointed not to be in a position to support several other worthy applicants,” he said.

Dr Eyles will now be able to direct her research focus to a project evaluating strategies to enhance the adoption of the Osteoarthritis Chronic Care Program (OACCP) across NSW public hospitals.

Jillian has welcomed the fellowship saying it will provide an opportunity to extend this important program focusing on evidenced-based, patient centred care to improve outcomes for people living with osteoarthritis.

“While it is a great program, the clinicians who lead the OACCP have identified important aspects that could be improved to make it even more successful. I am looking forward to collaborating with clinicians from Northern Sydney, Western Sydney and Sydney local health districts to help make this happen.”

Kolling Institute Acting Executive Director has commended Jillian on her fellowship, saying it’s a testament to her talent and her impressive track record.

“This additional support from Sydney Health Partners is welcome as the Kolling steps up its focus on research translation,” he said.

“By investing in projects like this, we can speed up the implementation of best practice, and ensure our hospital-based care is informed by the very latest developments and research.”

19 November 2021
World Spine Day: Kolling researchers challenging old concepts to improve care

To mark World Spine Day on October 16, the Back Pain Research team at the Kolling Institute is urging those who experience the condition to adopt the latest advice and keep moving.

Spinal pain is extremely common, affecting around 800 million people globally. The condition compromises social, family and work activities, and is the main reason Australians retire involuntarily.

The lower back and neck are most commonly affected, with those over 75 suffering the most.

Head of the Kolling’s Back Pain Research team and University of Sydney researcher Professor Manuela Ferreira said that despite the impact of spinal pain, it’s rarely due to serious disease and usually gets better with time.

“Our spine is strong and old concepts like back pain is caused by poor posture or bending are no longer supported by research,” she said.

“The latest findings show that there are no right and wrong postures for the spine, as long as we keep moving and changing positions frequently.

“The current advice from researchers is to keep working, remain as active as possible and modify activities as needed. It’s important to find an exercise you can do and enjoy doing as every exercise can help the spine.

“It’s also important to limit the use of strong medications and injections, and to consider the role of surgical procedures as many have limited benefit in the long term.”

The Back Pain Research team is continuing its program to help those suffering from spinal pain, launching new research to improve our understanding of spinal conditions and how they can be prevented and treated.

“We are conducting ground-breaking studies nationally and internationally so that the community ultimately has access to high-value, evidenced based care.

“We are excited by our new research which will focus on broadening our knowledge around the efficacy and safety of the most common surgical procedures, and the development of innovative digital approaches to bring the best care to patients with spinal pain.”

13 October 2021
Kolling centre guiding gold standard rehabilitation care

The John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research has been awarded close to $10 million to help improve the lives of those living with injury-related disability.

The funding has been granted by the state’s compensation agencies icare NSW and the State Insurance Regulatory Authority, continuing a 20 year research partnership.

icare NSW Managing Director and CEO Richard Harding said the research was invaluable in supporting people with injuries.

“Getting the right care and support for injured people is paramount. This investment will ensure NSW stays at the forefront of treatments and recovery pathways for severely-injured people,” he said.

Chief Executive of the State Insurance Regulatory Authority Adam Dent said the ongoing investment will ensure this specialised research continues over the next five years.

“The John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research has played a key role providing evidence-based advice, and informing policy and legislative changes to make personal injury schemes in NSW sustainable and meet the needs of scheme claimants,” Mr Dent said.

Head of the centre Professor Ian Cameron has welcomed the substantial funding, saying it will allow them to expand their activities and increase the impact of their research.

“While the emphasis of the funding is to support people injured in NSW workplaces and on NSW roads, the expanded work will directly impact on the health of people in the NSLHD who have experienced injury or illness causing disability,” he said.

“Our research aims to improve rehabilitation services for people with severe injury, particularly traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, and also people with musculoskeletal and psychological injuries.

“Our focus is on applying our research progress to clinical practice, so that we are directly improving the lives of people living with disabilities.

“Importantly, a key part of our success will rely on our collaborations within the NSLHD and the Kolling Institute to broaden our research and educational activities.”

17 September 2021
World-leading research in the spotlight

The Neuroscience and Pain Research Showcase provided a timely opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of expertise across this priority research area at the Kolling.

Co-ordinated by Professors Paul Glare and Lisa Harvey, the online event attracted more than 250 people.

A diverse range of presentations focused on the cutting-edge research targeting mitochondrial disease, psychiatric disorders, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Researchers shared details too of world-leading projects to reduce the damaging impact of multiple medications.

Senior researcher Professor Lisa Harvey said it was an important opportunity to promote the talented researchers across this priority research area and their significant achievements.

“Our neuroscience and pain researchers have a unique breadth of skills, with their research progress directly influencing clinical practice and policy frameworks, and improving community health,” she said.

“Our research ranges from investigations into new stem cell technologies through to large international clinical trials, and it was great to hear more about these exciting projects.

“It was also encouraging to hear from the impressive early and mid-career researchers, who shared details of their ground breaking work.”

