Zahra Cooper

Zahra Cooper is a Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia Medical School and contractor/visitor at the Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders (Perron Institute). She serves as research project manager at both the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH) and the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, bringing over a decade of experience in clinical and hospital-based research coordination.

Her research interests focus on culturally secure approaches to health research with particular emphasis on:

• Pharmacogenetics and personalized mental health treatment
• Patient engagement in healthcare settings
• Aboriginal health and hearing loss impacts
• Health equity and community-centered research practices
• Translational medicine that bridges research findings to real-world applications

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on pharmacogenetic testing for optimizing antidepressant therapy, particularly in youth populations. Her work also extends to patient engagement in perioperative settings and addressing barriers faced by migrant women in STEM fields. These diverse research streams reflect her commitment to inclusive research practices that incorporate community voices and lived experience.

Zahra manages two major initiatives: the 'Hearing Well, Being Well' project examining hearing loss impacts in Aboriginal populations, and the 'GENE-YD' and 'PGx-ADAPT' studies focused on personalizing mental health treatment through pharmacogenetics. Her work is guided by principles of culturally secure research practices and improved health equity, contributing to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being.