Associate Professor Sally Shrapnel
Associate Professor

Sally Shrapnel

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 56931

Background

Dr Sally Shrapnel is an internationally recognised interdisciplinary scientist whose research spans quantum physics, artificial intelligence, digital medicine, and philosophy. With a unique career trajectory bridging clinical medicine and cutting-edge quantum technologies, Dr Shrapnel is committed to solving foundational and applied problems that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.

A registered medical practitioner and Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, she brings over two decades of clinical experience in Tasmania, Queensland, and the UK. After earning an MSc in Bioengineering from Imperial College London, she pursued a PhD in Quantum Artificial Intelligence—focusing on quantum causal inference—which launched her second career as a quantum physicist.

Currently, Dr Shrapnel is Associate Professor of Physics at The University of Queensland and Deputy Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS). Her research addresses two fundamental questions:

  • What does quantum theory reveal about the nature of reality?
  • Can quantum resources be harnessed to design faster, more efficient AI algorithms?

These inquiries drive her leading contributions in Quantum Foundations and Quantum Machine Learning, where she develops novel theoretical frameworks and algorithms that aim to unlock the quantum advantage in emerging technologies. As Program Lead for Quantum Technologies for Health at the Queensland Digital Health Centre, Dr Shrapnel is also preparing the state’s healthcare ecosystem for the next technological revolution—bringing quantum tools into real-world applications in health and medicine.

A passionate advocate for interdisciplinary research, Dr Shrapnel continues to publish widely across quantum physics, computer science, digital health, and the philosophy of science. Her work exemplifies the power of rigorous, cross-disciplinary thinking to address some of the most profound and practical challenges of our time.

Availability

Associate Professor Sally Shrapnel is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Foundations of quantum mechanics Philosophy Philosophy and Religious Studies Philosophy of science (excl. history and philosophy of specific fields) Physical Sciences Quantum information, computation and communication Quantum physics Quantum technologies

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Medical Science, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, Imperial College
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Search Professor Sally Shrapnel’s works on UQ eSpace

69 works between 2014 and 2025
All (69) Journal Article (53) Other Outputs (2) Conference Publication (13) Book Chapter (1)

21 - 40 of 69 works

2024

Journal Article

Quantum kernel evaluation via Hong-Ou-Mandel interference

Bowie, Cassandra, Shrapnel, Sally and Kewming, Michael (2024). Quantum kernel evaluation via Hong-Ou-Mandel interference. Quantum Science and Technology, 9 (1) 015001, 1-10. doi: 10.1088/2058-9565/acfba9

Quantum kernel evaluation via Hong-Ou-Mandel interference

2024

Book Chapter

Artificial intelligence for diabetes in the hospital

Sly, Benjamin P., Shrapnel, Sally and Sullivan, Clair M. (2024). Artificial intelligence for diabetes in the hospital. Diabetes digital health, telehealth, and artificial intelligence. (pp. 353-366) edited by David C. Klonoff, David Kerr and Juan C. Espinoza. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-443-13244-5.00021-3

Artificial intelligence for diabetes in the hospital

2023

Conference Publication

A Systematic Review of Externally Validated Machine Learning Models for Predicting AKI in General Hospital Patients

Wainstein, Marina, Flanagan, Emily K., Johnson, David W. and Shrapnel, Sally (2023). A Systematic Review of Externally Validated Machine Learning Models for Predicting AKI in General Hospital Patients. Kidney Week, Philadelphia, PA United States, 1-5 November 2023. Philadelphia, PA United States: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. doi: 10.1681/asn.20233411s11066a

A Systematic Review of Externally Validated Machine Learning Models for Predicting AKI in General Hospital Patients

2023

Journal Article

Machine learning clinical prediction models for acute kidney injury: the impact of baseline creatinine on prediction efficacy

Kamel Rahimi, Amir, Ghadimi, Moji, van der Vegt, Anton H., Canfell, Oliver J., Pole, Jason D., Sullivan, Clair and Shrapnel, Sally (2023). Machine learning clinical prediction models for acute kidney injury: the impact of baseline creatinine on prediction efficacy. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 23 (1) 207, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s12911-023-02306-0

Machine learning clinical prediction models for acute kidney injury: the impact of baseline creatinine on prediction efficacy

2023

Journal Article

Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with severe COVID-19 registered in the ISARIC WHO clinical characterization protocol: a prospective, multinational, observational study

