Samuel Whittle

Rheumatologist & Epidemiologist

Rheumatology Unit, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
28 Woodville Road, Woodville South
South Australia 5011

samuel.whittle@sa.gov.au - +618 8222 6688

Qualifications

1997 Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) University of Adelaide

2004 Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians

2010 Master of Clinical Epidemiology (with Distinction) University of Newcastle

Experience

2005-present Staff Specialist in Rheumatology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.

2013-present Senior Lecturer, The University of Adelaide, South Australia.

2018-present ANZMUSC Practitioner Fellow

2018-present Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

2009-2011 Staff Specialist in Rheumatology, The Lyell McEwin Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.

2006-2008 Director, Physician Training, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.

2005-2009 Rheumatology Private Practice, Wakefield House, Adelaide, South Australia.

2005 Research Student, The University of Adelaide, South Australia.

2004 Advanced Trainee in Rheumatology, Repatriation General Hospital & Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia.

2003 Specialist Registrar in Rheumatology, St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey, UK.

2002 Advanced Trainee in Rheumatology, The Royal Adelaide Hospital & The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.

1998-2001 Basic Physician Trainee, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.

1997 Intern, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.

Professional Service

2024-2026 President, Australian Rheumatology Association

2014-present Executive Committee Member, Australia & New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network (ANZMUSC)

2023-present Executive Committee Member, Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR)

2023-present Co-Chair, Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) Finance Committee

2024-present Member, Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) Scientific Committee

2016-2021, 2022-present Board Director, Australian Rheumatology Association

2024-2026 Member, Adult Medicine Division Council, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians

2022-present Member, Living Evidence and Methods Advisory Committee, Australian Living Evidence Consortium

2023-present Chair, Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) Chronic Pain Special Interest Group

2022-2024 Vice President, Australian Rheumatology Association

2022-2024 Member, College Council, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians

2021-2024 Steering Committee Member, South Australian Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health Statewide Chronic Pain Clinical Network

2019-2024 Editorial Board Member, Cochrane Musculoskeletal

2023 Expert Panel Member, Australian Commission in Safety and Quality and Healthcare recommendations on the use of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for low back pain

2008-2022 Associate Editor, International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases

2012-2022 Arthritis SA Education, Research & Advocacy Committee

2021-2023 Member, Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) Finance Committee

2021 Member, Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand (THANZ) Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Syndrome Communications Committee

2018 Steering Committee Member, National Strategic Action Plan for Arthritis

2019-2021 President, Australian Rheumatology Association South Australian Branch

Other Australian Rheumatology Association Committees:
2022-2023 Chair, Policy & Advocacy Committee
2019-2022 Chair, Clinical Resources Committee
2016-2021 ASM Programme Committee
2016-2018 Honorary Treasurer
2014-2020 Financial Advisory Committee
2016-2020 Sponsor Liaison Committee
2008-2018 Representative to Asia-Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR)
2015 Convenor, Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide
2008-2012 Electronic Communications Committee

Teaching

2022-present Course co-ordinator, University of Adelaide MBBS Rheumatology Teaching

2008-2021 Co-ordinator, TQEH Med IV Rheumatology Teaching Programme

2012-2018 RACP Educational Supervisor

2006-2008 Director, Physician Training, Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Clinical Practice Guideline Development

2018-present Lead developer:
Australian Living Guideline for the Pharmacological Management of Inflammatory Arthritis (mskguidelines.org)
Australian Living Guideline for the Management of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (jia.guide)

2024-2025 Expert working group member, RACGP Guideline for the management of knee and hip osteoarthritis

2024-2026 Advisory Panel member, Australian Dementia Clinical Guideline

2021-2023 Member, Rheumatology Expert Writing Group, Rheumatology Guidelines 4th Edition

2018 Expert working group member, RACGP Guideline for the management of knee and hip osteoarthritis

2017 Member, Rheumatology Expert Writing Group, Rheumatology Guidelines 3rd Edition

Other Research Activity

2023 NHMRC Investigator Grant Reviewer

2022-present Co-chair, OMERACT Shoulder Disorders Working Group

2020 Chair of Judging Panel, RACP South Australian Trainee Research Awards

2017-2018 Fellow, OMERACT Shoulder Disorders Working Group

2019 NZ Health Research Council Biomedical/Clinical Science Assessing Committee

2016 Arthritis Research UK External Assessor

2011 NHMRC Grant Review Panellist

2012 NHMRC Grant Review Panellist

2011, 2013, 2014 NHMRC External Assessor

2014 Dutch Organisation for Health Research and Development External Assessor

Research Supervision

PhD Students

2018-2023 Dr Huai Leng (Jessica) Pisaniello. University of Adelaide.
Co-supervisors: Professor Catherine Hill, Professor John Beltrame, Professor Will Dixon (Manchester)

