Public Health Research
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. (Source -World Health Organization)
The HMRI Public Health Program seeks to improve the health of the community through population health interventions to promote healthy behaviours and enable effective, integrated and equitable health care for all.
- About
- Researchers
- Funded Research
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Examining when and the way people use health care, people’s health risk behaviours and the social and environmental factors that affect their health, researchers in the public health research program can explore ways to encourage better health decisions and environments.
Research in this group encompasses a wide and diverse range of health needs at all stages of life – from pregnancy and birth, through to childhood and adult health, as well as ageing and end of life decisions. The research extends from methodological and descriptive research, through trials of strategies to improve health, to studies involving the translation and monitoring of proven programs, surveillance of health risks, and measurement of health system performance. The research is conducted in a wide variety of clinical and community settings, with a strong focus on engagement with industry partners.
Under the guidance of two of Australia’s most experienced public health experts, Professor John Wiggers and Professor Julie Byles, researchers in the HMRI Public Health programwork collaboratively to address a variety of topics, such as: ageing, reproductive health, mental health, nutrition, obesity, smoking, alcohol, and prevention of chronic illness including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and communicable diseases.
Working in conjunction with the University of Newcastle’s Priority Research Centre for Gender Health and Ageing, Priority ResearchCentre for Health Behaviour, and the Hunter New England Area Health Service, researchers in the HMRI Public Health research program focus on the individual, societal and health care factors.The Program brings together researchers from a variety of fields including; public health, epidemiology, psychology, statistics, economics, medicine, nutrition and dietetics, health promotion, pharmacology, physiotherapy, nursing and occupational therapy.
Research Focus Areas:
- Communicable Disease Risks
- Effective Health Services
- Effective Medicines
- Global Health
- Healthy Ageing
- Healthy Lifestyles
- Using Health Data and Statistics
- Women’s Health
A dedicated team of educators within the Public Health program is researching ways toincreasethe effectiveness of tertiary education about public health. Evidence based strategies are being developed to increase the understanding of, and the capacity to carry out, interdisciplinary public health measures. Enhancing the capacity of academic staff to teach about social disadvantage across the tertiary sector is a key public health initiative.
Professor Jenny Bowman
Research Program :
- Public Health
Research Topics :
Effective Health Services, Healthy Lifestyles
Professor Julie Byles
Research Program :
- Public Health
Research Topics :
Healthy Ageing, Women's Health
Professor John Wiggers
Research Program :
- Public Health
Research Topics :
Effective Health Services, Healthy Lifestyles
Bolaji Aregbeshola
Research Program :
- Public Health
Research Topics :
Communicable Disease Risks, Effective Health Services, Global Health, Healthy Lifestyles, Using Health Data & Statistics
Courtney Barnes
Research Program :
- Public Health
Research Topics :
Effective Health Services, Healthy Lifestyles
Dr Ben Britton
Research Program :
- Brain & Mental Health
- Cancer
- Public Health
Research Topics :
Clinical Cardiovascular, Clinical Mental Health, Clinical Treatment & Palliative Care, Effective Medicines, Psychology
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2020
HMRI Research Excellence Award for Mid-Career Research
Researchers:
Professor Tracy Burrows
HMRI Award for Research Excellence
Researchers:
Laureate Professor Nick Talley
How do fruit and vegetables improve lung function in childhood asthma?
Researchers:
Dr Bronwyn Berthon
Description:
How do fruit and vegetables improve lung function in childhood asthma?
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2019
Award for Mid Career Research - Luke Wolfenden
Researchers:
Associate Professor Luke Wolfenden
2018
An online intervention to improve child dietary intake in childcare.
Researchers:
Alice Grady
Description:
Internationally, 41 million children aged 0-5 years were overweight or obese in 2016(1). Poor nutrition is one of the most important risk factors for the development of obesity(2). As early childhood is a formative time for developing healthy eating behaviours, population health strategies that support children to eat better are of upmost importance(3).
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Understanding the link between immune cell function and lung function in the development of asthma in early life
Researchers:
Dr Adam Collison
Description:
Asthma affects one in eight children in Australia and is the leading cause of hospitalisations and emergency visits, with an estimated annual health care cost of more than 24 billion Australian dollars in 2015. Asthma is the most common medical complication in pregnancy and is strongly associated with the development of childhood asthma. ntion strategy for asthma.
