Overview
Background
Dr. Awais Saleem Babri is a dedicated educator and researcher in biomedical sciences, specializing in innovative anatomy education, curriculum development, and technology-enhanced learning. With over two decades of experience at The University of Queensland, his work focuses on integrating virtual reality (VR), digital repositories, and evidence-based pedagogies to transform medical and health professions education.
Key Contributions:
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Teaching Excellence: Led curriculum reviews and course coordination for programs in medicine, nursing, and paramedicine, enhancing clinical integration and student engagement. Recognized with multiple awards, including the UQ Citation for Excellence in Teaching (2009) and nominations for national teaching honors.
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Research Leadership: Secured over $105K in grants to pioneer VR classrooms and image repositories, improving accessibility and outcomes in anatomy education. Presented at 15+ international conferences, including IFAA and ANZAHPE, with pending publications on VR and ward-round pedagogy.
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Supervision & Mentorship: Guided honours and summer research students, with projects on surgical simulation and ward-round pedagogy earning scholarships and conference presentations (e.g., ANZACA 2024, ANZAHPE 2025).
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Leadership & Service: Founded the Gross Anatomy Evaluations Network (GAEN), uniting 28 universities to standardize assessments. Served as ANZACA Vice President (2025–present) and contributed to committees (UQ HREC, ANZAHPE DEI).
Dr. Babri’s work bridges cutting-edge technology and pedagogical innovation, making him a sought-after collaborator in health professions education. For details on projects or partnerships, contact a.babri@uq.edu.au.
Availability
- Dr Awais Babri is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, University of the Punjab
- Postgraduate Diploma, The University of Queensland
- Graduate Certificate, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Healthcare professionals' education
Curriculum design and pedagogical strategies for medical, nursing, and allied health programs Inter-professional education and collaborative learning models Simulation-based clinical education and skill acquisition Science of university learning
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Role of technology such as VR in biomedical science education (anatomy, physiology, pathology and pathophysiology)
Innovative teaching methodologies VR in gross anatomy and physiology Assessment and evaluation of anatomical knowledge in clinical contexts Strategies to enhance student participation and feedback-driven teaching Imaging of organs using MRI to develop image repositories Assessment and evaluation of anatomical knowledge in clinical contexts Accessibility and inclusion in digital education for diverse student populations (development of imaging databases)
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Small to medium group teaching
Use of mixed-methods approaches to evaluate teaching practices Qualitative research on student learning experiences and feedback
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Curriculum and assessment design and development
Design and impact of authentic assessments in clinical education Integration of virtual surgical skills and patient-based scenarios in teaching
Research impacts
My research transforms how anatomy and clinical skills are taught by leveraging technology and innovative teaching methods. Below are key examples of how my work has created real-world impact:
1. Advancing Anatomy Education Through Technology
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Virtual Reality (VR) Classrooms: Developed VR tools to enhance student engagement in anatomy education, supported by $8.5K in grants. Early results show improved learning outcomes, particularly for students who struggle with traditional methods.
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High-Resolution Image Repositories: Created a digital library of cadaveric scans (funded by $55.3K) to make anatomy education more accessible. This resource is now used by multiple universities across Australasia.
2. Improving Teaching Practices & Student Success
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Led 7 research projects (total $36K in grants) to evaluate and refine anatomy assessments, ensuring they are fair, inclusive, and effective.
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Findings from these studies have been adopted by the Gross Anatomy Evaluations Network (GAEN), a coalition of 28 universities working to standardize anatomy education.
3. National & International Recognition
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Presented research at 15+ conferences, including the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) and ANZAHPE, influencing educators worldwide.
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Awarded $5K in travel grants to share best practices in New Zealand and South Korea, strengthening global collaborations.
4. Supporting the Next Generation of Researchers
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Supervised students whose work on surgical simulation and ward-round teaching methods earned scholarships and conference presentations.
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One honours student received an ANZACA Travel Grant ($800) to present findings on improving clinical training.
Why This Matters
My research doesn’t just stay in the lab—it directly improves how students learn, making medical education more engaging, equitable, and effective. By blending technology with proven teaching strategies, I’m helping shape the future of healthcare training.
