Research Projects
Navigating the Carceral Interface: Applying trauma informed and cultrually-grounded responses to improving the safety and quality of life of young Indigenous people who come into contact with the carceral system
Marlene Longbottom
01 May 2023 - 31 Mar 2028
This project will investigate how Indigenous community-controlled organisations develop and implement culturally and community grounded programs, that can guide and improve the safety and wellbeing of young Indigenous people between the ages of 10-24, and how these programs might be improved. We are focusing on this age group specifically, due to the transition between childhood, adolescence and young adulthood are the population group at highest risk of being incarcerated. Three sites in the state of Queensland have been selected include Thursday Island, Cairns, and Rockhampton
A place based model for Aboriginal community-led solutions
Marlene Longbottom
01 Apr 2019 - 31 Mar 2023
This project aims to investigate the unique approaches used by Aboriginal community controlled organisations to enable community ownership of holistic health and social programs in complex community settings. Focusing on a close analysis of regional south eastern NSW, the research will produce a robust theorisation of a place based model for Aboriginal community-led solutions to health and social issues.This will be inclusive of innovative mechanisms for the transfer and sharing of learnings to other locations. Utilising a Indigenist research methodology and a community based participatory action research approach, the Aboriginal led investigator team will work in close partnership with Aboriginal community organisations in NSW, WA and Qld.
Genotyping Australian Cats for ABCB1 Gene Mutation: Implications for Drug Sensitivity and Veterinary Pharmacogenomics
Robert Kinobe
30 Mar 2024 - 30 Dec 2026
The aim of this research is to determine the existence of the ABCB1 gene mutation in Australian domestic cats and its potential effect on drug induced toxicity. The ABCB1 gene encodes for P-glycoprotein, a membrane transporter that affects the absorption, tissue distribution, and elimination of many clinically used drugs. In the brain, this protein contributes to a blood-brain barrier that safeguards animals from chemical induced neurotoxicity. In dogs and cats, specific mutations in the ABCB1 gene introduce premature stop codons which disrupt the biosynthesis of this protein. These mutations are associated with increased drug movement into the brain, and increased susceptibility to drug induced adverse reactions. In North America, approximately 5% of domestic cats carry the ABCB1 gene mutation but its prevalence in Australian cats is not known. Our primary objective is to determine the frequency of ABCB1 gene mutation in Australian cats presenting with drug-induced neurologic toxicity. This information will be essential for improving drug safety in domestic cats.
Tropical Seagrass Management Project (Stage 1)
Alexandra Carter
19 Jul 2024 - 30 Dec 2030
This project will design Management Plans at three priority sites across the Wet Tropics, Dry Tropics, and West Cape York/Gulf of Carpentaria regions. These Management Plans will allow Queensland's Department of Environment, Science and Innovation to achieve a conservation outcome at a regional scale from financial offset payments for impacts to seagrass and benthic habitats.
ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures (Old ID 27585)
Sean Ulm
01 Jul 2024 - 30 Jun 2031
ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures. The proposed Centre aims to generate a new direction in knowledge creation based on Aboriginal- and Torres Strait Islander-led approaches to managing Land and Sea Country. The Centre expects to make a legacy contribution by developing complementary Indigenous and Western knowledge frameworks for modelling environmental, cultural, and historical change in Australia over the last millennium and into the near future. Expected outcomes focus on sustainable Indigenous land and sea management planning for future decades. Benefits include improved forecasting of the trajectory of environmental change, an increase in the capacity of Indigenous research, creation of a pipeline for Indigenous students into research, and evidence-based policy-making.
Suspected Pulmonary Embolism Exclusion with D-dimers in Emergency Departments (SPEED-ED)
Iyke Emeto
16 Jul 2024 - 01 Dec 2026
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is defined as obstruction of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches, most often by blood clot circulating from a distant site. Acute PE is common, potentially fatal and is associated with a major global burden of disease. predicted to increase in an ageing society Global hospital admission rates have also increased in recent years. The clinical presentation of PE is non-specific due to an overlap of clinical features with other conditions and can vary from asymptomatic to sudden death, meaning the diagnosis is both challenging to make, and important. This has resulted in the development of clinical decision rules (CDRs) and algorithms to aid the diagnostic process and minimise practice variation. These rules employ a combination of clinical probability assessment, laboratory plasma D-dimer measurement and imaging modalities like Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) or Ventilation-Perfusion(V/Q) scan. Modified Wells’ score,
Revised Geneva Score, Pulmonary Embolism Rule out Criteria (PERC) and Age-adjusted D-dimer threshold are the major validated CDRs in current clinical use that aim to improve consistency and minimise variation.
Reducing impacts of threatened, endangered, and protected species in the Queensland East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery
Naomi Gardiner
01 Jul 2024 - 10 Apr 2026
This project collaboration with QLD Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) seeks to reduce the impacts of trawl fisheries on marine species of concern in Queensland. In particular sea snakes, sharks and rays. The objective of the JCU part of the program is to develop and trial (1) a crew member observer program (CMOP) and, (2) training in safe handling practices of seasnakes.
Seagrass Restoration Opportunities in the Russell-Mulgrave Basin & Mutcharoo Inlet
Michael Rasheed
28 Jun 2024 - 09 Jan 2026
Conduct seagrass assessments and identify restoration opportunities in the Russell Mulgrave / Wanjuru Yidinji Country, including training and workshops with Traditional Owners
Tiwi Islands seagrass surveys and development of ranger-led monitoring program
Catherine Collier
01 Mar 2024 - 30 Jun 2027
Tiwi People aspire for a healthy, managed Sea Country and to establish an integrated Marine IPA (MIPA). Tiwi Sea Country estate has high cultural and biodiversity significance, but this is poorly documented. The presence of important species such as dugong and turtle is known, but habitats important to these species has not been quantified.
Collecting data efficiently and co-designing monitoring that rangers can maintain in their workplans is a priority of the Tiwi rangers. Subtidal seagrass needs to be mapped and monitoring of these habitats designed for rangers to implement. We will:
• Participate in On-country consultations and knowledge sharing sessions (timing to be determined)
• Co-design subtidal benthic habitat surveys with Tiwi Resources
• Undertake benthic habitat surveys using a drop camera in collaboration with Tiwi sea rangers
• Analyse drop camera images, create maps and prepare draft data report
• Co-design and undertake two years of monitoring in collaboration with Tiwi sea rangers
• Purchase underwater camera system for Tiwi sea rangers
• Contribute to progress reports from Tiwi Resources to the Northern Territory Government as needed
Optimising Transmission Grid Planning and Operations in North Queensland
Jiajia Yang
21 Jun 2024 - 01 Jan 2027
The power sector is transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables, emphasizing decentralized systems. Meeting rising renewable energy demands necessitates enhanced operational flexibility. This project focuses on optimizing planning and operations for transmission grids, particularly in North Queensland. The goal is to boost overall power system efficiency by intelligently integrating renewables. Anticipated outcomes include cost-effective planning, flexible grid operations, advanced forecasting, renewables integration modeling, and improved Distributed Energy Resources (DER) visibility. These achievements align with Powerlink's contributions to the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan and the transformative Copper String Project, aiming to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy for generations.