Overview
Background
Dr Melinda Protani is an epidemiologist with over 15 years experience in research and tertiary education. She is the current Program Director for the Master of Epidemiology at UQ. Her research is focussed on cancer aetiology, survivorship and patterns of care, with a particular interest in inequity in access to health services and the receipt of optimal cancer care. Dr Protani has experience in a number of methods including medical record audits, surveys of the general population, patient groups and clinicians, and data linkage using registry and administrative datasets.
Availability
- Dr Melinda Protani is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Public Health, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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cancer epidemiology
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health services research
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treatment disparities
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non-communicable diseases
Works
Search Professor Melinda Protani’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Capturing breast cancer subtypes in cancer registries: insights into real-world incidence and survival
Vaz-Gonçalves, Larissa, Marquart-Wilson, Louise, Protani, Melinda M, Stephensen, Meghan T, Moore, Julie, Morris, Michelle F, Saunus, Jodi M and Reeves, Marina M (2025). Capturing breast cancer subtypes in cancer registries: insights into real-world incidence and survival. Journal of Cancer Policy, 44 100567, 100567-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jcpo.2025.100567
2025
Journal Article
Exploring estrogen-related mechanisms in ovarian carcinogenesis: association between bone mineral density and ovarian cancer risk in a multivariable Mendelian randomization study
Tuesley, Karen M., Webb, Penelope M., Protani, Melinda M., Donovan, Peter, Jordan, Susan J. and Dixon-Suen, Suzanne (2025). Exploring estrogen-related mechanisms in ovarian carcinogenesis: association between bone mineral density and ovarian cancer risk in a multivariable Mendelian randomization study. Cancer Causes and Control, 36 (2), 171-182. doi: 10.1007/s10552-024-01926-9
2024
Conference Publication
Receipt and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment and survival outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer in Queensland: a retrospective population-based cohort
Vaz-Goncalves, Larissa, Marquart-Wilson, Louise, Protani, Melinda M., Saunus, Jodi M., Moore, Julie, Morris, Michelle J. and Reeves, Marina M. (2024). Receipt and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment and survival outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer in Queensland: a retrospective population-based cohort. COSA's 51st Annual Scientific Meeting, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 13–15 November 2024. Richmond, VIC Australia: John Wiley & Sons.
2024
Journal Article
Continental differences in the association between excess body weight and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer: a meta-analysis
Vaz-Goncalves, Larissa, Protani, Melinda M., Saunus, Jodi M., Colditz, Graham A. and Reeves, Marina M. (2024). Continental differences in the association between excess body weight and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer: a meta-analysis. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 209 (2), 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s10549-024-07538-w
2024
Journal Article
Eating frequency, timing of meals, and sleep duration before and after a randomized controlled weight loss trial for breast cancer survivors
D'cunha, Kelly, Park, Yikyung, Leech, Rebecca M., Protani, Melinda M., Marquart-Wilson, Louise and Reeves, Marina M. (2024). Eating frequency, timing of meals, and sleep duration before and after a randomized controlled weight loss trial for breast cancer survivors. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. doi: 10.1007/s11764-024-01680-6
2024
Conference Publication
Investigating survival by breast cancer molecular subtype in Australia: A population-based study
Vaz-Goncalves, L., Marquart-Wilson, L., Protani, M., Stephensen, M., Saunus, J., Moore, J., Morris, M. and Reeves, M. (2024). Investigating survival by breast cancer molecular subtype in Australia: A population-based study. ESMO Congress 2024, Barcelona, Spain, 13-17 September 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2024.08.237
2024
Journal Article
Use of an emulated trial to investigate the association between use of nitrogen-based bisphosphonates and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer
Tuesley, Karen M., Spilsbury, Katrina, Webb, Penelope M., Pearson, Sallie-Anne, Donovan, Peter, Coory, Michael D., Steer, Christopher B., Stewart, Louise M., Pandeya, Nirmala, Protani, Melinda M., Dixon-Suen, Suzanne, Marquart-Wilson, Louise and Jordan, Susan J. (2024). Use of an emulated trial to investigate the association between use of nitrogen-based bisphosphonates and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. International Journal of Epidemiology, 53 (4) dyae108, 1-10. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyae108
2024
Journal Article
Rates of colorectal cancer diagnosis and mortality in people with severe mental illness: results from Australia’s National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme
Kisely, S., Spilsbury, K., Bull, C., Jordan, S., Kendall, B. J., Siskind, D., Sara, G., Protani, M. and Lawrence, D. (2024). Rates of colorectal cancer diagnosis and mortality in people with severe mental illness: results from Australia’s National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 33 e79, 1-8. doi: 10.1017/s2045796024000787
2023
Journal Article
Association between antihypertensive medicine use and risk of ovarian cancer in women aged 50 years and older
Tuesley, Karen M., Spilsbury, Katrina, Webb, Penelope M., Protani, Melinda M., Dixon-Suen, Suzanne, Pearson, Sallie-Anne, Donovan, Peter, Coory, Michael D., Steer, Christopher B., Stewart, Louise M., Pandeya, Nirmala and Jordan, Susan J. (2023). Association between antihypertensive medicine use and risk of ovarian cancer in women aged 50 years and older. Cancer Epidemiology, 86 102444, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2023.102444
2023
Conference Publication
Prevalence and Change in Circadian Rhythm Disrupting Sleep and Eating Behaviours in Breast Cancer Survivors Following a Weight Loss Intervention
D'cunha, Kelly, Park, Yikyung, Leech, Rebecca, Protani, Melinda, Marquart-Wilson, Louise and Reeves, Marina (2023). Prevalence and Change in Circadian Rhythm Disrupting Sleep and Eating Behaviours in Breast Cancer Survivors Following a Weight Loss Intervention. Nutrition 2023, Boston, MA, United States, 22-25 July 2023. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100724
2023
Conference Publication
