COLLABORATION TO DEVELOP EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO HELP IMPROVE OSTEOARTHRITIS MANAGEMENT Haleon and University of Sydney launch 5-Year fellowship to research efficacy of dietary supplements
SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney and online | February 2025
INTERVIEWS
Professor David Hunter,
Florance and Cope Chair of Rheumatology
Co-Director Sydney Musculoskeletal Health Flagship,
University of Sydney
Dr Bincy Thampi,
Medical & Scientific Affairs Lead
Haleon ANZ
Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability affecting over 2 million Australians, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report on Chronic musculoskeletal conditions (2024) and 595 million people globally, according to BD 2021 Osteoarthritis Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of osteoarthritis, 1990–2020. It represents a significant public health burden that diminishes quality of life among ageing populations.
Consumer healthcare company Haleon is sponsoring a five-year named fellowship program at the University of Sydney that will investigate the therapeutic role of supplements in managing osteoarthritis symptoms and digital health technologies that improve mobility.
The fellowship will fund a postdoctoral researcher to work under the guidance of world leading osteoarthritis expert, rheumatologist and researcher Professor David Hunter.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Professor Hunter who said the research collaboration represents a shared focus and investment in improving osteoarthritis management: “This is a disabling disease that has a huge impact on the people affected.”
“A collaborative effort between researchers and manufacturers will drive innovation and hopefully improve the lives of those impacted by this devastating disease. Use of supplements and natural ingredients in managing osteoarthritis is an exciting area with a lot of potential. I’m not aware of any other long-term, five-year projects of this nature that has osteoarthritis as its focus,” said Hunter.
Haleon and the University of Sydney have a shared goal of finding better management strategies for osteoarthritis and developing better outcomes for the people affected.
Dr Bincy Thampi, Medical & Scientific Affairs Lead at Haleon ANZ, also spoke with Australian Health Journal and says, “Haleon has a strong commitment to scientific research that drives innovative self-care and improves consumer health outcomes.”
“This partnership illustrates Haleon’s commitment to advancing trusted science for our products to better everyday health and we’re excited to see where this partnership with University of Sydney leads,” said Dr Thampi.
-
Health Minister’s Awards for Nursing Trailblazers
An ACT nurse dedicated to giving people more dignity and choice in their final days was earlier this week night named the inaugural Health Minister’s Nursing Trailblazer at an awards ceremony in Sydney.
Lord Nigel Crisp, Co-Chair Nursing Now and Australian College of Nursing President, Professor Christine Duffield FACN presented the inaugural Health Minister’s Nursing Trailblazer Award to Nikki Johnston MACN, a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner based in Canberra at Calvary Health Care’s Clare Holland House.
-
Warning signs of substance abuse and addiction
Tara Hurster, is the CEO of The TARA Clinic and a psychologist who started working within the area of addiction in 2010. The TARA clinic, short for Therapeutic Addiction Recovery Assistance, recently started offering online programs to overcome and recover from addiction.
Tara spoke with Australian Health Journal about the early warning signs of anxiety and stress in health staff and executives, including irritability, changes in sleep patterns and diet leading to more serious mental health decline. These behaviours and symptoms increase the risk of substance abuse that could take the form of excessive smoking, drinking alcohol and drug use, porn, sex and gambling.
-
Trends report identifies prototyping targets for breakthroughs in digital and hybrid futures
Vishaal Kishore, a Professor of Innovation and Public Policy at RMIT in Melbourne, serves as the Executive Chair of the RMIT-Cisco Health Transformation Lab and RMIT’s Director of Impact. Led by the RMIT-Cisco Health Transformation Lab, the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN) Health Alliance combines the best minds, technologists, industry capabilities and academic resources to solve pressing industry and social challenges through technology-driven innovation. The NIIN aims to pool insights and expertise to address national health challenges, marking its first vertical focus on health.
