In December 2013, Dr Egon Perilli (pictured), School of Computer Science Engineering and Mathematics, Medical Device Research Institute, Flinders University, was awarded a Catalyst Research Grant by the SA Government, for his project seeking to develop innovative methods of detecting early onset of knee osteoarthritis, to prolong the life of the affected joint.

This SA-collaborative project between Flinders University (Dr Egon Perilli), University of South Australia (Dr Dominic Thewlis) and the Flinders Medical Centre and Repatriation General Hospital (A/Prof Graham Mercer), Adelaide, strengthens the research capability available to the sector, in the emerging area of biomedical engineering and biomechanics.

The data on 3D-micro-architectural bone changes provided by Dr Egon Perilli and in vivo gait analysis provided by Dr Dominic Thewlis will provide a novel combination of complementary information in this disabling pathology, by linking knee biomechanics and bone microarchitecture using state of the art 3D characterisation techniques such as micro-computed tomography and motion capture systems. If successful, it has the potential to lead to increasingly targeted and successful treatments and custom-designed orthopaedic implants in future.

Catalyst grants are competitive grants that are awarded to Early Career Researchers through the SA Premier’s Research and Industry Fund (PRIF), offering two rounds every year.