Pain Management Research Institute Director Professor Paul Glare said the presentations aligned well with the keynote talks from Professor Don Nutbeam, the Executive Director of Sydney Health Partners and Dr Tony Penna, the Executive Director of the Office for Health and Medical Research, who both highlighted the importance of translating research into clinical practice.

“The showcase emphasised the importance of research collaborations, including existing partnerships within the priority research area, and the development of new opportunities with national and international collaborators,” he said.

“The Pain Management Research Institute for instance is already working closely with our Ageing and Pharmacology team around opioid tapering, and is looking towards closer ties with the John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research.

“Stronger national and international partnerships will also bolster our efforts to improve the lives of people living with neurological conditions and disabling pain.

“We’re looking forward to our next showcase which will hopefully be run in-person at a time that looks very different to now.”

2 September 2021
Technology to deliver support to those with back pain during the pandemic

While the COVID-19 pandemic is interrupting access to some healthcare services, an innovative approach may hold the key to support for those with low back pain.

Researchers at the University of Sydney and the Kolling Institute have launched a study to measure the effectiveness of a mobile health program which offers self-management strategies via text messages.

Study lead Professor Manuela Ferreira said broader options for care are needed given the large number of people who experience the condition.

“Low back pain is the greatest cause of disability worldwide, impacting social, family and work activities,” she said.

“In Australia, it affects one in six people and is the main reason Australians miss work and retire involuntarily.

“People with low back pain need affordable interventions to help them manage their condition, and this mobile health program provides practical, evidenced-based strategies through text messages.

“Text messaging is an easy, accessible and affordable intervention that can empower people with low back pain to better manage their own symptoms. It can be used to support people anywhere, at any time of the day.”

Text messaging initiatives have been shown to help people with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

“Our study, named TEXT4myBACK, is assessing two formats of text message interventions, which differ in frequency and content,” Professor Ferreira said.

“Researchers will then measure whether the text messages are improving function and back pain symptoms.

Musculoskeletal Australia is supporting the study and CEO Rob Anderson said they’re pleased to be involved.

“Most of us have a mobile phone and use it regularly. Receiving text messaging to help manage debilitating low back pain seems like such a simple, yet effective way to help so many Australians in need. We’re excited to be a part of this study and look forward to seeing the outcomes.”

The research team is recruiting for the project so if you have low back pain and would like to find out about participating in the study, visit bit.ly/TEXT4myBACK and complete the pre-screening survey.

20 August 2021
New technology holds the key to better care for whiplash injuries

New research is set to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of whiplash injuries, one of the most common and challenging injuries following a non-catastrophic motor vehicle collision.

The longitudinal study, conducted over more than five years, involved researchers from the Kolling Institute along with scientists from Northwestern University, University of Colorado and Stanford University.

Close to 100 people were recruited to the trial soon after experiencing a motor vehicle collision. 84 of those underwent MRI scans of their neck two weeks after their crash and then again at 12 months.

The scans measured muscle composition, a key indicator of whiplash injury and other disorders of the cervical spine.

The Kolling’s Acting Executive Director Professor Jim Elliott said the project took advantage of improvements in the evolution of high resolution MRI and rapid acquisition and measurement techniques.

“We innovatively applied artificial intelligence, dramatically reducing the processing times of measuring muscle composition from hours to seconds with automatic segmentation,” he said.

“We found the changes in muscle composition occurred in both men and women, but to a larger extent in women and in the deep muscles, attaching directly to the spine. These findings raise questions around why these changes occurred and how they should be managed.

“Our study demonstrated a game-changing approach which may have significant implications for the diagnosis and treatment of those with a whiplash injury or other disorders of the cervical spine.

“The gains in MRI technology and the rapid acquisition techniques mean we are able to diagnose injuries which wouldn’t have been captured in the past, opening up new treatment pathways.

“The technique provides accurate and rapid, quantitative assessment of the complex muscles traversing the cervical spine, and importantly, this process could be incorporated into clinical radiology practice.”

The Professor of Allied Health in the Northern Sydney Local Health District and the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney said the findings are significant.

“Whiplash-associated-disorders are the most common outcome for the 2.6 million Australians and four million Americans involved in a non-catastrophic motor vehicle collision every year.

“Half of those injured recover rapidly, but the other half continue to experience long-term health issues, with neck pain the most common symptom.

“Whiplash-associated-disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide. They represent a considerable financial burden, costing the Australian economy around a $AUD1 billion a year, and the American economy more than $USD100 billion per annum.

“Given these circumstances, there is an urgent need for new diagnostics and effective strategies to identify and mitigate the risk of chronic whiplash-associated-disorders.

“We believe this new technological approach will deliver diagnostic, predictive and clinical benefits.”

Other authors on the paper include Todd B. Parrish, Rebecca Abbott, Marie Wasielewski (Northwestern University), Andrew C. Smith (University of Colorado) and Kenneth A Weber II, Vivie Bojilov, Trevor Hastie and Sean Mackey (Stanford University).

The study has been published in Scientific Reports.

1 August 2021

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