Research Excellence
Faculty of Health and Medicine
Professor Michael Nilsson
Director - HMRI
The Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) has a strong tradition of cultivating young research talent, which its Director, Professor Michael Nilsson is keen to continue.
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
Professor Alan Brichta
Anatomy Balance and the Vestibular System
Professor Alan Brichta's primary research interest is balance and the vestibular system. His recent research has focused on the efferent branch of the vestibular system – the pathway by which the brain can modulate inner ear sensitivity.
Associate Professor Chris Dayas
Anatomy
A contemporary contributor to understandings of the central nervous system, Associate Professor Chris Dayas is proving – and, at times, disproving – ideas about the brain’s structure and its influence on motivation and emotion.
Associate Professor Brett Graham
Anatomy
The primary theme of A Prof Graham's research is spinal sensory coding, a topic he has been focused on since completing his Honours year studying inhibitory synaptic transmission between spinal dorsal horn neurons in 2001.
Dr Rebecca Lim
Anatomy Balance and the Vestibular System
Dr Rebecca Lim is primarily interested in balance and the vestibular system. She also has a strong background in auditory (hearing) research, which involves neighbouring regions in the inner ear and brain stem.
Associate Professor Doug Smith
Anatomy
Dr Doug Smith is investigating the impacts of ageing on the nervous system, with the aim of identifying interventions that will extend healthspan.
Associate Professor Rohan Walker
Anatomy Neurobiology of Stress
Associate Professor Rohan Walker is advancing a scientific premise that could transform treatment for mood disorders.
Professor Robin Callister
Human Physiology
Professor Callister’s current research focusses on the role of exercise in the prevention, treatment and management of health disorders including obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, depression, and asthma as well as relationships with immune function and dizziness.
Associate Professor Neil Spratt
Human Physiology Neuroscience - Stroke
Delivering cutting-edge treatments to patients is a key motivation for neurology expert Associate Professor Neil Spratt.
Laureate Professor Paul Foster
Immunology and Microbiology
Acutely aware of the burden presented by progressive and disabling chronic airway conditions, Laureate Professor Paul Foster is working to cement a universal, scientific understanding of breathing's pathological spinoff – breathlessness.
Professor Phil Hansbro
Immunology and Microbiology Respiratory Diseases
Professor Phil Hansbro is an internationally recognised research leader in the study of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive airway disease (COPD, aka emphysema) and infections and is developing interests in lung cancer.
Associate Professor Jay Horvat
Immunology and Microbiology
Dr Jay Horvat's preclinical research is cementing a scientific, nuanced understanding of our bodies' harmful and helpful immunological processes.
Dr Steven Maltby
Immunology and Microbiology
Steven's current research is focussed on characterizing changes in the bone marrow during disease and infection. During a virus infection, an immune response is rapidly induced.
Dr Malcolm Starkey
Immunology and Microbiology
Dr Malcolm Starkey is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Postdoctoral Fellow who is using transgenic animal technology to investigate – and manipulate – the immunological mechanisms underpinning the onset and progression of multiple chronic illnesses.
Dr Fatemeh Moheimani
Immunology and Microbiology
Dr Fatemeh Moheimani is investigating how the structure and function of airway epithelium contribute to respiratory disease, with the end goal of developing novel interventions for asthma.
Dr Kathryn Skelding
Medical Biochemistry Cancer Cell Biology
Dr Kathryn Skelding's research focuses on understanding cancer cell biology, specifically how cancer cells proliferate, metastasise, and develop resistance to chemotherapeutics.
Dr Nikki Verrills
Medical Biochemistry Biochemistry and Cell Biology - Cancer
Dr Nikki Verrills' research into a key signalling switch in cancer cells could provide an important breakthrough in treatment.
Associate Professor Pradeep Tanwar
Medical Biochemistry Cancer Cell Biology
Dr Pradeep Tanwar is an ARC Future Fellow, a Cancer Institute NSW Career Development Fellow and an investigator of the Hunter Cancer Research Alliance. Throughout his research career, Dr Tanwar’s research work has focussed on defining molecular footsteps involved in the pathogenesis of the reproductive tract cancers.
