Research & partnerships

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NECST PhD and Post-doctoral Fellowships Program

To support young and emerging researchers in the area of endometriosis (and adenomyosis) to progress their careers and continue in the field, the NECST PhD and Post-doctoral Fellowships Program are open and calling for applicants.

A total of $1,800,000 is available for the NECST PhD and Post-doc Scholarships.

There are four types of award funds:

  • Full scholarship for a PhD candidate;
  • Top-up of current PhD scholarship holders;
  • 2-year full funding for post-doctoral researchers (either Level A or Level B Academic);
  • 2-year funding for clinical fellows.

Process

To apply:

  • Submit your application form and associated attachments by 5 pm AEST on 27 May 2024.

All applications will undergo peer review by external reviewers and be notified of the outcome by mid-July.

Fellowship Program Review Process

Date

Applications open

15 April 2024

Applications close

27 May 2024

Application review

Week beginning 27 May

Applications sent to review committee

Week beginning 3 June

Fellowship applications review meeting

Week beginning 1 July

Applicants notified of outcome

Mid-July
Guidelines
Application form
Assessment matrix

Partnerships

Australian Longitudinal Survey on Women’s Health (University of Queensland, QLD)

Prof Gita Mishra and Dr Ingrid Rowlands from the University of Queensland led the research into the prevalence and incidence of endometriosis in Australia. In partnership with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), a report, “Endometriosis in Australia: prevalence and hospitalisations” on the national prevalence of endometriosis was published by the AIHW in August 2019. Using 20 years of data from more than 14,000 women from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH), it was determined that one in nine women were diagnosed with endometriosis by the time they reached the age of 40-44 and there were around 34,200 endometriosis-related hospitalisations between 2016-2017.

The results of this study have also been published in a medical and scientific journal (see Publications section).

For more information on ALSWH, please visit their site.

Endometriosis Digital Platform (Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, SA)

Led by Prof Louise Hull and her team (Mr Marcus Goddard, Dr Beck O’Hara and Dr Diksha Sirohi) at the Robinson Research Institute (University of Adelaide), the Endometriosis Digital Platform will be designed to respond to the needs of the endometriosis community, with a focus on the unmet needs and research into improving patient outcomes of those living with endometriosis. The platform will be co-created with the endometriosis community including the Australian Coalition for Endometriosis (ACE), people with endometriosis, and their supporters, and the Stakeholder Advisory Group (includes clinicians, researchers, health informatics specialists and IT developers).

This research is being supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and Jean Hailes for Women’s Health.

For more information on the Endometriosis Digital Platform, please email endo@adelaide.edu.au.

Notice Board

Take part and get involved in research that is occurring around the country to improve outcomes for those with endometriosis, adenomyosis and associated conditions.

Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health

Download Poster #1
Download Poster #1

The MCRI LongSTEPPP Project

The LongSTEPPP project stands for the Longitudinal Study of Teenagers with Endometriosis, Period and Pelvic Pain in Australia

  • The study is for young people aged 10-18 years and their parent/guardian who have been referred to a Gynaecologist (public or private) or an endometriosis and pelvic pain GP clinic.
  • The purpose of LongSTEPPP is to find out how we can best care for young people experiencing period pain, pelvic pain, or who may have suspected or confirmed endometriosis.
  • We started mid-2022 and will be running until the at least end of 2027. We check in on participants yearly for 5 years with a series of online questionnaires.
  • It takes the young person about an hour a year and their parent guardian about 20 minutes and all of it can be done online.

Who can participate?

  • The study is for young people aged 10-18 years and their parent/guardian.
  • You have been referred to a Gynaecologist (public or private) or an endometriosis and pelvic pain GP clinic.
  • Those interested can sign up here via the webpage or using the QR code below.

Research Investigators

Professor Sonia Grover (Principal Investigator), Prof Harriet Hiscock, Prof Catherine Bennett, Dr Courtney Munro, Prof Andrew Chanen, Dr Rebecca Deans, Dr Julie Abimanyi-Ochom

Contact details

If you have any questions or to find out more, call +61 450707234 or email: longsteppp@mcri.edu.au.