Masters Students

2017-2021 Dr Chanakya Sharma. University of Western Australia.
Co-supervisor: A/Prof Helen Keen (UWA)

2017-2020 Judith Lowe. University of Adelaide.
Co-supervisor: Prof Andrew Briggs (Curtin University)

Publications

Publication list also available in Google Scholar

2024
Yiu ZZN, McFarlane E, Whittle SL. ‘Live long and prosper: living guidelines for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Br J Dermatol. 2024; ljae324. doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljae324 (co-published in Rheumatology, keae360)

Pisaniello HL, Lester SE, Russell O, Black R, Tieu J, Richards B, Barrett C, Lassere M, March L, Buchbinder R, Hill C, Whittle SL. The associations between poorer pain-related health status and increased hospitalisations and excess mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA): a prospective cohort analysis using the Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD). Ann Rheum Dis. 2024; ard-2024-225696.

Mittinty MM, Mittinty MN, Buchbinder R, Lassere M, Chand V, Whittle S, et al. Interpersonal process of dyadic coping in rheumatoid arthritis: a perspective from the Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD). J Rheumatol. 2024; jrheum.2023-0664.

Tan J, Renton WD, Whittle SL, Takken T, Johnston RV, Tiller G, et al. Methotrexate for juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Cochrane Libr. 2024;2024. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd003129.pub2

2023
Ng JQ, Jafarov TH, Little CB, Wang T, Ali AM, Ma Y, …Whittle SL, et al. Loss of Grem1-lineage chondrogenic progenitor cells causes osteoarthritis. Nat Commun. 2023;14: 1–14. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42199-1

Kamso MM, Pardo JP, Whittle SL, Buchbinder R, Wells G, Glennon V,Tugwell P, Deardon R, Sajobi T, Tomlinson G, Jesse E, Kelly SE, Hazlewood GS. Crowd-sourcing and automation facilitated the identification and classification of randomized controlled trials in a living review. J Clin Epidemiol. 2023 Dec;164:1-8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2023.10.007. Epub 2023 Oct 21.

Whittle SL, Glennon V, Buchbinder R. Prioritization of clinical questions for the Australian Living Guideline for the Pharmacological Management of Inflammatory Arthritis. Int J Rheum Dis. 2023; 26: 2410-2418 doi:10.1111/1756-185X.14926

Pisaniello HL, Lester S, Russell O, Black R, Tieu J, Richards B, Barrett C, Lassere M, March L, Buchbinder R, Whittle SL, Hill CL. Trajectories of self-reported pain-related health outcomes and longitudinal effects on medication use in rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort analysis using the Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD). RMD Open. 2023;9. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002962

Buchbinder R, Glennon V, Johnston RV, Brennan SE, Fong C, Edward May S, … Whittle SL. Australian recommendations on perioperative use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in people with inflammatory arthritis undergoing elective surgery. Intern Med J. 2023. doi:10.1111/imj.16073

Taylor WJ, Willink R, O’Connor DA, Patel V, Bourne A, Harris IA, Whittle SL, et al. Which clinical research questions are the most important? Development and preliminary validation of the Australia & New Zealand Musculoskeletal (ANZMUSC) Clinical Trials Network Research Question Importance Tool (ANZMUSC-RQIT). PLoS One. 2023;18: e0281308.

Lyon A, Quinlivan A, Lester S, Barrett C, Whittle SL, Rowett D, et al. Vaccination Rates, Perceptions, and Information Sources Used by People With Inflammatory Arthritis. ACR Open Rheumatol. 2023. doi:10.1002/acr2.11525

Cheyne S, Fraile Navarro D, Buttery AK, Chakraborty S, Crane O, Hill K, McFarlane E, Morgan RL, Mustafa RA, Poole A, Tunnicliffe D, Vogel JP, White H, Whittle S, Turner T. Methods for Living Guidelines: Early Guidance based on practical experience. Paper 3: Selecting and prioritising questions for living guidelines. J Clin Epidemiol. 2023. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.12.021

Cheyne S, Fraile Navarro D, Hill K, McDonald S, Tunnicliffe D, White H, Whittle S, et al. Methods for Living Guidelines: Early Guidance based on practical experience. Paper 1: Introduction. J Clin Epidemiol. 2023. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.12.024

2022
Synnot A, Hill K, Davey J, English K, Whittle SL, Buchbinder R, et al. Methods for living guidelines: Early Guidance based on practical experience. Paper 2: Consumer engagement in living guidelines. J Clin Epidemiol. 2022. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.12.020

Tsakas JJ, Liew DFL, Adams CL, Hill CL, Proudman S, Whittle S, et al. Attitudes and practices in the laboratory monitoring of conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs by rheumatologists and rheumatology trainees. BMC Rheumatology. 2022;6: 1–8.

