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Associate Professor Jane Nikles
Associate Professor

Jane Nikles

Email: 

Overview

Background

I am a registered medical practitioner with a PhD from The University of Queensland. My doctoral work was in the field of population health, and focused on the use of N-of-1 trial methodology in clinical practice. I have two major research areas: N-of-1 trials/Single Case Experimental Designs (SCEDs), and whiplash and other musculoskeletal pain after Road Traffic Crashes.

I played a key role in setting up and sustaining UQ’s N-of-1 trials Unit since 1998, and am a key driver of its success, resulting in UQ becoming a world leader in N-of-1 trials since 2009. . Building on my 20 year clinical research career at UQ, I lead the research program at UQCCR in N-of-1 trials, and am a recognised leader in this field both in Australia and internationally. In addition, my skills include trial design and management more broadly.

I am also working at Recover Injury Research Centre in the field of recovery following Road Traffic injuries. Within the Designing Better Therapies research program, my main focus is on improving early management and reducing opioid prescribing for minor musculoskeletal injuries after Road Traffic Crashes. My other area of research is in applying Single Case Experimental Designs to work towards better therapies after injury, especially when caused by Road Traffic Crashes.

Availability

Associate Professor Jane Nikles is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Clinical trials, n-of-1 trials, research methodology, personalised medicine, individual treatments

  • Single Case Experimental Designs

  • Whiplash, minor musculoskeletal injury, opioid prescribing

  • ADHD, children, sleep

  • Melatonin

  • Parkinson's Disease

  • Skin cancer prevention, improving children's sun protection practices

Works

Search Professor Jane Nikles’s works on UQ eSpace

188 works between 1983 and 2026

21 - 40 of 188 works

Featured

2001

Journal Article

Bias Influencing Maternal Reports of Child Behaviour and Emotional State

Najman, J. M., Williams, G. M., Nikles, J., Spence, S., Bor, W., O'Callaghan, M., Le Brocque, R., Andersen, M. J. and Shuttlewood, G. J. (2001). Bias Influencing Maternal Reports of Child Behaviour and Emotional State. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 36 (4), 186-194. doi: 10.1007/s001270170062

Bias Influencing Maternal Reports of Child Behaviour and Emotional State

Featured

2000

Journal Article

Preliminary experiences with a single-patient trials service in general practice

Nikles, C. J., Glasziou, P. P., Del Mar, C. B., Duggan, C. M., Clavarino, A. M. and Yelland, M. J. (2000). Preliminary experiences with a single-patient trials service in general practice. Medical Journal of Australia, 173 (2), 100-103. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2000.tb139254.x

Preliminary experiences with a single-patient trials service in general practice

Featured

2000

Journal Article

Mothers' mental illness and child behavior problems: Cause-effect association or observation bias

Najman, J. M., Williams, G. M., Nikles, J., Spence, S. H., Bor, W., O'Callaghan, M., Le Brocque, R. M. and Andersen, M.J. (2000). Mothers' mental illness and child behavior problems: Cause-effect association or observation bias. Journal of The American Academy of Child And Adolescent Psychiatry, 39 (5), 592-602. doi: 10.1097/00004583-200005000-00013

Mothers' mental illness and child behavior problems: Cause-effect association or observation bias

Featured

2000

Journal Article

N of 1 trials: practical tools for medication management

Nikles, C. J., Glasziou, P. P., Del Mar, C. B., Duggan, C. and Mitchell, G. K. (2000). N of 1 trials: practical tools for medication management. Australian Family Physician, 29 (11), 1108-1112.

N of 1 trials: practical tools for medication management

Featured

2000

Journal Article

Managing ADHD in general practice: N of 1 trials can help

Duggan, C., Mitchell, G., Nikles, J., Glasziou, P. and Del Mar, C. (2000). Managing ADHD in general practice: N of 1 trials can help. Australian Family Physician, 29, 1205-1209.

Managing ADHD in general practice: N of 1 trials can help

Featured

2000

Journal Article

Managing ADHD in general practice. N of 1 trials can help!

Duggan, C. M., Mitchell, G. K., Nikles, C. J., Glasziou, P. P., Del Mar, C. B. and Clavarino, A. M. (2000). Managing ADHD in general practice. N of 1 trials can help!. Australian Family Physician, 29 (12), 1205-1209.

Managing ADHD in general practice. N of 1 trials can help!

