Our virtual education sessions provide accessible, expert-led learning for people living with scleroderma, their families, and the wider community. Each session delivers practical insights, lived‑experience perspectives, and up‑to‑date information to empower participants, build knowledge, and support better health and wellbeing—no matter where they are located.

Online event

Saturday, October 10th

10.30 AM – 12 PM AEDT

We are delighted to welcome Dr Karoline Raven, who is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, to our October Virtual Education Session. With her work within the Experimental Rheumatology Group to research environmental triggers for inflammation and inflammatory disease, Karen will share with us her knowledge and research into the daily managing scleroderma.

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc, Scleroderma) is a complex multi-system illness with significant morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic pathways for the treatment of Systemic Sclerosis. To achieve this, a greater understanding of the inflammatory pathways driving symptomology in Systemic Sclerosis is needed. Many individuals with Systemic Sclerosis experience Raynaud’s phenomenon which causes narrowing of blood vessels and debilitating pain. Temperature can play a role in driving and exacerbating Raynaud’s symptoms and progression. Understanding the inflammatory process driving temperature dysregulation in Systemic Sclerosis may lead to improved therapeutic options for the treatment of the disease and long-term health benefit. There are many inflammatory processes driving a range of symptoms in Systemic Sclerosis, many of which have environmental triggers. Dr Raven’s research aims to understand these environmental triggers for inflammation and improve treatment options and quality of life for individuals with Systemic Sclerosis.