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
Dennis Asante
- Research Fellow
- dennis.asante@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
Kootsy Canuto
- Principal Research Fellow, Indigenous Men's Health Promotion
- kootsy.canuto@jcu.edu.au
Lynsey Brown
- Adjunct Senior Lecturer
- lynsey.brown@jcu.edu.au
Ali Isin
- Adjunct Senior Research Fellow
- ali.isin@jcu.edu.au
Building Research Confidence and Capability in Health Professional Educators: Evaluating Discussion Boards as a Community-of-Practice
This project evaluates the effectiveness of structured online discussion boards, designed as a community of practice, in developing research confidence and capability among postgraduate Health Professional Education students. Embedded within the HS5410 subject at James Cook University, the study adopts an explanatory mixed-methods design, combining pre–post survey data, learning analytics, and thematic analysis of reflective assessments. The project aims to determine whether participation in structured peer discussion and reflection supports the development of research skills, confidence, and scholarly identity. Findings will inform curriculum design and contribute to evidence-based strategies for research capacity building in health professional education, particularly in distributed and online learning environments.
Ageing in place in rural Australia - An Embedded Collective Case Study (Old ID 24777)
This study aims to explore the perceptions of rural Australians and members of their social networks with regards to their expectations and strategies for preparing for healthy ageing in rural Australia. Previous studies on this topic in rural Canada have shown the importance of community feedback and the need for alignment with Government policies Herron and Skinner 2013). Relationships between family, friends and neighbours will be explored in this study as the importance of these informal networks in healthy ageing and their protective health effect are well documented. These relationships are the building blocks of the government's expectations of informal care, which it has used to inform its new policy "healthy life better ageing agreement" (currently informal care by elders is calculated to equivalent to 8 billion dollars) (ARC Centre of Excellence in population ageing research).
Enhanced learning experiences for Sport and Exercise Science students through integration of industry technology, knowledge sharing, and placement opportunities.
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
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.
From Concept to Practice: an emergency contraception decision-making tool for community pharmacists
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.
Nursing and Allied Health Graduate Outcomes Tacking (NAHGOT) Study
The Nursing and Allied Health Graduate Outcomes Tracking (NAHGOT) Project is a large-scale longitudinal study designed to examine the practice destinations and workforce trajectories of nursing and allied health graduates across Australia (Sutton et al., 2021). Developed through collaboration between multiple University Departments of Rural Health (UDRHs) and partner universities, NAHGOT provides robust, evidence-based insights into how education and training experiences influence graduate employment outcome, particularly in rural, regional, and remote areas.
Artificial Intelligence driven novel ear tag for critical cattle health monitoring
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.
Implementation and evaluation of an innovative student-led rehabilitation and lifestyle service in Northern Australia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic and disabling conditions: A pilot study. (Old ID 25133)
This project will pilot a student-led rehabilitation and lifestyle service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Napranum and Weipa in partnership with Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) and Apunipima Cape York Health Council (ACYC). A sequential mixed methodology will be used to evaluate the service from stakeholders' perspectives: participants, allied health students, Aboriginal and allied health workforce and collaborating organisations. To privilege the voices of Aboriginal people, Indigenous methodologies will be used. This project will provide a service for Napranum and Wei pa communities and a service model for other remote communities across Northern Australia.
Enhanced learning experiences for Sport and Exercise Science students through integration of industry technology, knowledge sharing, and placement opportunities
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
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.
Joint effect of water and sanitation practices on childhood diarrhoea in sub-Saharan Africa
- 2023
- Public Library of Science
- Researchers:Abdul-Aziz Seidu
Effect of Brief Counseling by Allied Health Professionals on Step Count of People With Peripheral Artery Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- 2023
- American Medical Association
- Researchers:Jonathan GolledgeAnthony LeichtJoseph Moxon
Soil microbiomes must be explicitly included in One Health policy
- 2023
- Nature Publishing Group
- Researchers:Maxine Whittaker
Testing Cell Migration, Invasion, Proliferation, and Apoptosis in Hepatic Stellate Cells
- 2023
- Humana Press
- Researchers:Lionel Hebbard
Title:
Men are shaving off their eyelashes on TikTok, here's why that might be a bad idea, The Conversation
Start Date:
14 May 2025
Start Date:
15 May 2025
Start Date:
03 Jun 2025
Start Date:
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