Understanding Chronic Pain in Young People with Complex Conditions

Adrienne is a physiotherapist with over 30 years of clinical, research, and teaching experience. Adrienne is currently a Team Leader/Principal Research Fellow in Neurodisability and Rehabilitation at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Paediatric Research Lead in the Department of Physiotherapy at Monash University, and Associate Professor within the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne.  Adrienne's current research focuses on the assessment and management of chronic pain in children and young people with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities, taking into account the diverse mobility, communication, and cognitive abilities presented in these populations. 

Aayushi is currently an MD-PhD student at the University of Melbourne. Her PhD is being conducted at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Department of Paediatrics at the UoM. Her topic will be covering chronic pain characterisation in children with cerebral palsy. Aayushi has completed a Bachelor of Biomedicine with a Major in Neuroscience at the UoM and is part way through her medical degree. She is keen on becoming a clinician & researcher in the future with a key focus on paediatric pain, neurodisability & rehabilitation.

Kelly Nguyen is a PhD student in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. Kelly’s research interests include the use of digital and non-pharmacological interventions to promote self-management and pain management in children with chronic health conditions. Her decision to pursue a PhD was inspired by her previous research work involving children with arthritis and her clinical experiences as a nurse at The Hospital for Sick Children.