Edward Ashworth is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Sydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney. He is affiliated with the Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory and the Heat and Health Research Incubator. His research focuses on human adaptations to extreme environments, including heat, altitude, hyperbaric conditions, and space-related stressors. Key projects include improving sleep quality in hot environments and enhancing physical work capacity for outdoor workers. Edward's research interests span environmental physiology, with a focus on thermal tolerance, radiation injury mitigation, and the physiological effects of extreme conditions. He has contributed to studies involving nitrogen kinetics tracking using PET imaging, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and robotic surgery applications. Awards: Young Investigator Award (2023), Art of Science Contest 1st Prize (2024), Australia Space Biology Summit 1st Place (2022), and Sporting Blue (Auckland University of Technology). Associations: The Physiological Society and American Physiological Society. His work integrates clinical trials, statistical research design, and translational approaches to address challenges in environmental health, cardiovascular disease, and healthy ageing. Current projects aim to optimize thermal tolerance strategies for military and occupational settings.
Emmanuel Stamatakis is a Professor of Physical Activity, Lifestyle, and Population Health at the University of Sydney's School of Health Sciences (Faculty of Medicine and Health). He holds NHMRC Leadership Fellowships (2021-2025 and 2026-2030) and leads the Charles Perkins Centre's Physical Activity & Exercise Theme. His research focuses on lifestyle behaviors' impacts on cardiometabolic conditions, cancer, and cardiovascular health, using large-scale cohort studies and wearable device data. Key roles include directing the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub and co-chairing WHO's Physical Activity Guidelines Development Group. Education: PhD from University of Bristol (2003), post-doctoral training at University College London. He leads the ProPASS consortium, involving 45 cohorts with wearable data. Over 460 peer-reviewed publications, including Clarivate's Highly Cited list since 2019. Research interests integrate physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep analytics with clinical outcomes. Current projects explore wearables-based measurement innovations, SPAN (sleep-physical activity-nutrition) synergies, and intervention designs for GLP-1 receptor agonist users. Recent articles emphasize VILPA (vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity) benefits, sleep-cardiovascular links, and multimodal lifestyle optimization. Awards include Australia's Top Researcher in Sports Medicine and multiple NHMRC grants. Supervises PhD projects on physical activity measurement and intervention design. Active in 50+ peer-reviewed journals and national/international funding bodies.
Professor Joy Ho is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney’s Central Clinical School and a Senior Staff Specialist in Haematology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH). She serves as Director of Research and Head of the Multiple Myeloma Research Unit and Thalassemia/Haemoglobinopathy Unit at the Institute of Haematology, RPAH. Her research focuses on multiple myeloma, lymphoma, thalassemia, and iron metabolism, with a strong emphasis on clinical trials and translational medicine. She has led numerous multi-centre trials, including pioneering studies on CAR-T cell therapy for lymphoma and novel therapies for myeloma. Prof Ho’s education includes MB.BS. (Hons) from Sydney, D.Phil (Oxford), and fellowships from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA). She has held leadership roles in major hematology organizations, including the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) and the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Her international collaborations span Singapore, Thailand, and the United States. Her research interests include: Multiple Myeloma: Developing therapies targeting tumor microenvironment and immune modulation. Lymphoma: Pioneering CAR-T cell therapy in Australia. Thalassemia: Gene therapy and iron chelation advancements, including the landmark Northstar trial. Iron Metabolism: Investigating hepcidin and its role in transfusion-dependent anemias. Her recent publications highlight breakthroughs in CAR-T efficacy, myeloma biomarkers, and thalassemia management. Awards include the 2019 Sydney Local Health District Clinical Trial Award and election to the International Myeloma Society Board. She has secured over $2 million in grants for cutting-edge equipment and research. Prof Ho’s academic contributions extend to teaching and supervision, training fellows for RACP/RCPA certifications. Her leadership in national registries (e.g., Australian Haemoglobinopathy Registry) and guidelines (e.g., iron chelation protocols) underscores her commitment to advancing hematology care globally.
Professor Ravi Shukla is a faculty member at RMIT University's School of Science, holding the title of Professor and Deputy Head of Department (Research). He specializes in Nanobiotechnology, with research spanning biomaterials, drug delivery systems, and medical diagnostics. His work integrates biosciences, materials science, and food technology to advance understanding of nanomaterial-biomolecular interactions. Academic History: Professor Shukla has held roles at RMIT since 2011, progressing from Research Fellow to his current professorship. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri and Theme Leader for Nanobiotechnology at RMIT’s Center for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry. His teaching focuses on fostering student belonging and innovation in biotechnology education, including coordinating RMIT’s undergraduate Biotechnology program. Research Interests: His lab explores hybrid biomaterial synthesis, nano-enabled proteomics, and non-viral gene therapy using MOFs. Recent work emphasizes applications in diabetes biosensing, CRISPR/Cas9 delivery, and antimicrobial resistance mitigation through nanostrategies. Over 130+ publications and substantial research funding highlight his interdisciplinary impact. Professional Engagement: Editor roles in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology , Co-Editor-in-Chief of Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science , and advisor to the Australasian Association of Ayurveda underscore his leadership. He actively mentors students in projects like nano-antimicrobial wound healing and aptamer-based hepatitis A detection. Key Achievements: Pioneered nucleic acid-encapsulated MOFs for cancer therapy and developed paper-based biosensors for rapid diagnostics. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 3 (Good Health).
Dr. Ling Zhu is an Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney. He holds dual affiliations with the Centre for Drug Discovery Innovation and the University of Sydney Nano Institute. His research focuses on retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and macular telangiectasia type 2, combining clinical and basic research approaches. Dr. Zhu leads a lab with a postdoc, two research assistants, and one HDR student, emphasizing innovative techniques like human retinal explant culture and nanomedicine. Dr. Zhu obtained his PhD in Biochemistry from Rutgers University (USA) in 2008. His work has attracted over $2 million in research funding in the past five years and includes 93 publications (3590 citations, H-index 34). He is a major author in leading journals like eLife and Ophthalmology . Current research projects include preclinical RNA-LNP therapy for retinal degeneration, targeting retinal metabolism for macular diseases, and developing a 'Macula-on-a-Chip' drug screening platform. His expertise spans biochemistry, molecular biology, and translational nanomedicine. Key achievements include establishing human retinal explant models and advancing lipid nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems. Dr. Zhu collaborates widely, with projects addressing unmet clinical needs in ophthalmology and drug discovery.
Suzanne Estaphan is a Senior Lecturer in Medical Science (Physiology and Clinical Pharmacology) at the Australian National University (ANU) School of Medicine and Psychology . She holds qualifications including a Doctorate of Physiology (2015) , MSc in Physiology (2012) , MBBCh (2005) , and Basic Certificate in Medical Education (2018) . Her academic roles span curriculum development, admissions, and assessment committees in the ANU Medical School. Senior Lecturer, ANU (2023–present) Academic Editor, PLOS ONE (2024–present) Review Editor, Frontiers in Physiology (2023–present) Dr. Estaphan's research bridges oxidative stress and inflammation in disease pathology with medical education innovation . Her work explores antioxidant interventions for organ damage and investigates AI/virtual reality applications in education. Recent projects include studying sleep dysfunction in eating disorders and diabetes medication effects on exercise capacity . Between 2023–2025, her 15 most recent publications span oxidative stress , medical education , and molecular pathophysiology . Themes include homeostasis , clinical reasoning , and metabolic disorders , with subfields like MMP-9 biology , pancreatic injury , and VR-based hypoxia training . Scientific accolades include the American Physiological Society Travel Award (2017) and recognition as Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2023) . She mentors medical students, contributes to national physiology curriculum consensus projects, and has secured approximately $200,000 in research funding .