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Improving uptake of colorectal cancer screening among primary care attendees
Researchers:
Laureate Professor Robert Sanson-Fisher, Dr Mariko Carey, Dr Elise Mansfield, Dr Chris Oldmeadow, Ms Natalie Dodd
Description:
Despite innovative programs to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening amongst people >50 years of age, such the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), current screening rates are low.
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Award for Early Career Research - Serene Yoong
Researchers:
Dr Serene Yoong
Award for Research Excellence - Jennifer Martin
Researchers:
Professor Jennifer Martin
2017
Improving uptake of colorectal cancer screening among primary care attendees
Researchers:
Laureate Professor Robert Sanson-Fisher, Dr Mariko Carey, Dr Elise Mansfield, Dr Chris Oldmeadow, Ms Natalie Dodd
Description:
Despite innovative programs to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening amongst people >50 years of age, such the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), current screening rates are low.
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MM Sawyer Postgraduate Scholarship in Cancer Research
Researchers:
Ms Natalie Dodd, L/Prof Rob Sanson-Fisher, Dr Mariko Carey, Dr Elise Mansfield, Dr Chris Oldmeadow
Description:
Improving uptake of colorectal cancer screening among primary care attendees
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Greaves Family Top Up Scholarship
Researchers:
Ms Jacklyn Jackson, A/Prof Mark McEvoy, Dr Amanda Patterson
Description:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims the life of one Australian every 12 minutes and is the leading cause of death worldwide. Statistics from the Hunter New England Local Health District show that this region very much follows this alarming trend.
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Greaves Family Top Up Scholarship
Researchers:
Ms Jessica Ferguson, Professor Manohar Garg
Description:
Heart disease is highly prevalent worldwide and remains the leading cause of death. It is well established that high cholesterol is a major modifiable risk factor for heart disease because left unmanaged it contributes to blocking of arteries causing stroke, heart attacks and haemorrhages, however, this is only one side of the story. Chronic low-grade inflammation goes hand-in-hand with high cholesterol as a silent, but major contributor to the development of heart disease by means of fatty plaque formation in the arteries.
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Greaves Family Top Up Scholarship
Researchers:
Mr Tesfay Feyissa, Dr Melissa Harris, Professor Deborah Loxton
Description:
In the last decade, there has been improvement in life expectancy of people living with HIV due to improved drug therapy and care and support programs. However, along with better prospects for a healthy life, comes the desire to have children. Women living with HIV who intend to have children need information and services focused on safe conception strategies while those who do not desire a child need access to effective family planning methods.
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Impact of a uniform intervention on girl’s physical activity
Researchers:
Dr Nicole Nathan, A/Prof Luke Wolfenden, Dr Rachel Sutherland, Dr Sze Lin Yoong, Prof John Wiggers
Description:
Research indicates that many school-aged children, in particularly girls, are not sufficiently active.Girls are less active than boyswith differences beginning from as young as 8 years. Improving physical activity, particularly among girls, has been identified as a public health priority.
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2016
Improving uptake of colorectal cancer screening among primary care attendees
Researchers:
Natalie Dodd
A feasibility pilot study of electronic nicotine devices for smoking cessation with alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment clients
Researchers:
Professor Billie Bonevski,Professor Amanda Baker,Dr Ashleigh Guillaumier,ProfessorAdrian Dunlop
Description:
In Australia, up to 95% of people entering AOD treatment smoke tobacco which is five times the national smoking rate. Although treatment clients are interested in quitting and make quit attempts, they find it difficult to remain quit in the long-term. Novel relapse prevention approaches are required for this high smoking prevalence population.
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PhD Scholarship Top-Up
Researchers:
Rutger De Zoete, Associate Professor Susan Snodgass
The role of dietary inorganic nitrate and nitrite in cardiovascular disease prevention
Researchers:
A/Prof Mark McEvoy
Description:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Nitric oxide is a major signaling molecule in the circulatory system, and is a key blood vessel dilator. Reduced nitric oxide (NO) availability in the circulatory system is thought to have a major role in cardiovascular disease development.
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'Future' Medical Research Travel Grant
Researchers:
Jacqueline Coombe
Description:
Jacqueline’s PhD is focussed on better understanding contraceptive use in Australia. While broad patterns of contraceptive usage are clear, in Australia particularly, we know little about women’s preferences for certain methods, how women make decisions about what method to use and how this translates to contraceptive practices in real life.
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Award for Research Excellence - John Wiggers
Researchers:
Professor John Wiggers
Reducing the impact of back pain in miners
Researchers:
Dr Christopher Williams
Description:
Can miners at risk of long-term low back pain be identified and provided with a low back pain prevention intervention to prevent the development of persistant pain co-existing lifestyle health risks?
