Research Team
Samuel Grasso B. Engineering, PhD
Consulting EngineerSamuel 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.
Yoong Lim, PhD
Research AssociateYoong is a research associate and conducts biomechanical research relating to knee conditions. Here, he conducts biomechanical experiments and computational analyses using SORI’s state-of-the-art 3D biomechanics laboratory. Yoong’s current research projects are return-to-sport assessments for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction patients and gait analyses for ACL and high tibial osteotomy (HTO) patients. His research interests are musculoskeletal modelling and ultrasound image processing.
Yoong has completed postdoctoral trainings and a PhD (Biomechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne) on computational and experimental biomechanics.
Harbeer Ahedi, PhD
Senior clinical research associate/ Database managerDr 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.
Nikitha Rao, BEng (Biomed)
Clinical Research AdministratorNikitha is completing her Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering (Honours) with a Diploma in Professional Engineering Practice.
Her role as a clinical research administrator involves conducting patient consultations and regularly updating databases, to assist orthopaedic research.
Jack Nilsen, BEng (Biomed)
Clinical Research AdministratorJack 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.
Mollie McNeilly, BSc (H.S), MS
Clinical Research Administrator
Hugh Anderson, BEng
Clinical Research AdministratorHugh has spent six months interning with SORI where he developed 3D prediction models to identify patients who are at high risk of developing isolated radial tears within their lateral menisci. The project is ongoing and being completed alongside an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering at UTS and working at SORI as a clinical research administrator.
As a CRA, he is responsible for collecting and managing patient data to assist the research team in various projects as well as other administrative duties.
Finance and Administration
Lionel Jeyaraj FCCA, FIPA, FFA
Finance and AdministrationLionel 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.
Current Fellows
Dr Pradyumna Raval
Clinical FellowDr. Pradyumna Raval is an Orthopaedic Surgeon from the United Kingdom. Dr. Raval was an Orthopaedic trainee on the East of England Deanery, also known as the Cambridge rotation.
Dr. Raval successfully passed the FRCS (Tr & Orth) and the European Board in Orthopaedics (FEBOT) examinations in 2022, in his first attempt. Dr. Raval graduated in Medicine from Mumbai, India and has the experience of working as an Orthopaedic trainee in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, wherein he gained the MRCS and MCh(Orth) qualifications respectively.
Dr. Pradyumna Raval wishes to sub-specialise in all aspects of knee surgery and has been a Clinical Fellow at the Sydney Orthopaedic Research Institute since August 2023.
Dr Simon Walgrave
Clinical FellowDr Simon Walgrave is an Orthopaedic Surgeon from Belgium. Simon graduated cum laude from The Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium in 2016. He completed his Orthopaedic Residency in 2022, after being trained in Belgium and the UK. Already early on in his training, Simon developed a keen interest in knee surgery. He completed fellowships at Ghent University Hospital and Centre Orthopedique Santy (Lyon, France) before joining our team at SORI as a clinical fellow, early July 2023.
Dr George Jacob
Clinical FellowDr George Jacob completed his MBBS degree and MS Ortho degrees in South India, completing his residency in April 2017.
He then completed a Fellowship in Arthroplasty and Arthroscopy at Lakeshore Hospital, Cochin from June 2017 to June 2018. He then moved to Osaka, Japan where he was a Research fellow at Osaka University from Dec 2019 to Jan 2020 with Professor Norimasa Nakamura. While in Japan he focused his research on meniscal and cartilage regeneration techniques using MScs, Exosomes and Tissue Engineering.
George then returned to India and worked as Junior Consultant at SSIOT hospital, Mangalore, India.
He has now joined as a Clinical Fellow in Knee Surgery at the Sydney Orthopaedics Research Institute.
Dr Payam Tarassoli
Research FellowPayam Tarassoli is an orthopaedic surgeon who undertook his training in Bristol, UK. Prior to starting his fellowship at SORI he completed a one year fellowship at Sydney Knee Specialists in robotic arthroplasty and soft tissue knee surgery.
Payam’s previous research includes robotic fracture surgery, concepts in knee alignment, and now with SORI is involved with imaging data following ACL injuries. He enjoys soccer, cycling and running.