Endometriosis Australia has today announced grant recipients for research into endometriosis from a record 25 applications totalling $1.1 Million.
Among the research grant recipients covering a range of categories from Medical/Surgical, Allied & Educational/ Support and Basic Science, is Embrace Fertility lead fertility doctor Professor Louise Hull.
Giving hope to the 830,000 Australians that are affected by this disease, nationally accredited charity Endometriosis Australia is the only organisation in this space allocating investment towards endometriosis research solely through the generosity of our donors and fundraisers.
Professor Louise Hull’s grant will allow her to work on research into non-invasive endometriosis diagnosis using machine learning.
This project uses machine learning technology to identify markers in specialist endometriosis ultrasound and MRI scans that can determine the likelihood of having endometriosis at surgery.
Dr Hull and her team intend to use their findings to develop a non-invasive test that can help doctors provide women with an accurate and timely diagnosis of endometriosis.
This will create a better acknowledgement of why someone suffers pelvic pain and how they can be best helped with early initiation of preventative and therapeutic treatments.
Professor Louise Hull is a gynaecologist and biomedical scientist, who leads the Endometriosis Research Group at the Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide.
Her group is internationally recognised for exploring the biological basis of endometriosis in order to develop new diagnostic tests and therapeutics.
She clinically translates new endometriosis medical breakthroughs in clinical trials and her recent projects include co-creating a national digital platform for endometriosis with the Australian Endometriosis Societies and developing better imaging tests for endometriosis using machine learning.
Dr Hull is an international ambassador for the World Endometriosis Society and sat on the National Endometriosis Action Plan Round Table.
She supervises Ph.D. students and teaches medical students, O and G registrars and fertility sub-specialists.
Associate Professor Hull founded the Embrace Fertility IVF unit and works at Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide seeing clients with endometriosis, fertility problems and recurrent miscarriage.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue that is similar to the lining of the womb grows in other parts of the body, causing pain, infertility. 11.4% of women and those that identify as gender diverse have endometriosis, with the disease often starting in teenagers. Symptoms are variable, and this may contribute to the, on average, six and a half year delay in diagnosis.
If you are interested in participating in the research and you have had a pelvic MRI (for any reason) or you are scheduled for endometriosis surgery, contact Dr Jodie Avery at endostudy@adelaide.edu.au or 0450 534 950 or go to the study page.