Lee Yong Lim is a Professor of Pharmaceutics at The University of Western Australia (UWA), leading the Laboratory for Drug Delivery. She specializes in innovative drug delivery systems, particularly for pediatric populations and marine aquaculture. Her work focuses on overcoming medication challenges for children through taste-masked formulations and stable drug-loaded scaffolds for ear diseases. She has secured over $4.5 million in research grants from diverse funding bodies. Education: BSc (Pharmacy) Hons, National University of Singapore PhD, University of Manchester Research: Her team developed a patented chocolate-based formulation for bitter drugs and conducts pediatric trials. Collaborations include WA hospitals for safe compounded medicines and international projects in nanotechnology. Key research areas include pediatric medicinal products, veterinary drug delivery, and sustainable drug formulations aligned with UN SDGs. Grants & Funding: Major supporters include NHMRC, ARC, Telethon, and industry partnerships. Current active grants focus on pre-procedural chewables for children and perioperative analytics. Labs/Teams: Heads the Laboratory for Drug Delivery and collaborates with the Centre for Optimisation of Medicines and Institute for Paediatric Perioperative Excellence.
Professor Hak-Kim Chan of the Sydney Pharmacy School at the University of Sydney is a world-renowned expert in respiratory drug delivery, particularly pulmonary aerosols and inhalation therapies. With over 480 publications and 17,580+ Google Scholar citations, he has pioneered advancements in powder formulation , in silico modeling , and clinical applications of inhalation technologies. His work includes the development of FDA-approved diagnostics like Aridol™ (inhaled mannitol for asthma) and Bronchitol™ (for cystic fibrosis), and groundbreaking research on inhaled bacteriophage therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant respiratory infections. Education: BPharm (University Medal, 1983), PhD (1988), DSc (2009) from University of Sydney Professional Experience: Postdoc at University of Minnesota (1988–89), Scientist at Genentech Inc. (1992–95) Leadership: Executive Editor of Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews , Fellow of AAPS and RACI His research spans in vitro production methods, computational modeling of inhaler design, and in vivo imaging of aerosol deposition. Current projects focus on nanomedicine , phage therapy , and combating superbugs via inhalation routes. He has secured significant recognition for his work, including NHMRC case studies highlighting public health impacts. Professor Chan has supervised numerous researchers, including PhD student Grace YAU studying pulmonary probiotic delivery . His team's 10 patents (7 as first inventor) reflect practical innovations in dry powder inhalers , antimicrobial formulations , and drug stabilization technologies.
Gabriela Minigo serves as an Honorary Fellow in Global and Tropical Health and Associate Dean - Learning and Teaching within the Faculty of Health. Her academic profile demonstrates active engagement in malaria immunology research with a recent expansion into circadian rhythm and metabolic health investigations. Dr. Minigo completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne (awarded March 31, 2007) and earned a Master of Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Newcastle (awarded December 8, 2017). Her educational background provides a strong foundation in both basic science and clinical epidemiology. Her primary research focuses on immunological responses to malaria, with particular expertise in T follicular helper cells, dendritic cell function, and regulatory T cells in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections. Analysis of her research fingerprint reveals significant contributions to Plasmodium falciparum Immunology and Microbiology (100%), Dendritic Cell Immunology and Microbiology (45%), Regulatory T Cell Immunology and Microbiology (38%), and other related fields. In recent years, she has expanded her research to investigate the relationship between photoperiod, circadian rhythm, and metabolic health, as evidenced by her 2024 publications on these topics. Dr. Minigo's scholarly output shows an evolving research trajectory from fundamental malaria immunology toward interdisciplinary investigations connecting circadian biology with metabolic health. Her recent publications (2022-2024) demonstrate continued strong contributions to malaria immunology while incorporating new dimensions related to light exposure, sleep patterns, and glucose control. She has secured research funding for multiple projects including 'Rainmaker start up- Does exposure to artificial light alter circadian rhythm and glucose control in Australian adults? A pilot study' (2023-2026) where she serves as Co-Investigator, and 'Effect of Extended Photoperiod Exposure on Circadian Rhythm and Glucose Control' (2024-present) where she is Principal Investigator. Previously, she contributed as Chief Investigator C to 'Manipulating T follicular helper cells to improve human malaria vaccines' (2020-2023). As Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching, Dr. Minigo holds significant educational leadership responsibilities within the Faculty of Health. She is registered to supervise postgraduate research, indicating her active role in mentoring graduate students in immunology and tropical medicine research.