Wang H, Dewidar O, Whittle SL, Ghogomu E, Hazlewood G, Leder K, et al. Equity considerations in COVID-19 vaccination studies of individuals with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Arthritis Care Res. 2022

Quinlivan A, Lester S, Barrett C, Whittle SL, Rowett D, Black R, Chand V, Marine F, March L, Sinnathurai P, Buchbinder R, Hill C. Attitudes of Australians with Inflammatory Arthritis to Biologic Therapy and Biosimilars. Rheumatology Advances in Practice 2022. 2022;6: rkac099.

Pisaniello J, Whittle SL, Lester S, Menz F, Metcalf R, McWilliams L, Hill CL, Proudman S. Using The Derived 28-Joint Disease Activity Score Patient-Reported Components (DAS28-P) Index as a Discriminatory Measure of Response to Disease-Modifying Rheumatic Drug Therapy in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis. BMC Rheumatol 6, 67 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-022-00299-3

Tiller G, Renton WD, Tan J, Whittle S, Avery J, Munro J, et al. Modified Delphi study to identify priority clinical questions for the Australian living guidelines for the management of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2022;20: 52.

Whittle SL, Glennon V, Johnston RV, Avery JC, Bell JS, Brennan SE, et al. Australian recommendations on tapering of biologic and targeted synthetic disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs in inflammatory arthritis. Intern Med J. 2022.

Ponkilainen V, Karjalainen TV, Kuitunen I, Uimonen M, Johnston RV, Saarinen A, Whittle SL, et al. Perioperative use of disease modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in people with inflammatory arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 [cited 10 May 2022]. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD015096

Khoo T, Hill CL, Hoon E, Whittle S. Patient Perspectives of Disease Activity, Medications and Substance Use in People with Fibromyalgia. Open Access Rheumatol. 2022;14:87-95

Lee C, Thomas M, Ejaredar, Kassam A, Whittle SL, Buchbinder R, et al. Crowdsourcing trainees in a living systematic review provided valuable experiential learning opportunities: A mixed-methods study. J Clin Epidemiol. 2022 Jul;147:142-150. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.03.019

Lalor AF, Brooker JE, Rozbroj T, Whittle SL, Hill CL, Rowett D, et al. Factors influencing clinician prescribing of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for inflammatory arthritis: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2022; 151988.

Khoo T, Chin A, Whittle S. Fibromyalgia: small steps on a long journey. Med Today. 2022 [cited 17 Feb 2022]. Available: https://medicinetoday.com.au/2022/jan-feb/regular-series/fibromyalgia-small-steps-long-journey

Renton WD, Tiller G, Munro J, Tan J, Johnston RV, Avery JC, Whittle SL, Arno A, Buchbinder R. Dose reduction and discontinuation of disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (protocol). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 cited 27 Jan 2022

2021
McKenzie BJ, Whittle SL, Johnston RV, Hill CL, Pardo JP, Glennon V, et al. Long‐term glucocorticoids for rheumatoid arthritis (protocol). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 [cited 27 Jan 2022]. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD014899

Feterman Jimenez D, Duron G, Hendin J, Mantovani Cardoso E, Valenzuela-Almada MO, Vallejo S, Duarte-Garcia A, Sufka P, Whittle SL, Robinson PC, Prokop LJ, Putman MS. Industry involvement in rheumatology consensus-based recommendations: a systematic review. The Lancet Rheumatology. 2021. doi:10.1016/S2665-9913(21)00332-5

Avery JC, Whittle SL, Johnston RV, Grobler L, McKenzie BJ, Cyril S, et al. Dose reduction and discontinuation of biologic and targeted synthetic disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in people with axial spondyloarthritis and low disease activity (protocol). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 [cited 30 Nov 2021]. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD014836

Glennon V, Whittle SL, Hill CL, Johnston RV, Avery JC, Grobler L, et al. Short‐term glucocorticoids for flares in people with rheumatoid arthritis receiving disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (protocol). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD014898

Whittle SL, Hazlewood GS, Robinson P, Johnston RV, Leder K, Glennon V, Avery JC, Grobler L, Buchbinder R. COVID‐19 vaccination for people with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases on immunomodulatory therapies (protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021, Issue 6. Art. No.: CD014991. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD014991

Sharma C, Whittle S, Haghighi P, Burstein F, Keen H. Response to ‘Correspondence on ‘Mining social media data to investigate patient perceptions regarding DMARD pharmacotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis’’ by Reuter et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021 Feb. doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-219815

Ferreira GE, Zadro JR, O’Keeffe M, Buchbinder R, Maher C, Latimer J, et al. Challenges faced by musculoskeletal health research in Australia and New Zealand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Intern Med J. 2021;51: 622.

