Matilda’s Research Contributions
We’re not just evidence based, we’re evidence generating!
As a team of clinicians, researchers, developers, and people with lived experience, we’re passionate about closing the gender-pain-research gap. Here’s some of what we’ve contributed so far (bold indicates Matilda team members).
Sharifi Nasab, K., Foulds, K., Polkinghorne, L., Mclaren, T., Harris, S., Morris, J. S., Ng, L., Wise, E., & Wernli, K. (2026). Patient Perspectives on the Missed Opportunities and Barriers During the Diagnostic Journey: A Mixed Method Cross Sectional Study on Endometriosis in Australia. Women's Reproductive Health. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/23293691.2025.2603690
Wernli, K., Acton, J., McDonnell, R., Kathurusinghe, S., Fleming, T., Wanga, A., Rabinowicz, M., Moyo, R., Morris, J., Beales, D., Mills, A., & McKenna, L. (2026, March). A world-first digital prehabilitation and recovery program for endometriosis surgery: Patient perspectives on feasibility and acceptability in real clinical pathways [Conference abstract]. Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy & Surgery Society (AGES) XXXVI Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand.
Wernli, K., McKenna, L., Acton, J., McDonnell, R., Kathurusinghe, S., Fleming, T., Egan, B., Hobson, C., Lenihan, S., Reiss, R., Morris, J., Mills A, & Beales, D. (2026, March). Transforming surgical pathways through a digital surgery support app: Insights from gynaecologists across Australia and New Zealand [Conference abstract]. Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy & Surgery Society (AGES) XXXVI Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand.
Wernli, K., Acton, J., Mooney, S., Amir, M., Lucky, T., Slater, D., Morris, J., & McKenna, L. (2025, November 8–11). Feasibility of a digital prehabilitation and recovery app for endometriosis surgery: Towards precision support at scale [Conference presentation video abstract]. 54th Global Congress on Minimally Invasive Gynecology Surgery (AAGL 25), Vancouver, BC, Canada. https://www.aagl.org/
Fischer, A., Morris, J., Mills, A., Acton, J., & Wernli, K. (2025, August). Patients as partners: Co-creating a digital pre- and post-op program for endometriosis [Conference presentation]. AGES Peri-Operative Surgical Meeting 2025: Teams, Tools & Techniques, Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Australia.
Morris, J., Acton, J., Mooney, S., Amir, M., Lucky, T., Slater, D., McKenna, L., & Wernli, K. (2025, August). Reimagining prehab and rehab for endometriosis surgery with digital innovation [Conference presentation]. AGES Peri-Operative Surgical Meeting 2025: Teams, Tools & Techniques, Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Australia.
Wernli, K., Fischer, A., Mills, A., Acton, J., & Morris, J. (2025, May). Co-designing a holistic digital endometriosis surgery optimisation program [Poster presentation]. World Congress on Endometriosis, Sydney, Australia.
Morris, J., Lucky, T., Amir, M., Mooney, S., Acton, J., Slater, D., McKenna, L., & Wernli, K. (2025, May). Revolutionising pre- and post-surgical endometriosis management through digital holistic care [Poster presentation]. World Congress on Endometriosis, Sydney, Australia.
Sharifi Nasab, K., Foulds, K., Polkinghorne, L., Mclaren, T., Harris, S., Morris, J., Ng, L., Wise, E., & Wernli, K. (2025, May). Patient perspectives on the missed opportunities and barriers during the diagnostic journey for endometriosis in Australia [Oral presentation]. World Congress on Endometriosis, Sydney, Australia.
Wernli, K., Sharifi Nasab, K., Foulds, K., Polkinghorne, L., Mclaren, T., Harris, S., Morris, J., Ng, L., & Wise, E. (2024, August–September). Optimising endometriosis surgery: Patient perspectives on missed opportunities [Poster presentation]. 24th Annual Congress of the Asia-Pacific Association for Gynaecologic Endoscopy & Minimally Invasive Therapy (APAGE), 29 August – 1 September 2024, ITC Grand Chola, Chennai, India.
Sharifi Nasab, K., Foulds, K., Polkinghorne, L., Mclaren, T., Harris, S., Morris, J., Ng, L., Wise, E., & Wernli, K. (2023, October). Patient perspectives on the missed opportunities and barriers during the diagnostic journey: A mixed method cross-sectional study on endometriosis in Australia [Oral presentation]. IGNITE 2023 – Australian Physiotherapy Association National Conference, Brisbane, Australia.
Built on Evidence. Driven by Impact.
The Matilda Health digital program is grounded in world-class clinical research and co-designed with patients. From Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines to real-world patient outcomes, we’ve translated evidence into action to improve surgical recovery, reduce anxiety, and empower individuals with endometriosis and other gynaecological conditions. Below are some of the key studies shaping our platform.
