Our Research Team
Our Research team operates out of our St Leonards office, while also collecting data at the Mater and RPA hospitals. Working across the organisation, our researchers regularly collaborate with other community service agencies, universities, research institutes and government agencies to complete research studies.
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Dr Harbeer Ahedi, PhD
Senior Clinical Research Associate/ Database Manager
Harbeer Ahedi has a PhD in biomedical sciences with an extensive background in Osteoarthritis, data management and statistics. Her career has been a balance between academic and clinical research. As a researcher her focus has been on developing preventive techniques to reduce incidence of Osteoarthritis (OA) and improve the utilization of imaging modalities to study the epidemiology of OA. Currently she is the Senior Research Assistant/Data Coordinator at Sydney Orthopedic Research Institute.
Dr Venkatesha Venkatesha, Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
Research Biostatistician
Venkatesha (Venkat) is a Research Biostatistician with Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) and provides statistical consulting to SORI research team. With over two decades of experience as an academic and consultant statistician, Venkat has collaborated with universities and organisations across the USA, UK, India, and Australia. His consulting work has supported numerous clinical trials and research studies, contributing to over three-hundred research publications. Venkat’s research interests span meta-analysis of dispersion parameters, data envelopment analysis, statistics education, and consulting methodology. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, gardening, and cricket, both as an enthusiastic viewer and occasional player.
Dr Samuel Grasso B. Engineering, PhD
Consulting Engineer
Samuel has completed a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree and a Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (2018) at the University of Sydney. His research incorporates computational and image based methodologies to measure and optimise ligament position in ACL reconstruction on a patient specific basis, to improve pre-surgical planning processes and post-operative assessment.
Samuel is responsible for Sydney Orthopaedic Research Institutes research and development activities involving computational modelling.
Dr Christopher Davey, BE(Hons) BSc(Adv) PhD
Consulting Engineer
Chris is a biomedical engineer with more than 7 years of industry experience in virtual surgery planning and patient specific medical devices. He has a research background in optical physics, neuroscience, and clinical cardiac electrophysiology at the University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital. He supports SORI as an engineering consultant working on data analysis and 3D surgical simulation.
Lionel Jeyaraj FCCA, FIPA, FFA
Finance and Administration
Lionel is a member of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants UK and Institute of Public Accountants in Australia. He brings over 30 years of extensive domestic and international business accounting and advisory services, including eight years in the accounting profession. He has accumulated a wealth of experience in business management, tax accounting and compliance, financial analyses, auditing, statutory and ASX reporting, technology and change management. Lionel is focused on business results and improvement though effective processes, systems, reporting and efficient asset management.
Lionel has industry experience in various capacities ranging from Accountant to CFO encompassing information technology, telecommunications, education, gaming, leisure, research, marketing, venture capital and not for profit organisation.
Jack Nilsen, BEng (Biomed)
Clinical Research Administrator
Jack Nilsen currently completing a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering (Hons) and Diploma of Engineering Practice at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
As a Clinical Research Administrator (CRA) at the Sydney Orthopaedic Research Institute (SORI), he is routinely involved in patient consults, clinical measurements, data entry and management along with numerous administrative duties.
Ethan Crosby, BEng (Biomed)
Clinical Research Administrator
Ethan is completing his Bachelor of Biomedical Science. As a clinical research assistant at the Sydney Orthopaedic Research Institute, he is responsible for conducting consultations with patients, assisting with ongoing studies, updating and maintaining databases, to assist with furthering orthopaedic research.
Joshua Quispe, BEng (Biomed)
Clinical Research Anministration
Joshua Quispe is currently completing a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering (Hons) and Diploma of Engineering Practice at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
As a Clinical Research Administrator at the Sydney Orthopaedic Research Institute, he is routinely involved in patient consults, clinical measurements, data entry and management along with numerous administrative duties, to assist orthopaedic research.
Elissa Bramley, BBus Mktg
Marketing and Education Manager
Elissa Bramley has 30-years' experience in marketing across healthcare and corporate environments, with a focus on strategic marketing, content creation, event management and education programs. Her work has involved developing and delivering marketing activity across technology, finance, publishing and start-up organisations. Her work in healthcare start-ups in Papua New Guinea sparked a passion for working within charities and healthcare.
At the Sydney Orthopaedic Research Institute, Elissa manages marketing activities that support the organisation’s research, education, and outreach programs to foster community engagement with clinicians, researchers, and the broader patient community.
Lilla Elwin, BEng (Biomed)
Clinical Research Administrator
Lilla Elwin is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering (Honours) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
In her role as a Clinical Research Administrator (CRA) at the Sydney Orthopaedic Research Institute (SORI), she contributes to patient consultations, performs clinical measurements, and manages data entry and organisation, alongside a range of administrative responsibilities.