Mr Alex Wirianski—Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship
Home institution:
Host institution:
The University of Sydney
Tohoku University
“Not only have we been able to develop and
complete two successful projects but my
scholarship also allowed me to develop strong
friendships and collaborations between
researchers at Tohoku University, TMDU and
Sydney University ….”
Alex with his wife Theresa Wong in front of Senso-ji in
Asakusa, Tokyo.
Alex developed a clinical interest in the treatment and management of patients with disorders of
the jaw, or temporomandibular muscle and joint disorders while working as a physiotherapist in
both public health and private practice across New South Wales, Australia.
“Jaw disorders affect around 10-20 per cent of the population and can result in clicking in the jaw
joint and pain in the joint and muscles as well as difficulties with speaking and eating,” Alex said.
His growing clinical interest and experience developed into a research interest in how the jaw
functions and how the jaw muscles respond to various treatments, in particular, specific jaw
exercises.
In 2007 Alex enrolled in a Masters of Philosophy at the Jaw Function and Orofacial Pain Research
Unit of the University of Sydney where he investigated the effects of simple jaw resistance exercises
on the activity patterns of the jaw muscles.
The results from this work led Alex to enrol in a PhD to investigate the biomechanics and kinematics
of the jaw and how jaw movements are controlled.
Alex travelled to Japan on his Endeavour scholarship and gained valuable experience with
colleagues working at the forefront of this area of research— spending six months at Tohoku
University in Sendai and 18 months at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU).
Alex investigated the effects of a simple resistance jaw exercise task on the movement patterns of
the jaw, using analysis techniques previously unavailable in Australia. He then investigated the
effects of a similar resistance jaw exercise task on the electrical activity patterns of the muscles that
control jaw movements.
“By bringing together the results from these two studies we hope to better understand how the jaw
works and thereby help develop evidence based treatments for people suffering from
temporomandibular muscle and joint disorders.
“Not only have we been able to develop and complete two successful projects but my scholarship
also allowed me to develop strong friendships and collaborations between researchers at Tohoku
University, TMDU and the University of Sydney resulting in the publication of joint papers in
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international peer reviewed journals, and a joint research symposium between the Faculties of
Dentistry at Tohoku University and the University of Sydney in 2013.”
Along with his academic and research experiences Alex says his Endeavour scholarship also
provided him and his wife with an amazing cultural exchange including the opportunity to explore a
new language, a fascinating culture, and beautiful landscapes.
Alex returned to Sydney in 2014 where he has been analysing the results of the two Japanese
studies and collating the collaborative works into his PhD Thesis.
He has maintained close ties with his two host institutions and has also assisted colleagues, and
their families, from Tohoku University and TMDU to acclimatise to the Sydney lifestyle while
undertaking collaborative research work at the University of Sydney.
Alex hopes to engage in future research and academic collaborations with his colleagues and friends
in Japan over the coming years.
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