College of Medicine & Dentistry

Semagn Abate

Semagn Abate

Joseph Kamara

Joseph Kamara

Eric Kalo

Eric Kalo

Erin Waters

Erin Waters

Kannan Maharajan

Kannan Maharajan

Fahmida Begum Mina

Fahmida Begum Mina

Lynsey Brown

Lynsey Brown

Ali Isin

Ali Isin

Muideen Olaiya

Muideen Olaiya

Mila Grinblat

Mila Grinblat

Enhanced learning experiences for Sport and Exercise Science students through integration of industry technology, knowledge sharing, and placement opportunities.
Lisa Simmons
01 Apr 2024 - 08 Jul 2024
Enhanced learning experiences for Sport and Exercise Science students through integration of industry technology, knowledge sharing, and placement opportunities.
From Concept to Practice: an emergency contraception decision-making tool for community pharmacists
Selina Taylor
06 May 2026 - 07 May 2027
Preventing unintended pregnancy is a national and international public health priority, given an estimated 50% of pregnancies are unintended, with approximately 60% of these ending in abortion. Women in rural areas are 1.4 times more likely to experience an unintended pregnancy due to limited reproductive healthcare access. Emergency hormonal contraception (ECP), an effective intervention to prevent pregnancy, is supplied through community pharmacy, with pharmacists charged with ensuring access is timely, equitable and patient-centred, to optimise outcomes. This study aims to explore the supply of ECP and evaluate the implementation of an ECP decision-making tool in Australian community pharmacies. It aims to improve access, streamline and standardise optimal ECP supply in busy community pharmacies.
Artificial Intelligence driven novel ear tag for critical cattle health monitoring
Subir Sarker
11 Feb 2026 - 10 Feb 2027
The overarching aim of this project is to develop and validate a wearable ear tag for cattle that integrates photoplethysmography (PPG) and temperature sensors to enable continuous, non-invasive monitoring of cardiovascular and thermal health parameters. The system will measure real-time changes in blood volume using optical PPG principles, allowing for the estimation of heart rate, pulse wave characteristics, and vascular dynamics, along with body temperature. By capturing PPG waveform features such as anacrotic/dicrotic peaks, heart rate variability, and systolic-diastolic timing, this tool will support early indications of physiological stress, fever, or emerging illness, which can significantly impact animal welfare, productivity, and farm profitability. The data will be transmitted wirelessly to a cloud platform for visualization and alert generation through a user-friendly mobile app. The project currently stands at technology readiness level 3. Over the 12-month duration, the project aims to advance the system to TRL 4 through expanded testing, integration with cloud-based platforms, and refinement of algorithms for commercial on-farm use.
Enhanced learning experiences for Sport and Exercise Science students through integration of industry technology, knowledge sharing, and placement opportunities
Lisa Simmons
22 May 2024 - 31 Dec 2024
This CHS Scholarship of Learning and Teaching Seed Grant supported dissemination of findings from a teaching and learning project focused on enhancing Sport and Exercise Science student learning experiences through industry technology, knowledge sharing, and placement opportunities. Funding supported Lisa Simmons’ travel to Adelaide to present the project findings at the 2024 ANZAHPE Conference. The grant covered conference registration, travel, and accommodation.
Uncovering Marine and Plant Natural Products Against Inflammation: An Australia-PNG Initiative
Haleagrahara Nagaraja
31 Jan 2026 - 26 Feb 2027
This project aims to explore and analyse natural products, systematically screening them using advanced bioassays that target inflammatory pathways relevant to rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammatory diseases are a major health concern in both Australia and PNG, contributing significantly to chronic illness and healthcare costs. Arthritis, in particular, is highly prevalent and impactful. The project aims to explore the bioactivity of crude extracts, and potentially isolate compounds with anti-inflammatory activity. This one year program is likely to provide new directions for studies aimed at characterisation of novel bioactive molecules. The project will also strengthen PNG’s research capacity through training, technology transfer, and the establishment of an enduring analytical infrastructure.
Evaluating the Teaching Excellence and Collaborative Hub (TEACH): Building Educator Capability and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Lisa Simmons
03 Aug 2026 - 03 Aug 2029
This non-funded research project will evaluate the Teaching Excellence and Collaborative Hub (TEACH), a multi-modal faculty development initiative within the College of Medicine and Dentistry at James Cook University. TEACH aims to build educator capability, confidence, collegial connection, and engagement with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning through digital resources, mentoring, networking, communities of practice, showcases, and scholarly support activities. The evaluation will use a mixed-methods developmental evaluation design, including anonymous post-activity surveys, quarterly staff experience surveys, semi-structured interviews, and aggregate program-level engagement data. Findings will inform ongoing refinement of TEACH and contribute evidence about sustainable faculty development in regional health professional education contexts.
In what ways could Student-led Ward Rounds impact the experience of students completing their paediatric rotations? A Mixed methods study
Lisa Simmons
01 Jul 2026 - 31 Dec 2026
This mixed-methods study will explore how Student-led Ward Rounds influence the learning experiences and values of medical students completing paediatric rotations. The project is framed as an action research study and involves introducing a revised inpatient ward round structure in which medical students lead ward round activities, including taking patient histories, examining patients, and contributing to management plans under direct supervision from a senior doctor. This differs from the traditional paediatric ward round model, where students usually participate primarily as observers. Students will experience both traditional and student-led ward rounds during their six-week rotation. After the rotation, consenting students will be invited to provide feedback through an online survey and a short semi-structured interview with a research assistant. Findings may inform future educational redesign and research into active learning approaches within paediatric clinical placements. The project has previously been reviewed by an external ethics committee: SA Health Research GEMS. External approval number: 2025/HRE00442.
Developing Feedback Literacy for First Year Nursing Students in North Queensland
Lisa Simmons
20 Jul 2026 - 30 Nov 2026
This lower-risk research project will explore first-year nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding assessment feedback at a regional university in North Queensland. The study is situated within the Master of Health Professional Education and uses a positivist paradigm with a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey framework. Data will be collected through an anonymous online survey completed by first-year undergraduate nursing students enrolled at James Cook University. The survey will examine students’ previous experiences of receiving and using assessment feedback, their current understanding and interpretation of feedback, and how they apply feedback to support learning. Findings will be used to identify strengths and needs in students’ feedback literacy and to inform teaching strategies that support first-year nursing students in North Queensland and similar tertiary settings.
Establishing the North Queensland Diabetic muscle stem cell library. (Old ID 27289)
Craig McFarlane
01 Jul 2021 - 31 Oct 2025
This project will develop a North Queensland Diabetic Muscle Library. Muscle tissue will be resected from patients and fixed and frozen. The tissues will also be dissociated and cultured to make primary myoblast cultures that will be used in future experiments in drug trials, sequencing and biochemical assays.
A Sustainable Peer-Supported Program for Women’s Career Advancement at JCU
Lisa Simmons
01 Jul 2026 - 30 Jul 2026
This internally funded JCU gender equity project will develop practical, JCU-specific resources to support women academics preparing for career progression and promotion. Resources may include narrative exemplars, reflective prompts and peer-feedback guides designed to help academics interpret promotion expectations, articulate impact and leadership, and develop coherent promotion narratives. My contribution includes resource design, structured peer-feedback approaches, educational evaluation and review of materials from a health professional education and academic development perspective.