Dr. Ginny Sargent is a Research Engagement Lead at The Australian National University's ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences. She holds a BSc (Hons) and PhD in relevant fields. Her work focuses on enhancing research impact through engagement, policy translation, and collaborative problem-solving in population health. Key interests include co-production methodologies, implementation science, and addressing socio-cultural determinants of chronic diseases. Education: BSc (Hons) PhD Research Interests: Dr. Sargent leads efforts to build organizational capacity for engaged research, improve evidence-to-policy translation, and address preventable chronic diseases using systems approaches. Her work spans community, government, and NGO collaborations to design health interventions and evaluate program effectiveness. Grants & Projects: She leads or collaborates on 12 projects, including initiatives on air pollution exposure reduction, policy evaluation frameworks, and workplace health promotion in Singapore. Recent projects involve developing digital evaluation tools and assessing health impacts of environmental hazards like bushfire smoke. Labs/Teams: Works with interdisciplinary teams on projects involving health communication, preventive interventions, and multi-sector collaboration. Collaborators include organizations like the Summer Foundation and global health institutions.
Professor Pauleen Bennett is a leading scholar in Anthrozoology at La Trobe University's Bendigo campus, serving in the Department of Psychology, Counseling and Therapy within the College of Science, Health and Engineering since 2018. Her research program centers on human-companion animal relationships, particularly focusing on the psychological dimensions of human-dog bonds, veterinary wellbeing, and child-pet interactions. Her research interests span Anthrozoology , Human-Animal Relationships , and Companion Animal Psychology , with particular emphasis on dog behavior, veterinary burnout, and the therapeutic applications of human-animal bonds. Bennett leads the Anthrozoology Research Group (www.anthrozoologyresearchgroup.com) and has made significant contributions to understanding how animals impact human mental health across diverse contexts from farms to universities. Analysis of her recent publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) human-animal relationship measurement tools development, (2) veterinary workplace wellbeing challenges, and (3) practical applications of human-animal bonds in agricultural, educational, and healthcare settings. Her work consistently bridges theoretical psychology with practical animal welfare applications. Bennett previously served as Associate Editor for Anthrozoos and on the board of the International Society for Anthrozoology. She co-supervises higher degree students across multiple Australian universities and maintains active community engagement through the Anthrozoology Research Group. Her funded research includes the Wildlife Victoria Inc Mental Health and Wellbeing Review (2021-2024), which developed recommended good practice guidelines for wildlife volunteer support programs. Bennett also serves as a consultant on human-animal interaction projects, translating academic research into practical community applications. Bennett maintains a productive research laboratory focused on human-animal interactions, with current projects examining puppy socialization practices, veterinary technician burnout, and the psychological benefits of animal-assisted interventions in university settings. Her Bendigo-based laboratory operates in close collaboration with Australian farms, veterinary clinics, and community organizations.