W: www.mcri.edu.au
IG: @thelongeststeppp
IG: @murdoch_childrens

Publications

    1. Adler, H, Lewis, M, Ng, CHM, Brooks, C, Leonardi, M, Mikocka-Walus, A, Bush, D, Semprini, A, Wilkinson-Tomey, J, Condous, G, Patravali, N, Abbott, J & Armour, M 2024. Social Media, Endometriosis, and Evidence-Based Information: An Analysis of Instagram Content. Healthcare, 12.
    2. Sirohi, D, Ng, CHM, Bidargaddi, N, Slater, H, Parker, MA, Hull, ML & O'Hara, R 2024. High-Quality eHealth Websites for Information on Endometriosis: Systematic Search. J Med Internet Res, 26, e48243.
    1. Abbott, JA. The good, the bad and the ugly of Endometriosis Guidelines. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, 2023;30(5):342-343.
    2. Abbott, JA. Australia's first National Action Plan on endometriosis: Progress but still a long way to go. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1111/ajo.13726.
    3. Ng, CHM, Michelmore, AG, Mishra, GD, Montgomery, GW, Rogers, P & Abbott, J. Establishing the Australian National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific Trials (NECST) Registry: A protocol paper. Reproduction and Fertility, 2023;4(2):e230014.
    4. Ciccia, D, Doyle, AK, Ng, CHM & Armour, M. Indigenous people’s experience and understanding of menstrual and gynecological health in Australia, Canada and New Zealand: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2023;20,6321.
    5. McGrath, IM, Montgomery, GW, Mortlock, S & International Endometriosis Genetics, C 2023. Genomic characterisation of the overlap of endometriosis with 76 comorbidities identifies pleiotropic and causal mechanisms underlying disease risk. Human Genetics, 142, 1345-1360.
    6. McGrath, IM, Montgomery, GW & Mortlock, S 2023. Insights from Mendelian randomization and genetic correlation analyses into the relationship between endometriosis and its comorbidities. Human Reproduction Update, 29, 655-674.
    7. Mishra GD, Gete DG, Hockey R, Rowlands IJ, Montgomery G, Abbott J. Updated prevalence and incidence of endometriosis in Australian women of reproductive age: Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. AIHW. 2023.
    8. Yang, F, Wu, Y, Hockey, R, Doust, J, Mishra, GD, Montgomery, GW & Mortlock, S 2023. Evidence of shared genetic factors in the etiology of gastrointestinal disorders and endometriosis and clinical implications for disease management. Cell Reports Medicine, 4.
    1. Rowlands IJ, Hockey R, Abbott JA, Montgomery GW, Mishra GD. Body mass index and the diagnosis of endometriosis: Findings from a national data linkage cohort study. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 2022;16,235-241.
    2. Rowlands, IJ, Mishra, GD and Abbott, JA. Global epidemiological data on endometriosis. In: Oral E, editor. Endometriosis and Adenomyosis. Switzerland: Springer Nature; 2022; p. 15-28. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-97236-3_2.
    3. Rowlands IJ, Hockey R, Abbott JA, Montgomery GW, Mishra GD. Longitudinal changes in employment following a diagnosis of endometriosis: Findings from an Australian cohort study. Annals of Epidemiology. 2022;69:1-8.
    4. Malik A, Sinclair J, Ng CHM, Smith CA, Abbott J, Armour M. Allied health and complementary therapy usage in Australian women with chronic pelvic pain: A cross-sectional study. BMC Women's Health. 2022;22(1):37.
    5. Rowlands I, Mishra G, Abbott J. Endometriosis can end women’s careers and stall their education. That’s everyone’s business. The Conversation. March 29, 2022.
    6. Holdsworth-Carson SJ, Ng CHM, Dior UP. Comorbidities in women with endometriosis: Risks and implications. Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 2022;4.
    7. Armour M, Ng CHM, Leonardi M. You no longer need surgery to be diagnosed with endometriosis. Here’s what’s changed. The Conversation. June 6, 2022.
    8. Armour, M, Leonardi, M, Van Niekerk, L, Druitt, ML, Parker, MA, Mikocka-Walus, A, Ng, CHM, O’Hara, R, Ciccia, D, Stanley, K, Evans, S, Avery, J, Girling, J & McKinnon, B. Lessons from implementing the Australian National Action Plan for Endometriosis. Reproduction and Fertility, 2022;3:C29–C39.
    9. Armour M, Ng C and Leonardi M. I’m thinking of surgery for endometriosis. What’s involved? Does it work? The Conversation. November 18, 2022.
    1. Abbott JA. Endometriosis and other causes of pelvic pain in perspective. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2021;61(4):628-633.
    2. Rowlands I, Abbott J, Montgomery G, Hockey R, Rogers P, Mishra G. Prevalence and incidence of endometriosis in Australian women: A data linkage cohort study. BJOG. 2021;128(4):657-665.
      *2021-2022 BJOG top cited paper
    3. Ng CHM, Mishra GD, Montgomery G, Mudge RJ, Rogers PA, Abbott JA. The establishment of a National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific Trials (NECST) Network and Registry in Australia. 2021, 14th World Congress on Endometriosis, Conference abstract.
    1. Armour M, Sinclair J, Ng CHM, Hyman MS, Lawson K, Smith CA, Abbott J. Endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain have similar impact on women, but time to diagnosis is decreasing: An Australian survey. Scientific Reports. 2020;10(1):16253.
    2. Rowlands, IJ, Abbott, JA, Montgomery, GW, Hockey, R, Rogers, P, Mishra, GD. Prevalence and incidence of endometriosis in Australian women: a data linkage cohort study. BJOG 2020; https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.16447. 00: 1– 9.
    1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Endometriosis in Australia – Prevalence and hospitalisations. Canberra: AIHW. 2019; Cat. no. PHE 247.
    2. Mishra GD, Rowlands IJ, Dobson AJ. Reply: Increasing number of menstruations in recent generations may contribute to the development of endometriosis: an evolutionary view from a critical analysis of National Health data. Human Reproduction. 2019; 34(12): 2550-2550.

