Marine Biology & Aquaculture
Mikaeylah Davidson
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- mikaeylah.davidson@jcu.edu.au
Tom Lloyd
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Global Ecosystems
- tom.lloyd@jcu.edu.au
Alys Young
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Global Ecosystems
- alys.young@jcu.edu.au
William Arlidge
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Community-Based Fisheries Co-Management
- william.arlidge@jcu.edu.au
Anna Wilson
- Project Coordinator
- anna.wilson@jcu.edu.au
Kelly Condon
- Senior Lecturer, Aquaculture (Aquatic Animal Health)
- kelly.condon@jcu.edu.au
Graeme Cumming
- Adjunct Professor
- graeme.cumming@jcu.edu.au
Takahiro Shimada
- Adjunct Senior Research Fellow
- takahiro.shimada@jcu.edu.au
Peter Doll
- Research Fellow, Coral Reef Health Assessments
- peter.doll@jcu.edu.au
Michela Mitchell
- Casual Research Assistant
- michela.mitchell@jcu.edu.au
Circulating human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA for diagnosis and post-treatment surveillance of HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC)
HPV is an established cause of the majority of oropharyngeal cancer cases in Australia, and its incidence is rising. The conventional diagnosis of HPV-OPSCC relies on histopathology via primary-site or nodal biopsy. This has limitations including diagnostic accuracy, health care resource, patient comfort, and time. Histopathology does not provide molecular and genetic information to guide personalised treatment. Despite of its favourable treatment outcome, 15% to 25% of patients will relapse with locoregional or distant metastatic disease after standard therapy. Post-treatment surveillance requires frequent visits to tertiary hospitals and imaging, causing high burden to the patients and costs to the health system. Yet, it has low sensitivity to detect early recurrence of cancer. The detection of HPV DNA in patients’ blood can be used as an adjunct biomarker for diagnosis and surveillance of HPV-OPSCC. Models suggest that using circulating tumour biomarkers for surveillance is more cost-effective. Although PCR-based HPV DNA liquid biopsy has high specificity, the sensitivity is approximately 88-91% [1], signifying that 1 in 10 negative tests are false negative. We aim to establish a highly sensitive method to detect HPV DNA in patients’ blood using capture-based next generation sequencing (NGS) and utilise data for post-treatment monitoring of cancer recurrence.
Revisiting Coral Taxonomy: biodiversity of Acropora across the Indian Ocean
Accurate species identification is crucial for biological and ecological research. Corals, key ecosystem engineers on tropical reefs, are declining due to climate change. However, current coral taxonomy is outdated, hindering our understanding of species-specific population trends and reef ecosystem impacts. This project focuses on the species richness and biogeography of Acropora corals in the Indian Ocean. Partnering with Save Our Seas Foundation, I will collect data from D'Arros island in the Seychelles, comparing it with existing data. Using phylogenomics and morphology, I aim to refine coral taxonomy, inform conservation efforts, and identify species at risk of extinction.
Revisiting Coral Taxonomy: biodiversity of Acropora across the Indian Ocean
Accurate species identification is crucial for biological and ecological research. Corals, key ecosystem engineers on tropical reefs, are declining due to climate change. However, current coral taxonomy is outdated, hindering our understanding of species-specific population trends and reef ecosystem impacts. This project focuses on the species richness and biogeography of Acropora corals in the Indian Ocean. Partnering with Save Our Seas Foundation, I will collect data from D'Arros island in the Seychelles, comparing it with existing data. Using phylogenomics and morphology, I aim to refine coral taxonomy, inform conservation efforts, and identify species at risk of extinction.
Sediment offset Technical Advisor Port Townsville
Provide technical advise and attend meetings on sediment offsets project for Port of Townsville
Sediment offset Technical Advisor Port Townsville
Provide technical advise and attend meetings on sediment offsets project for Port of Townsville
Workshop in Advanced Genomics Tools to Enhance Korean Aquaculture
The development and delivery of a workshop for Advanced Genomics Tools in Korea (through Jeju National University) for korean students, academics and industry players. JCU academic staff expert knowledge will be taught to the Korean scientific community and industry, with the expectation of reinforcing relationship and create new collaboration with Korea.
