Isabelle Weld-Blundell

Meet the Researcher

Ms Isabelle Weld-Blundell

The University of Melbourne, VIC

Ms Isabelle Weld-Blundell, is a researcher at the University of Melbourne. She first became involved in MS research over five years ago because she wanted to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people with MS.

While undertaking her Doctor of Medicine program, Ms Weld-Blundell has continued to work towards improving MS care. Her current focus involves researching screening tools to assess the social needs of people living with MS.

Ms Weld-Blundell hopes her team’s work may be used in the Australian MS care setting to provide benefits for people living with MS. Ms Weld-Blundell also enjoys scuba diving and collaborating with other passionate researchers to work toward a shared goal.

Current Research Project/s

Screening for social needs in people with MS

About Ms Isabelle Weld-Blundell

TELL US AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOURSELF

I moved to a coastal town for my university studies. Since moving here, I became certified in open water scuba diving, and this is how I spend most of my weekends. It can be chilly reaching lows of 12°C in peak winter but if you can see past the cold, we have some of the most beautiful reefs in the world. It’s a fantastic way to connect with the outdoors, keep fit, and be part of my local community.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INVOLVED IN MS RESEARCH?

  I became involved in MS research over five years ago because I wanted to use my research skills to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people with MS. This still motivates me, and I have continued working in the field while undertaking my Doctor of Medicine program. During this time, I have seen the impact MS can have on people’s lives and feel honoured to be able to work towards improving MS care. I love working in a team of brilliant researchers who share the same passion and always encourage me.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN THE MOST EXCITING DEVELOPMENT IN MS RESEARCH?

I find the increasing focus on social and lifestyle factors really promising. We know that factors such as employment, social inclusion, diet, and exercise play a key role in our health. Research in this area has the potential to improve MS care by opening up new avenues for intervention. It marks a shift towards addressing the broader social and lifestyle factors that influence MS outcomes. While there has been notable progress in this area, there is still much work to do before strategies to address these factors can be incorporated into MS care.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECT

  Social determinants of health such as domestic violence, housing, employment, and social inclusion are not routinely assessed. However, we know that social determinants have a huge impact on health. My project will help us to understand how to screen for the social needs of people with MS. We will identify what screening tools exist for social needs, and assess how comprehensive, valid and actionable these existing tools are. Through meetings with MS patients, carers and clinicians, we will also explore how relevant the existing tools are to MS care in Australia and how they could be better adapted for use in this setting.

WHY IS YOUR RESEARCH IMPORTANT AND HOW WILL IT INFLUENCE THE UNDERSTANDING AND TREATMENT OF MS?

My project will help us to better understand how screening tools for social needs may be used in the Australian MS care setting; which is the first step towards addressing social needs in MS care. Screening tools may identify needs that can then be addressed by linking patients to allied health or social services. We know that screening tools for social needs have been incorporated in other clinical settings with proven health benefits, and they have the potential to do the same in MS care.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING IN THE LAB AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE?

There are many wonderful parts of my job. I enjoy coming together with passionate researchers to work towards a shared goal. I find the research process from idea development to manuscript writing very satisfying. While the flexibility my work allows for is invaluable as a final year medical student, the uncertainty around funding and employment in research can be difficult. As such, I am very grateful to MS Australia for supporting my research and easing these challenges.

Meet the Researcher

Ms Isabelle Weld-Blundell

The University of Melbourne, VIC

About Ms Isabelle Weld-Blundell

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