Professor Michelle Farrar
MBBS (Hons) FRACP PhD
Michelle Farrar is a mid-career researcher, Child Neurologist at Sydney Children鈥檚 Hospitals Network (SCHN), Professor at 91色情片, Sydney and Senior Principal Research Scientist (Conjoint) at Neurosciences Research Australia. Her focus is on translating research into improved care for children with rare neurological diseases and their families. This includes the co-design of models of care that are evidence and strengths based and person-centered. Prof Farrar is a member of the Childhood Dementia Initiative Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee and a working group member for the International Consortium for Health outcomes measurement in SMA. She is Chief Investigator on a range of national and international rare disease programs, spanning biomarker discovery, clinical trials and outcomes, newborn screening, lived experiences, stakeholder education and health system readiness for advanced neurotherapeutics. Prof Farrar has authored over 180 peer-reviewed journal articles (>10,000 citations), including the NHMRC endorsed guidelines for spinal muscular atrophy newborn screening (co-chair) and the national recommendations for rare disease care. Farrar has received a number of prestigious awards, including the 2017 Australia and New Zealand Association of Neurologists Leonard Cox Award for research achievements in Neuroscience and in 2019 the silver medal Michelle Beets Memorial Award, NSW Health and Humpty Dumpty Foundation, for improving health outcomes for children in NSW beyond expected. Passionate about equitable global health care, CI Farrar is a member of the WHO regional taskforce supporting the implementation of the WHO Resolution on Rare Diseases.
Society Memberships & Professional Activities:
- Member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists
- Member of the Australia and New Zealand Child Neurology Society
- Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
- Treat NMD Neuromuscular Network
- Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists Educational and Training EEG and Clinical Neurophysiology Committee member
- International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) Member of the Therapies Scientific Committee听
- Sydney Children鈥檚 Hospital Scientific Advisory Committee member for the Human Research Ethics Committee
- Member of the Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee, Childhood Dementia Initiative
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
2021-2027听听听听听听听听NRMRC Investigator Grant: Improving health outcomes for neurological diseases in children with genomic technologies
2022-2027听 听 听 听MRFF:听A national functional diagnostic program for therapy development in congenital muscle disease
2022-2026听 听 听 听MRFF:听NEWBORN GEN SEQ TRAIL: NEWBORN GENomic SEQuencing in screening: Therapy Ready And Information for Life
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- Michelle Beets Memorial Silver Award (2018) NSW Health and Humpty Dumpty Foundation for improving health outcomes for children
- Leonard Cox Award, Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (2017) for contributions to Australian neuroscience
- School of Women鈥檚 and Children鈥檚 Health, 91色情片 Sydney Best publication award (2017)
- Dean鈥檚 Rising Star Award, 91色情片 Medicine, 91色情片 Sydney (2016)
- Asian Oceanian Myology Centre Fellowship award for outstanding presentation (2016)
- James Lance Young Investigator Award, Australia and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (2010)
Prof Farrar is a leading researcher in paediatric neuromuscular and rare neurogenetic disorders, successfully translating research to improve health practice and outcomes for patients, their families and the community. Her multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians lead projects to:
- Improve early diagnosis and advance genomics in screening
- Improve health outcomes for children
- Apply genetic technologies for the discovery of novel biomarkers for clinical translation
- Develop and implement new therapies
- Develop the clinical and translational capability of paediatric precision medicine in neurology
- Improve the understanding of patient and family experiences of new and emerging health technologies
- Improve the understanding of the ethical and social issues related to emerging health technologies
- Rapidly translate evidence into clinical practice and health policy
To undertake this work, Michelle鈥檚 team uses a variety of research designs and technologies including:
- International multicentre clinical trials
- Prospective cohort studies
- Cross-sectional studies
- In depth qualitative analyses
- Systematic reviews of the literature
- Implementation science evaluations
- Economic evaluations and cost effectiveness analyses
- Clinical and neurophysiological assessments
- Cutting-edge high-throughput genomic sequencing
Michelle鈥檚 team also applies their clinical research approach to other neurological conditions, such as neurodevelopmental disorders, epilepsy and neuro-oncology and are passionate about creating an environment where people affected by these disorders are actively involved across all stages and types of research.
Michelle also has a strong commitment to improving the practice of medicine, thus connecting her research achievements to her activities in medical education and community and consumer engagement. As a regular contributor to the media, Professor Farrar is raising awareness in the community about early diagnosis and treatment of paediatric neuromuscular disorders and possibilities for carrier screening to allow couples to make reproductive choices.