Vinicius Cavalheri

National Head of School, Professor
PhD, MSc, BSc (PT)

Email: vinicius.cavalheri@nd.edu.au

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  • Biography

    Professor Vinicius (Vin) Cavalheri is the National Head of School (Health Sciences) at the University of Notre Dame Australia, leading the strategic direction, academic excellence, and formation of future health sciences professionals. Vin’s work focuses on strengthening education, research, and partnerships that deliver meaningful impact across the health sector.

    His clinical-research expertise lies in exercise training and rehabilitation, with a focus on improving outcomes in people with chronic lung disease and lung cancer. Vin has authored over 140 publications across high-impact journals and secured more than AUD $8 million in competitive research funding. His contributions have informed policy and practice globally and have been recognised through several research awards.

    Previously, Vin served as the founding Allied Health Research Director at South Metropolitan Health Service and Curtin University, where he established a clinically embedded research unit supporting over 200 clinicians and academics. This initiative significantly expanded research capacity, delivering grants, publications, and multicentre collaborations at scale.

    Vin was awarded the 2025 WA Health Allied Health Leader of the Year Award due to his commitment to people-centred and values-based leadership, fostering mentorship, collaboration, and purpose-driven cultures that empower people and improve health outcomes for communities.

  • Teaching areas

    • Evidence-based practice
    • Honours Degree
    • Higher Degree by Research

  • Research expertise and supervision

    • Pulmonary Rehabilitation
    • Exercise training in chronic lung disease and cancer
    • Physical activity promotion

  • Book chapters

    • Cavalheri V. Fisioterapia no câncer de pulmão (Physiotherapy in lung cancer). Oncologia para fisioterapeutas (Oncology for Physiotherapists). Editors: George Jerre Vieira Sarmento; Thalissa Maniaes. Manole (Brazil). 2022. Second Edition
    • Cavalheri V, Vainshelboim B, Evans RA, et al. Special considerations in conditions other than COPD. In: Holland AE, Dal Corso S, Spruit MA, eds. Pulmonary Rehabilitation (ERS Monograph). Sheffield, European Respiratory Society, 2021; pp. 145–164 [https://doi.org/10.1183/2312508X.10018220
    • Cavalheri V. Fisioterapia no câncer de pulmão (Physiotherapy in lung cancer). Oncologia para fisioterapeutas (Oncology for Physiotherapists). Editors: George Jerre Vieira Sarmento; Thalissa Maniaes. Manole (Brazil). 2020. First Edition

  • In the media

    • Inmotion – flagship publication of the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Title: APASC25: exercise can increase cancer survival
    • 2GB, RSN927, 2BS, 2EC, 2LT AM Radio, 9 Dec 2023. Title: Physical activity could help extend life for people with inoperable forms of lung cancer
    • 5AA Radio, 9 Dec 2023. Title: Even small amounts of physical activity could be valuable in late stage lung cancer
    • 6PR and 6iX AM Radio, 9 Dec 2023. Title: Physical activity could help extend life for people with inner interoperable forms of lung cancer
    • Cancer Council WA. Title: Even small amounts of physical activity could be valuable in late-stage lung cancer
    • Physiotherapy Inmotion: Australian Physiotherapy Association. Title: Lung cancer research a breath of fresh air
    • Cancer Council WA webpage. Title: WA’s top cancer researchers recognised
    • Live interview – Curtin FM 100.1 (The Afternoon show) – 25/05/2020; 2.20pm. Title: Cancer Council WA award & Exercise in Lung Cancer.
    • Live interview – RTR FM 92.1 (On the Record show) – 25/05/2020; 9.10am. Title: Cancer Council WA award & Exercise in Lung Cancer.
    • Article on The National Tribune Newspaper – May 14, 2020. Title: Two young cancer researchers take out prestigious WA award.
    • Article on Mirage News – May 14, 2020. Title: Two young cancer researchers take out prestigious WA award.
    • Article (Signal) published by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR – UK). Title: Exercise training improves physical capacity after lung cancer surgery.
    • Article on MEDICAL FORUM MAGAZINE. Title: Exercise after lung cancer surgery important for recovery.
    • Article on Health Times - Published: 27-06-2019. Title: Exercise after lung cancer surgery important for recovery.
    • 2GB Radio, Sydney – 24/06/2019 (recorded phone interview). Title: Research reveals lung cancer patients who exercise after tumour removal have better quality of life.
    • 2SM Radio, Sydney – 24/06/2019 (recorded phone interview). Title: New research shows exercise is an important part of recovery for patients who have undergone surgery to treat lung cancer.
    • Article on bignewsnetwork.com – Published: 25-06-2019. Title: Exercise important for lung cancer surgery recovery.
    • Article on panarmenian.net – Published: 24-06-2019. Title: Exercise important for lung cancer surgery recovery.
    • Article on medicalxpress.com – Published: 24-06-2019. Title: Exercise after surgery is important for lung cancer surgery recovery.
    • Article on Keep it Clever – Published: 27-09-2018. Title: Exercise before lung cancer surgery improves recovery.
    • Article on Health Times - Published: 08-06-2017. Title: Pre-operative exercise helps lung cancer surgery recovery.
    • Article on Examiner Newspaper – Published 16/06/2017. Title: Studies show exercise a benefit for lung cancer patients.
    • Radio Fremantle, 107.9 FM - Cada Dia Radio Programme (Portuguese & Spanish broadcasting) – Recorded interview - Thursday, 27 April 2017 – 5pm - 6pm. Title: Sedentary behaviour and its negative effects on health
    • Radio Fremantle, 107.9 FM - Cada Dia Radio Programme (Portuguese & Spanish broadcasting) – Live interview - Sunday, 9 August 2015 - 11am - 1pm. Title: Smoking and its negative effects on health

