Telethon Kids Institute, WA

Associate Professor Asha Bowen is a clinician scientist working at Perth Children’s Hospital as a paediatric infectious disease specialist, Head of the END RHD Progam at the Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at the Telethon Kids Institute and mother of two young children. Her clinical role informs her research. She was awarded her PhD at the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin in 2015, a large trial to find a better treatment for impetigo for Aboriginal kids. Dr Bowen leads a research team to promote Healthy Skin and Rheumatic Fever Prevention, including studies such as the SToP Trial in the Kimberley and the STARFISH synergy program. To end RHD in Australia, ongoing research to answer the scientific questions is needed to support programmes implementing best practice, ranging from environmental health to hospital level care.