Physiology and Pharmacology
Damien Paris
- Associate Professor - Reproductive Physiology
- damien.paris@jcu.edu.au
Anupama Bangara Kulur
- Lecturer, Physiology/Pathophysiology
- anupama.bangrakulur@jcu.edu.au
Hung-Hsun Yen
- Senior Lecturer, Physiology
- hunghsun.yen@jcu.edu.au
Richard Francis
- Lecturer, Physiology
- richard.francis@jcu.edu.au
Beena Suvarna
- Lecturer, Biomedicine
- beena.suvarna@jcu.edu.au
Suzy Munns
- Associate Professor
- suzy.munns@jcu.edu.au
Donna Rudd
- Associate Professor
- donna.rudd@jcu.edu.au
Danica Vojisavljevic
- Senior Lecturer, Physiology
- danica.vojisavljevic@jcu.edu.au
Ailie Ross
- Lecturer, Biomedical Sciences
- ailie.ross@jcu.edu.au
Exploring the Long-Term Effects of Probiotic Supplementation in Premature Infants (Old ID 27031)
Donna Rudd
16 Oct 2020 - 22 Jul 2025
Probiotic supplementation is now standard care for pre-term infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); significantly reducing the risk of Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC) and mortality. What is not known is the long-term impact of this probiotic treatment on the developing infant gut microbiome. Evidence from a previous study shows positive effects, however, two important questions remain. 1. Microbes from probiotic supplementation appear to colonize the infant gut, cause positive modulation and reduce the incidence of disease, does this effect persist over the first year of life? 2. Should the criteria for probiotic supplementation be expanded to include all infants?
Assessment of Renal Function in Neonates and infants using Cystatin C. (Old ID 27135)
Danica Vojisavljevic
26 Feb 2021 - 31 Dec 2022
Diagnosis of early acute kidney injury (AKI) can prevent renal failure in babies (<2 years of age). This non-invasive method validation study will utilise parallel alternative method testing for renal function tests, to examine the clinical applicability and accuracy of implementing Cystatin-C (Cys-C), as a preferred biomarker for early AKI by: (1) determining if Cys-C is a more sensitive marker of impaired renal function and decline compared to serum creatinine in this cohort; (2) determine if eGFR derived from Cys-C is a more sensitive predictor of renal function decline; and (3) produce a clinical reference range for Cys-C for this cohort.
Discovering the Faecal Microbiome Associated with Pre-Term Birth (Old ID 25095)
Donna Rudd
24 Aug 2017 - 30 Jun 2019
Development of the pre-term gut microbiome is important for immediate and longer term health outcomes. Much of what is known about the infant and neonatal microbiome has been derived from healthy full term infants. Collecting and understanding the microbiome of the TTH NICU cohort would provide a unique insight into the microbial development and in pre-term babies admitted to the NICU. This information will provide further evidence for interventions currently undertaken in the NICU such as administration of probiotics to infants <32 weeks. This project supports evidence-based multidisciplinary research in a novel way to assess the neonatal microbiome development.
All Ages Lung Function in Australia's First Nations Peoples (Old ID 27534)
Suzy Munns
01 Apr 2022 - 01 Apr 2023
Chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) are over-represented in Australian Indigenous Peoples. CRD cause structural changes that compromise lung function. These functional changes are measured using Spirometry. Ethnic specific reference values should be used when performing spirometry, however, these are missing for Australian Indigenous Peoples. This lack limits the ability to diagnose CRD, especially in the early-stages, and to accurately assess disease severity and response to treatment. This project will measure lung function in apparently healthy Indigenous Australians and determine spirometry reference values for these groups. Ethnic specific reference values will improve the accuracy of CRD diagnosis and assessment using spirometry.
The Relationship between Maternal Health and Infant Renal Development and Function (Old ID 25013)
Donna Rudd
01 Jan 2019 - 31 Dec 2023
This will be the first study to comprehensively link the maternal environment, including maternal renal size and ethnicity, to the development of the human fetal kidney and subsequent childhood kidney growth and function in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. Developing non-invasive measures of renal development and understanding the pathway to reduce nephron number in Indigenous infants is essential for the planning of public health interventions to reduce Indigenous disadvantage in renal health.
CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN FAECAL MICROBIOME STUDY (Old ID 27087)
Donna Rudd
11 Dec 2020 - 25 Sep 2025
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is defined as non-cyclical pain in the area of the pelvis for most days for more than 3-6 months, unrelated to pregnancy. Prevalence of CPP worldwide is estimated to be between 15 % to 25.4%.In the recent years the important role the human gut microbiome plays in health has been elucidated. Several studies have indicated a strong link between dysbiosis of the gut microbiome and CPP aetiology. There is growing interest in the interaction between the gut microbiome and CPP. This project will analyse the microbiome of patients with CPP and explores any possible associations.