Workshop in Advanced Genomics Tools to Enhance Korean Aquaculture
The development and delivery of a workshop for Advanced Genomics Tools in Korea (through Jeju National University) for korean students, academics and industry players. JCU academic staff expert knowledge will be taught to the Korean scientific community and industry, with the expectation of reinforcing relationship and create new collaboration with Korea.
Investigating shellfish and mite allergen cross-reactivity and the effect of protein diversity on allergenicity
Shellfish allergy increases in prevalence with age and is often a life-long condition. However, the mechanism of this persistence is largely unknown. Persistence of shellfish allergy may be due to cross-reactive interactions between evolutionarily related species, which may initiate and sustain allergen sensitisation. Cross-reactivity results from shared allergen amino acid sequences between species, causing individual IgE-binding to both. Amino acid diversity may predict sensitisation to shellfish and/or mites, e.g., mite-sensitised individuals may be more at risk of developing shellfish allergy. Other large-scale forms of protein diversity may also influence allergenicity (e.g., environmental changes). Understanding allergen cross-reactivity and diversity will inform prevention and treatment strategies. This project aims to explore immunological and clinical cross-reactivity between shellfish and mite allergens and the effect of environmental temperature on allergen diversity in muscle tissue.
This project will be conducted under a postgraduate research top-up scholarship with the Centre for Food Allergy Research (CFAR), which grants $10,000 p.a. top-up to an existing PhD scholarship.
Investigating shellfish and mite allergen cross-reactivity and the effect of protein diversity on allergenicity
Shellfish allergy increases in prevalence with age and is often a life-long condition. However, the mechanism of this persistence is largely unknown. Persistence of shellfish allergy may be due to cross-reactive interactions between evolutionarily related species, which may initiate and sustain allergen sensitisation. Cross-reactivity results from shared allergen amino acid sequences between species, causing individual IgE-binding to both. Amino acid diversity may predict sensitisation to shellfish and/or mites, e.g., mite-sensitised individuals may be more at risk of developing shellfish allergy. Other large-scale forms of protein diversity may also influence allergenicity (e.g., environmental changes). Understanding allergen cross-reactivity and diversity will inform prevention and treatment strategies. This project aims to explore immunological and clinical cross-reactivity between shellfish and mite allergens and the effect of environmental temperature on allergen diversity in muscle tissue.
This project will be conducted under a postgraduate research top-up scholarship with the Centre for Food Allergy Research (CFAR), which grants $10,000 p.a. top-up to an existing PhD scholarship.
Decoding the genomic basis underpinning Southern Ocean ecosystem resilience to change
This project applies traditional and latest genome sequencing technologies to advance the knowledge of nature's natural evolutionary solutions against climate changes. Expected outcomes of this project include uncovering novel genome structures and gene functions that underpin Southern Ocean species’ adaptation capabilities to climate changes.
Coral bleaching, reef fish community phase shifts and the resilience of coral reefs
- 2006
- Blackwell Publishing
- Researchers:David BellwoodAndrew Hoey
Regional-scale assembly rules and biodiversity of coral reefs
- 2001
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Researchers:David BellwoodTerry Hughes
Confronting the coral reef crisis
- 2004
- Nature Publishing Group
- Researchers:David BellwoodTerry Hughes
Influence of age and moderate-intensity exercise training on heart rate variability in young and mature adults
- 2003
- Human Kinetics
- Researchers:Anthony LeichtAndrew Hoey
Influence of intensive cycling training on heart rate variability during rest and exercise
- 2003
- NRC Reserch Press
- Researchers:Anthony LeichtAndrew Hoey
Start Date:
10 Nov 2024
Start Date:
31 Mar 2025
Start Date:
01 Jan 2024
Start Date:
01 Jan 2024
End Date:
01 Jan 2027
Start Date:
01 Jan 2004
End Date:
01 Jan 2006
Start Date:
01 Jan 2007
End Date:
01 Jan 2007
Title:
PhD, James Cook University
Start Date:
01 Jan 2002
End Date:
01 Jan 2005
Start Date:
01 Jan 1996
End Date:
01 Jan 1999