Overview
Background
Associate Professor Srinivas Kondalsamy Chennakesavan is the Head of Research at the University of Queensland’s Rural Clinical School. With a background in medicine and public health, his research expertise is in the areas of public health, translational research, rural health and medical epidemiology. He has received competitive grants, $8.1m+ including seven major grants from the NHMRC/MRFF and other agencies and actively contributes to NHMRC/MRFF and other international peer review panels for major funding schemes. His expertise in the areas of community-based screening and surveillance programs for chronic diseases in rural and remote Indigenous communities is well known. On invitation, those models of screening and management have been replicated in South Africa and some parts of India (resource-poor and challenging environments). He has unique skills in utilising information technology, clinical medicine and statistics to improve clinical outcomes.
Availability
- Associate Professor Srinivas Kondalsamy Chennakesavan is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University
- Masters (Coursework) of Public Health, Institution to be confirmed
Research interests
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Public health
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Chronic diseases
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Prediction model development and validation
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Indigenous health
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Health Services Research
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Oncology
Research impacts
Translation and impact are core, intentional elements of my research program. My work has been cited in 75 policy documents produced by 23 policy organisations across 11 countries, including the World Health Organization and the OECD. This level of policy uptake is unusual for a single researcher and reflects sustained authority in areas of workforce policy, Indigenous health, and health system sustainability.
Notably:
- My Rural Pipeline research forms a key evidence base for WHO global guidelines on rural health workforce attraction, recruitment and retention, influencing workforce reform internationally and within Australia.
- My research on Indigenous suicide prevention and culturally governed mental health models has informed national frameworks in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Taiwan and Brazil, embedding Indigenous leadership and cultural safety into policy.
- My health‑systems research, including the Surgical Preparedness Index, has contributed to global benchmarking across 119 countries, shaping understanding of system resilience post‑COVID‑19.
- I have led the development of Indigenous‑led virtual health service models, translating evidence into implemented service frameworks that improve access and continuity of care for people with chronic disease in rural and remote communities.
In addition to policy translation, my work has achieved significant public and professional engagement, with extensive media coverage and Altmetric attention, reinforcing societal relevance and impact. My program contributes to seven SDGs, dominated by SDG 3 and SDG 4.
Works
Search Professor Srinivas Kondalsamy Chennakesavan’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Conference Publication
A new deep convolutional neural network model for automated breast cancer detection
Zhou, Xujuan, Li, Yuefeng, Gururajan, Raj, Bargshady, Ghazal, Tao, Xiaohui, Venkataraman, Revathi, Barua, Prabal D. and Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2020). A new deep convolutional neural network model for automated breast cancer detection. 2020 7th International Conference on Behavioural and Social Computing (BESC), Bournemouth, United Kingdom, 5-7 November 2020. Piscataway, NJ USA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/BESC51023.2020.9348322
2020
Journal Article
How can mobile applications support suicide prevention gatekeepers in Australian Indigenous communities?