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2015
Improving uptake of colorectal cancer screening among primary care attendees
Researchers:
Laureate Professor Robert Sanson-Fisher, Dr Mariko Carey, Dr Elise Mansfield, Dr Chris Oldmeadow, Ms Natalie Dodd
Description:
Despite innovative programs to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening amongst people >50 years of age, such the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), current screening rates are low.
more
SKOLL Global Threats
Researchers:
Dr Craig Dalton
Award for Research Excellence - Julie Byles
Researchers:
Professor Julie Byles
Equal Futures Award
Researchers:
Nicole Byrne
Description:
Nicole will use the Equal Futures grant funding for individual academic writing coaching for publication and grant applications to enable her to achieve her goal of moving from a clinical role to an academic role in speech pathology research.
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Equal Futures Award
Researchers:
Gillian Gould
Description:
Gillian will use her Equal Futures funding for 3-4 one-on-one sessions with an external professional mentor and also to travel to New Zealand to build and strengthen her collaborations with Maori researchers to enable Gillian to reach her goal of being a national and international leader in Indigenous Health research.
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Understanding suicide in young Australians
Researchers:
ProfessorChris Doran,Dr Rod Ling
Description:
Most deaths by suicide are among young people.
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2015 Training Institute for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health
Researchers:
Dr Serene Yoong
Description:
Travel support for Dr Yoong to attend & participate in the 2015 Training Institute for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (TIDIRH) supported by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, July 26-31, 2015.
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2014
Award for Early Career Research - Chris Williams
Researchers:
Dr Chris Williams
Smoke-Free Recovery
Researchers:
Associate Professor Billie Bonevski
Dietary iron during pregnancy: finding the right balance
Researchers:
Dr Alexis Hure, Dr Amina Khambalia, Dr Amanda Patterson, Dr Elizabeth Holliday, Associate Professor Deb Loxton
Description:
Iron deficiency is particularly common in women during pregnancy because of the increased iron needed to grow a healthy baby.
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2013
End-of-life care: An investigation of advance care planning amongst haematological cancer patients (Public Health Program Bridge Funding)
Researchers:
Dr Lisa Mackenzie
Description:
Lisa has made substantial contributions to a number of competitive research grant applications, research projects and position papers in public health and health behaviour epidemiology.
more
Quality of cancer care from the patient perspective: An international comparison study
Researchers:
Laureate Professor Robert Sanson-Fisher, Dr Mariko Carey, Dr Flora Tzelepis, Ms Alison Zucca, Ms Alix Hall, Ms Lisa Mackenzie
Description:
What do cancer patients think about the quality of their care?
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A life course perspective on the identification of risk factors for low birth weight
Researchers:
Dr Alexis Hure, Associate Professor Deborah Loxton, Catherine Chojenta, Amy Anderson, Melissa Harris
Description:
This project will identify maternal health factors (demographic, health bejaviour, physical and mental health, perceived stress and life events) that are risk factors for low birth weight.
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Reducing psychosocial burden among women diagnosed with breast cancer and their support persons: A randomised controlled trial of a web-based intervention.
Researchers:
Laureate Professor Robert Sanson-Fisher, Ian Olver, Charles Douglas, Jamie Bryant, Mariko Carey, Gill Batt, Frans Henskens
The Quit-STAIR: A randomised controlled trial of a proactive stepped approach for maximising uptake of evidence-based smoking cessation support.
Researchers:
Associate Professor Christine Paul, Flora Tzelepis, John Wiggers, Patrick McElduff, Jenny Knight
Description:
Tobacco use is responsible for more than 5 million deaths per year globally.
more
Healthy Schools, Healthy Futures
Researchers:
John Wiggers, Elizabeth Campbell, Luke Wolfenden, Jennifer Bowman, Megan Fruend
Description:
The project aims to reduce the number of disadvantaged adolescents across the Hunter New England region from taking up smoking and using alcohol and illict drugs.
more
2012
HMRI Leukaemia Travel Award 2012
Researchers:
Dr Flora Tzelepis
Award for Research Excellence - John Attia
Researchers:
Professor John Attia
HMRI Post Natal Depression Travel Award
Researchers:
Ms Catherine Chojenta
Award for Early Career Research - Luke Wolfenden
Researchers:
Dr Luke Wolfenden
Healthy Schools, Healthy Futures
Researchers:
John Wiggers,Elizabeth Campbell, Luke Wolfenden, Jennifer Bowman, Megan Fruend
2011
HCRF Education Prize
Researchers:
Rebecca Dyson
Improving cancer care for lymphoma: patients' perceptions of optimal care - Stroud Rodeo Lymphoma Research Project Grant
Researchers:
Dr Flora Tzelepis,Dr Mariko Carey, AssociateProfessor Christine Paul, Dr Tclinton-McHarg, Ms Alison Zucca
The profile of pain in older women with arthritis - Lions Club of Adamstown Research Project Grant
Researchers:
AssociateProfessor Lynne Parkinson,Professor Julie Byles, Dr F Blyth, Associate ProfessorH Pollard
What causes unexplained encephalitis? A pilot adult encephalitis hospital-based surveillance system - Ann and Eric Bone Research Project Grant
Researchers:
Conjoint Professor David Durrheim,Mrs B Paterson
HMRI Education Prize
Researchers:
Elizabeth Holliday
PULSE Education Prize
Researchers:
Alexis Hure
DNA methylation in a cohort study of nutrition during pregnancy and childhood
Researchers:
Dr Alexis Hure,Dr David Mossman, ProfessorRoger Smith, Professor Clare Collins
Physiotherapy for head and neck Cancer
Researchers:
Ms Aoife McGarvery
Healthy Schools, Healthy Futures
Researchers:
John Wiggers,Elizabeth Campbell, Luke Wolfenden, Jennifer Bowman, Megan Fruend
2010
Pulse Education Prize
Researchers:
Dr Kelly Avery-Kiejda
Pulse Education Grant
Researchers:
Sylvie Lambert
FamilyFIT: an innovative approach to increasing physical activity for the whole family
Researchers:
Dr Erica James, Lorraine Paras, Phil Morgan, Marita Lynagh
Healthy Schools, Healthy Futures
Researchers:
John Wiggers, Elizabeth Campbell, Luke Wolfenden, Jennifer Bowman, Megan Fruend
Zinc as target for prevention of type-2 diabetes
Researchers:
Professor John Attia, Milton Hasnat, Mark McEvoy, Amanda Patterson, Shamasunder Acharya, Steve Bowe
Pilot of an intervention to increase the provision of nicotine dependence treatment in mental health inpatient settings
Researchers:
Ms Paula Wye, John Wiggers, Jenny Bowman, Amanda Baker, Megan Freund
A randomised controlled trial of an intervention to increase child physical activity during attendance at childcare
Researchers:
Dr Luke Wolfenden, John Wiggers, Phil Morgan, Megan Freund
Delay in seeking treatment for symptoms of bowel cancer: a community survey of self-reported delay timeframes and triggers for seeking treatment among those aged 55+
Researchers:
Dr Christine Paul, Robert Sanson-Fisher,Dr Mariko Carey, R Courtney, C D'Este, Associate Professor Mark McEvoy
2009
Effectiveness of an intervention disigned to reduce alcohol-related harm associated with licensed premises in Newcastle
Researchers:
Dr John Wiggers,P McElduff, M Freund, K Gillham, E d'Espaignet
Weekly online community survey for early detection of seasonal and pandemic influenza and vaccine failure.
Researchers:
Dr Craig Dolton,D Durrheim, E d'Espaignet, H Kelly
Environmental Determinants of Lupas Flares
Researchers:
Ms Marline Squance
2008
Molecular mechanisms and treatment of non-eosinphilic asthma.
