College of Medicine & Dentistry

Semagn Abate

Doctor of Philosophy (Health)
semagn.abate@my.jcu.edu.au

Joseph Kamara

Senior Lecturer Disaster Health and Humanitarian Assistance
joseph.kamara@jcu.edu.au

Eric Kalo

Lecturer Medical Education
eric.kalo@jcu.edu.au

Erin Waters

JCU Associate Professor
erin.waters@jcu.edu.au

Kannan Maharajan

Associate Professor, Pharmacy
kannan.maharajan@jcu.edu.au

Fahmida Begum Mina

Doctor of Philosophy (Medical, Molecular and Veterinary Sciences)
fahmidabegum.mina@my.jcu.edu.au

Lynsey Brown

Adjunct Senior Lecturer
lynsey.brown@jcu.edu.au

Ali Isin

Adjunct Senior Research Fellow
ali.isin@jcu.edu.au

Muideen Olaiya

Senior Research Fellow
muideen.olaiya@jcu.edu.au

Mila Grinblat

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
mila.grinblat@jcu.edu.au

Cross discipline self-care training for undergraduate, postgraduate and work integrated learning students

Kimberley Owens

01 Oct 2018 - 01 Oct 2019

Let's CHAT (Community Health Approaches To) Dementia in Indigenous Communities (Old ID 26413)

Rachel Quigley

01 Jun 2019 - 01 Jun 2023

This is an extension to an existing 3-year NHMRC funded Dementia Boosting Grant (APP1137425 - Improving Detection and management of dementia in older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders attending Primary Care [IDEA-PC]) stud which now received two more years funding extending the project beyond 2020 to 2021-2022 (APP1150337 - Let's CHAT). wwwww The aim of the study is to work with 12 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) co-researching agencies (3 in each of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia). We will work collaboratively with staff at the ACCHSs and with the community to build skills in assessing and looking after older people.

Evaluation of student-led community rehabilitation and lifestyle service and Implementation of Nasal High Flow (Old ID 27090)

Sally West

17 Dec 2020 - 30 Jun 2022

This research grant is to support two studies conducted in Weipa, Cape York. The first project is the “Evaluation and Implementation of a Student-led Community Rehabilitation and Lifestyle Service”, the second project is the “Implementation of Nasal High Flow (NHF): A remote context”. Both projects explore the effectiveness of service delivery to remote and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Both projects explore the effectiveness of the delivery of novel health care interventions. The community rehabilitation project evaluates an innovative health workforce model that is providing a service for people experiencing the impact of non-communicable diseases (chronic disease) that previously didn’t have access to community rehabilitation.

A new Ultra-Small Volume Fluid for Far-Forward, Noncompressible Hemorrhage and Traumatic Brain Injury (Old ID 21867)

Hayley Letson

01 Dec 2014 - 31 Jan 2016

To provide USSOCOM with a new small-volume hypotensive fluid and drip to treat the critically wounded in austere, remote locations. The hypothesis to be tested is that small-volume 3% NaCI ALM will show a unique set of resuscitative and restorative properties that will maintain MAP in the hypotensive range with sufficient cardiac output and oxygen delivery to protect the brain and other organs during uncoltrolled bleeding with or without TBI.

Activation of AMPK to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm (5As). (Old ID 31075)

Joseph Moxon

01 Feb 2024 - 31 Jan 2027

Twenty million people worldwide (100,000 Australians) have weakening and dilatation of their main abdominal artery (AAA), responsible for 200,000 deaths/year due to aneurysm rupture. Randomised controlled trials show that surgery does not benefit patients with aneurysms <55mm in diameter. About 95% of AAAs are identified when they are small and are simply imaged every 6 to 12 months until aortic diameter becomes ≥55mm, when surgery is considered. About 5% of AAAs fatally rupture during surveillance and 70% grow within 5 years to 55mm and are repaired, with the risk of complications. The lack of treatment for small AAA concerns patients who worry about aneurysm rupture, which impairs their quality of life. Surveys of patients and specialists, and our systematic reviews show the number one deficiency in AAA management is the lack of drugs to prevent aneurysm growth and rupture. A wealth of evidence suggests that pharmacological activation of the AMPK pathway may prevent AAA growth and rupture. We have access to a novel potent 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway activator (O304) which has been shown to be safe in older adults for other indications. This 5As project will build on our past discoveries using our unique resources and expertise (clinically-relevant mouse model, human AAA explant culture methods, novel drug, statistical methods, human AAA biobanks, registries and genome wide data) to test if: 1. AMPK agonist 0304 inhibits aneurysm growth and rupture in our mouse model; 2. AMPK agonist 0304 reduces markers of AAA growth in human AAA samples in vitro; 3. Genetic AMPK upregulation is protective against AAA development and growth.

Activation of AMPK to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm (5As). (Old ID 31075)

Catherine Rush

01 Feb 2024 - 31 Jan 2027

Revealing the hidden knowledge in pathology big data: Machine learning to support clinical decision making for unknown infectious diseases and recognise biosecurity incursions in tropical Australia (Old ID 26978)

Catherine Rush

20 Aug 2020 - 30 Sep 2023

Pathology departments generate massive data from the results of routine and targeted tests conducted to serve community health needs. With the availability of large pathology data collections, the application of sophisticated machine learning (ML) algorithms allows the detection of novel data patterns to characterise disease processes and monitor population health. We will apply recursive partitioning (trees and forests) and support vector machines (SVM) to large pathology data sets to: (a) investigate the biosecurity potential of linked community data, and; (b) assist early decision support for patients presenting with a tropical pyrexia of unknown origin (PUOs).

Understanding factors in infancy and early childhood (birth to 24 months) that influence obesity development (Old ID 22138)

Ronny Gunnarsson

01 Jul 2015 - 31 Dec 2016

Youth who are obese face myriad short-term and longer-term health consequences. Obesity during childhood also contributes to disabilities as well as increased health care costs. Although some interventional clinical trials to prevent obesity or excessive weight gain during infancy and early childhood are ongoing, many knowledge gaps need to be filled in order to better develop successful interventions in this age group. Further research is needed to compare predictive risk factors for, and protective factors against, infant obesity among Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.

Metformin for treating peripheral artery disease-related walking impairment (MERIT) (Old ID 27481)

Joseph Moxon

22 Feb 2022 - 22 Feb 2024

Blockage of the leg arteries (peripheral artery disease; PAD) leads to severe pain, walking impairment and a substantial risk of leg amputation and death. Over 20,000 North Queenslanders have PAD which is overrepresented in regional, remote and rural populations. There are currently no effective PAD medications. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that metformin, a cheap and safe medication, promotes formation of new vessels, improves microcirculation and muscle function and limits PAD-related pain. This placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial, run by a North Queensland vascular research collaboration, will examine the efficacy of metformin in improving walking ability of PAD patients.

Does renal denervation promote atherosclerosis? (Old ID 20864)

Catherine Rush

01 Jan 2014 - 31 Dec 2016

The long-term side effects of renal denervation are unknown. This project is designed to (1) investigate the potential atherosclerosis-promoting effect of renal denervation, and (2) to study the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs to minimize this potential side effect. Ultimately, this project may improve the beneficial effects and minimize the potential side effects of renal denervation by routinely treating renal denervated patients with anti-inflammatory drugs.