Reyes, Luis Felipe, Garcia-Gallo, Esteban, Murthy, Srinivas, Fuentes, Yuli V., Serrano, Cristian C., Ibáñez-Prada, Elsa D., Lee, James, Rojek, Amanda, Citarella, Barbara Wanjiru, Gonçalves, Bronner P., Dunning, Jake, Rätsep, Indrek, Viñan-Garces, Andre Emilio, Kartsonaki, Christiana, Rello, Jordi, Martin-Loeches, Ignacio, Shankar-Hari, Manu, Olliaro, Piero L., Merson, Laura, Abbas, Ali, Abdukahil, Sheryl Ann, Abdulkadir, Nurul Najmee, Abe, Ryuzo, Abebrese, Franklina Korkor, Abel, Laurent, Abrous, Amal, Absil, Lara, Acharya, Subhash, Acker, Andrew ... Zucman, David (2023). Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with severe COVID-19 registered in the ISARIC WHO clinical characterization protocol: a prospective, multinational, observational study. Journal of Critical Care, 77 154318, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2023.154318

Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with severe COVID-19 registered in the ISARIC WHO clinical characterization protocol: a prospective, multinational, observational study

2023

Journal Article

A multi-country analysis of COVID-19 hospitalizations by vaccination status

Gonçalves, Bronner P., Jassat, Waasila, Baruch, Joaquín, Hashmi, Madiha, Rojek, Amanda, Dasgupta, Abhishek, Martin-Loeches, Ignacio, Reyes, Luis Felipe, Piubelli, Chiara, Citarella, Barbara Wanjiru, Kartsonaki, Christiana, Lefèvre, Benjamin, López Revilla, José W., Lunn, Miles, Harrison, Ewen M., Kraemer, Moritz U. G., Shrapnel, Sally, Horby, Peter, Bisoffi, Zeno, Olliaro, Piero L, Merson, Laura, ISARIC Clinical Characterisation Group and Ghadimi, Moji (2023). A multi-country analysis of COVID-19 hospitalizations by vaccination status. Med, 4 (11), 797-812.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.medj.2023.08.005

A multi-country analysis of COVID-19 hospitalizations by vaccination status

2023

Journal Article

Validation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation mortality prediction and severity of illness scores in an international COVID-19 cohort

Shah, Neel, Xue, Bing, Xu, Ziqi, Yang, Hanqing, Marwali, Eva, Dalton, Heidi, Payne, Philip P. R., Lu, Chenyang, Said, Ahmed S., Abdukahil, Sheryl Ann, Abdulkadir, Nurul Najmee, Absil, Lara, Acker, Andrew, Adrião, Diana, Hssain, Ali Ait, Akwani, Chika, Al Qasim, Eman, Alalqam, Razi, Al-dabbous, Tala, Alex, Beatrice, Al-Fares, Abdulrahman, Alfoudri, Huda, Aliudin, Jeffrey, Alves, João, Alves, Rita, Alves, João Melo, Cabrita, Joana Alves, Amaral, Maria, Amira, Nur ... ISARIC Clinical Characterisation Group (2023). Validation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation mortality prediction and severity of illness scores in an international COVID-19 cohort. Artificial Organs, 47 (9), 1490-1502. doi: 10.1111/aor.14542

Validation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation mortality prediction and severity of illness scores in an international COVID-19 cohort

2023

Journal Article

Liver injury in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: An International observational cohort study

Vijayaraghavan, Bharath Kumar Tirupakuzhi, Bishnu, Saptarshi, Baruch, Joaquin, Citarella, Barbara Wanjiru, Kartsonaki, Christiana, Meeyai, Aronrag, Mohamed, Zubair, Ohshimo, Shinichiro, Lefèvre, Benjamin, Al-Fares, Abdulrahman, Calvache, Jose A., Taccone, Fabio Silvio, Olliaro, Piero, Merson, Laura, Adhikari, Neill K.J., Abdukahil, Sheryl Ann, Abdulkadir, Nurul Najmee, Abe, Ryuzo, Abel, Laurent, Abrous, Amal, Absil, Lara, Acker, Andrew, Adam, Elisabeth, Adrião, Diana, Al Ageel, Saleh, Ainscough, Kate, Hssain, Ali Ait, Tamlihat, Younes Ait, Akimoto, Takako ... the ISARIC Clinical Characterisation Group (2023). Liver injury in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: An International observational cohort study. PLoS One, 18 (9 September) e0277859, 1-17. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277859

