Professor Iona Novak
Researcher biography
Professor Novak is a Chief Investigator on the CRE, NSW Co-Lead, Chair of the Knowledge Translation and Implementation theme, member of the Pre-Clinical and Neuroprotection and Clinical Trials themes and Chair of the Australian CP Register.
Professor Novak manages the strategic development of research into the prevention and cure of cerebral palsy and supports the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register.
Professor Novak conducts clinical research into effective interventions for people living with cerebral palsy, including evidence-based practice initiatives and collaborative international and inter-agency research work.
As a Fulbright Scholar in 2013, Professor Novak travelled to the University of California, San Francisco, for four months to establish and lead an Australian-American cerebral palsy research consortium, to aggregate data and accelerate the rate of research. Professor Novak continues this research to translate the findings to direct improvements in clinical services.
Professor Novak has extensive clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist and holds: a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) from the University of Sydney; a Master of Science (Hons) and a PhD from the University of Western Sydney. She has won awards and prizes including a PhD Presentation Award from UWS and has been an Allied Health representative on the Premier’s Spinal Forum Fellowship Program.