Laureate Professor Rodney Scott
Medical Genetics Information Based Medicine
Professor Rodney Scott's research interest is in inherited forms of cancer. His research focuses on the identification of genes associated with with inherited forms of cancer and better defining these inherited entities such that more appropriate intervention strategies can be developed.
Professor Xu Dong Zhang
Medical Genetics Oncology and Carcinogenesis - Melanoma
One of the world's most eminent researchers in skin cancer, Professor Xu Dong Zhang is a driving force in mapping the molecular pathways of melanoma.
Associate Professor Nikola Bowden
Medical Genetics Oncology and Carcinogenesis
Dr Nikola Bowden uses next-generation genetic profiling techniques to unlock the mysteries of melanoma.
Dr Kelly Kiejda
Medical Genetics Oncology and Carcinogenesis - Breast Cancer
Dr Kelly Avery-Kiejda hopes to improve diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer sufferers by identifying new biomarkers for the disease.
Associate Professor Murray Cairns
Pharmacy and Experimental Pharmacology Neuroscience - Schizophrenia
Associate Professor Murray Cairns believes tiny molecules in the brain may be the key to understanding the causes of a perplexing neuropsychiatric disorder.
Associate Professor Paul Tooney
Pharmacy and Experimental Pharmacology Neuroscience - Schizophrenia
Associate Professor Paul Tooney regards his research into schizophrenia as one piece of a complex puzzle that spans many disciplines.
Professor Manohar Garg
Pharmacy and Experimental Pharmacology Nutrition and Dietetics
Professor Manohar Garg is one of the University's leading Health and Nutrition researchers and has recently been heralded as a revolutionary in his field with two important industry honours.
Associate Professor Lisa Wood
Pharmacy and Experimental Pharmacology Nutrition and Inflammation in Respiratory Diseases
Turning familiar anecdotes into effective antidotes, Associate Professor Lisa Wood's nutritional biochemistry research is proving there are crucial links between what we eat and how we breathe.
Dr Susan Hua
Pharmacy and Experimental Pharmacology
Dr Susan Hua's research focus is on therapeutic targeting utilising novel drug delivery platforms in biomedical applications. She is particularly interested in using nanotechnology to study novel mechanistic pathways, as well as to develop more efficient therapeutic delivery systems.
Associate Professor Kirsty Pringle
Pharmacy and Experimental Pharmacology
Associate Professor Kirsty Pringle is acquiring and sharing critical knowledge about pregnancy and women’s reproductive health.
Dr Craig Gedye
Pharmacy and Experimental Pharmacology
Proving cancer to be as unique as its sufferers, Dr Craig Gedye’s fastidious, thoughtful and well-executed scientific research is pursuing a tailored approach to patient care, rather than a ‘one-size-fits-none’ mentality.
Dr Rachel Wong
Pharmacy and Experimental Pharmacology Nutritional Physiology
Dr Wong's research focuses on the effects of bioactive nutrients in human circulatory function and cognitive performance.
Dr Jessie Sutherland
Pharmacy and Experimental Pharmacology Reproductive Biology
Dr Jessie Sutherland's research focus is within the field of reproductive biology, infertility and disease.
Dr Andrew Reid
Pharmacy and Experimental Pharmacology Respiratory Diseases
Dr Andrew Reid's research is playing a role in the development of new pharmaceuticals, which aim to improve the quality of life for those with respiratory disease.
Dr Hock Tay
Pharmacy and Experimental Pharmacology Immunology and Microbiology
Dr Hock Tay’s research examines how and why airway infections can be so problematic for patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
School of Health Sciences
Distinguished Professor Alan Hayes
Family Studies Life Pathways of Children
Professor Alan Hayes is a distinguished national and international academic researcher in the life pathways of children and the role of families in sustaining development, fostering resilience and reducing vulnerabilities across life. He has had a particular focus on prevention and early intervention and effective policies to support families through the life-course.
Associate Professor Richard Fletcher
Family Studies Support for Fathers
Associate Professor Richard Fletcher is building support systems for new fathers using text, internet and peer-designed video to deliver information to dads on their mobile phones and to locate and link dads with depression or anxiety to treatment.