Venter G, Tieu J, Black R, Lester S, Leonardo N, Whittle SL, et al. Perspectives of Glucocorticoid Use in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. ACR Open Rheumatology. 2021; 3(4): 231-238. doi:10.1002/acr2.11234

Adams L, Lester S, Hoon E, van der Haak H, Proudman C, Hall C, Whittle S, Proudman S, Hill C. Patient satisfaction and acceptability with telehealth at specialist medical outpatient clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Internal Medicine Journal 2021;51: 1028–1037.

2020
Davis CR, Ruediger CD, Dyer KA, Lester S, Graf SW, Kroon FPB, Whittle SL, Hill CL. Colchicine is not effective for reducing osteoarthritic hand pain compared to placebo: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial (COLAH). Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2020. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2020.11.002

Buchbinder R, Ramiro S, Huang H, Gagnier JJ, Jia Y, Whittle SL. Measures of adult shoulder function. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Oct;72 Suppl 10:250-293. doi: 10.1002/acr.24230

Sharma C, Whittle S, Haghighi PD,Burstein F, Keen H. Sentiment analysis of social media posts on pharmacotherapy: A scoping review. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2020;e00640. https://doi.org/10.1002/prp2.640

Sharma C, Whittle SL, Delir Haghighi P, Burstein F, Sa’adon R, Keen H. Mining Social Media Data to Investigate Patient Perceptions Regarding DMARD Pharmacotherapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2020. https://doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-217333.

Lowe J, Briggs AM, Whittle S, Stephenson MD. A systematic review of the effects of probiotic administration in inflammatory arthritis. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020; 101207.

Leonardo N, Lester S, Graham M, Barrett C, Whittle S, Rowett D, et al. Selection and perception of methotrexate treatment information in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Int J Rheum Dis. 2020;15: 1586.

Putman MS, Sufka P, Whittle S, Robinson PC. European consensus statements for interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis [letter]. The Lancet Rheumatology. 2020;2: e317–e318.

Hazlewood GS, Whittle SL, Kamso MM, Akl EA, Wells GA, Tugwell P, et al. Disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and network meta‐analysis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 [cited 8 Apr 2020]. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013562

Khadra Y, Walker JG, Hakendorf P, Proudman S, Rischmueller M, Hill CL, Whittle S, et al. Scleroderma Renal Crisis: Observations from the South Australian Scleroderma Register. Intern Med J. 2020. doi:10.1111/imj.14772

Røe Y, Buchbinder R, Grotle M, Whittle S, Ramiro S, Huang H, et al. What do the OMERACT Shoulder Core Set candidate instruments measure? An analysis using the refined ICF linking rules. J Rheumatol. 2020. doi:10.3899/jrheum.190832

Leonardo N, Lester S, Whittle S, Rischmueller M. Review of gout clinic in a tertiary hospital setting. Intern Med J. 2020;50: 117–120.

Szeto C-C, Sugano K, Wang J-G, Fujimoto K, Whittle S, Modi GK, et al. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy in patients with hypertension, cardiovascular, renal or gastrointestinal comorbidities: joint APAGE/APLAR/APSDE/APSH/APSN/PoA recommendations. Gut. 2020; gutjnl–2019–319300.

2019
Cai K, Whittle SL, Richards BL, Ramiro S, Falzon L, Buchbinder R. Marine oil supplements for rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2019, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD010250. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010250.pub2.

Ng J, Little CB, Woods S, Whittle S, Lee FY, Gronthos S, et al. Stem Cell Directed Therapies for Osteoarthritis: the promise and the practice: Concise Review. Stem Cells. 2019. doi:10.1002/stem.3139

Whittle SL, Johnston RV, McDonald S, Paterson KL, Buchbinder R. Autologous blood product injections including platelet-rich plasma for osteoarthritis of the knee. [protocol]. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;24: 166.

Whittle SL, Johnston RV, McDonald S, Worthley D, Mark Campbell T, Buchbinder R. Stem cell injections for osteoarthritis of the knee. [protocol]. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2019; doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013342

Chan FLY, Lester S, Whittle SL, Hill CL. The utility of ESR, CRP and platelets in the diagnosis of GCA. BMC Rheumatology. 2019;3: 14.

