“Professor March treated me as an active part of my own care. She took the time to explain, to listen, and to involve me in decisions about my treatment and my life. Her approach was calm, patient, and deeply respectful. She never made me feel like my concerns were inconvenient. That alone was transformative. “Her guidance and compassion helped bring stability into my life after many years of uncertainty. For the first time, I felt like I had someone who not only understood my condition but cared about how it affected the rest of my life.” Cate is now part of the research community supporting the Australian Arthritis and Autoimmune Biobank Collaborative, or A3BC. “The research at the Kolling has given me something that I did not have for a long time: hope that is backed by evidence. “Being part of the research community has shown me that the work happening behind the scenes directly influences the care and treatment that people like me receive. “What stands out about the A3BC is that patients are involved from the very beginning. The researchers have made a deliberate effort to include our voices in the design of studies and in conversations about what outcomes matter most. It’s not just about collecting samples or data. “It‘s about building a partnership where lived experience shapes the direction of the research itself. That level of inclusion is rare, and it makes a real difference.
“Knowing that I am helping to improve diagnosis, treatment options and long- term management gives me a real sense of purpose. “The Kolling’s approach recognises that research can only be meaningful when it includes the people it is trying to help. The connection between clinical care and research is what turns information into change, and that is exactly what I see happening.”
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