Dr Laura Sourdin

Clinical Researcher – Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery | Cancer Biology

Biography

Dr Laura Sourdin is a clinical and translational researcher within the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Flinders Medical Centre and a collaborator with the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. Her work sits at the intersection of surgical outcomes, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and health-services improvement.

Dr Sourdin completed her PhD in Cancer Biology at the University of South Australia, where she investigated microRNA-mediated regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity, focusing on the miR-200c:ZEB axis, post-transcriptional gene regulation and EMT/MET dynamics. Her work combined transcriptomics, bioinformatics, molecular biology and functional validation assays.

At Flinders, her contributions include advancing outcomes research in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction, hand surgery, and emerging service areas requiring stronger evidence and patient-centred evaluation. She works closely with surgeons, public health researchers and consumers to improve the evidence base underpinning surgical decision-making and service design.

Teaching and Mentorship

Dr Sourdin previously taught undergraduate Physiology at the University of South Australia (2018–2020). She provides mentorship to medical students, junior registrars, public health trainees and HDR students working on clinical outcomes and PROMs projects.

Research Interests

• Clinical outcomes in reconstructive and plastic surgery
• Gender-affirming surgery outcomes and service design
• Patient-reported outcome measures (BREAST-Q, HAND-Q, GENDER-Q)
• Health-services research, equity of access, and models of care
• Molecular mechanisms of cancer progression and EMT plasticity
• Transcriptomics, microRNA regulation and post-transcriptional control