Douligeris, A., Kathopoulis, N., Karasmani, C., Kypriotis, K., Zacharakis, D., Mortaki, A., Prodromidou, A., Chatzipapas, I., Grigoriadis, T., & Protopapas, A. (2025). Impact of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines implementation in deep infiltrating endometriosis surgery. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Facts Views and Vision in ObGyn, 17, 15-29. https://doi.org/10.52054/FVVO.2024.13599
Cambriel, A., Tsai, A., Choisy, B., Sabayev, M., Hedou, J., Shelton, E., Singh, K., Amar, J., Badea, V., Bruckman, S., Ganio, E., Einhaus, J., Feyaerts, D., Stelzer, I., Sato, M., Langeron, O., Bonham, T. A., Gaudillière, D., Shelton, A.,…Verdonk, F. (2025). Immune Modulation by Personalized vs Standard Prehabilitation Before Major Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2025.4917
Pivano, A., Pauly, V., Pirro, N., Alessandrini, M., Boyer, L., Auquier, P., & Agostini, A. (2022). Enhanced recovery after posterior deep infiltrating endometriosis surgery: a national study. Fertility and Sterility, 117(2), 376-383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.10.014
Arena, A., Degli Esposti, E., Pazzaglia, E., Orsini, B., Cau, I., Govoni, F., Raimondo, D., Palermo, R., Lenzi, J., Casadio, P., & Seracchioli, R. (2024). Not All Bad Comes to Harm: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery for Rectosigmoid Endometriosis [Article]. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, 31(1), 49-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2023.10.011
Djemouai, S., Agostini, A., Loubière, S., Auquier, P., Pirro, N., Netter, A., & Pivano, A. (2024). Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) for deep infiltrating endometriosis surgery: Experience of a French center [Article]. Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction, 53(6), Article 102771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogoh.2024.102771
Zhang, H., Wang, X., Li, Y., Liu, K., & Ouyang, L. (2020). Study on the application of enhanced recovery after surgery in patients with endometriosis and adenomyosis [Article]. Chinese Journal of Reproduction and Contraception, 40(7), 566-572. https://doi.org/10.3760/cma.j.cn101441-20191014-00460
Peters, A., Siripong, N., Wang, L., & Donnellan, N. M. (2020). Enhanced recovery after surgery outcomes in minimally invasive nonhysterectomy gynecologic procedures [Article]. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 223(2), 234.e231-234.e238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.02.008
Carli, F., & Scheede-Bergdahl, C. (2015). Prehabilitation to enhance perioperative care. Anesthesiology Clinics, 33(1), 17-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anclin.2014.11.002
Nelson, G., Bakkum-Gamez, J., Kalogera, E., Glaser, G., Altman, A., Meyer, L. A., Taylor, J. S., Iniesta, M., Lasala, J., Mena, G., Scott, M., Gillis, C., Elias, K., Wijk, L., Huang, J., Nygren, J., Ljungqvist, O., Ramirez, P. T., & Dowdy, S. C. (2019). Guidelines for perioperative care in gynecologic/oncology: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society recommendations-2019 update. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 29(4), 651-668. https://doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2019-000356
Molenaar, C. J. L., Minnella, E. M., Coca-Martinez, M., Ten Cate, D. W. G., Regis, M., Awasthi, R., Martínez-Palli, G., López-Baamonde, M., Sebio-Garcia, R., Feo, C. V., Van Rooijen, S. J., Schreinemakers, J. M. J., Bojesen, R. D., Gögenur, I., Van Den Heuvel, E. R., Carli, F., & Slooter, G. D. (2023). Effect of Multimodal Prehabilitation on Reducing Postoperative Complications and Enhancing Functional Capacity Following Colorectal Cancer Surgery: The PREHAB Randomized Clinical Trial [Article]. JAMA Surgery, 158(6), 572-581. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2023.0198
Rahota, R.-G., Salin, A., Gautier, J.-R., Almeras, C., Garnault, V., Tollon, C., Loison, G., Beauval, J.-B., & Ploussard, G. (2022). A prehabilitation programme implemented before robot-assisted radical prostatectomy improves peri-operative outcomes and continence recovery. BJU International, 130(3), 357-363. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/bju.15666
Gu, X., Zhang, Y., Wei, W., & Zhu, J. (2023). Effects of Preoperative Anxiety on Postoperative Outcomes and Sleep Quality in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Gynecological Surgery. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(5).
Powley, N., Tew, G., A. , Durrand, J., Carr, E., Nesbitt, A., Hackett, R., Gray, J., McCarthy, S., Beatty, M., Huddleston, R., & Danjoux, G. (2023). Digital health coaching to improve patient preparedness for elective lower limb arthroplasty: a quality improvement project. BMJ Open Quality, 12(4), e002244. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2022-002244
Funding, Grants, and Prizes
We're grateful to have received generous support from passionate people and organisations who believe in using technology to provide affordable and accessible healthcare for with confirmed or suspected endometriosis - with a focus on the pivotal laparoscopic surgery timeframe.
We've been fortunate to receive a number of grants and we're actively applying for more.
Notable Grants and Prizes
WA Government Grant - Commercialisation Bridge Grant 2025
WA Innovator of the Year Finalists - Wellbeing Category 2025
Innovation in Social Enterprise Award - Finalists - WA Social Enterprise Awards
WA Department of Health (FHRI) – Innovative Solutions Digital Health Grant 2024
WA Dept. of Jobs, Tourism, Science, and Innovation – Innovation Booster Grant
Golden Ticket Winner - Freo Startup Fest as part of West Tech Fest 2022
Perth Biodesign – 2022 Prize Winner
Pictured Right: Matilda co-founders, Kevin and Joanna, with Hon. Minister Stephen Dawson who awarded Matilda the Perth Biodesign title which kickstarted the Matilda journey!
