A Flinders University lymphoedema study, led by Professor Neil Piller and Susan Witt, was a Research and Education category finalist in this year’s SA Climate Change Leaders Awards.

An initiative of the Premier’s Climate Change Council, these awards recognise the achievements of individuals and organisations who take action to address climate change in South Australia (SA).

Ms Witt, who is being supervised by Flinders University Professor Neil Piller (pictured above on the far left), is studying how to manage the potential negative health impacts of climate change for people living with lymphoedema – a life-long condition that affects up to 28 in every 1,000 people.

Caused by the failure of the lymphatic system, lymphoedema patients commonly experience swelling that requires compression garments to encourage more efficient blood flow. Wrapped in compression stockings and elastic bandages, lymphoedema patients face extreme discomfort in the face of climbing global temperatures and humidity.

“Gathering a multinational team of advisors from the fields of meteorology, biology, clinical, and experimental medicine, Ms Witt has worked out a sound methodological approach to study the complex interplay between climate, health, and disease.” – Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Dieterle, Chief Medical Officer, Foeldi Clinic (Germany).

Judges were impressed with this unique submission and acknowledged the importance of this work to alleviate lymphoedema patient discomfort to improve care and quality of life.

Her next steps are to engage with patients, patient support groups, lymphoedema experts, climate change experts, spatial data experts, and the European Centre of Lymphology to expand the body of knowledge, enable improved treatment and develop recommendations to improve health outcomes.