Brown, Kelly A., Toombs, Maree, Nasir, Bushra, Kisely, Steve, Ranmuthugala, Geetha, Brennan-Olsen, Sharon L., Nicholson, Geoffrey C., Gill, Neeraj S., Hayman, Noel S., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas and Hides, Leanne (2020). How can mobile applications support suicide prevention gatekeepers in Australian Indigenous communities?. Social Science and Medicine, 258 113015, 113015. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113015
2020
Journal Article
Australian Indigenous model of mental healthcare based on transdiagnostic cognitive–behavioural therapy co-designed with the Indigenous community: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Toombs, Maree, Nasir, Bushra, Kisely, Steve, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas, Hides, Leanne, Gill, Neeraj, Beccaria, Gavin, Brennan-Olsen, Sharon, Butten, Kayley and Nicholson, Geoffrey (2020). Australian Indigenous model of mental healthcare based on transdiagnostic cognitive–behavioural therapy co-designed with the Indigenous community: protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BJ Psych Open, 6 (3) e33, e33. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2020.16
2019
Journal Article
Redistribution of cervix cancer patients from FIGO 2009 to FIGO 2018 staging following incorporation of medical imaging
Narayan, Kailash, Lin, Ming Yin, Kondalsamy-Chennakesvan, Srinivas, Bernshaw, David, Maheshwari, Amita and Bhatla, Neerja (2019). Redistribution of cervix cancer patients from FIGO 2009 to FIGO 2018 staging following incorporation of medical imaging. Indian Journal of Gynecologic Oncology, 17 (4) 93. doi: 10.1007/s40944-019-0347-5
2019
Journal Article
Expanding the war on waste: recycling cancer drugs
Gilbar, Peter J., Sung, James, Brown, Vanessa J. and Kondalsany-Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2019). Expanding the war on waste: recycling cancer drugs. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 49 (5) jppr.1549, 454-459. doi: 10.1002/jppr.1549
2019
Journal Article
Cultural validation of the structured clinical interview for diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders in Indigenous Australians
Toombs, Maree, Nasir, Bushra, Kisely, Steve, Ranmuthugala, Geetha, Gill, Neeraj S., Beccaria, Gavin, Hayman, Noel, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas N. and Nicholson, Geoffrey C. (2019). Cultural validation of the structured clinical interview for diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders in Indigenous Australians. Australasian Psychiatry, 27 (4), 362-365. doi: 10.1177/1039856219852289
2019
Conference Publication
A retrospective observational study in management of ischemic strokes using advanced neuroimaging in regional stroke centre
Alwis, D. D., Gange, N., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, S. and Richardson, T. (2019). A retrospective observational study in management of ischemic strokes using advanced neuroimaging in regional stroke centre. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2019
Journal Article
Importance of publishing research varies by doctors’ career stage, specialty and location of work
McGrail, Matthew Richard, O'Sullivan, Belinda G., Bendotti, Hollie R. and Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2019). Importance of publishing research varies by doctors’ career stage, specialty and location of work. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 95 (1122), 198-204. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-136473
2019
Journal Article
Predicting those who are at risk of dying within six to twelve months in primary care: a retrospective case-control general practice chart analysis
Woolfield, Anne, Mitchell, Geoffrey, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas and Senior, Hugh (2019). Predicting those who are at risk of dying within six to twelve months in primary care: a retrospective case-control general practice chart analysis. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 22 (11) jpm.2018.0562, 1417-1424. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0562
2019
Conference Publication
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander emergency department utilisation in south-east Queensland
King, Helena J., Ward, Raelene, King, Alexander B., Rahman, Muntasir and Kondalsamy Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2019). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander emergency department utilisation in south-east Queensland. 15th National Rural Health Conference, Hobart, TAS Australia, 24-27 March 2019. National Rural Health Alliance.
2019
Journal Article
The Australian Rural Clinical School (RCS) program supports rural medical workforce: evidence from a cross-sectional study of 12 RCSs
McGirr, Joe, Seal, Alexa, Barnard, Amanda, Cheek, Colleen, Garne, David, Greenhill, Jennene, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas, Luscombe, Georgina M., May, Jenny, Mc Leod, Janet, O'Sullivan, Belinda, Playford, Denese and Wright, Julian (2019). The Australian Rural Clinical School (RCS) program supports rural medical workforce: evidence from a cross-sectional study of 12 RCSs. Rural and Remote Health, 19 (1) 4971, 4971. doi: 10.22605/RRH4971
2019
Conference Publication
A retrospective comprehensive overview of a regional Queensland acute pain management service
Griffiths, Geraldine, Greig, Vanessa, Nasir, Bushra and Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2019). A retrospective comprehensive overview of a regional Queensland acute pain management service. National Rural Health Conference, Tasmania, Hobart, 24-27 March, 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Research evidence: training pathways and professional support for building a rural physician workforce
McGrail, M., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, S., Strasser, S. and Gilks, C. (2019). Research evidence: training pathways and professional support for building a rural physician workforce. FRAME 2019, Tamworth, NSW, Australia, 7-9 May 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Co-designing a suicide intervention training program for Indigenous communities – INSIST
Nasir, Bushra, Toombs, Maree, Kondalsamy Chennakesavan, Srinivas, Kisely, Steve, Hides, Leanne, Gill, Neeraj, Hayman, Noel, Ranmuthugala, Geetha, Brennan-Olsen, Sharon and Nicholson, Geoffrey (2019). Co-designing a suicide intervention training program for Indigenous communities – INSIST. 15th National Rural Health Conference, Hobart, TAS Australia, 24-27 March 2019.