Associate Professor Helen Warren-Forward
Medical Radiation Science Diagnostic Radiography
Associate Professor Helen Warren-Forward is a medical physicist. Her core research is to ensure that the rapid advances in imaging systems afford the best patient management with regards to diagnostic outcomes and patient safety.
Associate Professor Shane Dempsey
Medical Radiation Science Radiation Therapy Cancer Treatment
Associate Professor Shane Dempsey attempts to improve radiation therapy cancer treatment by evaluating new and advanced clinical practice methods. He was a leader in establishing a multi-university Australian approach to national radiation therapy clinical practice assessment standards for students, and he is active in health professional curriculum design and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Associate Professor Peter Stanwell
Medical Radiation Science Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Associate Professor Stanwell is an active clinical researcher in the area of mild traumatic brain injury and sport-related concussion. He has published and presented extensively on sport-related concussion and other neurological disorders (stroke and chronic pain).
Professor Clare Collins
Nutrition and Dietetics Diet Quality and Healthy Lifestyle
Nutrition and Dietetics Professor Clare Collins is breaking new ground with her innovative approach of translating complex diet quality data predicting the risk of disease and death, into web-based tools and practical healthy lifestyle programs that people of all ages can access.
Associate Professor Surinder Baines
Nutrition and Dietetics
Associate Professor Surinder Baines' research is in the areas of obesity, diabetes and diet; nutrition and metabolic consequences of cancer; plant-based diets and health; and food microbiology, food safety and consumer practices.
Associate Professor Tracy Burrows
Nutrition and Dietetics Nutrition and Dietary Assessment Methods
Dr Tracy Burrows shows there's no 'one size fits all' approach to mainstream nutrition, combining psychology, medical radiation imaging, and biochemistry in the hunt for more effective dietary assessment methods and treatment
Associate Professor Carole James
Occupational Health and Safety Workplace Injury Management and Mental Health
Associate Professor Carole James research interests centre upon work; specifically in the areas of functional capacity evaluation, ergonomics, work and mental health and workplace injury management. Her experience as a practicing occupational therapy clinician within occupational rehabilitation informed her research directions.
Professor Shelly Lane
Occupational Therapy Paediatric Sensory Modulation Disorders
Professor Shelly Lane has clinical and research expertise in paediatrics, specifically striving to understand the interplay between physiologic responses and behavioural manifestations of sensory modulation disorders. She speaks nationally and internationally, and has authored multiple manuscripts, chapters and books.
Associate Professor Alison Lane
Occupational Therapy Autism Spectrum Disorder
Occupational Therapist Associate Professor Alison Lane has identified specific sensory subtypes in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder that relate to distinct neural profiles and patterns of challenging behaviour.
Professor Jane Taylor
Oral Health Forensic Odentology
Associate Professor Jane Taylor's research expertise are in forensic odontology including identification techniques, disaster victim identification and age assessment.
Professor Darren Rivett
Physiotherapy Neck Pain and Cervicogenic Dizziness
Professor Rivett is an internationally recognised leader in Physiotherapy research. His main research interests are in neck pain and cervicogenic dizziness, the benefits and risks of manual therapy and spinal manipulation, clinical reasoning and clinical prediction rules, and innovations in allied health professional education.
Associate Professor Coralie English
Physiotherapy Health and well-being of Stroke Survivors
Associate Professor Coralie English is passionate about improving the health and well-being of stroke survivors through physical activity. Her research program focuses on the role of exercise, physical activity and task-specific intensive training in stroke recovery and long-term survivorship.
Associate Professor Suzanne Snodgrass
Physiotherapy Musculoskeletal Pain
Associate Professor Snodgrass' research focuses on understanding the mechanisms that define and modulate musculoskeletal pain, investigating treatments for patients with chronic pain that improve movement dysfunction and induce neuroplasticity.
Associate Professor Viv Chuter
Podiatry Musculoskeletal and Vascular Pathology
Associate Professor Viv Chuter's research focusses on diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal and vascular pathology of the lower extremity including lower extremity biochemical function and injury management, foot function in people with diabetes.
