Michelle Anne Farrar

Professor Michelle Anne Farrar is a Professor of Paediatric Neurology at UNSW Sydney and a specialist child neurologist at Sydney Children's Hospital, where she leads the rare neurological diseases clinical and research programs. She is affiliated with the School of Women's and Children's Health at UNSW Sydney and maintains her clinical practice at Level 3, Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick, NSW.

Professor Farrar's research focuses on pediatric neuromuscular and rare neurogenetic disorders, with emphasis on developing and translating innovative approaches to provide optimal care from diagnosis through treatment. Her work integrates interdisciplinary genomics research with community and consumer involvement. Key research themes include improving early diagnosis through genomic technologies, developing novel biomarkers, implementing new therapies, and understanding patient and family experiences with emerging health technologies.

Her research program employs diverse methodologies including international multicenter clinical trials, prospective cohort studies, qualitative analyses, and high-throughput genomic sequencing. Professor Farrar's work has particular relevance to spinal muscular atrophy and other rare neurological conditions affecting children.

• Michelle Beets Memorial Silver Award (2018)
• Leonard Cox Award, Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (2017)
• School of Women's and Children's Health Best publication award (2017)
• Dean's Rising Star Award, UNSW Medicine (2016)
• Asian Oceanian Myology Centre Fellowship award (2016)
• James Lance Young Investigator Award (2010)

Professor Farrar leads significant research initiatives including an NRMRC Investigator Grant (2021-2027) focused on improving health outcomes for neurological diseases in children with genomic technologies, and MRFF-funded projects on congenital muscle disease diagnostics and newborn genomic sequencing. She is actively involved in clinical trials investigating potential drug treatments and biomarker development. Her work bridges clinical practice, research, and community engagement, with a strong commitment to translating evidence into clinical practice and health policy.