Grants

  • 2023 Endometriosis Australia Research Grant
    Spatial phenomics of cis-male endometriosis to improve understanding of disease aetiology
    Kate Gunther (UNSW), Prof Caroline Ford (UNSW), Prof Jason Abbott (UNSW), Prof Sandra O’Toole (USYD), Teagan Fisher (UNSW), Dr Brett McKinnon (University of Queensland)

    2023 Endometriosis Australia Research Grant
    Co-design, feasibility, and acceptability of an interdisciplinary body compassion protocol for people living with endometriosis
    Dr Leesa van Niekerk (University of Tasmania), Dr Emma Richardson (University of Tasmani), Ruth Schubert (Bond University), Dr Cecilia Ng (UNSW), Dr Rebecca O’Hara (University of Adelaide), Dr Stephanie Pirotta (Monash University), Libby Trainor Parker (Endo Support SA)

    2023 Endometriosis Australia Research Grant
    Empowering people living with endometriosis through EndoChoice, a co-designed decision aid to support informed decision-making for endometriosis management
    Prof Kerry Sherman (Macquarie University), A/Prof Mike Armour (Western Sydney University), Dr Annie Lau (Macquarie University), Prof Jason Abbott (UNSW), A/Prof Michael Cooper (USYD), Dr Leesa van Niekerk (University of Tasmania), Ruth Schubert (Bond University), Donna Ciccia (Endometriosis Australia, Western Sydney University), Tanya Duckworth (Endometriosis Australia, University of Adelaide)

  • 2022 MRFF Public Health and Chronic Disease Program
    National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific Trials Network 2023-2026
    Prof Jason Abbott (UNSW), Dr Cecilia Ng (UNSW)

    2022 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Research Data Infrastructure Initiative
    EndoLinked: Identifying fertility outcomes for women with endometriosis
    Prof Jason Abbott (UNSW), Prof Gita Mishra (University of Queensland), A/Prof Amanda Henry, Dr Ingrid Rowlands (University of Queensland), Dr Cecilia Ng (UNSW)

    2022 MRFF Clinician Researchers Initiative
    Australian Endometriosis Clinicians Collaborative (AECC)
    Prof Jason Abbott (UNSW), Dr Rebecca Deans (UNSW), Dr Erin Nesbitt-Hawes (UNSW), Dr Cecilia Ng (UNSW), Dr Danny Chou (UNSW), A/Prof Krish Karthigasu (University of Western Australia), Dr Martin Ritossa (Lyell McEwin Hospital), Prof Luk Rombauts (Monash University), Prof Anusch Yazdani (University of Queensland), Dr Mike Armour (NICM Health Research Institute), A/Prof Richard De Abreu Lourenco (UTS), Prof Caroline Gargett (Hudson Research Institute), Dr Anusha Hettiaratchi (UNSW), Prof Grant Montgomery (Institute for Molecular Bioscience)

  • 2021 Frontier Health and Medical Research
    Earlier Diagnosis and Personalised Treatments for Endometriosis (EndoAIMM)
    Prof Grant Montgomery (Institute for Molecular Bioscience), Prof Jason Abbott (UNSW), Prof Gita Mishra (University of Queensland), Prof Caroline Gargett (Hudson Research Institute), Prof Luk Rombauts (Monash University)

  • 2020 MRFF Primary Healthcare Research Data Infrastructure
    Imagendo: Diagnosing endometriosis with imaging and AI
    Prof Mary Louise Hull (Robinson Research Institute), A/Prof David Gonzalez-Chica, A/Prof George Condous (University of Sydney), Dr Jodie Avery (Robinson Research Institute), Dr Rebecca O'Hara (Robinson Research Institute), Dr Steven Knox (Benson Radiology), Ms Aisha Sirop (Robinson Research Institute), Ms Catrina Panuccio (Specialist Imaging Partners), Prof Gustavo Carneiro (University of Adelaide), Prof Jason Abbott (UNSW)

  • 2018 MRFF Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research
    The NECST Network – National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific Trials
    Prof Jason Abbott (UNSW), Mr Andrew Michelmore AO (Jean Hailes for Women’s Health), Mrs Janet Michelmore AO (Jean Hailes for Women’s Health), Prof Gita Mishra (University of Queensland), Prof Grant Montgomery (Institute for Molecular Bioscience), Prof Peter Rogers (University of Melbourne)

Videos

  • 6 October 2021

    Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health

    Thinking about IVF? Get checked for endometriosis first.