2018
Conference Publication
Trials and tribulations of translating a research idea: experiences of a rural GP academic
Partanen, Riitta, Ranmuthugala, Geetha, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas and van Driel, Mieke (2018). Trials and tribulations of translating a research idea: experiences of a rural GP academic. GP18, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 11-13 October 2018.
2018
Journal Article
Common mental disorders among Indigenous people living in regional, remote and metropolitan Australia: a cross-sectional study
Nasir, Bushra F., Toombs, Maree R., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas, Kisely, Steve, Gill, Neeraj S., Black, Emma, Hayman, Noel, Ranmuthugala, Geetha, Beccaria, Gavin, Ostini, Remo and Nicholson, Geoffrey C. (2018). Common mental disorders among Indigenous people living in regional, remote and metropolitan Australia: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 8 (6) e020196, e020196. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020196
2018
Journal Article
Systemic anticancer therapy in the last 30 days of life: Retrospective audit from an Australian Regional Cancer Centre
Gilbar, Peter J, McPherson, Ian, Aisthorpe, Genevieve G and Kondalsamy-Chennakes, Srinivas (2018). Systemic anticancer therapy in the last 30 days of life: Retrospective audit from an Australian Regional Cancer Centre. Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners, 25 (3), 1078155217752077-606. doi: 10.1177/1078155217752077
2018
Conference Publication
Association of mental illness with mortality among Indigenous Australians: a data linkage cohort study
Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, S., Nicholson, G. C., Toombs, M. and Gill, N. (2018). Association of mental illness with mortality among Indigenous Australians: a data linkage cohort study. Rural Medicine Australia (RMA 2018), Darwin, NT, Australia, 25-27 October 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Understanding existing community networks for volunteer suicide intervention trainees – preliminary findings from trainees undertaking an Indigenous suicide intervention training program developed in partnership with Indigenous communities
Nasir, B., Toombs, M., Kondalsamy-Chennaksavan, S., Kisely, S., Hides, L., Gill, N., Hayman, N., Ranmuthugala, G., Brennan-Olsen, S. and Nicholson, G. (2018). Understanding existing community networks for volunteer suicide intervention trainees – preliminary findings from trainees undertaking an Indigenous suicide intervention training program developed in partnership with Indigenous communities. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Annual Congress 2018, Auckland, New Zealand, 13-17 May 2018. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2018
Conference Publication
Mental health and indigenous connection to land and community
Toombs, M., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, S., Kisely, S., Gill, N., Black, E., Hayman, N., Ranmuthugala, G., Beccaria, G., Ostini, R., Nicholson, G. C. and Nasir, B. (2018). Mental health and indigenous connection to land and community. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Annual Congress 2018, Auckland, New Zealand, 13-17 May 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Srinivas Kondalsamy Chennakesavan is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Referral patterns, disease progression and impact of the Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE) in a Queensland chronic kidney disease Registry (CKD.QLD) cohort
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Matthew McGrail
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Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the association between depression and comorbid chronic physical health conditions: An analysis of the urban-regional-rural divide
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Matthew McGrail, Dr Bushra Nasir
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Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the connectedness and confidence of Indigenous Australian suicide gatekeepers trained insuicide prevention.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bushra Nasir
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
The influence of obesity on knee replacement outcomes in Australia
Principal Advisor
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Interactions and experiences of doctors with the public health sector Human Resource Management (HRM) systems in two Indian states
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emerita Professor Di Eley, Associate Professor Yibeltal Alemu
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Srinivas Kondalsamy Chennakesavan directly for media enquiries about:
- Analyses - statistical/epidemiological
- Cancer
- Clinical trials
- Health - sustainable intervention
- Indigenous health
- Medical and surgical complications
- Project management - clinical trials
- Public health
- Risk modelling
- Risk prediction
- Statistical/epidemiological analyses
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