Professor Michelle Farrar MBBS FRACP PhD

“The work of Childhood Dementia Initiative (CDI) is so important because it is increasing awareness and research, helping to break down barriers, and improve the lives of children living with dementia and their families. I am looking forward to bringing my clinician scientist expertise to CDI’s Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee and working together to improve lives.”

Michelle is a child neurologist at Sydney Children’s Hospital and clinical academic at UNSW Sydney, leading a comprehensive, integrated and multidisciplinary research program that guides evidence-based application of novel therapeutics in neurodevelopmental disorders. Her team is focused on developing and translating innovative ways of providing the best possible care from the time of diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.

Michelle is an established clinical leader in gene and molecular therapies in child neurology, transforming clinical practice and leading the national implementation of life-saving therapies. She has led studies that have included pivotal international clinical trials, national analyses of clinical outcomes and a statewide newborn screening pilot for spinal muscular atrophy. She also collaborates in research encompassing implementation science, health economics and patient reported outcomes and experiences.

Michelle has published more than 85 peer reviewed papers in leading journals across clinical neurosciences, neurophysiology, paediatrics and neurogenetics. She is the recipient of a number of prestigious awards. This includes the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists Leonard Cox Award (2017) for her contributions to Australian neuroscience.

Read more about the members of our Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee.