Research Projects
Australian Venom Innovation and Discovery (AVID) Initiative
Sally Lau
01 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2026
Antarctic brittle star transcriptome and proteome
Australian Venom Innovation and Discovery (AVID) Initiative
Sally Lau
01 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2026
Antarctic octopus genome, transcriptome and proteome
Developing the basis for wild caught prawn broodstock biosecurity protocols (Old ID 26238)
Dean Jerry
14 Nov 2018 - 08 Nov 2019
The project will monitor the presence and viral load of a number of endemic prawn viruses in farmed prawns collected at Australian Prawn Farm. The data collected will be used to prepare evidence based management protocols to improve productivity on the farm.
Improving quality of life in adults with severe mental illness
Lisa Simmons
01 Jan 2024
PROBLEM: People with SMI have low HRQoL, and a 2-3 times higher risk of preventable
chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, than the general population. Contributors to this
heightened risk include lifestyle factors such as low exercise, and metabolic side-effects of
medications prescribed to treat SMI. Exercise intervention can improve HRQoL and metabolic
health in people with SMI; however, mental health services have limited capacity to provide
exercise services, and functional and psychosocial difficulties associated with SMI hinders access
to such services in the community. National policy urges governments and services to implement
integrated models of care to improve health outcomes for people with SMI.
RESEARCH GAP: Exercise can improve HRQoL in people with SMI; however, routine mental
health care is suboptimal for improving health-related lifestyle factors: Clinicians report low
capability in addressing physical health with patients, resulting in low rates of monitoring and
intervention. Improving workforce capability in addressing lifestyle factors may improve practice
(quality-enhanced usual care), but it is unknown whether this will effectively improve HRQoL or
reduce metabolic risk. Additional capacity to provide evidence-based exercise interventions may
improve HRQoL and metabolic health of patients; however, there is a lack of translational evidence
to inform effective and cost-effective implementation of such models of care. This project will
address the question: How much benefit does an exercise service add to quality-enhanced usual
care for improving health outcomes in people with SMI?
PROPOSAL: This will be an effectiveness-implementation Hybrid Type 1 design with five mental
health service sites in Queensland, conducted over four years. All five sites will receive a quality
improvement package designed to improve usual care in addressing health-related lifestyle factors
(which we have piloted), and additional capacity of a full-time Accredited Exercise Physiologist
(AEP). A best-practice referral algorithm for addressing metabolic risk will be implemented, and
patients will have direct access to an exercise intervention pathway. The AEP will provide an
exercise service that we have developed and piloted over 6-years of iterative development with
consumers and project partners. An implementation science framework will be used to evaluate
the barriers and enablers of implementation, with the primary outcome of HRQoL, and secondary
outcomes of cost-effectiveness and metabolic health.
SIGNIFICANCE: Exercise is an evidence-based therapy for improving HRQoL in people with
SMI. Findings from the 2022 QLD Parliamentary Inquiry into Mental Health recommend
embedding exercise physiology into mental health services. In line with this recommendation, this
trial will generate evidence on the implementation effectiveness and cost-effectiveness an AEP
service embedded in clinical practice. Leveraging our long-standing partnerships with health
services, community organisations and national advocacy bodies, findings will be broadly
disseminated to maximise uptake and translation into practice.
Northern Aquaculture Industry Situational Analysis (Old ID 26272)
Dean Jerry
31 Jan 2019 - 11 Feb 2020
This project will identify key challenges and opportunities facing the North Australian aquaculture sector and explore potential solutions and/or identify the most strategic research projects for further investment. This will include and not be limited to: infrastructure, policy, investment, environmental, production, knoweldge, training and human capital gaps and the research or alternative solutions to address them. The project will be delivered through a literature review, development of the 'Northern aquaculture industry vision 2028' in consultation with indigenous and non-indigenous stakholders, desktop study and SWOT analysis, and the situational analysis report.
