Dr Carolina Sandler
PhD (91É«ÇéƬ), BSc (Health & Sport, 91É«ÇéƬ), Accredited Exercise PhysiologistÌý
Dr Carolina Sandler is an accredited exercise physiologist and clinical researcher in the School of Health Sciences. She is part of the Fatigue Research program at the Kirby Institute working with Professor Andrew Lloyd. Her areas of interest are post-infective fatigue states and cancer survivorship.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
Research funding - Chief investigatorÌý
1. Mason Foundation – Medical and Scientific Grants (awarded to 91É«ÇéƬ) 2021-2022 ($306,000)
Genetics determinants of post-infective fatigue.
CIs Lloyd A, Wyller V, Cvejic E, Sandler CX.
2. Menzies Health Institute Queensland Ìý Ìý 2020 Ìý($20,000)
Exercise in adults with brain cancer.Ìý
CIs Hayes S & Sandler CX.
3. School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences – project funding (awarded to C.Sandler) Ìý2019 Ìý Ìý Ìý($10,000)
SAfety And Feasibility of Exercise for women with breast cancer and high disease burden – the SAFE trial.
CI Sandler CX
4. Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation Pilot project funding (awarded to C.Sandler) Ìý Ìý2019 Ìý Ìý ($10,000)
Sandler C, Hayes S. The role of Physical activity and exercise in adults with brain cancer – a systematic review
CI Sandler CX
5. Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation Healthy lifestyle program funding - research assistant support (awarded to C.Sandler) 2018 Ìý($2500) CI Sandler CX
6. Consultancy project supported by Icon Cancer Foundation (awarded to QUT) Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý 2017-2019 ($150,000)
Brain Cancer and Exercise (BRACE) study.
CIs Hayes S., Sandler CX.
7. Mason Foundation – Medical and Scientific Grants (awarded to 91É«ÇéƬ) Ìý 2017 Ìý Ìý Ìý($99,955)
Development and evaluation of an online patient education program for chronic fatigue states.
CIs Sandler C, Cassar J, Lloyd A, Barry B.
8. Mason Foundation – Medical and Scientific Grants Ìý Ìý (awarded to 91É«ÇéƬ) Ìý Ìý2016 Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý($79,671)
Measuring and improving activity pacing in chronic fatigue syndrome
CIs Barry B, Casson S, Sandler C, Li S, Lloyd A.
9. Mason Foundation – Medical and Scientific Grants Ìý Ìý (awarded to 91É«ÇéƬ) Ìý Ìý 2016 Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý($76,107)
A randomised controlled trial of online continuing education for health professionals to improve the management of chronic fatigue states
CIs Li S, Barry B, Sandler C, Casson, Keech A, Lloyd A.
10. Mason Foundation – Medical and Scientific Grants Ìý Ìý (awarded to 91É«ÇéƬ) Ìý Ìý Ìý2015 Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ($59,854)
Double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of modafinil to relieve the post-exertional exacerbation of fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome undertaking exercise.
CIs Sandler C, Keech A, Barry B , Lloyd A.
11. Exercise & Sports Science Australia – Tom Penrose Research & Community Service grant Ìý Ìý2013 Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý($10,000)
Development of a DVD and web-based training package for the optimised multi-disciplinary treatment program for patients with chronic fatigue states.
CIs Sandler C, Lloyd A, Tzarimas C, Barry B, Mildon S.
12. Mason Foundation - Special grant round for research into ME/CFS. Ìý Ìý Ìý(awarded to 91É«ÇéƬ) Ìý Ìý Ìý2011-2013 Ìý Ìý ($173,201)
Development of an optimized cognitive-behavioural therapeutic intervention for patients with chronic fatigue states.
CIs Lloyd A, Tzarimas C, Hamilton B, Horsfield S, Sandler C. (2011).
Research funding - Associate investigatorÌý
1. Cancer Council Queensland – (Awarded to Griffith University) Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý2021 - 2025 ($2million)
Exercise during chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.Ìý
CIs Hayes S, Obermair A, Mileshkin L, Brand E, Janda M, Eakin E, Barnes L, Beesley V, Davis A.
AIs Sandler C, Spence, R, O’Neill H, Pumpa K, Webber K, Stockler M. Williams M, Friedlander M, Webb P.
2. Children’s Health Foundation Queensland (awarded to QUT) Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý 2020-2024 ($400,600)
A randomized controlled trial evaluating a goal-directed therapeutic exercise program in pediatric posterior fossa brain tumor survivors
CIs Trost S, Hassall T, Baque E, Brookes D. AI Sandler C
3. Cancer Australia and Cancer Council Australia Project Grant (awarded to QUT) Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý2019-2021 ($597,443)
Exercise during chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.Ìý
CIs Hayes S, Obermair A, Mileshkin L, Brand E, Janda M, Eakin E, Barnes L, Beesley V, Davis A.
AIs Sandler C, O’Neill H, Pumpa K, Webber K, Stockler M. Williams M, Friedlander M, Webb P.
4. Cancer Institute NSW - translational program grant. (awarded to 91É«ÇéƬ) Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý2015-2020 Ìý Ìý Ìý (3,044,654)
CIs Goldstein D, Park P, Friedlander M, et al. AIs: Sandler
Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Assessment strategies, Treatments and Risk Factors.
