Patricia is a Postdoctoral Researcher at The Kids Research Institute Australia, working in respiratory and child health research. She is focused on improving long-term respiratory outcomes for infants born preterm, with a particular interest in early-life factors that influence lung development.
Patricia is currently involved in the BALLOON trial, an international clinical study investigating new approaches to prevent lower respiratory tract infections in very preterm infants. She is passionate about generating evidence that can support early prevention strategies and improve health outcomes across childhood.
Her work combines clinical research, epidemiology, and infant lung function assessment, and she enjoys working closely with clinicians, researchers, and families to translate research into meaningful impact.
Before joining The Kids, Patricia trained as a medical doctor in Brazil and completed her PhD at the University of Newcastle. She is also involved in medical education and is passionate about science communication, including authoring a children’s book to help families better understand childhood health conditions.
Education and Qualifications
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) – Centro Universitário de Caratinga, Brazil (December 2015)
- PhD (Paediatrics) – The University of Newcastle (July 2021)
- Postgraduate Specialisation in Psychiatry and Mental Health (in progress) – EBRAMED