2026

Journal Article

A Phase III triple-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial to evaluate effectiveness of early treatment with pregabalin to reduce pain severity after whiplash road traffic injury: study protocol for the PRioRTI Trial {1}

Sterling, Michele, Farrell, Scott F., Ferguson, Lisa, Mitchell, Geoffrey, Schug, Stephan, Ware, Robert S., Dinh, Michael, Celenza, Antonio, Connelly, Luke, Hodges, Paul W., Klyne, David M., Elphinston, Rachel, Nikles, Jane, McAuley, James and Lin, Chung-Wei Christine (2026). A Phase III triple-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial to evaluate effectiveness of early treatment with pregabalin to reduce pain severity after whiplash road traffic injury: study protocol for the PRioRTI Trial {1}. Trials, 27 (1) 186, 1-13. doi: 10.1186/s13063-026-09479-9

A Phase III triple-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial to evaluate effectiveness of early treatment with pregabalin to reduce pain severity after whiplash road traffic injury: study protocol for the PRioRTI Trial {1}

2024

Conference Publication

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder

Ezedinma, U., Burgess, S., Singh, J., Jones, E., Nikles, J., Ladmas, A., Campell, G., Fjaagesund, S., Swierkowski, P., Metse, A., Downer, T. and Oprescu, F. (2024). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder. Sleep DownUnder 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 16-19 October 2024. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpae070.045

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder

2024

Journal Article

The potential of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for addressing sleep difficulties in children with autism – A brief communication

Ezedinma, Uchenna, Burgess, Scott, Nikles, Jane, Downer, Terri, Jones, Evan, Metse, Alexandra, Fjaagesund, Shauna and Oprescu, Florin (2024). The potential of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for addressing sleep difficulties in children with autism – A brief communication. Sleep Medicine, 118, 78-80. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2024.04.005

The potential of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for addressing sleep difficulties in children with autism – A brief communication

2024

Journal Article

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder stimulant trial in children: an N-of-1 pilot trial to compare stimulant to placebo (FASST): protocol

Crichton, Alison, Harris, Katrina, McGree, James M., Nikles, Jane, Anderson, Peter J. and Williams, Katrina (2024). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder stimulant trial in children: an N-of-1 pilot trial to compare stimulant to placebo (FASST): protocol. BMJ Open, 14 (4) e071266, 1-9. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071266

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder stimulant trial in children: an N-of-1 pilot trial to compare stimulant to placebo (FASST): protocol

2024

Book Chapter

N-of-1 research designs

Nikles, Jane, Hams, Andrea, Sterling, Michele and Evans, Kerrie (2024). N-of-1 research designs. Grieve's modern musculoskeletal physiotherapy. (pp. 95-101) edited by Deborah Falla, Jeremy Lewis, Christopher McCarthy, Chad E. Cook and Michele Sterling. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7020-8089-0.00016-1

N-of-1 research designs

2023

Journal Article

Serial cross‐sectional observations of sun‐protective behaviors at an annual outdoor motorsport event in Tropical Queensland, Australia

Dexter, Ben, Smith, Annika, King, Rachel, Downs, Nathan J., Nikles, Catherine Jane, Parisi, Alfio V., Ho, Yik‐Hong and Harrison, Simone Lee (2023). Serial cross‐sectional observations of sun‐protective behaviors at an annual outdoor motorsport event in Tropical Queensland, Australia. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 99 (5), 1352-1356. doi: 10.1111/php.13773

Serial cross‐sectional observations of sun‐protective behaviors at an annual outdoor motorsport event in Tropical Queensland, Australia

2023

Book Chapter

N-of-1 research designs

Nikles, J., Hams, A., Sterling, M. and Evans, K. (2023). N-of-1 research designs. Grieve's modern musculoskeletal physiotherapy. (pp. 1-20) London, United Kingdom: Elsevier.

N-of-1 research designs

2022

Journal Article

A systematic review of N-of-1 trials and single case experimental designs in physiotherapy for musculoskeletal conditions

Nikles, J., Evans, K., Hams, A. and Sterling, M. (2022). A systematic review of N-of-1 trials and single case experimental designs in physiotherapy for musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 62 102639, 102639. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102639

A systematic review of N-of-1 trials and single case experimental designs in physiotherapy for musculoskeletal conditions

2022

Conference Publication

A systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions to improve opioid prescribing in ED for acute non-admitted musculoskeletal pain

Nikles, J., Johnston, A., van Driel, M., Perez, S., Ritchie, C., Elphinston, R. and Sterling, M. (2022). A systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions to improve opioid prescribing in ED for acute non-admitted musculoskeletal pain. Recover Injury Research Centre Conference, Brisbane, Australia, October 2022.

A systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions to improve opioid prescribing in ED for acute non-admitted musculoskeletal pain

2022

Journal Article

The effectiveness of aerobic versus strengthening exercise therapy in individuals with chronic whiplash-associated disorder: a randomised single case experimental design study

de Zoete, Rutger M. J., Nikles, Jane, Coombes, Jeff S., Onghena, Patrick and Sterling, Michele (2022). The effectiveness of aerobic versus strengthening exercise therapy in individuals with chronic whiplash-associated disorder: a randomised single case experimental design study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 45 (21), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2127937

The effectiveness of aerobic versus strengthening exercise therapy in individuals with chronic whiplash-associated disorder: a randomised single case experimental design study

2022

Journal Article

Pregabalin vs placebo to prevent chronic pain after whiplash injury in at-risk individuals: Results of a feasibility study for a large randomised controlled trial

Nikles, Jane, Keijzers, Gerben, Mitchell, Geoffrey, Farrell, Scott F., Perez, Siegfried, Schug, Stephan, Ware, Robert S., McLean, Samuel A., Connelly, Luke B. and Sterling, Michele (2022). Pregabalin vs placebo to prevent chronic pain after whiplash injury in at-risk individuals: Results of a feasibility study for a large randomised controlled trial. Pain, 163 (2), E274-E284. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002362

Pregabalin vs placebo to prevent chronic pain after whiplash injury in at-risk individuals: Results of a feasibility study for a large randomised controlled trial

2021

Journal Article

Comparing pregabalin and gabapentin for persistent neuropathic pain: a protocol for a pilot N-of-1 trial series

Bashford, Guy, Tan, Samuel X., McGree, James, Murdoch, Veronica and Nikles, Jane (2021). Comparing pregabalin and gabapentin for persistent neuropathic pain: a protocol for a pilot N-of-1 trial series. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 24 100852, 100852. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2021.100852

Comparing pregabalin and gabapentin for persistent neuropathic pain: a protocol for a pilot N-of-1 trial series

2021

Conference Publication

Using N-of-1 tests to identify responders to melatonin for sleep disturbance in Parkinson’s Disease

Nikles, J., Mitchell, G. K., Smith, S. S., McGree, J. M., McDonald, S., Poli, N., Senior, H., Tan, S., Dissanyaka, N., Ritchie, A. and O'Sullivan, J. D. (2021). Using N-of-1 tests to identify responders to melatonin for sleep disturbance in Parkinson’s Disease. Australian Clinical Trials Alliance conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia, November 2021.

Using N-of-1 tests to identify responders to melatonin for sleep disturbance in Parkinson’s Disease

2021

Conference Publication

Identified Personalised Patterns and Triggers of Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis using Insights from Patient-Centred N-of-1 Observational Studies: A Protocol

McDonald, S., Pickering, G., McGree, J., Mitchell, G. and Nikles, J. (2021). Identified Personalised Patterns and Triggers of Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis using Insights from Patient-Centred N-of-1 Observational Studies: A Protocol. Progress in MS Research Scientific Conference, Hobart, TAS, Australia, November 2021.

Identified Personalised Patterns and Triggers of Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis using Insights from Patient-Centred N-of-1 Observational Studies: A Protocol

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Jane Nikles is:
Available for supervision

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

Available projects

  • Opioid use and misuse following road traffic musculoskeletal injury

    Recent research by our group has shown that opioids are inappropriately prescribed for people with musculoskeletal pain after a road traffic crash. This project will explore this issue by longitudinal investigation of opioid use after injury and by using qualitative methods to explore reasons underlying opioid use in injured people and health care providers. It will also explore the physiotherapist's role in preventing opioid misuse.

  • N-of-1 trials in health care, melatonin, complementary and alternative medicines.

    N-of-1 trials in health care, melatonin, complementary and alternative medicines.

    Projects available mostly on clinical neuroscience topics – eg sleep, pain – but discussion on other topics welcome.

    Please contact me on uqjnikle@uq.edu.au to discuss several available projects.

Media

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Jane Nikles directly for media enquiries about:

  • ADHD
  • children
  • Clinical trials
  • General practice research
  • individualised treatments
  • melatonin
  • N-of-1 trials
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Personalised medicine
  • Single Case Experimental Designs
  • sleep

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au