Dr Jocelyn Bowden will spend five years working with Professor David Hunter, an internationally renowned rheumatologist and researcher.
International consumer healthcare company Haleon has formed a partnership with the University of Sydney to fund a five-year fellowship program.
The sponsorship agreement is part of a broader research project, which kicked off earlier this year, aimed at exploring the potential role of using supplements to manage osteoarthritis symptoms and digital health technology to improve mobility for patients.
Dr Jocelyn Bowden, a human movement researcher who earned her PhD from the University of New South Wales in 2013, will spend the next five years working alongside Professor David Hunter, a world-renowned osteoarthritis expert.
Dr Bowden’s previous research has focused on promoting evidence-based practice – including reducing reliance on costly or ineffective services – across a broad range of health conditions such as spinal cord, stroke and osteoarthritis.
Professor Hunter said the collaboration between Haleon and the University of Sydney was an important step forward in improving osteoarthritis management.
“A collaborative effort between researchers and manufacturers will drive innovation and hopefully improve the lives of those impacted by this devastating disease. [The] 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,” he said in a statement.
Haleon’s local medical and scientific affairs lead, Dr Bincy Thampi, said supporting the fellowship underscored the organisation’s dedication to driving innovation in consumer healthcare.
“As global leaders in pain management and everyday health, 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,” they said.
Osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in Australia. Over two million people are affected by the painful, debilitating condition, which is associated with significantly reduced quality of life.