Mike Climstein serves as a Lecturer in Human Sciences within the Faculty of Health at Southern Cross University (SCU), where he coordinates the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology program and acts as Deputy Academic Integrity Officer. He concurrently holds an adjunct Associate Professor position in the Physical Activity, Lifestyle, Ageing and Well-being Research Group at the University of Sydney and directs SCU's Aquatic Based Research initiative. His academic credentials include a PhD in Exercise Science & Human Performance from Oregon State University (1990), an MSc in Exercise Science from Utah State University (1986), and a BSc in Biology from Utah State University (1982). Climstein's research spans clinical exercise physiology with emphases on master athletes' health, chronic disease rehabilitation, sports injury surveillance (particularly surfing), cardiac rehabilitation, smart textile monitoring, and osteoporosis. His work integrates technology-driven health solutions with population-specific exercise interventions, notably for aging populations and athletes. Analysis of his recent publications reveals three dominant trends: 1) AI applications in dermatological diagnostics (e.g., melanoma detection systems), 2) physiological adaptations in aging populations through martial arts and aquatic exercise, and 3) epidemiological studies of chronic conditions in master athletes and occupational groups. These reflect his dual focus on technological innovation and practical health interventions. His scientific recognition includes: Fellowship by Sports Medicine Australia (FASMF) Fellowship by American College of Sports Medicine (FACSM) Fellowship by Exercise and Sports Science Australia (FAAESS) Climstein actively supervises 4 PhD and 2 Master's students while co-supervising 6 Doctor of Physiotherapy candidates. His research program is supported by 38 grants totaling over $7.8 million AUD, including studies on aquatic rehabilitation and smart textile monitoring. As Director of Aquatic Based Research, he leads interdisciplinary teams investigating water-based exercise interventions for chronic disease management, with ongoing projects in cardiac rehabilitation and osteoporosis prevention.
Professor Daniel Catchpoole serves as Deputy Head of School (Research) at the School of Computer Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), holding dual appointments at UTS and The Children's Hospital at Westmead. With over 20 years of research experience, he bridges computational sciences and pediatric cancer research through the Biomedical Data Science Lab in the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute. His work integrates data analytics, artificial intelligence, and software development with molecular cancer biology to transform pediatric cancer treatment pathways. PhD in Cancer Cell Biology, University of New South Wales (1991-1995) Founding Fellow, Royal College of Pathologists Australasia (2010-present) Head, Children's Hospital at Westmead Tumour Bank (2001-present) Professor Catchpoole's research focuses on translational applications of genomics in childhood cancers, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia and neuroblastoma. His work combines high-throughput genomic technologies with advanced computational analysis to develop systems biology approaches for cancer patient assessment. Recent projects explore virtual reality applications for complex genomic data visualization and copper chelation therapies to enhance neuroblastoma immunotherapy. His research has received significant funding from Cancer Institute NSW, Sony Foundation, ARC, and NHMRC. His publication record spans biomedical data science, cancer genomics, and virtual reality applications in oncology. Recent work demonstrates leadership in 3D latent diffusion models for tumor segmentation, biobank economics, and innovative immunotherapies. His research consistently addresses the critical need for actionable knowledge from complex multidimensional biomedical data. Editorial Board Member, Cancers (2023) Associate Editor, Innovations in Digital Health, Diagnostics and Biomarkers (2019) Founding member and first President, Australasian Biospecimens Network Association Professor Catchpoole has supervised 17 Honours students (including 6 First Class Honours), 3 MSc students, and 12 PhD candidates across multiple institutions, with 6 current PhD students. His collaborative research bridges UTS's Faculty of Engineering and IT with The Children's Cancer Research Unit at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Significant research funding includes Cancer Institute NSW grants, Sony Foundation VR projects, and ARC Discovery Projects focused on genomic data analysis and clinical decision support systems. His leadership extends to building frameworks for translational research, managing biobanks and clinical data linkages, and navigating governance requirements for cancer research. The Tumour Bank at Kids Research, CCRU, represents his long-standing commitment to pediatric cancer infrastructure development.
