Research & Outreach.

Connected Health Alliance is committed to improving health outcomes for individuals with Hypermobility conditions and Heritable Connective Tissue Disorders (HCTDs). As part of this commitment, our team actively contributes to research, participates in global academic forums, and shares knowledge to support both professional and community education.

Funding and Academic Output:

Research Grants

July 2025 - Connected Health Alliance was appointed a research grant from GERSED (Groupe D'Etude et de Recherche du Syndrome D'Ehlers-Danlos) to explore how we may enhance future clinician training in EDS/HSD using a patient feedback survey.

Academic Publications

December 2024 - our Director and Clinical Lead, Nicole Frost, published a paper titled, 'Neuraxial biomechanics, fluid dynamics, and myodural regulation: rethinking management of hypermobility and CNS disorders' in a special 'Neurology and Connective Tissue' edition of Frontiers In Neurology.

Talks, Training and Outreach:

July 2025 - Nicole Frost attended the 2025 Intracranial Hypotension Conference in Amsterdam, focused on Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension (SIH) and related CSF leak disorders. She represented both Connected Health Alliance and Spinal CSF Leak Australia.

June 2025 - Connected Health Alliance Directors hosted our first clinician webinar, 'Navigating Hypermobility in Practice: A Joint Effort', which highlighted the role of interdisciplinary care for clients with hypermobility conditions. Over 200 clinicians signed up for this free webinar, and a replay is available here. We also launched our clinician education series, 'Clinician Roundtable'.

June 2025 - Nicole Frost was appointed to The Ehlers Danlos Society International Consortium Neurology Working Group. She is the first Australian health professional, and the first physiotherapist, to join this group.

May 2025 - Dr Megan Thomas, alongside CTDNA Director Janna Linke, published an article in AusDoc titled 'A GP Guide to Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome'. This is the first widely accessible resource of its kind tailored to Australian clinical practice, covering key diagnostic tools, presentation, and basic management strategies.

May 2025 - Dr Megan Thomas appeared as a guest on The Neurodivergent Woman podcast. The episode, titled 'EDS, POTS, and MCAS with Dr Megan Thomas and Bianca Comfort', explores the intersection of these conditions from a clinical and lived-experience perspective.

April 2025 - Connected Health Alliance Directors participated in The Ehlers-Danlos Society’s clinician education initiative, EDS ECHO: Multidisciplinary Team Practice (MDTP) Australasia. Nicole Frost served as a facilitator for the season, Dr Megan Thomas presented on Mast Cell Activation and Inflammation and Savita Sandhu presented on Gastrointestinal Dysfunction and Nutrition Assessment & Support.

February 2025 - the official launch of our Wollongong Interdisciplinary Clinic!

February 2025 - The Connected Health Alliance team took part in The Ehlers-Danlos Society’s 2025 Global Learning Conference, held in Brisbane. Nicole Frost was a member for the panel discussion on 'Collaborative Management of Complications in EDS and HSD' and led a workshop titled, 'Cervical Spine Management and Physical Therapy Approaches'. Dr Megan Thomas facilitated a workshop on 'The Management of POTS in EDS and HSD'. Samantha Slatem and Savita Sandhu attended in person, and Romy O’Brien joined virtually.

December 2024 - Connected Health Alliance was accepted by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) as a Registered Charity. View our registration here.

June 2024 - Connected Health Alliance was formally recognised as a CORE Network of Excellence by The Ehlers Danlos Society.