DrMichelle Hall

Project Opportunities

Title: Knee joint contact forces and muscle forces in women at risk to develop knee osteoarthritis.

Summary of opportunity:

The successful applicant with conduct nested mechanistic studies within TOPS clinical trial that aims to evaluate the efficacy of diet and exercise to prevent the development of structural knee osteoarthritis who women who are overweight. The TOPS trial is funded by the US National Institutes of Health and involves several clinical sites, including the University of Sydney.

Opportunity synopsis:

Knee osteoarthritis is in part a mechanically driven disease and illness. This PhD will assess joint contact forces and muscle forces using electrography-driven neuromusculoskeletal model. The overarching theme aim is explore mechanisms of knee osteoarthritis prevention strategies with a focus on exercise. Advanced methods will be used to integrate several types of data including - motion data, force data, imaging data and surface electromyography. The student will implement cutting-edge techniques in neuromusculoskeletal model alongside collaborators at Griffith University, (Associate Professor Laura Diamond) while belonging to a vibrant and diverse research team at University of Sydney that includes clinicians (Professor David Hunter), engineers, and health scientists from all backgrounds and cultures.

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Project Opportunities

Title: Pain sensitization in women at risk to develop knee osteoarthritis.

Summary of opportunity:

The successful applicant will conduct nested mechanistic studies within TOPS clinical trial that aim to evaluate the efficacy of diet and exercise to prevent the development of structural knee osteoarthritis in women who are overweight. The TOPS trial is funded by the US National Institutes of Health and involves several clinical sites, including the University of Sydney.

Opportunity synopsis:

Knee osteoarthritis is a complex condition to manage and prevent. This PhD will assess pain sensitization using quantitative sensory techniques. The overarching theme aim is to unravel mechanisms of knee OA prevention strategies and explore subgroups. The student will implement cutting-edge techniques quantitative sensory testing alongside colleagues at Alborg University, Denmark (Associate Professor Kristian Petersen) and Queensland University (Dr David Klyne) while belonging to a vibrant and diverse research team at University of Sydney that includes clinicians (Professor David Hunter), engineers, and health scientists from all backgrounds and cultures.