Comparison of PoCT for salivary cortisol with Salimetrics ELIZA Salivary Cortisol
Donna Rudd
31 Jul 2024 - 31 Jul 2025
Salivary cortisol has always been a useful tool for measuring and monitoring stress in individuals particularly in a research setting. This tool is now very much moving into a diagnostic setting with the use of salivary and hair cortisols as a part of routine psychiatric investigation. Methodological validation is important to ensure that the methods employed in research trials are validated to a standard expected in pathology laboratories and recommended by ISO15189 and local guidelines. This project will utilise salivary cortisol samples collected for two ongoing research trials to validate the Salimetrics Salivary Cortisol assay and provide researchers with quality assurance around their results.
Assessment of Renal Function in Neonates and infants using Cystatin C. (Old ID 27135)
Donna Rudd
26 Feb 2021 - 31 Dec 2022
Diagnosis of early acute kidney injury (AKI) can prevent renal failure in babies (<2 years of age). This non-invasive method validation study will utilise parallel alternative method testing for renal function tests, to examine the clinical applicability and accuracy of implementing Cystatin-C (Cys-C), as a preferred biomarker for early AKI by: (1) determining if Cys-C is a more sensitive marker of impaired renal function and decline compared to serum creatinine in this cohort; (2) determine if eGFR derived from Cys-C is a more sensitive predictor of renal function decline; and (3) produce a clinical reference range for Cys-C for this cohort.
A Study of Genotype and Blood Group Types With Respect To HBV In Blood Donors In PNG
Donna Rudd
01 Oct 2024 - 31 Dec 2026
My PHD student, Francisca Varpit has been awarded a Schlumberger Foundation Grant for the value of up to US$50000. The grant money must be used within the period April 2024 to April 2025. "Before any funds are disbursed, the Grantee shall sign a Grant Agreement (GA) with the Foundation. The Grantee will be contacted in due course following the announcement of the award by the Administration team to complete and sign this document. It should be noted that this Agreement is between the Grantee and the Foundation only, i.e., the Host University does not need to sign it as well. Whenever the Host Institution plays the role of Grant Administrator, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) shall be signed between the Host University and the Foundation. " JCU will act as the Host University and Francisca Varpit is the Grantee. Hence, we require: 1. An account into which the money can be deposited and managed; 2. a MOU to be drafted between JCU and Shulumberger Foundation and the signing of this MOU.
Sero-prevalence and Genotypic Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus Infections in the ABO Blood Types in Papua New Guinea Blood Donors. (Old ID 31113)
Donna Rudd
02 Feb 2023 - 31 Dec 2025
Donor blood is clinically significant, and yet, transports pathogens such as the hepatitis B virus. This study will explore the risks factors and ABO blood types associated with genotypic sero-prevalence and their influence on blood donor compliance. The results of which will contribute to improving current blood donation practices in Papua New Guinea.
Electrical consequences of cardiac myocyte: fibroblast coupling
- 2015
- Portland Press
- Researchers:Lisa Chilton
Biomarker of early glomerular injury in pre-eclampsia
- 2015
- Taylor & Francis
- Researchers:Yoga KandasamyDonna Rudd
Prolonged subcutaneous administration of oxytocin accelerates angiotensin II-induced hypertension and renal damage in male rats
- 2015
- Public Library of Science
- Researchers:Haleagrahara NagarajaZoltan SarnyaiLisa ChiltonRobert Kinobe
Baked boars to blame? Re-evaluating summer infertility in the pig
- 2015
- James Cook University
- Researchers:Bruce GummowDamien Paris
Baked boars to blame? Re-evaluating summer infertility in the pig
- 2015
- James Cook University
- Researchers:Damien Paris
Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-3 alleviates angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy and apoptosis by inhibiting oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress in H9c2 cardiomyocytes
- 2016
- Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
- Researchers:Robert KinobeHaleagrahara NagarajaLisa Chilton
Start Date:
01 Jan 2012
Start Date:
01 Jan 2013
Title:
Faculty Grant Scheme
Start Date:
01 Jan 2014
Start Date:
01 Jan 2014
Start Date:
01 Jan 2016
Title:
Teaching award
Start Date:
01 Jan 2015
Title:
Scholarship
Start Date:
01 Jan 2021
Start Date:
01 Jan 2018
Start Date:
01 Jan 2024
End Date:
01 Jan 2025
Start Date:
01 Jan 2012
End Date:
01 Jan 2017