Research Projects
NESP 4.1: Coastal seagrass of the Gulf of Carpentaria: building knowledge and capacity as a foundation for long-term monitoring
Catherine Collier
01 Feb 2024 - 11 Dec 2026
The Gulf of Carpentaria has globally significant seagrass habitat, supporting dugong, green turtle, and commercially important fish and prawns. Key to managing impacts to species in these habitats, including indirect impacts through land use within southern Gulf catchments, is reliable data on seagrass distribution and how it changes over time. Achieving this requires large-scale mapping and a ranger-led seagrass monitoring program. This project will map intertidal seagrass habitats from the western boundary of the Nijinda Durlga (Gangalidda) and Thuwathu/Bujimulla Indigenous Protected Areas to the Bynoe River near Karumba. This mapping focuses on data-deficient regions along the mainland coastline of the southern Gulf. New technologies for monitoring using drones will be collaboratively tested in key locations for ongoing monitoring of coastal habitats by rangers. This will contribute towards the development of a regional baseline of seagrass for the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The anti-inflammatory effects of Australian box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) venom peptides on the complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis
Haleagrahara Nagaraja
- 30 Nov 2023
The novel project aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory and therapeutic potential of proteins extracted from Chironex fleckeri (box jellyfish) venom in experimental arthritis using DBA/J1 mice. Collagen Type II-induced arthritis will be established in DBA/J1 mice, and after three weeks, the mice will be treated with 20 µg of venom proteins. The anti-arthritis effects will be evaluated through knee joint histology, arthritis clinical scoring, and inflammatory cytokine assays.
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Prevention of Diabetic Foot Ulcer Recurrence: A Pilot Study
Haleagrahara Nagaraja
01 Jun 2022 - 01 Dec 2023
The study's main objective was to compare the healing parameters of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) between patients undergoing the standard of care (SOC) alone and Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) with SOC
Extended extracorporeal shockwave and electromagnetic stimulation therapies for effective treatment and prevention of diabeteic foot ulcers
Haleagrahara Nagaraja
01 Jun 2021 - 30 Jun 2023
This project aimed to develop extended extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and electromagnetic stimulation therapy (EMST) for the management of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). It also seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of combining EMST and ESWT in treating DFUs and to determine the potential of these therapies in preventing the recurrence of DFUs after complete healing.
Matching the mismatch - Evaluation of Learning Styles and Teaching Strategies
Haleagrahara Nagaraja
01 Jul 2017 - 30 Jun 2018
European Space Agency (ESA) World Ecosystem Extent Dynamics Project
Nicholas Murray
01 Apr 2024 - 31 Mar 2027
The European Space Agency (ESA) aims to pioneer a new novel application to support international policies on the environment and sustainable development in its World Series of the Application Element (e.g. WorldSoils, WorldCover, WorldCereals, WorldWater). The objective of “World Ecosystem Extent Dynamics” project is to develop and demonstrate, the global applicability of integrated solutions driven by Earth Observation (EO) integrated solutions for mapping the extent and distribution of terrestrial, freshwater and coastal (up to the intertidal zones) ecosystems and monitoring the changes in their extent. We will achieve this with the support of exemplary countries with advanced data, technical capabilities, and reference ecosystem monitoring expertise (i.e. Champion Users). The project will develop and demonstrate a globally applicable open-source toolbox, also called EO-integrated solution, for a comprehensive mapping of the extent and distribution of ecosystem types, according to different ecosystem typologies, and for monitoring the temporal variations in the extent and distribution of ecosystem types.
CI Murray's role is as an expert consultant to join an international consultancy team tendering for the above project.
Wildlife Conservation Society Community Fisheries Program
Patrick Smallhorn-West
10 Sep 2024 - 31 Dec 2028
The objective of this project is to advance the Wildlife Conservation Societies Community Fisheries program. The project will be lead by Dr. Patrick Smallhorn-West.
Based on decades of work in coastal communities, we have developed a strategy that crystalizes the goal shared by fishers and other coastal stakeholders worldwide: a vision of just and regenerative fisheries that equitably benefit nature and people. We are not only looking to slow declines in communities, coastal ecosystems and fisheries, but to reverse them to restore fisheries to their full social, economic, and environmental potential.
Our current research workstreams are:
1. Mainstreaming equity and inclusion within all aspects of WCS work with community fisheries. This includes high level assessments of NGO policies and practice.
2. Monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of community fisheries – ecological, fisheries, and socioeconomic, in ways that deliver clear and locally actionable knowledge of the impacts of interventions.
3. Elevating community fishers and strengthening their organizational capacity to participate fully in coastal governance.
4. Practicing effective co-management – evaluating and integrating the latest research on fisheries co-management into best practice.
5. Incentivizing responsible fishing that addresses unsustainable practices such as destructive fishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and bycatch.
Mindfulness training to improve student wellbeing in MBBS and Dentistry: Pilot Study
Kimberley Owens
01 Jun 2015 - 01 Jun 2016