معرفی
Dr. Nathalia Costa is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Queensland's cLinical TRials cApability (ULTRA), located within the Centre for Clinical Research in Herston, and affiliated with the Centre for Innovation in Pain and Health Research (CIPHeR). She holds appointments in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences.
Her research focuses on theoretically grounded qualitative and mixed methods approaches to understanding low back pain, pain management, and healthcare systems. Costa is particularly known for her groundbreaking work on low back pain flares, which established the first rigorous definition of pain flares through stakeholder engagement with over 70 experts and consumers. Her methodological expertise spans systematic reviews, qualitative methodologies (interviews, ethnography, Delphi studies), embedding qualitative research in clinical trials, and systems-thinking frameworks.
Costa's recent publications demonstrate a growing focus on culturally responsive care, healthcare access for migrant populations, and the intersection of legal services with mental health. Her work bridges micro-level patient experiences with macro-level healthcare systems, aiming to make pain care more nuanced, equitable, and evidence-based. She has published over 55 papers spanning musculoskeletal conditions, pain research, health policy, and qualitative methodologies.
Her scientific achievements include the 2021 ISSLS Prize for Lumbar Spine Research, recognition from the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine. Her research has influenced international pain frameworks, including adoption by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) in their online Fact Sheet (July 2023).
Costa actively supervises multiple PhD students, serves as Associate Editor for Qualitative Health Research and the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation, and has taught across disciplines including research methods, musculoskeletal physiotherapy, and health policy. She has secured over AUD$7.5M in research funding, currently leading the FORENSIC trial investigating lumbar fusion surgery effectiveness for persistent severe low back pain.
