Medicine

Erin Waters

JCU Associate Professor
erin.waters@jcu.edu.au

Shiv Thanigaimani

Senior Research Fellow, Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
shiv.thanigaimani@jcu.edu.au

Alkira Deren

Clinical Research Officer
alkira.venn@jcu.edu.au

Nalita Turner

Research Officer
nalita.turner@jcu.edu.au

Bunmi Malau-Aduli

JCU Professor
bunmi.malauaduli@jcu.edu.au

Jenna Graffini

Research Project Manager
jenna.graffini@jcu.edu.au

Mel Muscat

Adjunct Research Fellow
melody.muscat@jcu.edu.au

Yvonne Hornby-Turner

Adjunct Research Fellow
yvonne.hornbyturner@jcu.edu.au

Geoffrey Dobson

Professor
geoffrey.dobson@jcu.edu.au

Development and Evaluation of Lived Experience Peer Support Intervention for Mental Health Service Users in Primary Care

Sam Manger

01 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2025

2 aspects to this project including a primary care co-design phase and then an intervention phase, with the overall goal of hosting peer support workers in primary care to provide mental health support. Lived experience peer support has been used in many mental healthcare contexts, but not in primary care. Peers walk alongside consumers to improve their self-efficacy and personal recovery. Peer support will improve access, engagement and support for people with mental ill-health in primary care.

Seed funding -improving stroke management by characterising the ischaemic penumrba proteome.

Joseph Moxon

01 Jul 2024 - 30 Jun 2025

Current therapies for stroke work by restoring the blood supply to the brain to rescue oxygen-starved tissue at risk of dying (known as the ischaemic penumbra). Consumer groups highlight that therapies to slow the death of cells in the penumbra is a priority, however, surprisingly little is known about the biology of this tissue. This study will utilise laboratory models of stroke, and apply modern imaging, proteomic and bioinformatic approaches to characterise the major pathways driving penumbra phenotype. Generated data will provide a world's first perspective into penumbra biology as an important foundation for subsequent grants seeking to test potential therapuetic targets.

Mindfulness training to improve student wellbeing in MBBS and Dentistry: Pilot Study

Kimberley Owens

01 Jun 2015 - 01 Jun 2016

Cross discipline self-care training for undergraduate, postgraduate and work integrated learning students

Kimberley Owens

01 Oct 2018 - 01 Oct 2019

A new Ultra-Small Volume Fluid for Far-Forward, Noncompressible Hemorrhage and Traumatic Brain Injury (Old ID 21867)

Hayley Letson

01 Dec 2014 - 31 Jan 2016

To provide USSOCOM with a new small-volume hypotensive fluid and drip to treat the critically wounded in austere, remote locations. The hypothesis to be tested is that small-volume 3% NaCI ALM will show a unique set of resuscitative and restorative properties that will maintain MAP in the hypotensive range with sufficient cardiac output and oxygen delivery to protect the brain and other organs during uncoltrolled bleeding with or without TBI.

Activation of AMPK to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm (5As). (Old ID 31075)

Joseph Moxon

01 Feb 2024 - 31 Jan 2027

Twenty million people worldwide (100,000 Australians) have weakening and dilatation of their main abdominal artery (AAA), responsible for 200,000 deaths/year due to aneurysm rupture. Randomised controlled trials show that surgery does not benefit patients with aneurysms <55mm in diameter. About 95% of AAAs are identified when they are small and are simply imaged every 6 to 12 months until aortic diameter becomes ≥55mm, when surgery is considered. About 5% of AAAs fatally rupture during surveillance and 70% grow within 5 years to 55mm and are repaired, with the risk of complications. The lack of treatment for small AAA concerns patients who worry about aneurysm rupture, which impairs their quality of life. Surveys of patients and specialists, and our systematic reviews show the number one deficiency in AAA management is the lack of drugs to prevent aneurysm growth and rupture. A wealth of evidence suggests that pharmacological activation of the AMPK pathway may prevent AAA growth and rupture. We have access to a novel potent 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway activator (O304) which has been shown to be safe in older adults for other indications. This 5As project will build on our past discoveries using our unique resources and expertise (clinically-relevant mouse model, human AAA explant culture methods, novel drug, statistical methods, human AAA biobanks, registries and genome wide data) to test if: 1. AMPK agonist 0304 inhibits aneurysm growth and rupture in our mouse model; 2. AMPK agonist 0304 reduces markers of AAA growth in human AAA samples in vitro; 3. Genetic AMPK upregulation is protective against AAA development and growth.

Understanding factors in infancy and early childhood (birth to 24 months) that influence obesity development (Old ID 22138)

Ronny Gunnarsson

01 Jul 2015 - 31 Dec 2016

Youth who are obese face myriad short-term and longer-term health consequences. Obesity during childhood also contributes to disabilities as well as increased health care costs. Although some interventional clinical trials to prevent obesity or excessive weight gain during infancy and early childhood are ongoing, many knowledge gaps need to be filled in order to better develop successful interventions in this age group. Further research is needed to compare predictive risk factors for, and protective factors against, infant obesity among Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.

Metformin for treating peripheral artery disease-related walking impairment (MERIT) (Old ID 27481)

Joseph Moxon

22 Feb 2022 - 22 Feb 2024

Blockage of the leg arteries (peripheral artery disease; PAD) leads to severe pain, walking impairment and a substantial risk of leg amputation and death. Over 20,000 North Queenslanders have PAD which is overrepresented in regional, remote and rural populations. There are currently no effective PAD medications. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that metformin, a cheap and safe medication, promotes formation of new vessels, improves microcirculation and muscle function and limits PAD-related pain. This placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial, run by a North Queensland vascular research collaboration, will examine the efficacy of metformin in improving walking ability of PAD patients.

Appropriate Prescribing in a First Nations Rural Aged Care Unit: Exploring the perspectives of the patient, substitute decision maker and health care professional.

Karen Carlisle

19 Feb 2024 - 06 Feb 2026

This project will explore appropriate prescribing for residents of a First Nations Aged Care Unit. The aim of this mixed methods study is to review the resident’s prescribed medications and identify appropriate as well as potentially suboptimal prescribing. Additionally, the research aims to explore the resident’s attitude, beliefs and perceptions of medication use as well as explore the substitute decision maker’s and health care professional’s (doctor, nurse, pharmacist) perceptions of appropriate prescribing for these residents.

ALM Drug Therapy to reduce inflammation and scar formation after ACL reconstruction surgery: Targeting earlier return to active duty. (Old ID 26666)

Hayley Letson

30 Sep 2020 - 29 Sep 2024

Two complications of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery are cartilage degeneration and scarring within the joint, which can prolong healing, promote pain and restrict knee movement. Our project will evaluate a new therapy known as ALM solution that can be administrered during ACL reconstruction surgery to dampen inflammation, protect cartilage and promote tissue healing within the joint. Our study has the potential to expedite a patient's return to an active duty with fewer complications.