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
Piloting a continuous quality improvement framework to strengthen quality of care in Aboriginal residential aged care (Old ID 27413)
This study responds to concerns raised in The Royal Commission report, 2021 that the Australian aged care system struggles to effectively manage people with complex care needs. Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is a method designed to improve the capacity and readiness of health services/staff to meet pre-determined goals/standards, and the quality of treatment and care, and implement health interventions. This project aims to assess the suitability of the CQI model for improving the quality of care in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) by developing and implementing a CQI framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander RACF.
Development and characterization of a Novel Zirconia Implant material with enhanced mechanical properties and bio-compatibility (Old ID 27124)
Zirconia dental implants have been recently developed as a viable, aesthetic, non-metallic alternative for dental implant fabrication compared to the titanium implants. However, significant challenges have been encountered in acceptance of zirconia implants in clinical practice due to the low fracture resistance inherent within the zirconia material that can lead to structural failure of implant. This has created a need for further research into its crystalline composition and forms to further enhance the mechanical properties of zirconia making it more suitable for dental implants. This study will assess the mechanical and chemical properties of the novel zirconia material developed in our lab and evaluates the effect of various surface modifications on its mechanical properties. Furthermore, cellular interactions that play a vital role in wound healing after placement of implant will be ascertained to promote successful implant osseointegration of novel zirconia dental implants.
Diabetes Collaborative Evaluation Project (Old ID 23599)
The diabetes collaborative is a Continuous quality Improvement (CQI) approach to change that aims to improve health outcomes for patients diagnosed with Diabetes. It involves the introduction of a team-based, sustainable approach to learning whilst providing a sound understanding and application of quality improvement methodology and skills. This project aims to evaluate the implementation and outcomes of the WQPHN diabetes collaborative. Expected outcomes of the equation will be a greater understanding of the process of implementation and any changes within participant health services as a result of the collaborative. Evaluation of the program in the rural and remote context of WQPHN will inform on feasibility and effectiveness of this approach.
Research Vessel for Shallow Water Capture (Old ID 23069)
An inflatable lifeguard vessel with fibreglass bottom is a great help for catching sea turtles in shallow inshore areas. The inflatable sides makes for greater safety for both turtle and catcher. Sick turtles tend to prefer shallow water.
An immune transcriptional regulatory network approach to Multiple Sclerosis (Old ID 22105)
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease resulting from a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. In an attempt to understand the integration of both sets of risk factors, we have compared mRNA transcripts between relapsing/remitting (RR) MS patients and healthy controls in 5 leukocyte subsets: CD4 and CD8 T cells, B cells, NK cells and monocytes. A gene co-expression network was generated based on correlation of expression levels across >700 gene expression microarrays, and a major co-ordinately regulated sub-network (module) of mRNA transcripts that is differentially expressed in the monocytes of RR-MS patients was identified. This project validates, characterizes and attempts to manipulate this transcriptional module in human cells ex-vivo and in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity. These results should provide greater explanatory power than the analyses of individual risk factors separately and may provide a multi-faceted target for intervention.
The Relationship between Maternal Health and Infant Renal Development and Function (Old ID 25013)
This will be the first study to comprehensively link the maternal environment, including maternal renal size and ethnicity, to the development of the human fetal kidney and subsequent childhood kidney growth and function in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. Developing non-invasive measures of renal development and understanding the pathway to reduce nephron number in Indigenous infants is essential for the planning of public health interventions to reduce Indigenous disadvantage in renal health.
North Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sexually Transmissable Infections Action Plan 2016-2021 - Synthesis of Key Learnings. (Old ID 27708)
The project will undertake a synthesis of key learnings of the North Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs) Action Plan 2016-2021and related initiatives and available evidence base to inform the development, through place-based, co-design processes, of sustainable sexual health models to manage the risk of STIs to First Nations people in Northern Queensland. The project will also undertake an epidemiological analysis of STIs in Northern Queensland and develop an an evaluation framework that can be applied to the development, implementation and evaluation of sustainable sexual health models to manage the risk of STIs to First Nations people in Northern Queensland.
Social Work collaborates with Dentistry to equip undergraduate dental students with training resources to ensure best practice and competency in recognizing and responding to domestic and sexual violence. (Old ID 30044)
Training JCU Dentistry students identified gaps in domestic and sexual violence (DSV) resources specifically designed for dentists. Dentistry-focussed resources would effectively demonstrate the vital skills required to competently recognise and respond (RR) to DSV. This project aims to develop, implement and evaluate such resources utilising a PAR model. Outcomes include simulation resources that enhance education of JCU dental students, clinical staff, and supervisors. Resources will also be available to organisations beyond JCU to train the broader health workforce, aligning with grant requirements for projects that contribute to ending violence against women and children in one generation. Dissemination will include academic journals and conferences.
Integrating Health Care Planning for Health and Prosperity in North Queensland. (Old ID 27224)
Improving health and prosperity across Northern Australia is constrained by planning silos and limited creativity in models-of-care. North Queensland (NQ) has a unique opportunity to unite health industry partners and improve efficiencies and effectiveness in service delivery. Building on findings from our Health Situational Analysis we will co-create integrated systems for mapping population need, health services and workforce, prioritising areas for action. This work brings together key public and private health system partners across North Queensland, including Hospital and Health Services, Primary Health Networks and the Community Controlled Health Sector to take a regional approach to strengthening the integration of care and place-based planning of workforce and service implementation in North Queensland. The organizational recognition of the Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre (TAAHC) streamlines these relationships. We will work with all TAAHC partners, plus QAIHC and WQPHN to take a regional approach in NQ, whilst working with expert technical reference group members from NT and WA to ensure shared learning across the north. Then, working closely with service providers and consumers we will facilitate place-based planning and design, implement and evaluate new models-of-care that will optimise health and economic outcomes, consumer and workforce satisfaction.
So like your Mum! Is the health and nutrition of mothers in far north Queensland reflected in the growth and nutrition of their children in early life? (Old ID 21713)
Factors in ‘the First Thousand Days’ from conception, through pregnancy and up to age 2 years, influence health through life. A mother’s health and nutrition, and early feeding of her baby ‘program’ for later health, predisposing to good health and development, or to early anaemia with associated developmental delay, or to increased susceptibility to chronic disease in adult life. This research will use linked routine health service data for approximately 5,400 mother and baby pairs, including about 970 babies of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander mothers, born over a two year period. The study will examine antenatal and early life factors in relation to child growth and early childhood anaemia.
Access to quality contraceptive counselling among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa
- 2024
- Biomed Central
- Researchers:Abdul-Aziz Seidu
Evidence of a highly divergent novel parvovirus in Australia's critically endangered western ground parrot/kyloring (Pezoporus flaviventris)
- 2024
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Researchers:Subir SarkerSaranika Talukder
Rural hospital contributions to community health: community perspectives from a New Zealand rural hospital
- 2024
- Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
- Researchers:Karen CarlisleSarah Larkins
Title:
Men are shaving off their eyelashes on TikTok, here's why that might be a bad idea, The Conversation
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14 May 2025
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15 May 2025
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03 Jun 2025
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01 Jan 2012
Title:
Grants Review
Start Date:
01 Jan 2024
End Date:
01 Jan 2024
Title:
Public Health Advocacy
Start Date:
01 Jan 2024
End Date:
01 Jan 2024
Start Date:
16 Jun 2025