International Continence Society

Jennifer Kruger currently leads the Pelvic Floor Research group at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland. The primary focus of the research is to use a multi-disciplinary approach to PF mechanics and its relationship to childbirth and pelvic floor disorders, including pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. Her initial interest in pelvic floor disorders arose while working as a midwife, before completing her PhD where her doctoral research investigated linkages between long term high impact sport and childbirth. She is a well published researcher, in both the clinical field of pelvic floor dysfunction, and in the biomechanics domain. The importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration with clinicians, bioengineers and scientists to address problems inherent in PFD’s, has resulted in the first national Pelvic Floor Research Network (NZ). She is a co-inventor of the Auckland elastometer, an instrument to measure passive and active components of the pelvic floor muscle, as well as a wireless intra-vaginal pressure sensor (the FemFit) for measurement of the vaginal pressure profile, including abdominal pressure. Her research work involves close collaboration spanning a range of disciplines in a number of institutions and over a range of specialties.