School of Medicine and Public Health
Dr Kelvin Kong
Otolaryngology
Dr Kelvin Kong, an otolaryngology, head and neck surgeon, is passionate about addressing the disparity in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.
Professor Julie Byles
Ageing and Gender
Professor Julie Byles is the Director of the University of Newcastle's Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing. A key activity of the Centre is the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health which aims to identify biological, psychosocial and environmental factors affecting the health of women from all walks of life.
Professor Marjorie Walker
Anatomical Pathology
Professor Walker’s work explores several facets: pathology in the gut in dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome, the relationship between brain and gut health in gastroenterology, coeliac disease and also unique biomarkers in prostate cancer.
Dr Rebecca Wyse
Behavioural Science - Childhood Obesity
Dr Rebecca Wyse is a behavioural scientist with the career objective of reversing increasing population rates of childhood obesity. Her applied research involves settings-based interventions in schools and childcare services to facilitate healthy behaviours in the people within them.
Dr Luke Wolfenden
Behavioural Science - Chronic Disease
Dr Luke Wolfenden's research into the modifiable risks of chronic health conditions and injury is helping the community to improve their overall wellbeing.
Professor Billie Bonevski
Behavioural Science - Smoking Cessation
Professor Billie Bonevski is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Career Development Fellow and Behavioural Scientist whose smoking cessation programs are being implemented by Cancer Councils across the nation.
Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson
Cardiovascular Medicine and Haematology
Professor Peter Gibson is a world leading authority in asthma, respiratory physician at the John Hunter Hospital and co-director of the Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases.
Dr Geoff Isbister
Clinical Toxicology
Clinical researcher Dr Geoff Isbister courts controversy as he challenges time-honoured beliefs about the treatments given to envenomed patients.
Professor John Attia
Clinical Epidemiology
Professor Attia's research expertise includes clinical, molecular, and genetic epidemiology methods. He is also Director of the Clinical Research Design, IT and Statistical Support (CReDITSS) Unit.
Professor Jennifer Martin
Clinical Pharmacology
Optimising choice, dose and timing of medicines for a particular patient are the focus of Professor Jennifer Martin's clinical work and research career.
Laureate Professor Nick Talley
Gastroenterology
Laureate Professor Nick Talley is a neurogastroenterologist, a specialist in unexplained gut disorders affecting nerves and muscles such as irritable bowel syndrome, severe indigestion and slow stomach emptying, conditions which affect millions of people.
Professor Christine Paul
Health Behaviour Sciences
A/Prof Chris Paul is an NHMRC Career Development Fellow with the School of Medicine and Public Health, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour and Hunter Medical Research Institute. Her work spans preventive health issues and provision of patient care.
Dr Mariko Carey
Health Behaviour Interventions
Dr Mariko Carey is a NHMRC Translating Research into Practice (TRIP) Fellow working within the Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour. Key research interests include health behaviour interventions, measurement of patient reported outcomes, multidisciplinary care, systems of care, evidence-based practice and quality of care.
Dr Kym Rae
Indigenous Health
As Director of the Gomeroi gaaynggal Arts Health and Research Programs, Dr Kym Rae creates a link between community and research scientists, working together to facilitate tangible improvements to Indigenous perinatal outcomes.
Dr Gillian Gould
Indigenous Health
Dr Gould’s primary research focus is strategies to improve the risks from tobacco smoking for Indigenous Australians. She is an NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow (Australian Public Health and Health Services). The focus of the fellowship is improving cessation strategies for pregnant Indigenous smokers
Professor Amanda Baker
Mental Health and substance use
Professor Amanda Baker is a National Health and Medical Research Council Senior Research Fellow at the University of Newcastle. An award winning innovator, she specializes in the treatment of co-existing mental health and substance use problems.
Dr Emma Beckett
Molecular Nutrition
Dr Emma Beckett is exploring the genetic secrets behind microbiomes and whether you really are what you eat.
Dr Andrew Bivard
Neurology
Dr Andrew Bivard is an award-winning imaging expert who is working on an HMRI clinical trial of the clot-busting drug Tenecteplase involving 20 stroke centres across Australia, and 50 world-wide.
Conjoint Professor Chris Levi
Neurology
Working on eight ground-breaking research projects, internationally renowned researcher Conjoint Professor Chris Levi is on a medical mission to cure stroke.
Dr Andrew Gardner
Neuropsychology
Dr Gardner is an early career research clinician, working in a full-time capacity as a Neuropsychologist for the Hunter New England Local Health District in the Neuropsychiatry Service. He is also a Co-Director of the Hunter New England Local Health District's Sport Concussion Clinic, an Executive Committee Member of the Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, and serves as a member of the Australian Rugby Union's (ARUs) Concussion Advisory Group.
Professor John Forbes
Oncology and Carcinogenesis - Breast Cancer
Professor John Forbes AM is an internationally renowned researcher in the field of breast cancer prevention and treatment, with a number of pioneering breakthroughs credited with saving millions of women's lives over his 40 year career.
Dr Adam Collison
Public Health
Dr Adam Collison’s research explores why some people develop allergies, while others, who are exposed to the same triggers don’t. His work is focussed on the exposures that occur in the first years of life, including in-utero.
Associate Professor Deb Loxton
Public Health
Associate Professor Deb Loxton examines the health and wellbeing of women who have lived with violent partners, and the impact of reproductive health options and choices on women.
Dr Alexis Hure
Public Health
Dr Alexis Hure's research expertise are in the areas of fetal growth, breastfeeding, child nutrition, nutrition during pregnancy, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, developmental origins of health and disease and methyl metabolism and epigenetic programming.
Professor John Wiggers
Public Health
Professor Wiggers focuses on population health research, particularly in the area of re-orientating health and other agencies towards the adoption of policies and practices that have a disease prevention and health risk reduction focus. This work has primarily involved research in changing the service delivery practices of agencies with regard to the prevention of obesity, and to reducing alcohol and tobacco related harms.
Laureate Professor Rob Sanson-Fisher
Public Health and Health Services
Laureate Professor Robert Sanson-Fisher is an internationally recognised cancer care and health behaviour expert. His latest ground-breaking research aims to reshape thinking surrounding death and chronic illness, so that end-of-life preparations are as thorough as preparing for the birth of a child.
Professor Roger Smith
Reproductive Medicine
A self-described 'specialised zoologist,' Professor Roger Smith is keen on understanding the idiosyncrasies, interactions and inner workings of multiple animal species but especially human.
Dr Jonathan Paul
Reproductive Medicine
An emerging leader in the field of reproductive medicine, Dr Jonathan Paul has been internationally recognised for his work on targeting therapeutic nanoparticles to the muscle cells of the uterus.
Associate Professor Jodie Simpson
Respiratory Diseases
Associate Professor Jodie Simpson's pioneering research has changed the focus of asthma treatment and promises new relief for many who suffer from the disease.
Professor Ulli Schall
Schizophrenia Research
Professor Ulrich (Ulli) Schall investigates cerebral activity to better understand the riddles of the brain.
Professor Brian Kelly
Clinical Science - Neurology and Psychiatry
Professor Brian Kelly believes mental illness is not the sole domain of psychiatrists and psychologists but the responsibility of many in the health system.
Dr Chris Williams
Musculoskeletal Pain
Dr Chris Williams is an HMRI Postdoctoral Research Fellow working with Hunter New England Population Health and the University of Newcastle's School of Medicine and Public Health in the field of musculoskeletal pain.
Dr Meredith Tavener
Social Gerontologist
As a social gerontologist, Dr Meredith Tavener's research encompasses identity in older age, women's health across the life course, baby boomers, narrative analysis, and qualitative methodologies.
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Professor Vanessa McDonald
Professor
Falling under the umbrella term of 'multidimensional assessment and individualised management,' Professor Vanessa McDonald's clinical research is helping to engineer a shift in the way patients with long-term respiratory problems are diagnosed and treated.
Dr Amanda Wilson
Senior Lecturer
Senior Lecturer
Passionate about health literacy, Dr Amanda Wilson is at the international forefront of the critical analysis of media reporting on new health treatments.