Project Portal

Multiplex diagnostic technology development for respiratory viruses

This program involves the development of innovative diagnostic platforms. The group’s successes include the development of the TT-lock Immuno-PCR platform and its application for the diagnosis of melioidosis as well as a sensitive assay to detect the presence of the influenza A nucleoprotein and seafood allergy IgE. Currently the group focuses on developing a new rapid test platform technology for...

Supervisor: Patrick Schaeffer

Project Topics: Biomedical engineering; Infectious disease

The role of partner dancing on biopsychosocial status of older adults and their significant others

The project will recruit a sample of community dwelling older adults at risk of falls and their carers or significant others. Individuals will participate in weekly small group partnered dance sessions supervised by a qualified dance instructor and physiotherapist. The effect of the dance intervention on a battery of balance, physical function, mental health, and quality of life will be...

Supervisor: Carol Flavell

Prerequisites: Ability to work with older adults at risk of falls, basic experience in dance

Project Topics: Physiotherapy

Multiple research opportunities in Psychiatry

The Mental Health Service Group has several exciting projects underway looking for eager researchers to be involved with. Many projects are underway and could be excellent as an extra-curricular activity. There are also projects awaiting a lead researcher. There are numerous supervisors available to assist with research endeavours. If interested, please contact the Academic Registrar for Psychiatry below and a...

Supervisor: Dr Kiran Sharma

Project Topics: Psychiatry

Testing novel treatments for peripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm

There are no drug treatment for peripheral artery disease (PAD) or abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). We have established mouse models of both PAD and AAA. We now need to test a range of potential novel drug therapies and investigate treatment targets in these models. The student would play a key role in the running of these projects in collaboration with...

Supervisor: Jonathan Golledge

Prerequisites: Ideally experience in animal work although this can be taught. Substantial time commitment would be needed.

Project Topics: Cardiology

Chronic Pelvic Pain Faecal Microbiome Study

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. Although no prevalence data exists for CPP in Australia, its prevalence worldwide is estimated to be between 15 % to 25.4%. Furthermore, it is estimated that CPP costs Australia more than $6 Billion annually...

Supervisor: A/Prof Donna Rudd

Prerequisites: DNA Extraction required; Previous experience with 16S DNA analysis an advantage

Project Topics: Gynaecology

Strengthening primary health care to promote healthy ageing and reduce risk factors associated with dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

Dementia can be difficult for people and their family and caregivers. Studies show that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a three to five times higher risk of dementia than non-Indigenous people, occurring at a younger age (45+). Health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, and obesity increase the...

Supervisor: Yvonne Hornby-Turner

Project Topics: Geriatrics; Health services ; Rural and Indigenous health

Service delivery strategies for rural/ remote allied health

Service delivery strategies may include telehealth, use of delegation, skill sharing and shared care. There is potential for data collection to include patients

Supervisor: A/Prof Anne Jones

Project Topics: Health services 

Glucose control and outcome of peripheral revascularisation

This project focuses on the determinants of outcome following peripheral revascularisation, i.e. open and endovascular surgery to improve lower limb blood supply. While a number of opportunities exist a particular area of interest is variation in perioperative glucose levels. Variability in perioperative glucose been associated with poor outcomes for some acute problems but has had limited investigation in peripheral artery...

Supervisor: Jonathan Golledge

Prerequisites: Ideally the student would have prior experience at collecting research data although this could be taught. A key requirement is sufficient time to commit as completion of research studies is very time consuming.

Project Topics: Surgery and subspecialties

Piloting a continuous quality improvement framework to strengthen quality of care in Aboriginal residential aged care.

People with dementia generally have high care needs, which can often result in them requiring respite or permanent residential aged care. Rates of dementia in Aboriginal people aged 45+ in residential aged care are reported to be as high as 67%. The recent Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety found that care provided through the Australian aged care...

Supervisor: Yvonne Hornby-Turner

Prerequisites: Knowledge of aged care and skills in undertaking systematic literature reviews would be an advantage but not essential.

Project Topics: Geriatrics; Health services 

Diet and vascular disease

Currently the role of diet such as sugar and salt intake and peripheral vascular diseases is incompletely understood. We have commenced data collection within a project to examine this. A committed student is needed to take this work forward.

Supervisor: Jonathan Golledge

Prerequisites: Ideally the student would have prior experience at collecting research data although this could be taught. A key requirement is sufficient time to commit as completion of research studies is very time consuming.

Project Topics: Cardiology

TREAD: Translational Research in Endocrinology and Diabetes 'Multiple projects'

TREAD was established in 2012 as a collaboration between the endocrinologists at the Townsville University Hospital and James Cook University (JCU) researchers. Over the years TREAD received various local, national and international research grants including World Diabetes Foundation, BUPA Health Foundation and Australian Diabetes Society for research aimed at combating diabetic limb amputation as the region is judged to have...

Supervisor: Prof Usman Malabu

Project Topics: Endocrinology; Telemedicine/online health

Genetics of abdominal aortic aneurysm

The heritability of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is around 70% but the genetic determinants are poorly defined. This project uses data from a genome wide association study and also next generation sequencing to investigate novel genetic determinants of AAA risk. This could provide novel targets for drug development for AAA.

Supervisor: Jonathan Golledge

Prerequisites: Ideally the student would have prior experience in genetics although this maybe able to be learnt. A key requirement is sufficient time to commit as completion of research studies is very time consuming.

Project Topics: Cardiology

Biomarkers of aortic aneurysm and peripheral artery disease outcome

Currently circulating determinants of outcome for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are poorly defined. We have established a vascular biobank with a large collection of samples and outcome data collection. The student would play a key role in assisting with measurement of circulating markers and data analysis and curation. This could provide novel targets to improve...

Supervisor: Jonathan Golledge

Prerequisites: Ideally the student would have prior experience at collecting research data although this could be taught. A key requirement is sufficient time to commit as completion of research studies is very time consuming.

Project Topics: Cardiology

Australia's burden from peripheral artery disease

This project is for a data linkage project to look at outcomes across Australia for peripheral artery disease (PAD) related hospital admissions. It would require getting approvals and requesting linked data from existing data custodians. It would provide an important benchmark for burden and outcomes across Australia.

Supervisor: Jonathan Golledge

Prerequisites: Ideally the student would have prior experience at collecting research data although this could be taught. A key requirement is sufficient time to commit as completion of research studies is very time consuming.

Project Topics: Cardiology

Multiple projects in Microbiology and infectious Diseases

There are multiple projects relating to locally relevant infectious diseases . These would include (but not confined to) Melioidosis, Q fever, Rheumatic fever.

Supervisor: Dr Robert Norton

Project Topics: Infectious disease

Clinical trials of novel treatments for peripheral artery disease, diabetes-related foot disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm

We are currently performing a number of clinical trials to test new drug therapies and service delivery models for peripheral artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm and diabetes-related foot disease. This provides an excellent opportunity for committed students to perform studies as part of these trials. This would suit highly committed students able to learn quickly.

Supervisor: Jonathan Golledge

Project Topics: Cardiology

Outcome for abdominal aortic aneurysm admissions across Australia

This project is for a data linkage project to look at outcomes across Australia for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) related hospital admissions. It would require getting approvals and requesting linked data from existing data custodians. It would provide an important benchmark for burden and outcomes across Australia.

Supervisor: Jonathan Golledge

Prerequisites: Ideally the student would have prior experience at collecting research data although this could be taught. A key requirement is sufficient time to commit as completion of research studies is very time consuming.

Project Topics: Cardiology