Carlos Salomon Gallo is a Professor and NHMRC Investigator Fellow (EL2) at The University of Queensland's Centre for Clinical Research, affiliated with the School of Biomedical Sciences. He directs the Centre for Extracellular Vesicle Nanomedicine and leads the Exosome Biology Laboratory. A globally recognized key opinion leader in extracellular vesicles (ranked 3rd worldwide by Expertscape), his research focuses on EV biology for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in ovarian cancer, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and other obstetrical syndromes. His research integrates proteomics (SWATH-MS), miRNA analysis, and advanced isolation techniques to develop liquid biopsies. Core interests include: EV biomarker discovery and validation for early disease detection. Mechanisms of EV-mediated signaling in metabolic and oncological pathologies. Engineering EVs for targeted drug delivery and CRISPR-Cas therapeutics. Clinical translation of EV-based diagnostics (IVDs) and therapeutics. Analysis of his recent articles reveals a dominant focus on EV profiling in pregnancy complications (gestational diabetes, preeclampsia) and oncology (ovarian cancer), utilizing multi-omics approaches. Key trends include developing high-sensitivity EV biosensors, understanding hypoxia-induced EV signaling, and exploring 3D models for EV research. He has received significant recognition, including: NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow NHMRC Investigator Fellow (EL2) He leads the Exosome Biology Laboratory and the UQ Centre for Extracellular Vesicle Nanomedicine, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration. His work involves extensive national and international partnerships, evidenced by leadership roles in the Centre for Clinical Diagnostics and over 20 invited international talks in 5 years. He actively mentors HDR students and contributes to global EV research standards (MISEV2023).
Fabio Zanini is an Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) , leading a research group focused on computational biology , single-cell approaches , and transcriptomic analysis across diseases like severe dengue , neonatal lung disease , cancer , and marine biology . He previously conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University (2016-2019) and earned a PhD in Bioinformatics from the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology and the University of Tuebingen (2015). Current Affiliation: Group leader, UNSW Previous Training: Postdoc (Stanford), PhD (Max Planck/University of Tuebingen) His research spans single-cell RNA sequencing , computational virology , developmental cell biology , and bioinformatics tool development , with recent work on: Severe dengue progression (viral-host interactions, immune signatures) Lung development (endothelial cell diversity, hyperoxia-induced injury) Cancer genomics (mutant HSC clones, AZA therapy response) Marine biology (plankton transcriptomics, evolutionary analysis) Bioinformatics (HTSeq 2.0, northstar algorithm) Recent scientific awards include grants from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative ($270,000), NIH R01 (multiple), ARC Discovery Grant , and NHMRC Ideas Grant . Notable contributions include: Northstar - Cell classification algorithm SpectralSeq - Hyperspectral-transcriptomic integration Tabula Muris - Mouse aging atlas He has supervised research into hematopoietic stem cell regulation , lung vascular development , and autophagy in viral infections , with collaborations across Stanford , University of Sydney , and Harvard .
Professor Rachel Gibson is a Professor and Head of School in the Allied Health Administration at the University of Adelaide. Her work focuses on gastrointestinal toxicity, chemotherapy-induced adverse effects, and microbiome interactions with diet and health. She leads research in mucositis management, drug delivery systems, and nutritional pathways in oncology care. Her research interests include the gut microbiome's role in chemotherapy toxicity, mechanisms of gastrointestinal damage, and translational applications of intestine-on-chip models. She has contributed to international clinical guidelines on mucositis assessment and palliative care innovations during the pandemic. Publications span 2016-2025, emphasizing chemotherapy-induced diarrhea, microbiome-drug interactions, and dietary interventions. She has pioneered digital health solutions for nutrition support and explored genetic predictors of adverse drug reactions. Current efforts address pain management in pediatric cerebral palsy and optimizing supportive cancer care pathways. Grants and collaborations involve multidisciplinary teams in oncology, bioengineering, and public health. She advises on translational research bridging basic science to clinical practice, with a focus on improving patient outcomes through personalized interventions.
Professor Tracy Bryan is a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney and serves as Unit Head of the Cell Biology Unit at the Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI). She holds a Bachelor of Science from Macquarie University and a PhD from the CMRI, where her groundbreaking research identified the ALT (Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres) mechanism in cancer cells. After postdoctoral work with Nobel Laureate Tom Cech at the University of Colorado, she returned to Australia in 2001 to establish her research group at CMRI. Her research focuses on telomerase biology, particularly its role in cancer progression and bone marrow failure syndromes. Key themes include understanding telomerase mechanisms, developing inhibitors for cancer therapy, and investigating telomere biology disorders. Her work integrates biochemical and cell-based approaches, supported by grants from NHMRC, Viertel Foundation, and Cancer Council NSW. Recent publications highlight advancements in telomerase-substrate interactions, i-motif DNA structures, and the interplay between telomere maintenance and DNA damage responses. Major grants include NHMRC Ideas Grants targeting telomere-related bone marrow failure and ARC Discovery Projects exploring DNA replication-telomere links. Bryan’s research group collaborates internationally, contributing to translational studies in oncology and regenerative medicine. Her lab’s work is detailed at CMRI’s Cell Biology Team page, with ongoing projects focused on telomerase inhibition strategies and molecular mechanisms of telomere dysfunction.
