Ernie Jennings
- ernest.jennings@jcu.edu.au
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8912-6894- Associate Professor, Anatomy
- Anatomy & Pathology
Projects
0
Publications
30
Awards
0
Contact Details
Associate Professor
- 07 4232 1911
Biography
Dr. Jennings' research has focussed on identifying the factors that drive the excitability of neurons (nerve cells), concentrating on ion channels and receptors. The prime aim of his research has been a better understanding of the mechanisms of pain, to improve treatment of pain conditions.
In the last decades, his lab has concentrated on pain conditions that originate in the head (e.g. migraine, cluster headaches, temporomandibular disorders). The lab has taken a broad approach to studying these questions, using techniques including behaviour, protein expression assays and patch - clamp electrophysiology.
More recently, there has been an additional focus, looking at practitioners' knowledge and application of the evidence base in their practice.
Dr. Jennings completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies at University College London, (UK) where he was awarded a PhD in 1999. He came out to Australia on a Wellcome Trust Prize Travelling Fellowship and liked it so much that he decided to stay. He has completed post-doctoral work at The University of Sydney (1999-2003) and The University of Melbourne (2003-2010) prior to accepting an academic position at James Cook University in 2011.
Teaching
Research Advisor Accreditation
Advisor Type
Mentor
Research Advisor Accreditation
Role
Chair; Independent Academic
Taught Modules
[DS2101] Simulated Clinical Dentistry 1Coordinator, Lecturer
2026
[AT3000] Advanced Anatomy by Dissection - MedicineLecturer, Tutor
2026
2026
[DS2102] Simulated Clinical Dentistry 2Coordinator, Lecturer
2026
2026
[DS1101] Dental Science 1Lecturer
2026
[DS1102] Dental Science 2Lecturer
2026
Current JCU Research Students
Self-reported auditory and non-auditory effects of noise on members of the dental team – an Australian perspective
Master of Philosophy (Health)
Exploring the Immunomodulatory Effects of Implant Coatings comprising Decellularized Extracellular Matrix and Macrophage-Coated Chitosan
Doctor of Philosophy (Health)
Evaluation of 3D Modeling Workflows Using Dental CBCT Data for Periodontal Regenerative Treatment
Doctor of Philosophy (Health)
Study of systemic absorption of iodinated contrast during retrograde pyelography
Master of Philosophy (Health)
Completed JCU Research Students
Articaine in dentistry: Safety, efficacy, practitioner perception and evidence-based practice
Master of Philosophy (Health)- 2023
An Exploration of Australian Undergraduate Dentist Gerodontology Education to Support a Growing Frail and Care-Dependent Population
Doctor of Philosophy (Health)- 2025
Investigating the outcomes of curriculum and pedagogical change in an undergraduate preclinical dental education program: A mixed-methods case study from north Queensland
Doctor of Philosophy (Health)- 2025
Output
Stakeholder perceptions of gerodontology education for final year Australian dental school curricula
2024
Nilsson, Angie; Young, Louise; Evans, Rebecca; Jennings, Ernest; Lee, Andrew (2024) 'Stakeholder perceptions of gerodontology education for final year Australian dental school curricula'. Journal of Dental Education, 88 :1373-1379. [DOI]
Nilsson, Angie; Young, Louise; Evans, Rebecca; Jennings, Ernest; Lee, Andrew (2024) 'Australian dental school academics' perceptions of gerodontology education in the undergraduate curriculum'. European Journal of Dental Education, 28 (1):337-346. [DOI]
Martin, Erica; Lee, Andrew; Jennings, Ernest (2022) 'Articaine: dental practitioner use, basis of perception and evidence-based dentistry — a cross-sectional study'. British Dental Journal Open, 8 . [DOI]
Martin, Erica; Jennings, Ernest; Lee, Andrew; Nimmo, Alan (2021) 'Articaine in dentistry: an overview of the evidence and