Novel role of RNA splicing and modification in white blood cell formation
Ulf Schmitz
01 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2028
This project aims to address how ribonucleic acid (RNA) regulates white blood cell formation. This project expects to gain new insights into the mechanism and conservation of molecular processes governing white blood cell development using advanced molecular, cell biology and biochemical assays coupled with innovative RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Expected outcomes of the project include enhancing knowledge on how white blood cells are continuously replenished for the well-being of vertebrates and promoting international collaboration in the RNA sector. This should provide significant benefit in sustaining food production via knowledge to maintain health and combat blood disease in animals and advance Australia's RNA research.
Effect of pre-calving supplementation and yeast culture on colostrun secretion, calf health and growth (Old ID 26323)
John Cavalieri
15 Nov 2018 - 15 Apr 2019
It is estimated that one million calves die in Australia every year. Between mid-pregnancy and weaning, two-thirds of losses occur within a week of birth. Cows can take several days to achieve full lactation, leaving their calves vulnerable to dehydrate and die when environmental conditions are hot. Poor nutrition during late pregancy may cause hormonal imbalances and inadequate production of colostrum resulting in inadequate transfer of passive immunity to calves and increase calf loss. It is expected that supplemented cows will have better transfer of immunoglobulins to the mammary gland, leading to greater colustrum secretion and quality improving calf health.
AEA Ignite - Gold Barramundi
Roberta Marcoli
11 Feb 2026 - 10 Jul 2027
CRISPR gene editing is changing global food production by providing new ways to improve growth, quality, and sustainability. As these technologies progress worldwide, and as Australian regulations evolve to support their safe use, the country has an opportunity to build capability now and position itself as a leader in sustainable seafood production.
This project focuses on barramundi, an iconic Australian fish and an important contributor to the national seafood industry. A key challenge for farmers is unwanted greying of fillets caused by melanin pigments, which reduces product value. Consumers prefer white fillets, which attract premium prices in both domestic and export markets.
Building on proof-of-concept research at James Cook University (JCU), we will refine CRISPR editing protocols targeting two genes: tyrp (to reduce melanin) and mstn (to improve muscle growth and yield). In partnership with Mainstream Aquaculture, the world’s largest supplier of barramundi fingerlings, we will also develop a small-scale hatchery and nursery system to rear and assess edited fish under controlled, industry-relevant conditions.
Within 12 months, the project will deliver a validated workflow alongside new operating procedures and performance benchmarks. These outcomes will support the production of whiter, higher-value fillets and help future-proof Australian aquaculture as precision breeding becomes central to global seafood production.
Scoping land use conversion options for high DIN risk, low-lying sugarcane areas in Burdekin and Mackay Whitsunday region (Old ID 26454)
Nathan Waltham
01 Jan 2019 - 01 Sep 2020
Water Quality Improvement Plans for most NRMs in the Great Barrier Reef catchments recognise that complete adoption of sugarcane best management practices will still not be sufficient to achieve the nitrogen load reductions required to meet the Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Guidelines. Thus additional options need to be considered like transitioning agricultural land to other uses. Here we aim to i) identify possible alternate land uses in coastal low-lying land, that has a high DIN loss; ii) quantify the economic costs of changing land use, and market mechanisms to incentivise this transition; and iii) explore benefits of land transition.
Applying new image recognition techniques for automatic detection and spraying of Harrisia cactus (Old ID 26461)
Mostafa Rahimi Azghadi
01 Jul 2019 - 31 Oct 2021
harrisia cactus is a significant rangeland weed in Queensland and bnorthern NSW. It competes against native species, inhibits stock accdess and endangers wildlife. JCU have developed image recognition software to identify Harrisia cactus in pasture; which has been deployed on a prototype robotic platform for selective spot spraying. This proect will see the development of a new spraying unit incorporating JCU's developed technology with a vehicle provided by Warrakirri Cropping. The unit will then be used to treat 500 ha of infested pasture at Warrakirri's "Willaroo" property. Its performance will be compared to traditional methods and showcased to local landholders.