Page MJ, O’Connor DA, Malek M, Haas R, Beaton D, Huang H, Ramiro S, Richards P, Voshaar MJ, Shea B, Verhagen AP, Whittle SL, van der Windt DA, Gagnier JJ, Buchbinder R. Patients’ experience of shoulder disorders: a systematic review of qualitative studies for the OMERACT Shoulder Core Domain Set. Rheumatology. 2019; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kez046

Tam LS, Wei JC-C, Aggarwal A, Baek HJ, Cheung PP, Chiowchanwisawakit P, Dans L, Gu J, Hagino N, Kishimoto M, Reyes HM, Soroosh S, Stebbings S, Whittle SL, Yeap SS, Lau CS. 2018 APLAR axial spondyloarthritis treatment recommendations. Int J Rheum Dis. 2019; doi:10.1111/1756-185X.13510

Ramiro S, Page MJ, Whittle SL, Huang H, Verhagen AP, Beaton D, et al. The Omeract Core Domain Set for Clinical Trials of Shoulder Disorders. J Rheumatol. 2019; doi:10.3899/jrheum.181070

Wilsdon TD, Whittle SL, Thynne TR, Mangoni AA. Methotrexate for psoriatic arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;1: CD012722.

2018
Bourne AM, Johnston RV, Cyril S, Briggs AM, Clavisi O, Duque G, Harris IA, Hill C, Hiller C, Kamper SJ, Latimer J, Lawson A, Lin C-WC, Maher C, Perriman D, Richards BL, Smitham P, Taylor WJ, Whittle S, Buchbinder R. Scoping review of priority setting of research topics for musculoskeletal conditions. BMJ Open. 2018;8: e023962.

Buchbinder R, Bourne A, Latimer J, Harris I, Whittle S, Richards B, et al. Early development of the Australia & New Zealand Musculoskeletal (ANZMUSC) Clinical Trials Network. Intern Med J. 2018; doi:10.1111/imj.14191

Chua AC, Venkataraman K, Whittle SL. Occipital condyle syndrome mimicking giant cell arteritis as the first manifestation of disseminated malignancy. Internal Medicine Journal 2018; 48(9): 1163-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/imj.14022

Lowe J, Briggs A, Whittle S, Hoon E, Stephenson M. Effectiveness of probiotics in the management of inflammatory arthritis: a systematic review protocol. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2018; doi:10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003692

Pisaniello HL, Lester S, Gonzalez-Chica D, Stocks N, Longo M, Sharplin G, Dal Grande E, Gill T, Whittle SL, Hill C. Gout prevalence and predictors of urate-lowering therapy use: results from a population-based study. Arthritis Res Ther (2018). Arthritis Res Ther. 2018 Jul 11;20(1):143. doi: 10.1186/s13075-018-1633-9.

2017
Black RJ, Lester S, Buchbinder R, Barrett C, Lassere M, March L, Whittle S, Hill CL. Factors associated with oral glucocorticoid use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a drug use study from a prospective national biologics registry. Arthritis Res Ther (2017); 19:253. DOI 10.1186/s13075-017-1461-3

Wilsdon TD, Whittle SL, Thynne TRJ, Mangoni AA. Methotrexate for psoriatic arthritis (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD012722. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012722.

Goldacre, B., Whittle, S, Ernst, E. & Mendel, J. Authors’ reply to Beales. BMJ 356, j1196 (2017).

Delir Haghighi P, Kang Y-B, Buchbinder R, Burstein F, Whittle S. Investigating Subjective Experience and the Influence of Weather Among Individuals With Fibromyalgia: A Content Analysis of Twitter. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance 3, e4 (2017).

2016
Truong SL, Saad NF, Robinson PC, Cowderoy G, Lim I, Schachna L, Stebbings S, Stuckey S, Taylor AL, Whittle SL, Zochling J, Bird P, Brown MA. Consensus statements on the imaging of axial spondyloarthritis in Australia and New Zealand. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2016 Dec 19. doi:10.1111/1754-9485.12573.

Mendel J, Goldacre B, Ernst E, Whittle S. Problems with ethical approval and how to fix them: lessons from three trials in rheumatoid arthritis. BMJ. 2016 Sep 9;i4626.

Pisaniello HL & Whittle SL. Fibromyalgia: Finding the Silver Lining around a Common Chronic Pain Disorder. Medicine Today 2016; 17(12): 54-56

Milman N, Hill CL, Whittle SL, El Sayad J, Wells GA. Methotrexate for giant cell arteritis (protocol). In: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [Internet]. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2016 cited 2016 May 26

Milman N, Whittle SL, Hill CL, El Sayad J, Wells GA. Methotrexate for polymyalgia rheumatica (protocol). In: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [Internet]. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2016 cited 2016 May 26

2015
Ting KH, Hill CL, Whittle SL. Quality of reporting of interventional animal studies in rheumatology: a systematic review using the ARRIVE guidelines. Int J Rheum Dis. 2015 Jun;18(5):488-94. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.12699.