Ìý
Educational and Travel grants
- Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation Healthy lifestyle program travel funding to Attend Exercise Sports Science Australia Conference, 2020Ìý (awarded to C.Sandler)Ìý 2019 ($790)
- Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation Healthy lifestyle program & School Exercise and Nutrition Science travel funding to attend European College of Sport Science Congress. Prague, Czech RepublicÌý(awarded to C.Sandler)Ìý 2019 ($7500)
- ThinkWell Turbocharge Your Writing QUT writing online coaching programÌýÌý (awarded to C.Sandler) Ìý2019 ($400)
- QUT Women in Leadership writing retreat.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý(awarded to C.Sandler)Ìý 2018
- Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation Healthy lifestyle travel funding to attend European College of Sport Science Congress. Dublin, IrelandÌý(awarded to C.Sandler) 2018Ìý ($2200)
- Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation Healthy lifestyle travel fundingÌýto attendÌýExercise Sports Science Australia Conference. Brisbane, AustraliaÌý (awarded to C.Sandler)Ìý 2018Ìý ($800)
- Brain Tumour Alliance Australia (BTAA) education grant to attend 10thÌýCOGNO Annual Scientific Meeting. Melbourne, VICÌýAustraliaÌý (awarded to C.Sandler)Ìý 2017Ìý ($600)
- 91É«ÇéƬ School of Medical Sciences postgraduate travel grant ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý(awarded to C.Sandler) 2015 ($1,500)
- 91É«ÇéƬ Postgraduate research student support scheme travel grantÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý (awarded to C.Sandler) 2014 ($3,300)
- Clinical Oncology Society of Australia – Trainee travel grantÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý(awarded to C.Sandler) 2013 ($1,000)
- 91É«ÇéƬ School of Medical Sciences postgraduate travel grantÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý(awarded to C.Sandler) 2013 ($500)
- Exercise Sports Science Australia, Cancer & exercise education grantÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý(awarded to C.Sandler) 2012 ($210)
Ìý
My program of research focuses on chronic fatigue states (including post-infective fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, post-cancer fatigue) and cancer survivorship.
The first area of clinicalÌýresearch is focused on the epidemiology,Ìýpathogenesis and managementÌýofÌýfatigue states after common acute infections (i.e. post-infective fatigue syndrome; PIFS followingÌý Epstein-Barr virus, SARS CoV-2 infections), and in more established chronic fatigue states (e.g. chronic fatigue syndrome; CFS, post-cancer fatigue; PCF). This research is conducted in close collaboration with theÌý91É«ÇéƬ Fatigue Clinic which offers cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) treatment interventions, where Dr Sandler was been the research and clinical coordinator and lead exercise physiologist. The other area of focus for this research is on the development and evaluation of accessible, online education for patients, General Practitioners and allied health professionals, with the aim to improve the understanding and management of chronic fatigue states. The PIFS research is based on data and samples previously collected in the DubboÌýInfection Outcomes Study (DIOS), led by Prof Andrew Lloyd. Kirby Institute, which wasÌýfunded by the Centers for Disease Control, USA and NHMRC, and also on data samples from theÌýinternationalÌýCollaborative on Fatigue Following Infection (COFFI) which includes 15 comparable prospective post-infective cohorts. The current focus is on epidemiological studies to identifyÌýreliableÌýpredictors of PIFS and on genetic association of PIFS - funded by the Mason Foundation.
The second area of clinical research is focused on the role of physical activity and exercise for people with cancer during and following treatment. This research has a focus on pragmatic exercise intervention trials to understand the feasibility, safety and effect of exercise in understudied populations (e.g. ovarian cancer, adult and paediatric brain cancers, metastatic breast cancer). This research also involves epidemiological studies of physical activity and the association with treatment-related side effects, quality of life and survival.Ìý This research involves working collaboratively with the Improving Health outcomes for PeopleÌý (IHOP) research group, led by Prof Sandi Hayes (Griffith University). My focus is to develop the evidence-base needed to ensure exercise oncology services and interventions for PCF are integrated into standard care to support cancer survivors to improve their health outcomes.
My Research Supervision
Ìý
- Safety and feasibility of exercise during chemotherapy, and survivorship concerns for women with ovarian cancer (PhD candidate)
- Effects of a goal-directed therapeutic exercise program in paediatric survivors of posterior fossa tumoursÌý(PhD candidate)
- Barriers to exercise in people with brain, breast, and ovarian cancer. (Masters candidate)
- Improving symptom and adverse event recording and reporting in exercise oncology.
- Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of aÌýsupervised exercise interventionÌýin women with stage II+ breast cancer: an analysis of the SAFE comparative effectiveness trial
My Teaching
Current:
Co-convenorÌýHESC3504 - Physical activity and Health (Exercise Physiology, 91É«ÇéƬ)
Previous:
Co-convenor - Cancer Sciences for Exercise physiologists (Exercise Physiology, 91É«ÇéƬ)
Convenor - Oncology and mental health (Exercise Physiology, Queensland University of Technology)
Convenor - Clinical skills for exercise physiologistsÌý(Exercise Physiology, Queensland University of Technology)