Tanya Golubchik is a Senior Lecturer in Computational Microbiology and an NHMRC Principal Research Fellow at the University of Sydney's School of Medical Sciences under the Faculty of Medicine and Health. She is affiliated with the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre and the Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (Sydney ID). Her research focuses on applying modern genomics technologies to study pathogen evolution and transmission, particularly in viruses and bacteria with public health significance. She has collaborated extensively with institutions such as the University of Oxford's Big Data Institute and the PANGEA-HIV Consortium, contributing to HIV and SARS-CoV-2 genomic analysis. Educated at the University of Sydney with a dual major in biology and computer science, she earned her PhD in molecular biology. Her postdoctoral work at the University of Oxford involved pneumococcal vaccine escape variants and within-host bacterial evolution. She led computational analysis of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing during the pandemic as part of the COG-UK Consortium and returned to Sydney in 2022. Her research interests include understanding how pathogens evolve within hosts, develop strategies to combat infections, and integrate metagenomics for clinical insights. She has pioneered methods like targeted metagenomics for simultaneous sequencing and transcriptional profiling of pathogens. Recent work examines RSV intrahost diversity in infants and SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics in the UK. She also explores climate change impacts on disease through CLIMADE and investigates HIV transmission networks in Africa. Her scientific contributions include the 2023 Thompson Prize from the University of Sydney. Research grants span projects like genomics solutions for HIV surveillance in low-income settings, vector-borne disease detection amid climate change, and metagenomic studies in female reproductive health. Her work bridges epidemiology, genetics, and translational research, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to global health challenges. In advising and grants, she has secured funding for high-throughput sequencing and transmission network analysis. While no formal advisee names are listed, her supervisory roles in molecular epidemiology and bioinformatics suggest active student mentoring. Collaborations with international teams and institutes highlight her global engagement in addressing infectious disease threats through computational and genomic strategies. Key teams include the PANGEA-HIV Consortium, COG-UK, and CLIMADE. She leads initiatives at Sydney ID and the School of Medical Sciences, advancing pathogen genomics and outbreak response methodologies.
Professor Michael Berk is a NHMRC Level 3 Research Fellow and Alfred Deakin Professor of Psychiatry at Deakin University and Barwon Health. He serves as Director of the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and holds Honorary Professorial Research Fellow positions at the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Orygen Youth Health, and Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Education: Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (University of Witwatersrand) Research Interests focus on novel therapy development for psychiatric disorders, particularly mood disorders , schizophrenia , and chronic fatigue syndrome . His work spans biomarker research , drug safety , internet-based therapies , and early intervention strategies. Recent publications highlight advances in machine learning applications for depression management, genomic risk prediction , and pharmacoepigenomic studies of ketamine. Scientific Awards: NHMRC Level 3 Research Fellow Thompson Reuters ISI Highly Cited Researcher (2015-2023) Alfred Deakin Chair of Psychiatry As a supervisor , he guides doctoral research in areas including bipolar disorder treatment , biomarker analysis , machine learning in ECT , and novel neurostimulation techniques . His grants cover projects like: MRFF Survivorship Care Grant (2025-2028) NHMRC Synergy Grants for schizophrenia research (2025-2029) US Department of Defense PTSD treatment trial (2023-2027) MRFF Innovative Therapies for Mental Illness Grant (2022-2027) He leads the IMPACT Institute and collaborates with institutions including the Florey Institute , Monash University , and Melbourne University . His professional activities include editorial roles at Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry and The Lancet Psychiatry , along with leadership positions in the International Society for Bipolar Disorders .
Dr Tinh (Jimmy) Doan is a Research Fellow at the Department of Health Economics, Wellbeing and Society within the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at The Australian National University (ANU). With a PhD in Economics from Waikato University (2011), he previously held senior analyst roles at New Zealand government departments and served as Research Associate at Waikato University. Research Interests span Gender inequality in work-time allocation Health-occupation nexus Physical activity and body weight Population health Microeconometric modelling His work addresses time use , mental health , and labour market dynamics with a focus on Australian and global contexts. Recent Publications (2024–2025) examine non-linear associations between work hours and sleep quality causal relationships in physical activity/weight dynamics household alcohol impacts on education child nutrition in Ethiopia older workers' health constraints His methodological expertise includes longitudinal data analysis , instrumental variables , and systematic reviews .