Graf SW, Whittle SL, Wechalekar MD, Moi JHY, Barrett C, Hill CL, Littlejohn G, Lynch N, Major G, Taylor AL, Buchbinder R, Zochling J. Australian and New Zealand Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Management of Gout: integrating systematic literature review and expert opinion in the 3e initiative. Int J Rheum Dis. 2015 Mar;18(3):341-51. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.12557. Epub 2015 Apr 17.

Ting K, Graf SW & Whittle SL. Update on the diagnosis and management of gout. Med J Aust 2015; 203 (2): 86-88.

Whittle S & Buchbinder R. In The Clinic: Rotator Cuff Disease. Ann Intern Med. 2015 Jan 6;162(1):ITC1.

2014
Graf SW & Whittle SL. Isotretinoin-induced skeletal hyperostosis. Springerplus 2014 Nov 27;3(1):698.

Moghaddami M, James M, Whittle SL, Cleland LG. Synovial fluid myeloid dendritic cells display important differences compared to monocyte-derived dendritic cells prepared in vitro. Clin Trans Immunol. 2014 Aug 8;3(8):e23.

Richards BL, Whittle SL, Buchbinder R, Barrett C, Lynch N, Major G, et al. Australian and New Zealand evidence-based recommendations for pain management by pharmacotherapy in adult patients with inflammatory arthritis. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2014 Jun 3]

Robinson PC, Bird P, Lim I, Saad N, Schachna L, Taylor AL, Whittle SL, Brown MA. Consensus statement on the investigation and management of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases. 2014 (epub ahead of print; DOI 10.1111/1756-185X.12358)

Bourne, A. M., Whittle, SL, Richards, B. L., Maher, C. G. & Buchbinder, R. The scope, funding and publication of musculoskeletal clinical trials performed in Australia. Med. J. Aust. 200(2): 88-91, (2014).

2013
Whittle SL, Colebatch AN, Adams K, Englbrecht M, Hazlewood G, et al. Multinational Evidence-Based Recommendations for Pain Management by Pharmacotherapy in Inflammatory Arthritis: Integrating Systematic Literature Research and Expert Opinion of a Broad Panel of Rheumatologists in the 3e Initiative. Rheumatology (March 24, 2012). Available from: http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/03/23/rheumatology.kes032.

Whittle SL, Buchbinder R. Opioid analgesics for rheumatoid arthritis pain. JAMA 309, 485–486 (2013).

Graf, SW, Buchbinder, R, Zochling, J & Whittle, SL. The accuracy of methods for urate crystal detection in synovial fluid and the effect of sample handling: A systematic review. Clin Rheumatol. 2013 Feb;32(2):225-32.

2012
Whittle SL, Richards, B. L., Ramiro, S. & Buchbinder, R. Fish oil supplements for rheumatoid arthritis [protocol]. In: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2012). at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010250/abstract

Whittle SL, Richards, BL, van der Heijde, DM. & Buchbinder, R. The efficacy and safety of opioids in inflammatory arthritis: a Cochrane systematic review. J Rheumatol Suppl 90, 40–46 (2012).

Richards, BL, Whittle SL, van der Heijde, DM & Buchbinder, R. The efficacy and safety of neuromodulators in inflammatory arthritis: a Cochrane systematic review. J Rheumatol Suppl 90, 28–33 (2012).

Richards, BL, Whittle SL, van der Heijde, DM & Buchbinder, R. The efficacy and safety of antidepressants in inflammatory arthritis: a Cochrane systematic review. J Rheumatol Suppl 90, 21–27 (2012).

Richards, BL, Whittle SL, van der Heijde, DM & Buchbinder, R. The efficacy and safety of muscle relaxants in inflammatory arthritis: a Cochrane systematic review. J Rheumatol Suppl 90, 34–39 (2012).

Richards BL, Whittle SL, Buchbinder R. Neuromodulators for pain management in rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;1:CD008921.

Richards BL, Whittle SL, Buchbinder R. Muscle relaxants for pain management in rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;1:CD008922.

Wechalekar MD, Lester S, Proudman SM, Cleland LG, Whittle SL, Rischmueller M, et al. Active foot synovitis: Criteria for remission and disease activity underestimate foot involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism 2012; 64(5): 1316-1322

2011
Whittle SL, Richards BL, Husni E, Buchbinder R. Opioid therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;11:CD003113.

Richards BL, Whittle SL, Buchbinder R. Antidepressants for pain management in rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;11:CD008920.

2010
Wechalekar MD, Rischmueller M, Whittle S, Burnet S, Hill CL. Prolonged remission of chronic reactive arthritis treated with three infusions of infliximab. J Clin Rheumatol. 2010 Mar;16(2):79–80.

