Meet the researchers

Professor Allan Kermode

Professor Allan G Kermode graduated from The University of Western Australia and was awarded the Medicinae Studii Princeps – the Australian Medical Association Gold Medal. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Royal College of Physicians (London) and has worked in the Oxford University Department of Neurology and the Institute of Molecular Medicine. Medical research is Professor Kermode's passion, his calling; and his work focuses on immunology and immune system's role in neurological health. His major subspecialty interest is multiple sclerosis and in addition to publishing extensively in this area for more than 30 years, his Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) work is the basis for the use of MRI in multiple sclerosis research and treatment trials.

Professor Kermode manages a research team investigating causes of multiple sclerosis and is Professor of Immunology at the Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases (IIID) based at Murdoch University, where he also conducts multiple sclerosis clinics. Professor Kermode’s work has continued to study management strategies among the multiple sclerosis community, with a particular focus on pharmacological therapies.

Professor William (Bill) Carroll AO

Professor Carroll formalised his neurology training in Australia, a graduate of The University of Western Australia School of Medicine. Professor Carroll undertook training in neurology at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, where he was awarded fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (Neurology). Professor Carroll gained further experience at a number of US institutions including the Massachusetts General Hospital, the Mayo Clinic and the University of Pennsylvania, before returning to Australia.

Professor Carroll is a leading neurologist with over 30 years of experience. He was appointed president of the World Federation of Neurology in January 2018. Dr Carroll was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to neurological medicine, and to people with multiple sclerosis in 2019.

Dr Marzena Fabis-Pedrini

Dr Fabis-Pedrini was born in Poland and her scientific research started in Poznan where she completed her PhD. This research has given her the opportunity to continue her career in the USA and now in Australia. Dr Pedrini is dedicated to investigating the causes of multiple sclerosis and improving the treatment and management of those suffering from multiple sclerosis and related diseases. Dr Fabis-Pedrini acts as an advisor for experimental design and conducts vital data analysis. 

Dr Stephanie Trend

Dr Trend completed both her Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) and PhD at The University of Western Australia. She received an Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship to complete her PhD in immunology at the Centre for Neonatal Research, UWA. Dr Trend holds an Honorary Research Associate appointment at Telethon Kids Institute and has been part of Professor Prue Hart’s team. Dr Trend contributes to the Telethon Kids Institutes ongoing work investigating changes in the immune cell populations in the blood of people with multiple sclerosis, and the role of UVB phototherapy in preventing disease relapse. Dr Trend acts as an advisor for experimental design and conducts vital data analysis.

Dr Belinda Kaskow

Dr Kaskow completed both her Bachelor of Science with (First Class Honours) and PhD (Genetics) at the University of Western Australia in 2014 and conducted her post-doctoral research at the prestigious Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Disease at Brigham and  Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. Her expertise is in the study of the genetics and function of the human immune system in the context of multiple sclerosis. Dr Kaskow joined Professor Allan Kermode’s lab research team in 2021 bringing passion, knowledge, experience, skill and international collaborations. Her role is in designing, conducting and analysing experiments. Dr Kaskow is the inaugural recipient of Eyewall Foundation sponsorship that funded her appointment as a Post-Doctoral Scientist at the Perron Institute.

What we’re trying to achieve.

We’re a young foundation with big dreams. Our funding is aimed at a number of critical areas of medical research.