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

Tackling Antibiotic Resistance with Structure Destabilizing Compounds

Yaoqin Hong

01 Jul 2025 - 31 Dec 2025

Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to global health, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning of a "post-antibiotic era" where common infections become deadly. The rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria necessitates innovative solutions to combat this growing crisis. Our proposal, "Tackling Antibiotic Resistance with Structure Destabilizing Compounds," aims to develop a novel class of antimicrobials that inactivate the structural integrity of the biotin protein ligase, a validated drug target in critical ESKAPE pathogens such as Escherichia, Klebsiella and Enterobacter species. This project will produce essential pilot data for an NHMRC Ideas Grant application in 2026 - Tackling Antibiotic Resistance with Structure Destabilizing Compounds.

Improving Hepatocellular Carcinoma Immunotherapy

Craig McFarlane

31 Jul 2025 - 31 Dec 2026

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes 80-90% of all liver cancers and is the third leading cause of cancer-related death globally. There are just a few therapeutic options available for HCC patients. The most promising is immunotherapy, which uses the antibodies atezolizumab, an immune check point inhibitor, and bevacizumab an angiogenic inhibitor, that direct the immune system to kill HCC tumour cells. However, immunotherapy is effective in just 30% of HCC patients and can in some instances promote tumour progression and have adverse effects. The major reason for this is that the HCC immune environment is immunosuppressed in 70% of patients, and the molecular events leading to this are poorly understood. This project will use murine HCC models and atezolizumab and bevacizumab therapeutic equivalents, single cell sequencing and advanced cell biology to decipher how HCC escapes immunotherapy, and hence determine new therapeutic targets to treat immunosuppressed HCC.

An Australian social prescribing implementation framework: Piloting a co-design approach

Karen Carlisle

01 Jul 2025 - 30 Dec 2025

This pilot project will use a co-design approach to inform an implementation framework for social prescribing tailored to the Australian context. Through a series of workshops and interviews with key stakeholders—including service providers and consumers—investigators will identify systemic and operational challenges, opportunities for improvement, and the support structures needed for sustainable implementation. This participatory, iterative process will enable stakeholders to prioritise key areas of focus, ensuring the development of the framework is grounded in real-world needs and responsive to Australia’s diverse health and social care environments. Findings will be shared with the broader sector and will inform a subsequent large-scale funding application to co-design, implement, and evaluate a national social prescribing framework.

An evaluation of resilience in medical students on rural rotations

Jane Harte

12 Jan 2025 - 17 Dec 2027

Resilience, defined as the ability to adapt and recover from stress, adversity, and challenges, is an essential attribute for medical students and professionals (Fletcher & Sarkar, 2013). It serves as a critical factor in sustaining mental well-being, maintaining academic performance, and preventing burnout in the demanding context of medical training (McKinley et al., 2019; Tempski et al., 2015). The pathway to becoming a doctor is marked by a significant academic workload, emotional challenges, and high expectations, all of which contribute to heightened stress levels (Dyrbye et al., 2014). Rural clinical rotations are integral to many medical training programs, and offer students unique learning experiences and exposure to a diverse patient population. often present distinct challenges, such as isolation from peer support and limited resources, which can influence students' mental health and overall resilience (McGrail et al., 2017). While these experiences can enhance clinical skills and encourage a commitment to rural practice (Sen Gupta et al., 2013), they may also place additional stress on students that can impact their resilience (Wearne & Baker, 2012). Previous studies have suggested that rural experiences can contribute positively to resilience by fostering adaptability, independence, and confidence - qualities that contribute to a doctor's ability to manage complex situations effectively (Smith et al., 2018). However, the intensity and unfamiliarity of rural placements can also heighten emotional and psychological stress (Johnson & Wright, 2021). While some students thrive in these environments, others may experience heightened stress that challenges their coping mechanisms (MacLeod et al., 2021). Understanding these varied outcomes is essential for developing strategies to support medical students and ensure their well-being throughout their training. Measurement of resilience in medical education research has often relied on validated tools such as the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The CD-RISC has been widely used due to its comprehensive assessment of resilience, covering aspects like perseverance, confidence under pressure, and adaptability (Connor & Davidson, 2003; Campbell-Sills & Stein, 2007). This study aims to investigate the impact of rural clinical rotations on the resilience of medical students at James Cook University across different training stages (2nd, 4th, and 6th years). Such insights are invaluable for shaping medical curricula that promote psychological resilience, enhance academic performance, and support retention in rural healthcare practices. By identifying how resilience changes throughout these rotations, medical schools can tailor interventions that strengthen students' coping mechanisms, ultimately contributing to their long-term professional and personal development. Objectives • To measure and compare the levels of resilience in 2nd, 4th, and 6th-year medical students before and after their rural clinical rotations. • To assess any correlations between changes in resilience and year of study or demographic variables (e.g., age, gender, prior rural experience).

Challenges in monitoring learning progress in medical education

Jane Harte

01 Jul 2025 - 08 Aug 2025

A reflective study of catering for diversity of learning styles in medical training.

Trial of image enhancement software as an educational tool to improve the ability of medical students to diagnose early melanoma

Nichole Harvey

01 Apr 2023

Approval Number: H8994, 11 April 2023

Priorities for expanding clinical trials in non-metropolitan hospitals in north Queensland and the Northern Territory: A holistic multiple case study approach. (Priorities4Trials)

Karen Carlisle

23 Oct 2025 - 30 Aug 2029

Clinical trials offer safe access to experimental tests and treatments not otherwise available, while also providing participants best-practice healthcare and monitoring for the target condition. Participation by people living in rural, regional and remote (RRR) areas of Australia is significantly less than people living in cities due to limited access. RRR health services have many challenges in conducting clinical trials, particularly due to limited resources spread over vast geographical area. This project aims to explore clinical trial capability, capacity, community priorities and perceived importance in hospitals across northern Australia. A multiple case study approach will be used to address the aims of this project. Four cases, consisting of the single largest hospital facility in a RRR health service/region and the immediate surrounding community, will be selected from within north Queensland and the Northern Territory. To answer the research questions of the project, a series of three studies, using multiple methods, will be conducted within each case where findings will be analysed within and across cases.