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

Mila Grinblat

Mila Grinblat

Evaluation of student-led community rehabilitation and lifestyle service and Implementation of Nasal High Flow (Old ID 27090)
Sally West - CQCRRH Nursing & Allied Health
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 - Medicine
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.
Providing kidney care close to home: Evaluating the Cape York Kidney Care model. (Old ID 27763)
Alice Cairns - MCRRH Research
02 Aug 2022 - 02 Aug 2024
The Cape York Kidney Care team is an integrated and multidisciplinary health care team that was formed in September 2019 to provide consistent, frequent and client centred tertiary-level (specialist) care, in the communities of the Western Cape, Far North Queensland. This project will evaluate this program with respect to health outcomes, cost efficiency, and explore implementation factors that are enablers or barrier to the success of the program. The results will provide evidence for investment or disinvestment in this new service model and will provide an evaluation plan for rollout of future services.
Activation of AMPK to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm (5As). (Old ID 31075)
Joseph Moxon - Medicine
01 Feb 2024 - 31 Jan 2028
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 - Microbiology and Immunology
01 Feb 2024 - 31 Jan 2028
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.
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 - Microbiology and Immunology
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 - Medicine
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 - Medicine
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 - Microbiology and Immunology
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.
Developing culturally appropriate mental health assessment tools for older adults living in the Torres Strait (Old ID 27220)
Rachel Quigley - Cairns Clinical School
01 Jul 2021 - 31 Aug 2026
The aim of the study is to develop culturally appropriate mental health assessment tools for older adults (e.g. aged 45 and over) living in the Torres Strait. Data from yarning circles with Torres Strait community members and health care staff will be used to identify how mental health disorders are expressed in the Torres Strait. A Delphi process will then be used to identify appropriate tools for assessing these domains of mental ill health for use in older adults in the Torres Strait. These tools will then be piloted to determine acceptability and validated for use in the Torres Strait.

Bone marrow-derived cells and arterial disease

  • 2007
  • Mosby
  • Researchers:Jonathan GolledgeCatherine Rush
Reseracher: Craig McFarlane (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2003
End Date: 01 Jan 2007
Reseracher: Jonathan Golledge (Distinguished Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 1996
Reseracher: Craig McFarlane (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2001
End Date: 01 Jan 2003
Start Date: 01 Jan 2002
End Date: 01 Jan 2009
Reseracher: Craig McFarlane (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 1996
End Date: 01 Jan 2000
Start Date: 01 Jan 2003
End Date: 01 Jan 2004
Start Date: 01 Jan 1996
End Date: 01 Jan 2001
Reseracher: Jonathan Golledge (Distinguished Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2011
Reseracher: Jonathan Golledge (Distinguished Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2007