Connie Locher is an Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the School of Allied Health, Pharmacy UWA Medical School, and the Institute for Paediatric Perioperative Excellence. She holds a PhD in Natural Product Chemistry from Charles Darwin University and a Staatsexamen in Pharmacy from the University of Tübingen. Her research focuses on natural product chemistry, particularly the analysis of Western Australian honeys and traditional medicinal plants, as well as paediatric formulations and complementary medicines. Education: PhD in Chemistry, Northern Territory University (2000) Staatsexamen in Pharmacy, University of Tübingen (1995) Research interests include bioactive compound isolation, honey formulations for wound care, and the role of wellness in health communities. She is a core member of UWA’s Centre for Optimisation of Medicines and actively contributes to the Cooperative Research Centre for Honey Bee Products (CRC HBP). Notable awards include Excellence in Teaching Awards (2014, 2017) and grants totaling 11 projects, such as the CHIPMUNK initiative for paediatric drug formulations and studies on honey’s antibacterial properties. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being. Lab and team involvement includes collaborations in CRC HBP Program 2 and leadership in honey testing methodologies, contributing to 80+ research outputs and datasets.
Dr. Tina Cao is a Lecturer in Dietetics and Human Nutrition within the School of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics at La Trobe University. She holds an Honorary position at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and collaborates with researchers from Monash University and Northern Health. Her academic journey includes previous Research Fellow positions at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and the University of Melbourne. Dr. Cao's educational background spans medical training (MBBS from Jiangsu University, China), public health (MMedSc from Karolinska Institute, Sweden), and epidemiology (PhD from University of Adelaide, Australia). Her diverse academic preparation has positioned her at the intersection of clinical medicine, public health, and nutritional science. Her research interests focus on cardiometabolic disease prevention through nutrition and lifestyle interventions at the population level. Dr. Cao investigates the complex relationships between dietary patterns, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and cardiometabolic outcomes, with particular attention to disadvantaged and culturally diverse populations in Australia. Her work bridges nutritional epidemiology with implementation science, developing evidence-based interventions that address health inequities. Dr. Cao frequently utilizes large-scale datasets like the China Health and Nutrition Survey and the AusDiab study in her research. Dr. Cao's publication record demonstrates consistent productivity with nearly 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and a national report, accumulating over 830 citations since 2019. Her recent work shows increasing focus on health literacy integration into chronic care models, particularly for culturally and linguistically diverse populations with type 2 diabetes. She has made significant contributions to understanding unmet needs in diabetes self-management and the role of digital health solutions during the pandemic. Her scientific recognition includes: Membership in the Australian Diabetes Society (since 2024) Membership on the La Trobe Academic Board (since 2024) Membership in The Nutrition Society of Australia (since 2016) As an educator, Dr. Cao supervises honors and master's students and teaches research-focused subjects including HEA 201 (Integrating Evidence into Practice), DTN 304 (Nutritional Epidemiology and Research Skills), and DTN 306/312 (Nutrition Research projects). She actively collaborates with Professor Brian Oldenburg at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and Associate Professor Rebecca Jessup at Northern Health, focusing on culturally diverse populations' health needs. Dr. Cao is committed to translating research findings into practical applications that address health inequities, particularly in the Australian context where cultural diversity presents unique challenges for chronic disease management. Dr. Cao maintains an active research agenda with multiple ongoing projects examining cardiometabolic health in diverse populations, digital health interventions, and implementation strategies for chronic disease management. Her work bridges academic research with practical healthcare solutions, demonstrating her commitment to improving population health outcomes through evidence-based practice.
