Chiara Becca
Chiara Beccia
Graduate Research Topic
Title: From symptoms to solutions: using a primary care lens to outline the journey to a paediatric type 1 diabetes diagnosis and offer solutions to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis.
Years: 2023 - 2026
Supervisors: A/Prof Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis, Dr Barbara Hunter and Dr Mary White.
Brief background and research interests
I completed my Honours year in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care in 2022, after having undertaken a few small research projects within subjects in my undergraduate degree. I am interested in how we can use both qualitative and quantitative research to develop novel ways of supporting general practitioners to navigate rare, difficult-to-diagnose illnesses. Other interests include using natural language processing and machine learning to build predictive algorithms in general practice research, innovations in improving care for chronic health conditions, social determinants of health and access to healthcare.
What led you to this research?
During my Honours year, I explored pathology testing for children attending Victorian general practices with suspected type 1 diabetes. During this time, I learnt a lot about research in diabetic ketoacidosis prevention and the importance of shortening diagnostic delay intervals in type 1 diabetes. I became very interested in the questions that emerged from the data that my Honours study presented and wanted to pursue a PhD exploring these questions. I was also inspired by some very special people (my supervisors) and wanted to continue working with them!
Where to next?
I was accepted to The University of Melbourne’s MD program in 2024 and commenced in 2025 concurrently with the final year of my PhD. I am currently a second year MD student and intend to continue the work my PhD focuses on in collaboration with my supervisors for my PhD. I also plan to return to the Department in the third and fourth year of my MD via the MD research scholar pathway to expand this research. With regard to my MD studies, I would like to become a general practitioner or rural generalist in the future.
Publications:
Publications from my thesis can be read below: