Associate Professor Adam Irwin is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and Associate Professor in Infectious Diseases at the University of Queensland (UQ) and Queensland Children’s Hospital. He holds positions within the UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences. His work focuses on early sepsis recognition, antimicrobial stewardship, and pediatric infectious diseases. Dr. Irwin completed his medical degree at the University of Birmingham and his PhD in 2016 from the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Infection and Global Health. He has led initiatives like the Queensland Paediatric Sepsis Program, recognized with a Global Sepsis Alliance Award and Queensland Health Excellence Awards. His research spans sepsis pathway implementation, antimicrobial resistance trends, and rapid diagnostic tools. Notable grants include NHMRC funding for studies on multi-drug resistant infections and Children’s Hospital Foundation support for genomics and antimicrobial stewardship projects. He supervises PhD candidates in areas like bloodstream infections and molecular diagnostics. Dr. Irwin collaborates across institutions, contributing to projects such as the RAPIDS Study Group and the PAEDS surveillance network. Awards include the NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship and recognition for sepsis program excellence. His work emphasizes translating research into clinical practice, improving outcomes for critically ill children through evidence-based protocols and innovative diagnostics.
Deborah Fox is Associate Professor in Midwifery at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Faculty of Health, and a core member of the Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health. She serves as Co-lead of the Maridulu Budyari Gumal SPHERE Maternal and Women's Clinical Theme and Chair of the National Publicly Funded Homebirth Consortium. In 2024, she received the Faculty of Health Dean's Academic Excellence Award for Research (Mid Career Researcher), following her 2021 award as Highest Performing Early Career Researcher from the School of Nursing and Midwifery. Her research focuses on optimizing physiological processes and positive experiences for women with complex pregnancies, with particular emphasis on the mediation of technology in midwifery practice. Current projects include evaluation of non-invasive fetal ECG beltless and wireless fetal monitoring in labor and birth, and examining the social, economic and environmental impacts of telemonitoring and telehealth in pregnancy and postpartum care. Dr. Fox's scholarly work demonstrates consistent focus on technology's role in maternity care, women's experiences of monitoring during labor, and innovative approaches to midwifery practice. Her recent publications show increasing emphasis on digital health solutions, AI applications in women's health, and pandemic impacts on maternal care systems globally. Faculty of Health Dean's Academic Excellence Award for Research (Mid Career Researcher) 2024 Highest Performing Early Career Researcher award from School of Nursing and Midwifery 2021 Editorial Board Member, Women and Birth journal Dr. Fox is actively involved in higher degree research supervision and has developed innovative teaching resources, including an Objective Structured Clinical Examination for perinatal mental healthcare. She is scheduled to spend three months as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Oxford in 2025.
Professor Shaun Larkin is a part-time academic at the School of Public Health , University of Sydney, specializing in Health Policy and Financing . He is affiliated with the Leeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics and Data and a member of the Charles Perkins Centre . With a career spanning executive roles at HCF and non-executive directorships in health startups, his work bridges academia and industry. Education : Harvard Business School alumnus with a HlthScD, MBA, MHSc, and BHA. His research focuses on health economics , health policy , and health services management , emphasizing: Translational research in healthcare financing Trends in private-public healthcare partnerships Price transparency in private health insurance Leadership in health systems Chronic disease management Quality use of medicines His publications reveal a trajectory from foundational work in: Psychiatric services data standardization (2000) Heart disease and diabetes management (2013-2015) Telehealth interventions (2017-2018) Private sector policy frameworks (2019-2020) Saudi Arabian health reforms (2022-present) Private equity in healthcare (2025) As an advisor, he currently supervises research students on topics including: Quality use of medicines in Saudi Arabia Sustainable financial models for private hospitals Patient-reported outcome measures in Australia He also contributes to the Leeder Centre and engages with global health startups as an investor and advisor.
Professor Nicholas Buckley is a leading academic in Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Sydney and holds a Visiting Professor position at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He serves as Research Director for the South Asian Clinical Toxicology Research Collaboration (SACTRC) and is a Consultant Clinical Pharmacologist & Toxicologist at the NSW Poisons Information Centre and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. His work focuses on improving clinical toxicology practices, poison control policies, and understanding mechanisms of drug toxicity. Co-founder of SACTRC for agrochemical poisoning and snakebite research Chair of Australian Therapeutic Guidelines - Toxicology writing group Editorial roles in Clinical Toxicology, Drug Safety, and Australian Prescriber Research Interests include toxicovigilance, epidemiology of poisoning, acute kidney injury in poisoning/snakebite, pesticide safety interventions, antidote development, and pharmacoepidemiology of psychotropic drugs. His work combines clinical trials, population surveillance, and translational research. Scientific Contributions span 440+ peer-reviewed articles and 22 book chapters, with continuous funding since 2002. He has supervised over 20 higher degree students and leads international collaborations in low-and-middle-income countries through NIHR RIGHT4. Key Affiliations : Member of Charles Perkins Centre, Australian Medicines Handbook Editorial Advisory Board, and NIHR RIGHT4 programme.
Dr. Rene Ferdinands is a Lecturer at the University of Sydney's School of Health Sciences, specializing in sports biomechanics, particularly in cricket and golf. He leads research programs focused on optimizing techniques and minimizing injury risks, such as lumbar load analysis in fast bowlers and spin bowling biomechanics. His work includes developing 3D models for analyzing bowling actions and spin delivery mechanics. Education: MSc and PhD from the University of Waikato. Research Themes: Cricket biomechanics, golf swing dynamics, equine biomechanics, and injury prevention. Professional Roles: Editor of the Cricket Coaching Information service for the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports, Honours Committee Member. His research interests span biomechanical analyses of sports techniques, including the development of smart cricket balls for performance assessment and injury mitigation. Key contributions include refining bowling action legality criteria and advancing understanding of lumbar kinetics in elite athletes. He actively supervises Honours and PhD students in biomechanics research across cricket, golf, and other sports. Notable grants include studies on hydration status in cricket performance (2008), lumbar injury prevention (2013), and biomechanical modeling of fast bowling (2009). His work bridges applied research with practical applications in sports technology and athlete development. Dr. Ferdinands collaborates with the Biomechanics Research Team at the University of Sydney, focusing on innovative tools like smart balls and advanced motion analysis techniques to improve sports performance and safety.
About Dr. Pegah Varamini Dr. Pegah Varamini is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy and Pharmacology at the Sydney Pharmacy School, University of Sydney, and a Casual Lecturer in Music Education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She leads the Breast Cancer Targeting & Drug Delivery (BCTDD) Group, focusing on innovative drug delivery systems for Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Her research integrates nanotechnology, targeted therapy, and translational medicine, supported by prestigious grants including the NBCF Fellowship (2016). Research & Education PharmD (Shiraz University of Medical Sciences) PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (University of Queensland) Second PhD in Music Education (University of Sydney Conservatorium of Music) Key Research Interests Her work centers on: Peptide-based targeting strategies using 'Trojan Horse' approaches for TNBC Development of nanomedicine for bone metastasis prevention Clinically relevant preclinical models for personalized breast cancer treatment Collaborations with international institutions (e.g., Harvard Medical School, University of Nantes) Teaching & Supervision Dr. Varamini coordinates Drug Design and Development (PCOL3012/3912) and supervises a multidisciplinary team of HDR students and postdoctoral researchers. Notable current students include PhD candidate Hany Ghaly and MPhil candidates Huimin Shao and Farhana Mollah. Awards & Recognition 2021 Equity Prize 2016 Top 25 Young Researchers of Australia and New Zealand 2018 Fresh Scientist of the Year Recipient of multiple grants totaling over AUD 2M Leadership & Outreach She co-chairs the Nanopharma cluster at Sydney Nano Institute and advises the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative. Her work has been featured in media outlets such as SBS Farsi News and NBCF publications.
Professor Khin Than Win is a leading academic in health informatics and digital health at the University of Wollongong (UOW), holding appointments as Professor in the School of Computing and Information Technology, Head of Postgraduate Studies, and Deputy Head (Research). She also serves as Academic Program Director for UOW's Master of Health Informatics and Graduate Certificate in Health Analytics programs. Her research focuses on applying information technology to healthcare, particularly in behavior change support systems, persuasive technology, and ethical AI applications. She has supervised over 20 PhD students and holds leadership roles including Deputy Chair of UOW's Health and Medical Research Ethics Committee, and membership in international committees like the Persuasive Technology Steering Committee. Education: MBBS from Rangoon University, Master's and PhD in IT from Assumption University (Bangkok) and UOW (Australia) Research Interests: Health data analytics, AI in healthcare, privacy/security of health systems Leadership: Program/General Chair roles at ACIS and Persuasive Technology conferences Awards: Best Paper Awards (2023, 2018) Her extensive funding portfolio includes ARC grants and NHMRC projects, totaling over 24 funded initiatives. Current research explores blockchain in medical passports, AI ethics, and culturally tailored health interventions.
Professor Amin Abbosh is a faculty member at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Queensland. His research focuses on Medical Microwave Imaging and Millimeter-wave Engineering, with contributions to advanced imaging systems, antenna design, and communication technologies. He leads projects in electromagnetic medical sensing, including portable brain scanners and wearable diagnostic systems. His work integrates applied electromagnetics with AI-driven algorithms, addressing challenges in stroke detection, liver health monitoring, and deep vein thrombosis diagnosis. With over 16 patents and collaborations across biomedical and engineering domains, his research bridges clinical needs with cutting-edge electromagnetic techniques. Key projects include the development of low-cost healthcare monitoring systems and reconfigurable antennas for satellite communications. Research interests span medical imaging systems, antenna array design, and signal processing for healthcare applications. His team innovates in areas like phased arrays, dielectric property analysis, and non-invasive diagnostics. Recent advancements include synthetic microwave focusing techniques and self-supervised deep learning models for clutter removal in imaging. Publications highlight contributions in IEEE journals and conferences, emphasizing clinical applications and device prototyping. Collaborations with institutions like the University of Queensland’s medical faculty and industry partners ensure practical implementation of his research.
Dr. Nhiem Tran is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science at RMIT University's School of Science, part of the STEM College. He joined RMIT in 2015 as a Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow after completing his PhD in Physics at Brown University (USA, 2012) and postdoctoral research at Rhode Island Hospital (USA), CSIRO, and the Australian Synchrotron. His research focuses on developing biomaterials for drug delivery, gene therapy, and medical implants, particularly lipid nanoparticles and 3D-printed metallic implants. He leads the Biomaterial Interfaces group, investigating self-assembled lipid nanoparticles for cancer and autoimmune disease treatments. His work has resulted in over 65 high-impact publications and numerous awards, including the RMIT Vice Chancellor's Research Fellowship and the Stein/Bellet Foundation Fellowship. Tran's funding comes from grants such as the ARC Discovery Project, mRNA Victoria, and the CASS Foundation. His research interests span nanomedicine, biomedical engineering, and materials science, with a focus on applications in drug delivery, bacterial infection control, and orthopaedic implants. Education: PhD in Physics (Brown University, 2012) Key Projects: 3D-printed diamond-titanium implants, lipid nanoparticle drug carriers, and antimicrobial coatings. He actively supervises postgraduate research in areas like nanomaterials for drug delivery and biomedical applications.
Dr. Robin Laycock is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences at RMIT University. He leads the Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (SoCoNeuro) Lab, focusing on behavioral and neural mechanisms of social perception in neurotypical and neurodivergent populations, including autism spectrum disorders and the neurocognitive effects of concussion. His research integrates methodologies such as eye-tracking, EEG, and fNIRS to study visual perception, face processing, and the impact of stress/anxiety on cognition. Dr. Laycock holds a PhD from La Trobe University, where he investigated visual processing pathways. His work also includes the BabyFace study, exploring social perception in pre-term infants using fNIRS. He is affiliated with RMIT’s Healthy Foundations Research Group and supervises research projects on topics like concussion neurocognition and social media’s neurobiological effects. Research interests span visual neuroscience, social neuroscience, and clinical applications of neuroimaging. He teaches undergraduate courses in Biological Psychology and supervises postgraduate research in vision science, neuropsychology, and affective neuroscience. His lab’s recent studies examine sex differences in sports-related concussion neuroimaging and the role of deepfakes in emotion perception research. He actively collaborates on projects addressing autism traits, stress effects on visual processing, and neuroimaging advancements.
Dr Nga Wun (Doris) Li is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) within the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, Department of Fashion and Textiles. She leads research in seamless knitting technology, smart textiles, and sustainable fashion innovation. PhD in Fashion & Textile Design (HK PolyU, 2021) BA (Hons) in Fashion & Textiles (HK PolyU, 2012) Certifications in Wholegarment Machine (Shima Seiki, Japan) and Higher Education Pedagogy (UTS) Her research focuses on functional garments, knitting technology, and bio-informed textile design. Key projects include smart socks for DVT prevention , one-size sports bras , and buoyant swimwear for children . She combines knitting with machine learning and 3D printing for material innovation. Recent publications highlight her work on compression textiles (2025), wearable glucose sensors (2025), and knitted metasurfaces for acoustic comfort (2024). She has secured AU$52,000+ in grants across 5 funded projects. Fashion Design Award (Jeanswest, China) Outstanding Presentation & Research Paper Awards (2024) Dr Li supervises PhD and MPhil students in smart textiles and sustainable design while coordinating machine knitting courses. She collaborates with AiDLab (Hong Kong) and Powerhouse Museum (Australia).
Laura Robinson is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Psychology , University of Wollongong. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology and extensive teaching experience in behavioral sciences, statistics, and applied psychology. Education : PhD in Psychology (2017), Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology (2010), Bachelor of Psychology (2009), and Bachelor of Aviation (2004) Her research focuses on vulnerable populations, particularly women and youth, with expertise in substance use disorders, eating disorders, mental health comorbidity, and health equity. She has published extensively on residential treatment outcomes, continuing care interventions, and stigma reduction in mental healthcare. Recent publications highlight longitudinal analyses of psychological distress, weight stigma, and integrated approaches to substance use and physical health. She supervises PhD students on topics like veterans' mental health, methamphetamine use, and suicide prevention. Laura has received funding from internal and external sources, including grants for stimulant use interventions and health literacy studies. She serves on committees like the Australasian Professional Society for Alcohol and Drugs and contributes to peer-reviewed journals as a reviewer.
Dr. Vasileios Stavropoulos is the Associate Dean, Higher Degree Research at RMIT University's Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences. His research focuses on behavioral addictions, digital phenotyping, and the psychological impacts of digital media, particularly in gaming and social media contexts. He supervises numerous research projects addressing topics like cyber-phenotyping via text mining, disordered gaming, and the interplay between digital media and mental health. Key research interests include the psychological mechanisms underlying problematic gaming and social media use, network analysis of addiction symptomologies, and the role of user-avatar bonds in behavioral disorders. His work integrates machine learning and behavioral science to predict and analyze addictive behaviors. Dr. Stavropoulos has published extensively on gaming disorder, social media addiction, and the mental health implications of digital media use. His collaborations span clinical psychology, public health, and computational methods, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to addressing modern behavioral challenges. He is actively engaged in higher degree research governance at RMIT, overseeing doctoral programs and fostering innovation in research methodologies. His contributions include developing scales for measuring addiction behaviors and advancing longitudinal studies on mental health correlations with digital engagement.
