OPTIMISING RURAL MUSCULOSKELETAL HEALTH
Adnan Asger Ali, PhD candidate
The University of Sydney &
Director & Principal Physiotherapist
Accelerate Physiotherapy, Canberra, Australia &
Chair of Business and Finance Committee,
International Federation of Manual and Musculoskeletal Physical Therapists Incorporated (IFOMPT) &
Chair, National Musculoskeletal Committee,
Australian Physiotherapy Association
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Canberra, Australia | September 2025
Adnan Asger Ali is a Director of Accelerate Physiotherapy and PhD candidate at The University of Sydney, where he is researching implementation strategies for musculoskeletal care pathways in rural Australia as part of the PACE-RURAL project.
Graduating from The University of Canberra, Adnan completed a Masters in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy at La Trobe University and a Masters in Pain Management at The University of Sydney. He is one of few physiotherapists in Australia holding dual APA titles as both Musculoskeletal and Pain Physiotherapist.
A passionate advocate for physiotherapy, Adnan serves as Chair of the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s National Musculoskeletal Committee and sits on the Capital Health Network’s Clinical Council. His commitment to clinical excellence was recognised when he received Physiotherapist of the Year at the 2023 Allied Health Awards.
Adnan has extensive sports physiotherapy experience, currently working with Tennis Australia treating professional players on international tours and at The Australian Open. Through his research and clinical practice, he is dedicated to improving access to evidence-based musculoskeletal care for all Australians.
Source: Supplied
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ROCK-induced early-onset bowel cancer progression
Professor Michael Samuel is a cell biologist whose research interest is in understanding how cancer mechanobiology influences the tumour microenvironment, thereby promoting tumour progression. He is Professor of Matrix Biology at the University of South Australia, Adelaide and heads the Tumour Microenvironment Laboratory at the Centre for Cancer Biology and the Cancer Mechanotherapies Laboratory at the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research.
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Novel silk-based biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
Dr Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina is a Scientia Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow leading a multidisciplinary group at the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney in Australia.
Her research interests are at the interface of biology and engineering, focusing on the development of biomimetic materials that direct cellular interactions for enhanced vascularisation and for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In particular, she develops novel silk-based biomaterials and investigates how biomaterial properties translate to biological outcomes.
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Precision and personalised nutrition
Laureate Professor Clare Collins is helping people access effective medical nutrition therapies that significantly reduce their risk of chronic disease. She and her team are developing innovative technologies, including apps and online programmes.