  • Professional affiliations

    • European Respiratory Society
    • Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
    • Lung Foundation Australia
    • International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer

  • Community engagement

    • Cancer Council WA
    • Respiratory Health Network (WA Health)
    • South Metropolitan Health Service

    Grant reviewing

    As a panel member

    • 2025 – Cancer Council Western Australia – Postdoctoral Fellowship
    • 2024 – Cancer Council Western Australia – Suzanne Cavanagh Early Career Investigator Grant
    • 2023 - Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
    • 2020 – National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
    • 2020 – Cancer Council Western Australia – Vacation Scholarships
    • 2019 – National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
    • 2019 – Cancer Council Western Australia – Vacation Scholarships
    • 2019 – Cancer Council Western Australia – PhD Top-up Scholarships
    • 2019 – Cancer Council Western Australia – Honours and MSc Scholarships

    As an independent reviewer

    • 2023 - L'Agence Nationale de la Recherché (France) - French Sixth RHU call (University Hospital Research) - RHU - Vague 6, 2023
    • 2023 - Diretoria de Pesquisa e Stricto Sensu da Kroton (Brazil) – Research Projects 2023
    • 2022 - The São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP (Brazil) – Thematic projects
    • 2021 – Physiotherapy Research Foundation (Australia) – Seeding Grant 2021
    • 2020 – Swiss National Science Foundation – Grant Funding 2020
    • 2020 – European Respiratory Society – Task Force Application “ERS/ESTS/ELF Clinical Practice Guideline Task Force on Fitness for Tumour-specific Treatments of Lung Cancer”
    • 2019 – World Cancer Research Foundation – Regular Grant Programme 2018-19 Cycle
    • 2019 - L'Agence Nationale de la Recherché (France) - French Fourth RHU call (University Hospital Research) 2019
    • 2018 – National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) – Research Grant – Invited to review application APP1163337, but had to declare a conflict of interest that was rated as “high” by NHMRC
    • 2018 – The Research Foundation Flanders (Belgium) – Research projects 2018
    • 2018 – Ontario Respiratory Care Society (Canada) - Research Grant Program 2018
    • 2017 – Physiotherapy Research Foundation (Australia) – Seeding Grant 2017
    • 2017 – Physiotherapy Research Foundation (Australia) – Project Grant 2017

  • Awards

    • 2025: Award: WA Excellence in Allied Health Award: Allied Health Leader of the Year
    • 2025: Finalist (top 3) for the WA Excellence in Allied Health Award: Team of the Year. Nominee: Allied Health Research Unit
    • 2024: Award: Curtin University Research and Engagement Awards: Award for Research Excellence – Partnerships
    • 2024: Finalist (top 3) for the South Metropolitan Health Service Excellence Awards – Moorditj Dookoorniny (Board/Chief Executive)
    • 2024: Finalist (top 3) for the South Metropolitan Health Service Excellence Awards – Excellence in Strengthening Partnerships. Nominee: Allied Health Research Unit
    • 2023: Finalist (top 3) for the Curtin University Award for Research Excellence – Partnerships (Mid-Career & Senior Researchers)
    • 2022: Award: Teaching Excellence award (Teaching Team category) - Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University.
    • 2020: Award: Cancer Council Western Australia Early Cancer Researcher of the Year
    • 2019: Award: European Respiratory Society Grant for Best Abstract in Physiotherapy
    • 2018: Award: Curtin University Early Career Researcher of the Year
    • 2018: Early Career Researcher Observer for the 2018 NHMRC Project Grant peer review process – Panels observed: 4A Biochemistry + Cell Biology + Regenerative Medicine + Developmental Biology; and 4E Mental Health + Psychology + Psychiatry
    • 2017: Finalist (top 4) for the Curtin University Early Career Researcher Award
    • 2015: Award: Physiotherapy Special Interest Group Prize. Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting (Gold Coast, Australia) – $500.00 (AUD)
    • 2015: Finalist for the Ann Woolcock Young Investigator Award. Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting (Gold Coast, Australia) – $500.00 (AUD)
    • 2014: Award: Best Paper Award. Mark Liveris Health Sciences Research Student Seminar (Perth, Australia) – $100.00 (AUD)
    • 2014: Award: Best scientific poster on Interventional Pulmonology and Lung Cancer. Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting (Adelaide, Australia)

  • Other

    • Critically Appraised Papers Editor, Journal of Physiotherapy
    • Member of the Asia-Pacific Pulmonary Rehabilitation (APPR) Network
    • Member of the Post-doctoral Grants Advisory Subcommittee (Cancer Council WA)
    • Adjunct Professor, Curtin University (Curtin School of Allied Health)
    • Honorary (Principal Fellow), The University of Melbourne (Physiotherapy)
    • Adjunct Professor, Edith Cowan University (Exercise Medicine Research Institute)