meta-analysis of the latest randomised controlled trials
on articaine safety and efficacy compared to lidocaine
for routine dental treatment'. British Dental Journal Open, 7 . [DOI]
Malau-Aduli, Bunmi S.; Adu, Mary D.; Alele, Faith; Jones, Karina; Drovandi, Aaron; Mylrea, Martina; Sfera, Kornelija; Ross, Simone; Jennings, Ernest (2021) 'Adjusting to university: perceptions of first-year health professions students'. Public Library of Science ONE, 16 (5). [DOI]
Cone beam computed tomography in dentistry: practitioner awareness and attitudes. A scoping review
2021
Stokes, Kelsie; Thieme, Raine; Jennings, Ernest; Sholapurkar, Amar (2021) 'Cone beam computed tomography in dentistry: practitioner awareness and attitudes. A scoping review'. Australian Dental Journal, 66 (3):234-245. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Akl, Sabrina; Ranatunga, Madusha; Long, Sharron; Jennings, Ernest; Nimmo, Alan (2021) 'A systematic review investigating patient knowledge and awareness on the association between oral health and their systemic condition'. BMC Public Health, 21 . [DOI]
Sholapurkar, Amar; Sharma, Dileep; Glass, Beverley; Miller, Catherine; Nimmo, Alan; Jennings, Ernest (2021) 'Professionally delivered local antimicrobials in the treatment of patients with periodontitis— a narrative review'. Dentistry Journal, 9 (1). [DOI]
Piontek, Melissa; Seymour, Jamie E.; Wong, Yide; Gilstrom, Tyler; Potriquet, Jeremy; Jennings, Ernest; Nimmo, Alan; Miles, John J. (2020) 'The pathology of Chironex fleckeri venom and known biological mechanisms'. Toxicon, 6 . [DOI]
Housley, David M.; Pinyon, Jeremy L.; Jonquieres, Georg von; Perera, Chamini J.; Smout, Michael; Liddell, Michael J.; Jennings, Ernest A.; Wilson, David; Housley, Gary D. (2020) 'Australian scorpion Hormurus waigiensis venom fractions show broad bioactivity through modulation of bio-impedance and cytosolic calcium'. Biomolecules, 10 (4). [DOI]
Ross, Simone J.; Owens, Kimberley; Roberts, Andrew; Jennings, Ernest; Mylrea, Martina (2020) 'Mindfulness training: success in reducing first year health professional students' study and exam related stress'. Health Professions Education, 6 (2):162-169. [DOI]
Housley, David M.; Housley, Gary D.; Liddell, Michael J.; Jennings, Ernest A. (2017) 'Scorpion toxin peptide action at the ion channel subunit level'. Neuropharmacology, 127 :46-78. [DOI]
Huang, Boyen; Takahashi, Katsu; Jennings, Ernest; Pumtang-on, Pongthorn; Kiso, Honoka; Togo, Yumiko; Saito, Kazuyuki; Sugai, Manabu; Akira, Shizuo; Shimizu, Akira; Bessho, Kazuhisa (2014) 'Prospective signs of cleidocranial dysplasia in Cebpb deficiency'. Journal of Biomedical Science, 21 :1-8. [DOI]
Hatch, R.J.; Jennings, E.A.; Ivanusic, J.J. (2013) 'Peripheral hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels contribute to inflammation-induced hypersensitivity of the rat temporomandibular joint'. European Journal of Pain, 17 (7):972-982. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
N-Glycosylation determines ionic permeability and desensitization of the TRPV1 capsaicin receptor
2012
Veldhuis, Nicholas A.; Lew, Michael J.; Abogadie, Fe C.; Poole, Daniel P.; Jennings, Ernest A.; Ivanusic, Jason J.; Eilers, Helge; Bunnett, Nigel W.; McIntyre, Peter (2012) 'N-Glycosylation determines ionic permeability and desensitization of the TRPV1 capsaicin receptor'. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287 (28):21765-21772. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Jennings, Ernest A.; Williams, Michael C.; Staikopoulos, Vaslilki; Ivanusic, Jason J. (2012) 'Neurobiology of temporomandibular joint pain: therapeutic implications'. Seminars in Orthodontics, 18 (1):63-72. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Ivanusic, Jason J.; Goulding, Kate E.; Kwok, Matthew M.K.; Jennings, Ernest A. (2012) 'Neurochemical classification and projection targets of CART peptide immunoreactive neurons in sensory and parasympathetic ganglia of the head'. Neuropeptides, 46 (1):55-60. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Hao, Marlene M.; Boesmans, Werend; Van den Abbeel, Valentine; Jennings, Ernest A.; Bornstein, Joel C.; Young, Heather M.; Berghe, Pieter Vanden (2011) 'Early emergence of neural activity in the developing mouse enteric nervous system'. Journal of Neuroscience, 31 (43):15352-15361. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Ivanusic, Jason J.; Kwok, Matthew M.K.; Ahn, Andrew H.; Jennings, Ernest A. (2011) '5-HT1D receptor immunoreactivity in the sphenopalatine ganglion: implications for the efficacy of triptans in the treatment of autonomic signs associated with cluster headache'. Headache, 51 (3):392-402. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Cho, Hyun-jung; Furness, John; Jennings, Ernest (2011) 'Postnatal maturation of the hyperpolarization-activated cation current, Ih, in trigeminal sensory systems neurons'. Journal of Neurophysiology, 106 (4):2045-2056. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Ivanusic, J.J.; Beaini, D.; Hatch, R.J.; Staikopoulos, V.; Sessle, B.J.; Jennings, E.A. (2011) 'Peripheral N-methyl-D-asparate receptors contribute to mechanical hypersensitivity in a rat model of inflammatory temporomandibular joint pain'. European Journal of Pain, 15 (2):179-185. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Ivanusic, Jason J.; Kwok, Matthew M.K.; Jennings, Ernest A. (2011) 'Peripheral targets of 5-HT(1D) receptor immunoreactive trigeminal ganglion neurons'. Headache, 51 (5):744-751. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Cho, Hyun-jung; Staikopoulos, Vasiliki; Ivanusic, Jason J.; Jennings, Ernest A. (2009) 'Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide gated 4 (HCN4) protein is expressed in a subset of rat dorsal root and trigeminal ganglion neurons'. Cell and Tissue Research, 338 (2):171-177. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Cho, H-J.; Staikopoulos, V.; Furness, J.B.; Jennings, E.A. (2009) 'Inflammation-induced increase in hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated channel protein in trigeminal ganglion neurons and the effect of buprenorphine'. Neuroscience, 162 (2):453-461. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Staikopoulos, V.; Sessle, B.J.; Furness, J.B.; Jennings, E.A. (2007) 'Localization of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors in rat trigeminal ganglion neurons'. Neuroscience, 144 (1):208-216. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Jennings, Ernest A.; Cho, Hyun-jung (2007) 'Peripheral sensitization in migraine—role for P2X purinergic receptors in the dura–vascular sensory pathway'. Drug Development Research, 68 (6):321-328. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Jennings, Ernest A.; Christie, MacDonald J.; Sessle, Barry J. (2006) 'ATP potentiates neurotransmission in the rat trigeminal subnucleus caudalis'. NeuroReport, 17 (14):1507-1510. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Rajashekhar, Manjunath; Jennings, Ernest; Abbott, John; Thomson, Peter (2022) 'Making it real: stimulation in the simulation clinic' Faculty Dental Journal, 13 (2) :82-88. [DOI]
Jennings, Ernest A.; Bell, Shenade J. (2016) 'Dental pain: is ATP the key mediator?' Journal of Dentistry, Oral Health and Cosmesis, 1 (1) :1-3.
Journal Contribution
ResearchOnline@JCU
Rees, Sandra; Walker, David; Jennings, Ernest (2010) 'Development of the somatosensory system' In: Rees, Sandra, Walker, David, and Jennings, Ernest (2010) Development of the somatosensory system. In: Lagercrantz, Hugo, Hanson, M.A., Ment, Laura R., and Peebles, Donald M., (eds.) The Newborn Brain: neuroscience and clinical applications. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 129-145(Eds.). The Newborn Brain: neuroscience and clinical applications. Cambridge, UK : Cambridge University Press. [DOI]
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU