Western Australia Speakers
A/Prof Asha Bowen
A/Professor Asha Bowen is an infectious diseases specialist leading research into congenital CMV long term outcomes nationally. Asha led the establishment of the Australian and New Zealand Congenital CMV register that commenced in 2020. The goal is to better understand the trajectories of infants with congenital CMV whether treated or not. The registry will also track the long term outcomes of exposure to CMV treatments in the newborn period. The Australian and New Zealand registry is seeking to harmonise with international registries. AS this is a rare condition, the benefit of international collaboration will progress answers faster.
A/Prof Melanie Ferguson
A/Prof Mel Ferguson is Associate Professor in Brain and Hearing at Curtin University and is a clinically qualified audiologist. Her research interests are remote technologies and new service delivery models, listening and cognition including dementia, mental wellbeing, and outcome measures for adults with hearing loss. She has led research teams at the Ear Science Institute Australia in Perth, National Acoustic Laboratories, Sydney, and the Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, UK. She has had leadership roles in UK Audiology and UK hearing healthcare policy-making.
Dr Barbara Heinz
Barbara is an experienced Senior Lecturer skilled in vestibular balance function, electro-physiology, research, and audiological assessments. She has a particular interest in vestibular and balance screening and assessment for both adults and children and CI candidates. She is a strong healthcare services professional with a Masters focused in Early Childhood Development, and a Doctorate in Audiology from University of Pretoria. She is currently an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at UWA and a member of the ESIA team of researchers.
Dr Paola Incerti
Dr. Paola Incerti has worked as Senior Research Audiologist at the National Acoustic Laboratories since 2009. Her background in hearing device rehabilitation research has been focused on optimizing listening devices to enhance outcomes for both children and adults. Specifically, her work involves the prescription of electric and acoustic stimulation methods (such as cochlear implants, hearing aids, and bimodal devices), as well as considerations related to fitting configuration (i.e., whether on the same or opposite ears). Notably, Paola has recently led two major outcome studies funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
Kate Lewkowski
Kate is an audiologist with over 20 years of clinical experience and a track record of creating and managing sustainable hearing and balance clinics. Kate also holds degrees in computer science/ mathematics and public health and has extensive clinical and epidemiological research experience. She is passionate about hearing loss and tinnitus prevention and improving patient care for those with balance disorders. As a driven innovator and entrepreneur, she founded the MedTech start-up Neurotologix.
Dr David Sly
Dr David Sly is Chief Operating Officer of Research at Ear Science Institute Australia. He is an auditory neuroscientist with multidisciplinary experience working with surgeons, scientists, audiologists and engineers. His research aims to develop drug therapeutics and technology for hearing loss and hearing augmentation. After his PhD, he worked at The Bionic Ear Institute and The University of Melbourne where he led research into cochlear implants, hearing diagnostics and hearing therapeutics utilising cellular, surgical, drug, electronics and instrumentation approaches. Between 2011-15 he was Deputy Head of the Department of Otolaryngology at The University of Melbourne. At Swinburne University of Technology between 2016-2022 he was discipline lead of teaching in Clinical Technologies and Neuroscience and led research into augmented hearing and diagnostic medical technology for Defence and Industry.
Dr Ushma Wadia
As a senior Paediatrician Ushma has many years of experience in looking after neonates with CMV infection through her role as a paediatrician at Perth Children’s Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital. She is the Principal Investigator for various vaccine related trials at the Vaccine Trials Group, Telethon Kids Institute. Vaccine Trials Group is a multidisciplinary group of vaccine researchers dedicated to providing a coordinated approach to the development, delivery, assessment and promotion of vaccines through investigator led studies and collaboration across state, national and international groups. She has an established track record in clinical research including comprehensive experience in the conduct of trials. Her key interest lies in focusing on optimisation of prevention of infections in high-risk groups including healthcare workers, immunocompromised children and young infants through assessing and exploring altered immunisation schedules to optimise protection. She is the principal investigator for a phase III CMV vaccine trial in females aged 16 to 40 designed to provide a preventive strategy to reduce incidence of congenital CMV infection.