Dr Lila Landowski
Bioscience Lead (Hobart), Unit Coordinator, Lecturer, Neuroscientist, University of Tasmania
How neuroscience can help us understand patient engagement in healthcare
Patient engagement is often treated as a question of motivation or compliance – but what if I told you it isn’t that simple
Every healthcare interaction is shaped by the brain’s response to stress, trust and cognitive load. When patients feel overwhelmed, unheard, unsafe or unwell, their capacity to process information, make decisions and follow through with care can be significantly reduced.
Neuroscientist Dr Lila Landowski explores what happens in the brain during physical and emotional stressors, and why human connection is not merely a “soft skill,” but an essential part of effective care. Drawing on the neuroscience of stress, learning, trust, communication, and behaviour change, she helps clinicians and healthcare organisations cultivate skills to reduce friction, build empathy, strengthen therapeutic relationships and help patients become more active partners in their health.
Lila has a strong personal focus on community health and wellbeing, making the wonderful world of science more accessible to the community through radio, TV, public talks and in print and digital media. The TEDx speakers’ achievements include receiving the Premier’s Young Achiever of the Year and an AIPS Young Tall Poppy award, as well as being a finalist for an Australian Museum Eureka Award and Young Australian of the Year. She was featured in the documentary “Catching Opportunity,” and has appeared in two episodes of ABC’s new docuseries Secret Science (Brain training and The Senses). Lila was named one of ABC Science Show’s Top 100 Scientists, and was named as one of Australia’s top 20 Scientists by the Herald Sun.
A leading voice in STEM and advocacy, Lila holds honorary titles such as “Superstar of STEM,” and has been an ambassador for public school education, a Patron of Science, and was named a “Science superhero” by Australia’s Chief Scientist.
As a neuroscientist, Lila’s research expertise is in axon guidance, neural repair mechanisms and therapeutic development for nerve damage. In 2014, after completing her PhD at the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, Lila trained at the Peripheral Nerve lab at the Mayo Clinic to cement her status as an emerging leader in the field of peripheral nerve injury. She was recruited to teach and coordinate neuroscience units at the Wicking Dementia Centre at the same time. In recent years, her research focus has shifted from peripheral neuropathy to stroke and fatigue. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Professor David Howells. For several months (from August 2016 – April 2017), Lila spent time as a visiting scholar at the Florey Institute’s Melbourne Brain Centre (Austin Hospital, Melbourne), developing surgical skills and a novel model of stroke to bring back to UTAS. With the support of a $450,000 investment from the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation, her foremost research goal is to transform the success of pre-clinical stroke research.
Lila has taught into courses at the University of Tasmania for 15 years, working across various subjects for Medicine, Medical Research, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Science, Nursing, Dementia Care and Paramedicine She has been awarded two of the university’s highest honours; a Vice Chancellors citation for early career teaching, and a Vice Chancellors citation for community engagement.
Lila has a strong personal focus on the importance of science communication, public outreach, and community health and well-being.
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