Dr Akanksha Srivastava serves as a Researcher at the John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR), Australian National University, with affiliations spanning the Centre for Computational Biomedical Sciences, Division of Genome Sciences and Cancer, and the Eyras Group specializing in Computational RNA Biology. Her research focuses on computational approaches to RNA biology and genomics within cancer research, contributing to JCSMR's mission of advancing translational medical science. She works at the intersection of biomedical data analysis and disease mechanism studies, particularly in cancer genomics and RNA sequencing methodologies. As a core member of the Eyras Group, Dr Srivastava participates in multidisciplinary projects addressing critical health challenges including cancer, metabolic disorders, and genomic diseases, leveraging computational frameworks to drive biomedical discovery at ANU's premier medical research institution.
Professor Mark Polizzotto is Professor of Medicine in the College of Science and Medicine at the Australian National University (ANU), Group Leader in Cancer and Genome Science at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, and leads the Clinical Hub for Interventional Research (CHOIR). Previously, he served as a Senior Staff Haematologist at The Canberra Region Cancer Centre, Canberra Hospital. His research interests focus on the intersection of immunity, infection and cancer, with particular emphasis on developing new therapies to prevent and treat malignancy, especially infection-related cancers. His work spans Cancer Immunotherapy , Cancer Target Therapies , Infectious Disease Immunotherapy , HIV/HIV-related malignancies , and Global Oncology , with specific expertise in Human Herpesvirus-8 , Epstein Barr Virus , and Human Papillomavirus . His clinical specialties include Haematology , Infectious Diseases , and Tumour Immunology . His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on clonal hematopoiesis in HIV patients, lymphoma outcomes in immunocompromised individuals, and therapeutic approaches for viral infections including SARS-CoV-2. His work frequently addresses the intersection of chronic viral infections and cancer development, with particular attention to global health applications. The Tony Ayers Award (2022) Professor Polizzotto has led multiple international clinical trials, including work on viral and HIV-associated cancers that has influenced global guidelines. He co-led the development of an oral immunomodulator for Kaposi sarcoma which led to the first new drug approval for KS in over 20 years. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, he led international randomized trials of immunotherapies for COVID-19 at the invitation of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. He has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in clinical trials and to clinical research capacity development in resource-limited settings, having led trial capacity building efforts in West Africa and Indonesia for the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Raaj Kishore Biswas is a Biostatistician and Research Fellow at the Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, and a part-time Research Biostatistician at Sydney Local Health District (NSW Health). He holds a PhD in Road Safety and Transport Analytics (UNSW Sydney, 2022) and advanced degrees in Biostatistics and Applied Statistics. His research focuses on lifestyle factors, non-communicable diseases, and global health equity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Affiliations: Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney Sydney Local Health District (part-time) Member, Sydney Southeast Asia Centre Member, Charles Perkins Centre Research Interests: Biostatistical methods, public health analytics, physical activity epidemiology, maternal-child health, and global health policy. He specializes in analyzing large-scale datasets (e.g., UK Biobank) and collaborating on randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Publications: Over 80 peer-reviewed articles in journals like European Heart Journal , BMC Medicine , and PLOS One . Recent work emphasizes sleep patterns, cardiovascular risk, and pandemic preparedness in LMICs. Grants: Recipient of Charles Perkins Centre Professional Development Award (2024) and contributor to trials like the Active Women over 50 project. Labs/Teams: Leads the Physical Activity, Lifestyle, and Population Health team at Charles Perkins Centre, collaborating globally on projects addressing healthcare access and behavioral interventions.
