Ashleigh Thornton

Ashleigh Thornton is a Senior Research Fellow in the UWA Medical School's Department of Paediatrics at The University of Western Australia. She specializes in rehabilitation, motor development, and neurodevelopmental disorders, with a focus on physical activity and participation in children. Her collaborative roles in initiatives like Kids Rehab WA, KIDDO, and the PLAYCE Project aim to translate research into clinical practice.

Education: PhD in Motor Learning and Development (2014), Knowledge Translation Professional Certificate (University of Toronto, 2018).

Research Interests: Rehabilitation strategies, early biomarkers of cognitive impairment, pediatric physical activity policies, and interventions for children with cerebral palsy. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to children's health and disability inclusion.

Grants: Over $3.7M in funding since 2016, including NHMRC grants for cohort studies and policy development. Notable projects include Early Moves (biomarker identification) and Play Active (physical activity policy).

Labs/Teams: Active member of Kids Rehab WA, KIDDO Project, and PLAYCE Policy Project. Collaborates on projects addressing sport participation for marginalized youth and neurodisability outcomes.