Professor Ken Nosaka is Lead of Exercise and Sports Science at Edith Cowan University's School of Medical and Health Sciences. With over 310 peer-reviewed publications, he is an internationally recognized expert in eccentric exercise research. His research spans neuromuscular fatigue, muscle damage mechanisms, and exercise as medicine, supported by numerous grants from organizations including the National Health and Medical Research Council and Defence Science and Technology Group. His research interests focus on eccentric exercise physiology, muscle damage mechanisms, thermoregulation during exercise, and strength training adaptations. His work has practical applications in sports performance, rehabilitation, and public health initiatives. Professor Nosaka's publications demonstrate consistent focus on neuromuscular physiology, exercise interventions, and methodological innovations in sports science. Recent work shows increasing emphasis on clinical applications in cardiac/pediatric populations and advanced biomechanical analysis techniques. He has received significant recognition including the ECU Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Engagement (2020) and Excellence in Research (2012), plus multiple citations honors. Current research projects include implementing eccentric exercises for submarine crews and muscle training for spinal cord injury patients. Professor Nosaka directs the Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research, supervising 6 PhD and 2 Master's students while coordinating the school's PhD program. His research collaborations span multiple continents, with over 70% of publications involving international partners.
Dr Grace Xu is a Senior Research Fellow at QUT's Faculty of Health, School of Nursing. She holds dual roles as a clinician in emergency department nursing and an implementation scientist. Her research focuses on evidence-based practice, vascular access care, and healthcare worker wellbeing. Dr Xu has attracted over $2.7 million in grants and holds prestigious awards including the Queensland Clinician Fellowship (2024) and multiple teaching excellence accolades. Education: Doctor of Philosophy (University of Queensland) Research Interests: Her work addresses critical issues in emergency care, including occupational violence prevention, vascular access innovation, and clinician wellbeing. She leads projects such as the Ambassador program pilot to reduce hospital violence and co-created an mHealth application for vascular access management. Her research combines clinical practice with implementation science to translate evidence into healthcare systems. Grants & Awards: Over 2.7M AUD in competitive grants including the ARC-funded HELIX4 program and Queensland Fellowship. Awards include Early Career Research Excellence (2024), Nursing Leadership (2023), and multiple teaching recognitions (2016–2017). Teaching & Supervision: Supervises higher-degree research candidates exploring knowledge translation, nursing workforce challenges, and clinical education. Teaches at undergraduate/postgraduate levels with a focus on innovative clinical education models. Labs & Teams: Collaborates with statewide committees and industry partners through projects like the LOVE-DIVA trial (long IV catheter innovation) and the Centaur Fellowship network. Leads interdisciplinary teams in emergency care quality improvement initiatives.
Professor Evonne Miller is a leading academic at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where she holds the title of Professor of Design Psychology and serves as Director of the QUT Design Lab . Her work bridges healthcare design , participatory co-design , and planetary health , focusing on creating inclusive environments for vulnerable populations. As a Fellow of the Australian Association of Gerontology , she chaired the 56th AAG National Conference in 2023 and has pioneered innovative approaches to aged care , prison healthcare , and climate change engagement . PhD (University of Otago) Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) Her research expertise spans design thinking , arts-based knowledge translation , and health systems transformation , with over $16M AUD in competitive grants from ARC, NHMRC, and Queensland Health. Notable projects include Grief Guide AI , HEAL (Healthcare Excellence AcceLerator) , and intergenerational living campuses . She has published 140+ academic works , including books on healthcare design and creative research methods. Recent publications demonstrate her focus on AI in mental health , VR training , social prescribing , and arts-based interventions across diverse contexts like prison healthcare and voluntary assisted dying . Awards include Good Design Australia and National Communication Association recognitions, with her work influencing policy changes such as direct access to pain relievers in prisons. As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy , she teaches research methods and design thinking while leading co-design workshops globally. Her advocacy for human-centered design extends to climate anxiety , disaster resilience , and everyday activism , supported by a free co-design resource repository for global practitioners.