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.
Professor Gavan McNally is a distinguished behavioral neuroscientist at the University of New South Wales, where he serves as a Professor in the School of Psychology. He is actively engaged in research on the fundamental behavioral and brain mechanisms for learning and motivation, with applications to clinical conditions such as addictions, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders. McNally holds several prestigious editorial positions, including Editor-in-Chief of Neurobiology of Learning & Memory and Senior Editor of The Journal of Neuroscience. He also serves as President-Elect of the European Behavioral Pharmacology Society and is a Member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts. McNally's research interests span behavioral neuroscience, focusing on how fundamental brain mechanisms apply to clinical conditions. He employs a systems neuroscience approach, combining well-controlled behavioral approaches with optogenetics, chemogenetics, in vivo calcium imaging, and whole brain circuit mapping in both normal and transgenic animals. His work bridges basic science with clinical applications through collaborations with colleagues at University of Sydney, Sydney Local Health District, Monash University, and Turning Point. McNally's research particularly examines the cellular, circuit, and systems level mechanisms underlying learning, motivation, and their dysregulation in disorders like addiction. His laboratory investigates how these mechanisms translate to human conditions, with a strong emphasis on developing new treatments for psychological disorders. His extensive publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory in understanding punishment learning, addiction mechanisms, and the neural circuits underlying motivated behavior. Recent work has increasingly focused on the cognitive pathways to punishment insensitivity, the role of specific neural circuits in addiction, and translational approaches to understanding maladaptive behaviors. McNally's research bridges animal models with human studies, creating a comprehensive understanding of the neural mechanisms that govern learning and motivation, with particular attention to how these processes go awry in addiction and other psychological disorders. 2008 QEII Fellow, Australian Research Council 2009 Association for Psychological Science, International Rising Star 2010 Fellow, Association for Psychological Science 2010 UNSW Faculty of Science Staff Excellence Award for Research and Training 2011 Pavlovian Research Award, The Pavlovian Society 2012 Future Fellow (Level 3), Australian Research Council 2016 D.G. Marquis Behavioral Neuroscience Award, American Psychological Association 2017 Fellow, American Psychological Association 2019 Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia 2021 D.G. Marquis Behavioral Neuroscience Award, American Psychological Association 2022 Ross Day Plenary Lecturer, Australasian Brain and Psychological Sciences 2023 European Behavioural Pharmacology Society Plenary Lecturer 2024 Elspeth McLachlan Plenary Lecturer, Australasian Neuroscience Society 2024 D.G. Marquis Behavioral Neuroscience Award, American Psychological Association Professor McNally actively supervises several students including Bixuan Lin, Si Yin Lui, Hannah Machet, Bart Cooley, Kelly Zhuang, and Alexandra Gregory. His current research is supported by significant funding including an Australian Research Council Discovery Project (2024-2026) on "Risky choices: From cells and circuits to computations and behaviour," another Discovery Project (2025-2028) on "Multimodal mapping of punishment learning," and NHMRC grants including a Synergy Grant on "Linking clinical and basic science discovery to find new treatments for alcohol-use disorder" and an Ideas Grant on "Novel pathways to abstinence from alcohol seeking." These projects reflect his commitment to both fundamental neuroscience and translational applications for treating psychological conditions. His teaching responsibilities include PSYC2081 Learning & Physiological Psychology and PSYC3051 Physiological Psychology. McNally's laboratory employs advanced techniques including optogenetics, chemogenetics, in vivo calcium imaging, and whole brain circuit mapping to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying learning, motivation, and their dysregulation in disorders. His team works at the intersection of basic neuroscience and clinical applications, with strong collaborations across multiple institutions to translate fundamental findings into potential treatments for addiction and other psychological disorders. The lab has made significant contributions to understanding the role of brain regions like the ventral pallidum, paraventricular thalamus, and nucleus accumbens in addiction, fear learning, and punishment sensitivity.