Liver injury in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: An International observational cohort study

2023

Journal Article

Physical grounds for causal perspectivalism

Milburn, Gerard J., Shrapnel, Sally and Evans, Peter W. (2023). Physical grounds for causal perspectivalism. Entropy, 25 (8) 1190, 1-24. doi: 10.3390/e25081190

Physical grounds for causal perspectivalism

2023

Journal Article

Systematic review of externally validated machine learning models for predicting acute kidney injury in general hospital patients

Wainstein, Marina, Flanagan, Emily, Johnson, David W. and Shrapnel, Sally (2023). Systematic review of externally validated machine learning models for predicting acute kidney injury in general hospital patients. Frontiers in Nephrology, 3 1220214, 1-9. doi: 10.3389/fneph.2023.1220214

Systematic review of externally validated machine learning models for predicting acute kidney injury in general hospital patients

2023

Journal Article

Association of country income level with the characteristics and outcomes of critically ill patients hospitalized with acute kidney injury and COVID-19

Wainstein, Marina, Spyrison, Nicholas, Dai, Danyang, Ghadimi, Moji, Chavez-Iniquez, Jonathan Samuel, Rizo Topete, Lilia María, Citarella, Barbara Wanjiru, Merson, Laura, Pole, Jason, Claure-Del Granado, Rolando, Johnson, David W., Shrapnel, Sally, Abdukahil, heryl Ann, Abdulkadir, Nurul Najmee, Abe, Ryuzo, Abel, Laurent, Abrous, Amal, Absil, Lara, Acker, Andrew, Adachi, Shingo, Adrião, Diana, Al Ageel, Saleh, Ahmed, Shakeel, Ainscough, Kate, Airlangga, Eka, Aisa, Tharwat, Hssain, Ali Ait, Tamlihat, Younes Ait, Akimoto, Takako ... ISARIC Characterization Group (2023). Association of country income level with the characteristics and outcomes of critically ill patients hospitalized with acute kidney injury and COVID-19. Kidney International Reports, 8 (8), 1514-1530. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2023.05.015

Association of country income level with the characteristics and outcomes of critically ill patients hospitalized with acute kidney injury and COVID-19

2023

Journal Article

Characteristics and outcomes of an international cohort of 600 000 hospitalized patients with COVID-19

Kartsonaki, Christiana, Baillie, J Kenneth, Barrio, Noelia García, Baruch, Joaquín, Beane, Abigail, Blumberg, Lucille, Bozza, Fernando, Broadley, Tessa, Burrell, Aidan, Carson, Gail, Citarella, Barbara Wanjiru, Dagens, Andrew, Dankwa, Emmanuelle A, Donnelly, Christl A, Dunning, Jake, Elotmani, Loubna, Escher, Martina, Farshait, Nataly, Goffard, Jean-Christophe, Gonçalves, Bronner P, Hall, Matthew, Hashmi, Madiha, Sim Lim Heng, Benedict, Ho, Antonia, Jassat, Waasila, Pedrera Jiménez, Miguel, Laouenan, Cedric, Lissauer, Samantha, Martin-Loeches, Ignacio ... ISARIC Clinical Characterisation Group (2023). Characteristics and outcomes of an international cohort of 600 000 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. International Journal of Epidemiology, 52 (2), 355-376. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyad012

Characteristics and outcomes of an international cohort of 600 000 hospitalized patients with COVID-19

2022

Conference Publication

Validation of UCSD-Mayo Risk Score for Predicting Hospital-Acquired AKI in COVID-19 Patients

Granado, Rolando Claure-Del, Barbosa, Nicholas Y., Wainstein, Marina, Shrapnel, Sally and ISARIC Clinical Characterization Group (2022). Validation of UCSD-Mayo Risk Score for Predicting Hospital-Acquired AKI in COVID-19 Patients. Kidney Week, Orlando, FL United States, 3-6 November 2022. Washington, DC United States: American Society of Nephrology. doi: 10.1681/asn.20223311s1334c

Validation of UCSD-Mayo Risk Score for Predicting Hospital-Acquired AKI in COVID-19 Patients

2022

Journal Article

Symptom-based case definitions for COVID-19: Time and geographical variations for detection at hospital admission among 260,000 patients