Professor Robyn O'Hehir is a distinguished academic clinician-scientist in allergy research, holding the Foundation Chair of Allergy at Monash University. She leads the School of Translational Medicine and is affiliated with Alfred Hospital. Her work integrates basic research with clinical medicine, focusing on immunomodulation for allergic and immune-mediated diseases. She has secured over $124M in grants, including NHMRC funding, and pioneered methodologies for cloning allergen-specific T cells. O’Hehir’s research translates into therapies for house dust mite, grass pollen, and peanut allergies, with clinical trials ongoing. She has authored >350 publications, holds 18 patent families, and co-founded Aravax Pty Ltd. Awards include Fellowships from the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and NHMRC's 'Great Minds' honor. Education: Bachelor of Science and Medicine/Surgery from Monash University PhD from University of London (Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Scholarship) Postgraduate qualifications: FRACP, FRCP, FRCPath, FAHMS, FThorSoc Research Interests: Molecular characterization of allergens Immunotherapy development (e.g., peanut allergy) Thunderstorm asthma mechanisms Follistatin as a therapeutic for lung fibrosis Biomarkers for immunotherapy efficacy Recent Research Trends: Focus on precision diagnostics (CytoBas assay), B cell biomarkers for immunotherapy outcomes, and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immune responses. Recent work includes enhancing cross-reactivity in Omicron subvariants and allergen-specific memory B cell dynamics. Awards: Officer of the Order of Australia (2016) Fellowships (FAHMS, FThorSoc, 2015) Top Researcher in Immunology (2022) Advising & Grants: Supervised >40 graduate students and currently co-supervises 3 PhD candidates. Serves on NHMRC committees, CABRINI Board, and editorial roles for major journals. Managed grants totaling over $124M since 1997. Labs/Teams: Director of CRC Asthma & Airways, founding member of the Jeffrey Modell Center in Melbourne, and leader of translational immunology programs at Monash.
Professor Bruce Abernethy is Executive Director of UQ's Engagement with the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, following his tenure as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences (2014-2023) at the University of Queensland. His academic leadership includes previous roles as Deputy Executive Dean, Associate Dean (Research), and Head of the School of Human Movement Studies (1991-2003). He also served as inaugural Chair Professor at the University of Hong Kong's Institute of Human Performance (2004-2011). His educational background includes First Class Honours and University Medallist status from the University of Queensland, complemented by a PhD from the University of Otago. Professional recognition includes Fellowships from the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Australian Sports Medicine Federation, and Exercise and Sport Science Australia. Abernethy's research centers on the interdisciplinary study of skilled movement control and acquisition, bridging human movement science, experimental psychology, neuroscience, and medical sciences. His work investigates expert perception and production of human movement patterns, with particular focus on deception detection in sports, visual-motor expertise, and fundamental movement skills development. This spans applications from elite athletic performance to pediatric movement disorders. Analysis of his recent publications reveals sustained focus on perceptual-cognitive aspects of sport expertise, with recurring themes in deception detection (particularly in football/cricket), gaze behavior analysis, and perceptual training methodologies. His work increasingly integrates interdisciplinary approaches across motor control, cognitive psychology, and sports biomechanics, with strong emphasis on practical applications for athletic training and movement rehabilitation. International Fellow, American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education Fellow, Australian Sports Medicine Federation Fellow, Exercise and Sport Science Australia University Medallist, University of Queensland Professor Abernethy has supervised eight PhD candidates to completion between 2003-2022, with research spanning cricket batting expertise, perceptual training, and movement disorders. His funding portfolio demonstrates exceptional grant acquisition success, including sustained support from the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (1997-2019), Australian Research Council (multiple projects 1995-2011), Australian Football League, Australian Sports Commission, and Hong Kong Research Grants Council. Current engagement with the 2032 Games represents strategic alignment of his expertise with major international sporting events. His research is conducted through the Centre for Extracellular Vesicle Nanomedicine within UQ's Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams across sports science, psychology, and medical research domains. This network supports his translational research from basic motor control principles to applied sporting and clinical contexts.