Researchers:
Dr Jodie Simpson, Professor Peter Gibson
Development and psychometric evaluation of two measures of perceived needs: one for adolescents with cancer; one for their parents and carers. PhD student = Tara Clinton-McHarg
Researchers:
Prof Robert Sanson-Fisher,Tara Clinton-McHarg
Integrated Smoking Care Linking Mental Health Inpatients to Community Services: a Pilot Study
Researchers:
Associate Professor John Wiggers,Associate Professor J Bowman, Associate Professor AmandaBaker
2007
Maximising the benefit of NU Sport school holiday sport camps; encouraging increased participation in organised sporting activity" (NUSport providing $5K cash, $5K in-kind (researcher liaising with Nusport re in-kind part)
Researchers:
Dr Christine Paul
Improving the quality of health news reports in the Australian media - employing Billie Bonevski
Researchers:
ProfessorDavid Henry,Ms Amanda Wilson, Billie Bonevski
Liquor industry sponsorship at Australian Universities
Researchers:
Dr Kypros Kypri,ProfessorRobert Sanson-Fisher
Followup of non-participant to a smoking cessation intervention trial; tracking quitting-related attitudes, behaviours, and hard-core status
Researchers:
Dr Christine Paul,Dr John Wiggers
Pilot of best practice nutrition screening and intervention for hospitalised older people
Researchers:
ProfessorSandra Capra,Dr Lynne Parkinson, Professor Julie Byles, Dr David Sibbritt
2006
A web-based fathers' network and health information service for first-time fathers"
Researchers:
Mr Richard Fletcher,Dr DR Keatinge
ALZHEIMERS - The impact of anticholinergic activity, apolipoprotein E and high affinity chlorine transporter genotype on cognition in a population-based cohort
Researchers:
Mr Mark McEvoy,AssociateProfessorP Schofield, ProfessorW Smith, Dr J Duke, AssociateProfessorJohn Attia
Equipment Grant
Researchers:
Professor Afaf Girgis
Adequacy and equity of treatment for depression among older Australian Women
Researchers:
Professor Julie Byles,Dr Deborah Loxton
Women and arthritis; the burden of suffering for older Australian women
Researchers:
Dr Lynne Parkinson,ProfessorJulie Byles
Health and wellbeing of partners of victims of trauma; a vulnerable group in the community
Researchers:
Dr Sue Outram,Dr B O'Toole,Professor SV Catts
2005
The effect of physical activity on independent living, disease outcomes and health services utilisation among community dwelling older patients
Researchers:
Dr Janine Duke, Professor Wayne Smith
The lifestyles and cancer surveillance practices of newly diagnosed cancer patients
Researchers:
Dr Jiong Li, AssociateProfessor Afa Grirgis, Dr Chris Paul and Ms Allison Boyes
PULSE Education Prize
Researchers:
Ms Clare Johnson
An exploratory Multi-Method study of the use of complementary and Alternative Medicines by Prostate Cancer Patientsas 04-29
Researchers:
Dr Jon Adams,AssociateProfessorA Girgis, Dr D Sibbritt, Dr J Duke
2004
Older women and alcohol use: a longitudinal exploration of behaviours and consequences
Researchers:
Associate Professor Julie Byles,Dr L Parkinson, Associate ProfessorCD Este & Dr P Warner-Smith
2003
Sparke Helmore Achievement - Cancer
Researchers:
ProfessorNikolai Bogduk
Patient perceptions of breast cancer risks and the benefits of herbal treatment in menopausal subjects
Researchers:
Dr Usha Parvathy,Dr J Wadams,Dr D Sibbritt
2002
The prevalence and quality of learning support plans for children with disabilities receiving integration funding in mainstream Hunter Valley Primary Schools
Researchers:
Ms A Prigg,Dr G Vimpani
Award for Outstanding Achievement
Researchers:
ProfessorJill co*ckburn
2001
The prevalence of antibiotic resistant strains of H.pylori infection among patients investigated for dyspepsia at John Hunter Hospital
Researchers:
Dr Anne Duggan,Dr S Tiley
Accuracy of a new blood test for B Natriuetic Peptide in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure in general practice.
Researchers:
Dr Ben Ewald,Dr J Lowe
2000
Preventing infant exposure to tobacco smoke: evaluation of an early childhood intervention
Researchers:
Dr John Wiggers,Ms R Considine
1999
Award for Research Excellence - Robert Sanson-Fisher
Researchers:
Laureate ProfessorRobert Sanson-Fisher
1998
Interactive Voice Response: A New Method for Population Health Studies
Researchers:
Dr Lynne Hanco*ck
- Public Health
- Communicable Disease Risks
- Effective Health Services
- Effective Medicines
- Global Health
- Healthy Ageing
- Healthy Lifestyles
- Women's Health
- Global action for health and ageing
- WHO and Hunter researchers join forces
- Leading research for smoking cessation
- Research packs positive lunchbox message
- Funding success to address chronic disease
- Preventing chronic disease among people with mental illness
- Health professionals needed to help cancer patients quit smoking
- Funding boost for Indigenous Australians living with dementia
- Ensuring no smoker is left behind
- $3 million to address dementia challenges
- Bullying takes toll on young women’s health
- Domestic violence impact lasts a lifetime
- Helping seniors feel right at home
- Trial to test electronic cigarettes as smoking cessation aids
- Study Identifies Risk Factors for Postnatal Study
- Public Health Crusader Honoured for Excellence
- Researchers closing gap on Indigenous health
- Women’s longitudinal study finds postnatal depression predictor
- Young women make healthy use of social media
