RESEARCHER PROFILE
Jason Rogers (Filmed April 2024)
Postdoctoral Fellow
Menzies Institute for Medical Research,
University of Tasmania
Jason Rogers is a Tasmanian physiotherapist clinician-researcher with a longstanding interest in improving musculoskeletal foot and ankle conditions. He completed his PhD at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania in 2022 investigating the clinical and imaging factors associated with a common foot complaint known as chronic plantar heel pain.
Chronic plantar heel pain, historically known as plantar fasciitis, is common and commonly recalcitrant, yet the optimal treatment for this condition is not clear. The focus of Jason’s postgraduate research is on improving treatment pathways for chronic plantar heel pain. In particular his research has identified that there are many different sub-groups of plantar heel pain that may warrant specific and individualised treatment approaches. For example his research found that up to half of people with this condition have a type of bone bruise or stress response in the heel known as a ‘bone marrow lesion’ (BML). His BALSA trial will test the effectiveness of targeting these lesions with a bone-sensitive treatment known as shockwave therapy, comparing pain and BML size outcomes against a sham shockwave control group.
As well as improving treatment outcomes for this specific and sizeable sub-group of heel pain sufferers, this research will help inform the future of targeted care treatment approaches for plantar heel pain.
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Identification, characterisation and role of leader cells in ovarian cancer progression
Dr. Maree Bilandzic is a molecular cancer biologist dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of ovarian cancer (OC). Her research addresses critical gaps in OC treatment by investigating the mechanisms behind metastasis, chemotherapy resistance, and tumour recurrence. By utilising innovative methodologies and disease-representative models, Dr. Bilandzic has pioneered the identification and characterisation of leader cells (LCs)—a unique, stem-like subpopulation within tumours that plays a crucial role in OC progression.
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Risk factors and prevention of respiratory infections and infectious diseases in children
A/Prof Hannah Moore OAM is an infectious disease epidemiologist; Co-Head of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology team within the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at The Kids Research Institute Australia and Associate Professor at the School of Population Health, Curtin University in Western Australia.
A/Prof Moore has been awarded more than $19M in competitive research grants, co-authored more than 140 papers, was TEDxPerth 2018 speaker, recipient of a WA Young Tall Poppy Award (2013) and the WA Premiers Science Early Career Scientist Award (2015). In 2024, she was honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to epidemiology as a researcher.
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CASE STUDY Role of Exercise in Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease
Dr. Shelley Keating AES AEP* is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, a researcher, and a senior lecturer at the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Dr. Keating’s research primarily focuses on the role of exercise in the management of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. MASLD affects a significant portion of the global adult population, with many individuals unaware of their condition.