Colorectal cancer outcomes in the people with severe mental illness cohort (cosmic): a systematic review and preliminary data from Australia's national bowel cancer screening programme protocol
Kisely, S. R., Siskind, D., Protani, M., Alotiby, M., Seth, R., Lawrence, D., Jordan, S., Logan, H., Kendall, B. and Sara, G. (2023). Colorectal cancer outcomes in the people with severe mental illness cohort (cosmic): a systematic review and preliminary data from Australia's national bowel cancer screening programme protocol. RANZCP 2023 Congress, Perth, WA, Australia, 28 May-1 June 2023. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications. doi: 10.1177/00048674231169682
2023
Journal Article
Exploring postgraduate epidemiology competencies: Preparing our students for a post-COVID world
Di Sipio, T., Protani, M. M., Finnane, A., Johnson, R. and Hall, L. (2023). Exploring postgraduate epidemiology competencies: Preparing our students for a post-COVID world. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 47 (2) 100026, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100026
2023
Journal Article
Breast cancer treatment disparities in patients with severe mental illness: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Kisely, Steve, Alotiby, Meshary Khaled N., Protani, Melinda M., Soole, Rebecca, Arnautovska, Urska and Siskind, Dan (2023). Breast cancer treatment disparities in patients with severe mental illness: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Psycho-Oncology, 32 (5), 651-662. doi: 10.1002/pon.6120
2022
Journal Article
Circadian rhythm disrupting behaviours and cancer outcomes in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review
D’cunha, Kelly, Park, Yikyung, Protani, Melinda M. and Reeves, Marina M. (2022). Circadian rhythm disrupting behaviours and cancer outcomes in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 198 (3), 413-421. doi: 10.1007/s10549-022-06792-0
2022
Journal Article
Colorectal cancer treatment in people with severe mental illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Protani, Melinda M., Alotiby, Meshary Khaled N., Seth, Rebecca, Lawrence, David, Jordan, Susan J., Logan, Hayley, Kendall, Bradley J., Siskind, Dan, Sara, Grant and Kisely, Steve (2022). Colorectal cancer treatment in people with severe mental illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 31 e82, 1-11. doi: 10.1017/s2045796022000634
2022
Conference Publication
Understanding the association between excess body weight and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer: A meta-analysis
Goncalves, Larissa Vaz, Protani, Melinda M., Saunus, Jodi M., Colditz, Graham A. and Reeves, Marina M. (2022). Understanding the association between excess body weight and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer: A meta-analysis. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2022
Conference Publication
Circadian rhythm disrupting behaviours and cancer outcomes in breast cancer survivors: A systematic review
D'cunha, Kelly, Park, Yikyung, Protani, Melinda M. and Reeves, MarinaM. (2022). Circadian rhythm disrupting behaviours and cancer outcomes in breast cancer survivors: A systematic review. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2022
Journal Article
Nitrogen-based Bisphosphonate Use and Ovarian Cancer Risk in Women Aged 50 Years and Older (vol 114, djac050, 2022)
Tuesley, Karen M., Webb, Penelope M., Protani, Melinda M., Spilsbury, Katrina, Pearson, Sallie-Anne, Coory, Michael D., Donovan, Peter, Steer, Christopher, Stewart, Louise M., Pandeya, Nirmala and Jordan, Susan J. (2022). Nitrogen-based Bisphosphonate Use and Ovarian Cancer Risk in Women Aged 50 Years and Older (vol 114, djac050, 2022). Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 114 (8), 1206-1206. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djac118
2022
Journal Article
Nitrogen-based bisphosphonate use and ovarian cancer risk in women aged 50 years and older
Tuesley, Karen M., Webb, Penelope M., Protani, Melinda M., Spilsbury, Katrina, Pearson, Sallie-Anne, Coory, Michael D., Donovan, Peter, Steer, Christopher, Stewart, Louise M., Pandeya, Nirmala and Jordan, Susan J. (2022). Nitrogen-based bisphosphonate use and ovarian cancer risk in women aged 50 years and older. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 114 (6), 878-884. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djac050
2022
Journal Article
Human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 and Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma in Queensland, Australia: a retrospective cross-sectional study
Martin, Fabiola, Gilks, Charles F., Gibb, Robert, Jenkins, Alana, Protani, Melinda, Francis, Fleur, Redmond, Andrew M., Neilsen, Graham, Mudge, David, Wolley, Martin, Binotto, Enzo, Norton, Robert, Nimmo, Graeme R. and Heney, Claire (2022). Human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 and Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma in Queensland, Australia: a retrospective cross-sectional study. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 99 (1), 50-52. doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2021-055241
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Melinda Protani is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Breakfast to Bed: exploring new ways to improve breast cancer survivorship
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Louise Marquart-Wilson
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding how eating time can influence breast cancer outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Louise Marquart-Wilson
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving pathways of care for breast cancer patients
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Owen Ung
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Doctor Philosophy
Hormonal physiology in childbearing and the impacts of maternity-care interventions for mothers, babies and public health' to Oxytocin in childbearing
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Abdullah Mamun, Professor Leonie Callaway
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Doctor Philosophy
Triple-negative breast cancer in Australia: investigating factors associated with prognosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Louise Marquart-Wilson, Dr Jodi Saunus
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Doctor Philosophy
Obesity and triple-negative breast cancer: an epidemiological study
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jodi Saunus, Dr Louise Marquart-Wilson
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Using large-scale data to explore the association between the use of chronic disease medical treatments and the risk of ovarian cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susan Jordan
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Towards equity of maternal and newborn health services in Nepal
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Yibeltal Alemu
Media
Enquiries
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