QUASR | Queensland Unit for Advanced Shoulder Research
2.5 million Australians are affected by musculoskeletal conditions and injuries every year*.
Clinical Challenge
Musculoskeletal conditions are a major cause of chronic severe pain and disability. They affect millions of people globally and are one of the leading contributors to burden of disease in Australia.
Shoulder conditions are common and impact a wide range of age groups, with up to 1 in 20 patients reporting shoulder pain to their GP. Patients with a shoulder condition can experience significant pain and disability which impacts their daily life and their ability to work, leading to a substantial economic burden.
While recent advances in digital technologies have enabled improvements in elements of the patient care journey there remains significant gaps in:
- our fundamental understanding of shoulder biomechanics;
- tools for truly personalising treatment and rehabilitation plans to improve patient outcomes and lower the failure and revision rates of surgical procedures; and
- validation of cutting-edge technologies to assist the accurate and efficient execution of complex surgical procedures.
There is a need for dedicated and transdisciplinary shoulder research that can bring together engineers, scientists and medical professionals to improve the knowledge and tools we employ to give Australian’s suffering from shoulder conditions the best possible care.
* Source: Australian Burden of Disease Study 2011
Our approach
Collaborative research
QUASR is a meeting place for sharing ideas and conducting collaborative research between orthopedic surgeons, engineers, scientists and medical professionals. QUASR’s research is dedicated to improving patient outcomes in orthopaedic shoulder surgery.
Together, the clinical research and university-based research activities of QUASR form a comprehensive platform working towards providing Australians with the best evidence-based treatment for their shoulder condition.
Research training
QUASR is dedicated to bridging the divide between academic research, industry and the clinic by investing significant time and resources into training the next generation of multidisciplinary work force. We foster growth of future leaders and build capacity through training, education and mentoring for research staff and students.
The university-based research activities of QUASR are conducted via the recently established Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Joint Biomechanics.
Research outcomes
QUASR’s research contributes to the knowledge base and validated technological tools available to help surgeons give their patients the best possible treatment. We aim to deliver:
- A better knowledge of shoulder function in healthy and diseased patients
- Validated tools for improved diagnosis, treatment planning, surgery and rehabilitation
- An improved understanding of patient outcomes for existing surgical procedures and devices
There are currently more than 30 ongoing research projects.
Research publications
Image gallery
Journey to impact
QUASR formed
First cohort of five industry partners and three clinical partners signed on + industry funding secured for four years.
University partnerships formed with UNSW and UQ. Category 1 competitive funding from Australian Research Council secured to supplement university and industry partner funding. Funding to establish an Industrial Transformation Training Centre, four years, including funding for 20 PhD students and five post docs.
Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics established (4th August).
Ten PhD students recruited to the Training Centre and commence their research projects. QUASR signs up several new industry partners including a collaboration with Herston Biofabrication Institute at Metro North to co-fund three PhD students.
Leadership team
QUASR partners
- Australian Research Council
- UNSW
- QUT
- University of Queensland
- Wright
- Zimmer Biomet
- Stryker
- Metro North Hospital and Health Service
- Greenslopes Private Hospital
- Brisbane Private Hospital
- Herston Biofabrication Institute
- Queensland Radiology Specialists
- Australian Biotechnologies
- Materialise
- Logemas
- Surgical Specialties
- University of Stuttgart
- NeuRA
- University of Malaga
Find out more
QUASR
- visit the QUASR website
- follow QUASR on twitter
- follow QUASR on LinkedIn
Joint Biomechanics Training Centre
- visit the Joint Biomechanics Training Centre website
- follow Joint Biomechanics Training Centre on twitter
- follow Joint Biomechanics Training Centre on LinkedIn
