Monash researcher championing hidden societal costs of stroke
Department of Neuroscience clinical researcher Professor Natasha Lannin has been awarded a Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship to improve health outcomes for adults after stroke and crucially reduce the burden of disability through evidence based rehabilitation.
The Future Leader Fellowship supports the best and brightest in cardiovascular research. Commencing this year, the four-year fellowship will allow Professor Lannin to conduct a program to reduce gaps in both evidence and translation by conducting a series of related studies (high quality clinical trials and systematic reviews) to test the effectiveness of common rehabilitation interventions, including vocational rehabilitation for young stroke survivors and develop a clinical decision-making aid. She will work directly with clinicians to translate and implement best practice into everyday health outcomes, e.g. early participation after first-time stroke and supporting ongoing mobility and participation in the community up to four years after stroke.
Professor Lannin is an occupational therapist by professional background and holds a joint appointment with Alfred Health in the Department of Allied Health and the Department of Neuroscience at the Central Clinical School where she independently leads her own research group, Brain Recovery and Rehabilitation Group.
“This fellowship will enable me to achieve my vision that stroke survivors could receive the most effective rehabilitation, delivered at the right time and in the right way and will lead to real change,” said Professor Lannin.
While cardiovascular research has made great gains in stroke survival, around 1 in 45 survivors live with a disability that prevents them from returning to independent living. Very few trials guide decision-making about what rehabilitation interventions work, with whom and when they should be provided. Large societal costs arise with stroke in Australia –
$3.6 billion in lost productivity
$26 billion in lost wellbeing and death
Head of Central Clinical School, Professor Terence O’Brien said, "This fellowship through the Heart Foundation recognises Professor Lannin as one of the nation's most outstanding leaders of clinical and allied health research in stroke. We are very proud to have her as part of our school and her incredible expertise in clinical trials and evidence-based medicine will go a long-way towards reducing the societal costs."
To view the full list of 2022 funding recipients, visit the Heart Foundation website.
Source : Monash University - 4th May 2023