Elevated intra-abdominal pressure limits venous return during exercise in Varanus exanthematicus

Terrestrial locomotion does not constrain venous return in the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis

Regenerating lizard tails: A new model for investigating lymphangiogenesis

  • 2003
  • Researchers:Suzy Munns

Exploring the development of an appropriate women's health service for Mt Isa City: report to the Queensland Nursing Council Research Committee

Association of osteoprotegerin with human abdominal aortic aneurysm progression

EST analysis of the cnidarian Acropora millepora reveals extensive gene loss and rapid sequence divergence in the model invertebrates

The evolutionary history of the coral genus Acropora (Scleractinia, Cnidaria) based on a mitochondrial and a nuclear marker: reticulation, incomplete lineage sorting, or morphological convergence?

A simple plan: cnidarians and the origins of developmental mechanisms

Patterns of coral-dinoflagellate associations in Acropora: significance of local availability and physiology of Symbiodinium strains and host-symbiont selectivity

Maintenance of ancestral complexity and non-metazoan genes in two basal cnidarians

Title: Advisory Panel of the Year 2023 Award. Graduate Research School, James Cook University.
Reseracher: Nichole Harvey (Academic Lead, Clinical Skills)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
Title: Research Associate, University of New South Wales
Reseracher: Richard Francis (Lecturer, Physiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2014
End Date: 01 Jan 2018
Title: Research Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Reseracher: Richard Francis (Lecturer, Physiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2009
End Date: 01 Jan 2014
Title: Staff Scientist, National Institutes of Health
Reseracher: Richard Francis (Lecturer, Physiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2008
End Date: 01 Jan 2009
Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institutes of Health
Reseracher: Richard Francis (Lecturer, Physiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2003
End Date: 01 Jan 2008
Title: Teaching Fellow, University of Otago Medical School
Reseracher: Richard Francis (Lecturer, Physiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 1999
End Date: 01 Jan 2003
Title: Co-convenor (2022 to current), Primary Health Care Special Interest Group, Public Health Association of Australia
Reseracher: Mary O'Loughlin (Senior Lecturer, Public Health)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: Teaching Consultancy: Health Promotion 5 Day Short Course
Reseracher: Tammy Allen (Senior Lecturer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2016
Title: Best First-Time Symposium Presenter – CHHHS Research and Innovation Symposium
Reseracher: Kane Langdon (JCU Lecturer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
Title: FNQ Hospital Foundation Conference Grant
Reseracher: Kane Langdon (JCU Lecturer)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022