Baruch, Joaquin, Rojek, Amanda, Kartsonaki, Christiana, Vijayaraghavan, Bharath K. T., Gonçalves, Bronner P., Pritchard, Mark G., Merson, Laura, Dunning, Jake, Hall, Matthew, Sigfrid, Louise, Citarella, Barbara W., Murthy, Srinivas, Yeabah, Trokon O., Olliaro, Piero, Abbas, Ali, Abdukahil, Sheryl Ann, Abdulkadir, Nurul Najmee, Abe, Ryuzo, Abel, Laurent, Absil, Lara, Acharya, Subhash, Acker, Andrew, Adam, Elisabeth, Adrião, Diana, Al Ageel, Saleh, Ahmed, Shakeel, Ainscough, Kate, Airlangga, Eka, Aisa, Tharwat ... Zucman, David (2022). Symptom-based case definitions for COVID-19: Time and geographical variations for detection at hospital admission among 260,000 patients. Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses, 16 (6), 1040-1050. doi: 10.1111/irv.13039

Symptom-based case definitions for COVID-19: Time and geographical variations for detection at hospital admission among 260,000 patients

2022

Journal Article

An international observational study to assess the impact of the Omicron variant emergence on the clinical epidemiology of COVID-19 in hospitalised patients

Gonçalves, Bronner P, Hall, Matthew, Jassat, Waasila, Balan, Valeria, Murthy, Srinivas, Kartsonaki, Christiana, Semple, Malcolm G, Rojek, Amanda, Baruch, Joaquín, Reyes, Luis Felipe, Dasgupta, Abhishek, Dunning, Jake, Citarella, Barbara Wanjiru, Pritchard, Mark, Martín-Quiros, Alejandro, Sili, Uluhan, Baillie, J Kenneth, Aryal, Diptesh, Arabi, Yaseen, Rashan, Aasiyah, Angheben, Andrea, Caoili, Janice, Carrier, François Martin, Harrison, Ewen M, Gómez-Junyent, Joan, Figueiredo-Mello, Claudia, Douglas, James Joshua, Mat Nor, Mohd Basri, Chow, Yock Ping ... Suen, Jacky Y. (2022). An international observational study to assess the impact of the Omicron variant emergence on the clinical epidemiology of COVID-19 in hospitalised patients. eLife, 11 e80556. doi: 10.7554/eLife.80556

An international observational study to assess the impact of the Omicron variant emergence on the clinical epidemiology of COVID-19 in hospitalised patients

2022

Journal Article

Respiratory support in patients with severe COVID-19 in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection (ISARIC) COVID-19 study: a prospective, multinational, observational study

Reyes, Luis Felipe, Murthy, Srinivas, Garcia-Gallo, Esteban, Merson, Laura, Ibáñez-Prada, Elsa D., Rello, Jordi, Fuentes, Yuli V., Martin-Loeches, Ignacio, Bozza, Fernando, Duque, Sara, Taccone, Fabio S., Fowler, Robert A., Kartsonaki, Christiana, Gonçalves, Bronner P., Citarella, Barbara Wanjiru, Aryal, Diptesh, Burhan, Erlina, Cummings, Matthew J., Delmas, Christelle, Diaz, Rodrigo, Figueiredo-Mello, Claudia, Hashmi, Madiha, Panda, Prasan Kumar, Jiménez, Miguel Pedrera, Rincon, Diego Fernando Bautista, Thomson, David, Nichol, Alistair, Marshall, John C., Olliaro, Piero L. ... Suen, Jacky Y. (2022). Respiratory support in patients with severe COVID-19 in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection (ISARIC) COVID-19 study: a prospective, multinational, observational study. Critical Care, 26 (1) 276. doi: 10.1186/s13054-022-04155-1

Respiratory support in patients with severe COVID-19 in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection (ISARIC) COVID-19 study: a prospective, multinational, observational study

2022

Journal Article

Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 in adults and children

Cho, Sung Min, White, Nicole, Premraj, Lavienraj, Battaglini, Denise, Fanning, Jonathon, Suen, Jacky, Bassi, Gianluigi Li, Fraser, John, Robba, Chiara, Griffee, Matthew, Singh, Bhagteshwar, Citarella, Barbara Wanjiru, Merson, Laura, Solomon, Tom, Thomson, David, ISARIC Clinical Characterisation Group, Forsyth, Simon and Shrapnel, Sally (2022). Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 in adults and children. Brain, 146 (4), 1648-1661. doi: 10.1093/brain/awac332

Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 in adults and children

2022

Journal Article

ISARIC-COVID-19 dataset: A prospective, standardized, global dataset of patients hospitalized with COVID-19

ISARIC Clinical Characterization Group, Garcia-Gallo, Esteban, Merson, Laura, Kennon, Kalynn, Kelly, Sadie, Wanjiru Citarella, Barbara, Vidali Fryer, Daniel, Shrapnel, Sally, Lee, James, Duque, Sara, Fuentes, Yuli V., Balan,Valeria, Smith, Sue, Wei, Jia, Gonçalves, Bronner P., Russell, Clark D., Sigfrid, Louise, Dagens, Andrew, Olliaro, Piero L., Baruch, Joaquin, Kartsonaki, Christiana, Dunning, Jake, Rojek, Amanda, Rashan, Aasiyah, Beane, Abi, Murthy, Srinivas, Reyes, Luis Felipe, Forsyth, Simon J. and Suen, Jacky Y. (2022). ISARIC-COVID-19 dataset: A prospective, standardized, global dataset of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Scientific Data, 9 (1) 454, 454. doi: 10.1038/s41597-022-01534-9

ISARIC-COVID-19 dataset: A prospective, standardized, global dataset of patients hospitalized with COVID-19

2022

Journal Article

Machine learning models for diabetes management in acute care using electronic medical records: a systematic review

Kamel Rahimi, Amir, Canfell, Oliver J., Chan, Wilkin, Sly, Benjamin, Pole, Jason D., Sullivan, Clair and Shrapnel, Sally (2022). Machine learning models for diabetes management in acute care using electronic medical records: a systematic review. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 162 104758, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2022.104758

Machine learning models for diabetes management in acute care using electronic medical records: a systematic review

2022

Journal Article

Early short course of neuromuscular blocking agents in patients with COVID-19 ARDS: a propensity score analysis

Li Bassi, Gianluigi, Gibbons, Kristen, Suen, Jacky Y., Dalton, Heidi J., White, Nicole, Corley, Amanda, Shrapnel, Sally, Hinton, Samuel, Forsyth, Simon, Laffey, John G., Fan, Eddy, Fanning, Jonathon P., Panigada, Mauro, Bartlett, Robert, Brodie, Daniel, Burrell, Aidan, Chiumello, Davide, Elhazmi, Alyaa, Esperatti, Mariano, Grasselli, Giacomo, Hodgson, Carol, Ichiba, Shingo, Luna, Carlos, Marwali, Eva, Merson, Laura, Murthy, Srinivas, Nichol, Alistair, Ogino, Mark, Pelosi, Paolo ... The COVID-19 Critical Care Consortium (2022). Early short course of neuromuscular blocking agents in patients with COVID-19 ARDS: a propensity score analysis. Critical Care, 26 (1) 141, 141. doi: 10.1186/s13054-022-03983-5

Early short course of neuromuscular blocking agents in patients with COVID-19 ARDS: a propensity score analysis

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2027
    Operationally robust quantum machine learning for digital health
    Quantum and Advanced Technologies Co-Investment Program
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2028
    The View From Somewhere: embodied agents and the quantum perspective
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2023
    SMART Project - Towards Systematic Maturation of Analytics and System Redesign to Transform (SMART) Healthcare and Public Health Research
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Machine learning prediction of Acute Kidney Injury in hospitalised patients with COVID-19
    Digital Health CRC
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Causal Bayesian Networks for COVID
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Enhanced data extraction and modelling from electronic medical records and phenotyping for clinical care, and research: Case studies in management of medication stewardship
    Digital Health CRC
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Information as fuel for a quantum clock (Foundational Questions Institute grant administered by TUQIA)
    Foundational Questions Institute
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    'Are Quantum agents possible?' by Silicon Valley Community Foundation
    The University of Queensland in America, Inc
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2025
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQuS2)
    ARC Centres of Excellence
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Sally Shrapnel is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Characterising the impact of noise in quantum machine learning.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Riddhi Gupta

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Perspectives on the de Broglie-Bohm interpretation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Timothy Ralph, Dr Peter Evans

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Predicting adverse diabetes events in hospitals using machine learning

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Mr Anton Van Der Vegt, Professor Jason Pole

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Digital Health Methods for Evaluating Chronic Organ Injuries Resulting from Infectious Epidemics: Acute Kidney Injury post COVID-19 Omicron Surge as an Exemplar

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jason Pole

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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