Fresh Science is a national competition which helps early career researchers find, and then share, their stories of discovery. The program takes up-and-coming researchers with no media experience and turns them into spokespeople for science, giving them a taste of life in the limelight, with a day of media training and a public event in their home state. La Trobe researcher Brooke Patterson joins a cohort of 12 winners from Victorian universities who will take part in this important program.
Brooke completed her PhD at La Trobe in 2020, under the supervision of Professor Kay Crossley. She investigated the impact of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on the lives of young adults (early osteoarthritis, symptoms and quality of life), and how potentially modifiable factors are associated with changes over time. Brooke has continued working with Kay and is now a full-time Research Fellow at the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre (LASEM).
Brooke is coordinating a clinical trial is investigating the effectiveness of an injury prevention program in over 2,600 women and girls from 164 community football teams in Victoria during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. She is also a football coach for Melbourne Football club AFLW team, and the Casey Demons VFLW team.
Brooke joins previous Fresh Scientist winners from LASEM, including Dr Ebonie Rio, Dr Sean Docking and Dr Adam Culvenor.