Katikireddi VS, Whittle SL, Hill CL. Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors and risk of serious infection in rheumatoid arthritis. Int J Rheum Dis. 2010 Feb 1;13(1):12–26.

Whittle SL, Cole A, Lester S, Hill CL. Steroid sparing drug treatments for polymyalgia rheumatica [Protocol]. In: The Cochrane Collaboration, Hill CL, editors. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2009 [cited 2011 Apr 13]. Available from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD005325/abstract.html

Hill CL, Cole A, Lester S, Whittle SL. Steroid sparing drug treatments for giant cell arteritis [Protocol]. In: The Cochrane Collaboration, Hill CL, editors. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2009 [cited 2011 Apr 13]. Available from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD005323/abstract.html

2008
Mangat P, Whittle S, Cleland L, Limaye V. Digital vasculitis: a late complication of anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha therapy. Clin. Rheumatol. 2008 Dec;27(12):1593–5.

2004
Whittle SL, Hughes RA. Folate supplementation and methotrexate treatment in rheumatoid arthritis: a review. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2004 Mar;43(3):267–71.

Whittle SL, Hughes RA. Methotrexate and folic acid: what is the optimal combination? (Letter). Rheumatology (Oxford). 2004 Aug; 43(8): 1061

2002
Whittle SL, James M, Cleland LG. Focus on Meloxicam (Review). Medicine Today 2002; 3(9): 73-76

1996
Edwards DJ, Whittle SL, Nissen MJ, Cohen B, Oakeshott RD, Keene GC. Radiographic changes in the knee after meniscal transplantation. An experimental study in a sheep model. Am J Sports Med. 1996 Apr;24(2):222–6.

Living Guideline Recommendations

An Australian Living Guideline for the Pharmacological Management of Inflammatory Arthritis: mskguidelines.org

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Dose Reduction or Discontinuation of bDMARDs and tsDMARDs
Axial Spondyloarthritis: Dose Reduction or Discontinuation of bDMARDs
Psoriatic Arthritis: Dose Reduction or Discontinuation of bDMARDs and tsDMARDS
Opioids for Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Opioids for Pain in Axial Spondyloarthritis
Opioids for Pain in Psoriatic Arthritis
COVID-19 vaccination for people with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases on immunomodulatory therapies
COVID-19 additional (third) primary dose vaccination for people with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases on immunomodulatory therapies
Long-term use of low dose glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis
Short-term use of glucocorticoids for treating flare in rheumatoid arthritis
Perioperative use of DMARDs in people with inflammatory arthritis
Initial DMARD therapy for people with rheumatoid arthritis
Short-term bridging glucocorticoids in addition to DMARD therapy in RA
Choice of DMARD in people with rheumatoid arthritis who have not responded to TNFi
Subcutaneous/intramuscular methotrexate versus oral methotrexate for people with rheumatoid arthritis
Perioperative adjustment of glucocorticoids in people with inflammatory arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis: Dose reduction or discontinuation of conventional synthetic DMARDs
Psoriatic Arthritis: Dose reduction or discontinuation of conventional synthetic DMARDs
Dose reduction or discontinuation of b/tsDMARDs versus dose reduction or discontinuation of cDMARDs in people with rheumatoid arthritis

An Australian Living Guideline for the Management of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: jia.guide

bDMARDs or tsDMARDs in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis associated uveitis who have not responded to methotrexate
Methotrexate for the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Short‐term adjunctive induction glucocorticoids for non-systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Intra-articular glucocorticoids for juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Oral vs subcutaneous methotrexate for children and young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Local anaesthesia for intra-articular injections in children and young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Foot orthoses in children and young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Exercise therapy in children and young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Grants and funding

2024 Arthritis Australia Project Grant (CI): Living clinical practice guidelines for management of rotator cuff related shoulder pain: Priority questions ($45,000)

2022-2026 MRFF Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative (APP2016105) (CII): A3BC for Kids ($2,496,875.50)

2021-2024 MRFF Efficient Use of Existing Medicines (APP2007502) (CII): Cost-utility comparison of down-titration strategies for safer and more efficient use of biologics in adults with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, ($2.7M)

2019-2022 Australian Commonwealth Government Value in Prescribing Program: Biological Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (GO1512) (Consortium Member) ($8,411,402)

2020-2021 Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd (TGL)/RACGP Foundation Research Grant (TGL-03) (CI): Use of Osteoarthritis Guidelines in General Practice: An Analysis of Work-as-Done Using the Functional Resonance Analysis Method. ($19,968)

2018-2024 ANZMUSC Practitioner Fellowship ($797,040)

