Sarah Dunlop

CURRENT POSITION & TITLE
Professor, Head of School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia
Accorded Status, Royal Perth Hospital

QUALIFICATIONS
PhD 1978 (London)
BSc (Hons) 1974 (London)

APPOINTMENTS - SINCE 2010
1998 - 2010 Senior Research Fellow, NH&MRC, Animal Biology, UWA
2011 - 2013 Principal Research Fellow, NH&MRC, Animal Biology, UWA
2005 - 2013 Professorial Fellow (Research), UWA
2013 - 2016 Head, School of Animal Biology, UWA
2016 - 2019 Head, School of Biological Sciences, UWA

APPOINTMENTS - SINCE 2010
1998 - 2010 Senior Research Fellow, NH&MRC, Animal Biology, UWA
2011 - 2013 Principal Research Fellow, NH&MRC, Animal Biology, UWA
2005 - 2013 Professorial Fellow (Research), UWA
2013 - 2016 Head, School of Animal Biology, UWA
2016 - 2019 Head, School of Biological Sciences, UWA

Professor Sarah Dunlop leads an integrated program of laboratory and clinical research at The University of Western Australia & Royal Perth Hospital to promote functional recovery after traumatic injury to the nervous system. Laboratory studies use rodent models and focus on understanding and preventing the spread of secondary degeneration to intact tissue.

Clinical studies comprise three multi-centre randomized controlled trials “Spinal Cord Injury and Physical Activity (SCIPA)” involving all 8 spinal units in Australia and New Zealand to examine novel ways to exercise the paralysed limbs to promote neurological recovery and improve health. The trials span acute care to the community, reflecting the lifetime need of these patients. SCIPA.Com has also developed a program to train the trainers, break down barriers to exercise and increase participation once patients are living in the community. “ICED” Immediate Cooling and Early Decompression) is another multi-centre clinical initiative focusing on acute spinal cord injury involving immediate hypothermia in the ambulance to buy time and limit secondary damage before emergency surgical decompression. Another more recent multi-centre initiative involves examining bladder care and urinary tract infections, a major secondary complication following spinal cord injury, to promote best practice for bladder health.