Research Supervisor Connect
There is scope for this opportunity to involve one or more of the following projects:
1. Assessment of several aspects of health in children with Pectus Excavatum and a comparison of sex- and age- matched healthy controls. This may include the development of normative data, standardized measurement procedures, and careful quantification of cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal impairments.
2. Trial of non-surgical correction of the Pectus Excavatum deformity in children using a physiotherapy-supported program with the vacuum bell suction device.
Pectus Excavatum is the most common anterior chest wall deformity, affecting approximately 1 in 250 children. Despite its prevalence, Pectus Excavatum is often dismissed as a cosmetic issue, with limited attention paid to its cardiac, pulmonary, psychosocial, and musculoskeletal implications.
This research will involve a careful assessment and documentation of the physiological and psychological consequences of Pectus Excavatum, which affect children regardless of deformity severity. In Australia, management options are limited to surgical correction, while conservative treatments such as the vacuum bell suction device, used internationally, offer promising non-invasive alternatives. This research opportunity will help to: 1) shed light on the true impact of this often dismissed skeletal deformity, and 2) commence Australian research into non-surgical correction using vacuum bell suction supported by physiotherapy.
Potential research methodologies:
o Systematic reviews
o Imaging studies
o 3D scanning and 3D motion analysis biomechanical studies
o Cohort and case-control designs to evaluate cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal and psychological outcomes
o Intervention studies: including pilot trials and assessor-blinded randomized clinical trials (RCTs)
o Surveys and international consortiums
We are seeking a passionate individual who is interested in making a difference to children’s lives with pectus excavatum. If you are interested, please reach out to A/Prof Simic for a discussion. Currently this is not a funded role, however following successful meeting with the research team, we will be willing to support individuals who are applying for scholarship applications. Please note that scholarship applications are highly competitive.
Location: Susan Wakil Health Building at the University of Sydney. Possibility of working within the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network.
The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 3578