Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

- New-onset epilepsy in adulthood - what are the causes?
- Prescribing antiseizure medications in stroke patients

20132024

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Biography

Consultant Neurologist and co-head of the First Seizure Clinic at The Alfred since January 2020. I am also an Early Career Research Fellow at the School of Translational Medicine, Monash University. I completed my PhD on Optimisation of First Seizure and Epilepsy Management in May 2021. My research skills are in epidemiology, public health, and outcomes research. I designed and am currently leading multicentre prospective clinical trials to improve the ways in which we deliver healthcare. I am a committee member for the Epilepsy Society of Australia, as well as the Australian and New Zealand Headache Society. 

2024 Royal Australasian College of Physicians Neurology Webinar Series.
• First seizures and epilepsy prevention (Oct 2)

Australian and New Zealand Headache Society Annual Scientific Meeting
• Headaches not to miss: Thunderclap, IIH and other secondary headache disorders (Aug 25)

University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Neurosciences Seminar
• A better path: Improving outcomes for people with new-onset seizures and epilepsy (Feb 15)

2023 Epilepsy Society of Australia / International League Against Epilepsy (New Zealand chapter) combined Annual Scientific Meeting
• New onset epilepsy in the elderly: diagnosis (Nov 2)

Australian and New Zealand Headache Society Annual Scientific Meeting
• AHEAD Pilot Study, Sep 3
• Australian migraine epidemiology and productivity, Sep 2

American Academy of Neurology 2023: Highlights through an Australian Lens, presented by the limbic
• Topic: Headache
• Role: Invited presenter and panelist (May 31)

Epilepsy Society of Australia Educational Webinar
• A better path: Improving outcomes for people with new-onset seizures and epilepsy (Feb 15)

2022 Epilepsy Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting
• First seizure clinics: an impactful intervention (Oct 27)

Royal Australasian College of Physicians Lecture Series for Basic Physician Trainees
• Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
• Recorded: Jun 21

2021 The Alfred Hospital Grand Round
• Epileptonomics (Oct 14)

American Academy of Neurology 2021 – Spotlight on Headache
• Co-presented with Dr Bronwyn Jenkins
• Available at: https://thelimbic.com/neurology/aan-2021-spotlight-on-headache/
• Jun 29

Melbourne Shenzhen Sanming Symposium
• First Seizure Patient Reported Outcome Measures (Apr 8)

2020 International League Against Epilepsy Webinar
• The costs of epilepsy
• Recorded Nov 7
• Available at: https://youtu.be/BFteua3gAlU

Epilepsy Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting
• The costs of epilepsy in Australia: a productivity-based analysis (Nov 6)

2018 Melbourne Epilepsy Annual Meeting
• First seizures in the community vs hospitalised populations (March 28)

2017 Neuro-ophthalmology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting
• Erdheim-Chester Disease, Sept 15
• Monocular ophthalmopleigia, Sept 15

Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists Annual Scientific Meeting
• Hypnic headache (May 10)

University Service

In 2024, I co-supervise / mentor 5 PhD students; have 1 x PhD completion (co-supervisor); and am primary supervisor for 1 x Masters student.
I am a committee member for Australian and New Zealand Headache Society (Ordinary member), Epilepsy Society of Australia (Education & Training Committee), and Women in Neurology (co-opted member)

Research interests

  • First seizure
  • Epilepsy
  • Migraine
  • Headache

Supervision interests

New-onset epilepsy in adulthood - what are the causes?
People may develop epilepsy at any time throughout their life, and there are many different causes of epilepsy. This study will identify whether specific causes of epilepsy occur more commonly at different ages. The study will involve 1) a systematic literature review, and 2) a retrospective medical record review, based on attendances to The Alfred First Seizure Clinic over a 5 year period.

Prescribing antiseizure medications in stroke patients
Stroke survivors are at increased risk of acute symptomatic seizures in the days following a stroke, and are at increased risk for developing epilepsy after this time. Antiseizure medications may be started as primary or secondary prevention. There are no formal guidelines to recommend specific antiseizure medications post-stroke. This project will be a retrospective review of antiseizure medication prescription practices in a state stroke centre.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

External positions

Neurology consultant, Alfred Hospital

Feb 2020 → …

Research area keywords

  • Epilepsy
  • First Seizure
  • Headache
  • Cost-utility
  • Health economics
  • Outcomes Research
  • Epidemiology
  • Migraine
  • Public Health
  • Quality of life

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or