Dr Aimie Peek

Research interests

I am a clinician-researcher physiotherapist specialising in headache, concussion, and complex musculoskeletal pain. My research focuses on improving patient outcomes by integrating neuroscience and clinical practice, with particular expertise in brain neurochemistry, advanced neuroimaging (magnetic resonance spectroscopy), and clinical phenotyping.

My work aims to identify biomarkers and patient subgroups to enable more precise, targeted treatments for conditions such as migraine and whiplash-associated headache. I currently lead a Brain Foundation–funded project investigating neurochemical and clinical profiles of individuals who respond to CGRP monoclonal antibody therapies, in an International collaboration with Professor Trudy Rebbeck, A/Prof Karl Ng University of Sydney and A/Prof Nicolas Puts Kings College, London.

Alongside this, I lead and collaborate on projects exploring the spectrum of migraine using multimodal approaches (neuroimaging, EEG, quantitative pain testing and clinical measures), as well as studies investigating the lived experience of migraine and concussion, and neurological recovery. My broader research includes mindfulness and brain function in chronic pain, concussion in sport, and predictors of clinical outcomes in cervical spine disorders.

Clinically, I have extensive experience as an APA Titled Physiotherapist managing complex headache, spinal, and pain presentations in advanced practice and extended scope roles across the UK and Australia. This clinical background underpins my translational research approach, ensuring that findings are directly applicable to patient care.

My long-term goal is to develop a multidisciplinary research program that advances personalised care for people living with headache, concussion and complex chronic pain disorders.

In my role acting as Conjoint Allied Health Academic Researcher between Bond University and Northern New South Wales Local Health District (NNSWLHD), I focus on strengthening research collaboration between clinicians and academics. I am particularly interested in building research capacity within health services by supporting clinicians to engage in research, from developing initial ideas, writing grants, through to project delivery and translation into practice. My role aims to create meaningful partnerships that align clinical priorities with academic expertise, ultimately improving patient care through collaborative, practice-informed research across allied health disciplines.