2018 Arthritis Australia Project Grant (CIB): Community perceptions of rheumatoid arthritis pharmacotherapy: an analysis of social media platforms ($35,000)

Awards and Honours

2023 Derek Frewin Award for Teaching, The University of Adelaide

2017 Best Clinical Science Free Paper, Australian Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, May 2017 (The DAS28-P Index as a predictor of poor subjective response to DMARD therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis)

2017 Tom Highton Award for Best Presentation at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the New Zealand Rheumatology Association, Auckland, May 2017 (The DAS28-P Index as a predictor of poor subjective response to DMARD therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis)

2018 Best Poster, OMERACT 2018, Terrigal NSW, May 2018 (Instruments Measuring Pain in Shoulder Disorders)

1997 University Medal, Health Sciences Division, The University of Adelaide

Invited talks

2024 Crowdsourcing for systematic reviews, APLAR Congress, Singapore, August 2024

2023 Advances in spondyloarthritis diagnosis and treatment, APLAR Patronage Program, Hanoi, Vietnam, September 2023

Advocacy for rheumatology in Australia, Australian Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting, Hobart, May 2023

Developing Recommendations in Rheumatology, APLAR Mid-Term Symposium, Fukuoka, Japan, April 2023

Applying evidence to the practice of rheumatology in the Asia Pacific region: challenges and opportunities, 67th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japan College of Rheumatology, Fukuoka, Japan, April 2023

2022 Invited speaker, 24th Asia-Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology Congress (APLAR 2022), Hong Kong, December 2022:
“Back pain - a COPCORD community perspective. Management Strategies”

Invited international speaker, Indian Rheumatology Association 37th Annual Conference, Indore, India, November 2022:

• Workshop: Systematic Review
• Meet The Professor: “A Clinician’s survival guide to Fibromyalgia”
• “Living Evidence in Practice: How do we practice in a world awash with evidence?”
• “What is the role of opioids in modern rheumatology practice?”

Technogovernance, phronesis, pre-digestion, and electronic mindlines: a brief exploration of the value of guidelines at the point of care, Australian Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting, Perth, May 2022

2021 ARA & NZRA Webinar - Vaccinations in people with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease, 29th November 2021

Australian Rheumatology Association Webinar – The real risks of glucocorticoids, 23rd November 2021

Invited international speaker, New Zealand Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting, Dunedin NZ, August 2021:
“DMARD tapering in inflammatory arthritis: recommendations and realities”
“Fibromyalgia: a survival guide for clinicians”
“On building a living evidence ecosystem in musculoskeletal disease”

An Australian living guideline for the pharmacological management of inflammatory arthritis, Cabrini Research Sessions, 12th May 2021

An Australian Living Guideline for the Pharmacological Management of Inflammatory Arthritis: Recommendations on Opioids for Pain in Inflammatory Arthritis, Australian Rheumatology Association Webinar Series, 16th February 2021

2020

Development of the ANZMUSC Living Guidelines Conflict of Interest Process, ANZMUSC Clinical Trials Network Mid-Year Scientific Meeting, 6 October 2020

An Australian Living Guideline for the Pharmacological Management of Inflammatory Arthritis: bDMARD Tapering Recommendations, Australian Rheumatology Association Webinar Series, 16th November 2020

On Building a Living Evidence Ecosystem in Musculoskeletal Disease, Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy Educational Meeting, Adelaide, 15 December 2020

2019

Talking Fibromyalgia, Arthritis SA Community Seminar, 17 February 2019

Living Network Meta-analysis, Cochrane Webinar, 21 March 2019

Biologics in Rheumatic Diseases 2019: Spoiled for Choice, ASCEND Nurse Education Meeting, Adelaide, August 2019

On Building A Living Evidence Ecosystem in Musculoskeletal Disease, RACP SA Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, November 2019

2018

ANZMUSC & Living Evidence: An Introduction, ANZMUSC Update Meeting, Sydney, 28 November 2018

2017

Fibromyalgia: A Rheumatological Construct?, Arthritis SA Health Professionals Conference, 23 June 2017

Fibromyalgia, Arthritis SA Community Seminar, 22 Oct 2017

2016

Joint Pain in Osteoarthritis, Global Year Against Pain in the Joints Public Forum, Australian Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting, Darwin, May 2016

Predictors of Response to Therapy in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis, Novartis Rheumatology and Dermatology Preceptorship. Sydney, 17th September 2016

Ankylosing Spondylitis: TNF Inhibition and Beyond, Novartis Rheumatology and Dermatology Preceptorship. Sydney, 18th September 2016

Chronic pain in rheumatology: fibromyalgia and beyond, Faculty of Pain Medicine Regional CME meeting, Adelaide, 7th November 2016

Last updated: 17 September 2024