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Biruk Getahun Kibret

Biruk Getahun Kibret

PhD Candidate
Medicine and Health
School of Health Sciences

Biography

Biruk earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Wollo University and his Master of Science in Medical Physiology from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. Since September 2013, he has served as a lecturer and researcher at the Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. Throughout his academic career, he has been actively involved in teaching and mentoring students, conducting research, delivering community service, and taking on leadership roles within the University. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the School of Health Sciences, University of New South Wales (ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ), Sydney, Australia, where his research focuses on investigating the effects of exercise on frailty in individuals with multiple myeloma.

Research title 

The Effects of Exercise on Frailty for People with Multiple Myeloma

Research abstract 

Frailty is highly prevalent in people with multiple myeloma (MM) and significantly influences treatment tolerance, quality of life, and survival. The combined effects of disease burden, treatment-related toxicities, and age-associated physiological decline accelerate frailty onset, increasing the risk of disability, loss of independence, and adverse outcomes. Consequently, addressing frailty has become a critical priority in MM management.

Exercise has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological strategy to counter frailty by improving muscle strength, endurance, mobility, and functional reserves. Pilot studies and clinical trials have indicated that tailored exercise programs are safe and feasible in MM, with early evidence of improved function, reduced fatigue, and enhanced well-being, supporting their integration into supportive care.

However, evidence directly addressing frailty in MM remains limited to date. This study proposes a randomized controlled trial of a personalised, modular multimodal exercise program. The outcomes will focus on frailty measures to determine the program’s effect on musculoskeletal health and functional capacity.

The findings will provide novel and essential evidence on the role of exercise in improving frailty outcomes for people with MM. Ultimately, this study could guide the integration of exercise into standard care, improving functional independence, treatment tolerance, and survivorship.

Supervisors

Professor Tina Skinner

Co-supervisors: Dr Briana Clifford and Dr Jennifer Nicol
Email

b.kibret@unsw.edu.au

  • Journal articles | 2024

    Vision Loss Expert Group of the Global Burden of Disease Study. (2024). Global estimates on the number of people blind or visually impaired by Uncorrected Refractive Error: a meta-analysis from 2000 to 2020. Eye, 38(11), 2083.

    Journal articles | 2023

    Kim, M. S., Hwang, J., Yon, D. K., Lee, S. W., Jung, S. Y., Park, S., ... & Sharfaei, S. (2023). Global burden of peripheral artery disease and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet Global Health, 11(10), e1553-e1565.

    Journal articles | 2023

    Ong, K. L., Stafford, L. K., McLaughlin, S. A., Boyko, E. J., Vollset, S. E., Smith, A. E., ... & Brauer, M. (2023). Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet.

    Journal articles | 2023

    Shin, Y. H., Hwang, J., Kwon, R., Lee, S. W., Kim, M. S., GBD 2019 Allergic Disorders Collaborators, & Jajarmi, M. (2023). Global, regional, and national burden of allergic disorders and their risk factors in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2019: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Allergy.

    Journal articles | 2022

    Getahun, B., & Bekel, A. A. (2022). Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Malaria in NorthWestern Ethiopia. African Journal of Health Sciences, 35(4), 446-454.

    Journal articles | 2021

    Abate, T. W., Getahun, B., Birhan, M. M., Aknaw, G. M., Belay, S. A., Demeke, D., ... & Mengiste, Y. (2021). The urban–rural differential in the association between household wealth index and anemia among women in reproductive age in Ethiopia, 2016. BMC Women's Health, 21(1), 1-8.

    Journal articles | 2020

    Demeke, D., & Getahun, B. (2020). Assessing Ethnophsiological Use of Spices and Condiment in Prepared Dishes in Bahir Dar City, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: Ethnophysiological Qualitative Study. Journal of Food Technology & Nutrition Sciences. SRC/JFTNS/102. DOI: doi. org/ 10.47363/JFTNS/ 2020 (2), 102, 3.

    Journal articles | 2019

    Getahun, B., & Haile, D. W. (2019). Assessment of pulmonary function among cleaners in governmental hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; comparative cross-sectional study. BMC Research Notes, 12, 1-5.

  • Book chapters | 2024

    Getahun, B., Bekel, A. A., Ayalew, D. D., Gebeye, M. D., Zemene, D., & Beyene, E. L. (2024). Recent Advances in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD-Pathology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Directions. IntechOpen.

    Book chapters | 2022

    Getahun, B., & Bekel, A. A. (2022). Current and Contemporary Developments in Pulmonary Rehabilitation. In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-A Compendium of Medicine and the Humanities. IntechOpen.

    Book chapters | 2021

    Getahun, B., & Bekel, A. A. (2021). Work-Related Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-A Current Conspectus. IntechOpen.
  • PhD Candidate, SoHS, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç (Current)
  • MSc in Medical Physiology, Addis Ababa University (2017)
  • BSc in Biology, Wollo University (2010) 
  • University International Postgraduate Award (UIPA) at University of New South Wales, Australia (2025)
  • University of New South Wales (ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ), Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • Bahir Dar University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
  • Lifetime member: Ethiopian Red Cross Association, Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia (FGAE), and Health, Development and Antimalarial Association /HDAMA/ at Bahir Dar, Ethiopia