Works
Search Professor Awais Babri’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Conference Publication
When one size does not fit all: Creative enablers to achieve diversity equity and inclusion in health professional education
Vnuk, Anna, Babri, Awais Saleem, Michael, Sowbhagya, Lim, Lichin, Lim, David, Jain, Neera, Wong, Pauline, Choi, Tammie, Castro de Jong, Daniela and Gallego, Gisselle (2024). When one size does not fit all: Creative enablers to achieve diversity equity and inclusion in health professional education. ANZAHPE 2024, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 1-4 July 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Enhancing inclusivity in anatomy education through magnetic resonance imaging repository
Babri, Awais Saleem, Chan, Amy, Al Najjar, Aiman, Vegh, Viktor and Midwinter, Mark (2024). Enhancing inclusivity in anatomy education through magnetic resonance imaging repository. ANZACA 2024, Dubbo, NSW, Australia, 3-5 December 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Unpacking the nursing curriculum: Is there room for pathology?
Babri, Awais Saleem, Chan, Amy, Chan, Vanessa Weng Chi, Li, Shirley Xue'er, Midwinter, Mark, Noor, Halima and Vuu, Michelle (2024). Unpacking the nursing curriculum: Is there room for pathology?. ANZACA2024, Dubbo, NSW, Australia, 3-5 December 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Extrapolating the role of surface electromyography: A protocol for standardised data normalisation for surgical research
Msayer, Ali, Babri, Awais Saleem and Midwinter, Mark (2024). Extrapolating the role of surface electromyography: A protocol for standardised data normalisation for surgical research. ANZACA2024, Dubbo, NSW, Australia, 3-5 December 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Is virtual reality the new norm for teaching gross anatomy?
Babri, Awais Saleem and Midwinter, Mark (2024). Is virtual reality the new norm for teaching gross anatomy?. IFAA2024, Gwangju, Republic of Korea, 5-8 September 2024.
2023
Conference Publication
Does mixed reality have the potential to reconnect learners with human gross anatomy
Babri, Awais Saleem and Midwinter, Mark (2023). Does mixed reality have the potential to reconnect learners with human gross anatomy. ANZACA+APICA2023, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 30 November - 3 December 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Is student collaboration to develop assessments likely to turn the tides?
Babri, Awais Saleem, Cosgrove, Karine, Midwinter, Mark, Gilmour, Saskia, Sun, Ruijie, Huang, Wanyun and Waldie, Luke (2023). Is student collaboration to develop assessments likely to turn the tides?. ANZAHPE2023, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 26-29 June 2023.
2022
Conference Publication
Image repositories a potential new norm for anatomy education- A collaborative pilot
Babri, Awais Saleem and Midwinter, Mark (2022). Image repositories a potential new norm for anatomy education- A collaborative pilot. ANZACA 2022, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7-9 December 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Mapping and integrating MD- Nervous System (MD-NS) curriculum to improve leaner outcomes- A staff student partnership (SSP)
Babri, Awais Saleem, Boey, Foo Shen, Buiza, Aaron, Penfold, Charlotte Rose, Yonus, Spinghar and Midwinter, Mark (2022). Mapping and integrating MD- Nervous System (MD-NS) curriculum to improve leaner outcomes- A staff student partnership (SSP). ANZAHPE 2022, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 11, 13 and 19 July 2022.
2021
Conference Publication
Investigating the application of virtual reality (VR) to develop innovative and blended classrooms in human gross anatomy- A pilot study
Babri, Awais Saleem and Midwinter, Mark (2021). Investigating the application of virtual reality (VR) to develop innovative and blended classrooms in human gross anatomy- A pilot study. ANZACA 2021, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 1-3 December 2021.
2020
Conference Publication
Designing retrospective analysis of examination items for medical students in clinical science categorisation by Bloom’s Taxonomy, clinical relevance and student perceptions
Li, Joan, Reddy, Venkat, Steele, Megan, Forster, Ashlee, Oancea, Ilulia, Midwinter, Mark, Aland, Claire, Pillai, Suja, Simpson, Peter, Babri, Saleem and Barry, Ben (2020). Designing retrospective analysis of examination items for medical students in clinical science categorisation by Bloom’s Taxonomy, clinical relevance and student perceptions. ANZAHPE2020, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 12-15 July 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Evaluating a combination of simulated patients and flipped classroom hybrid pedagogy to enhance learning in a nursing cohort
Babri, Awais Saleem (2020). Evaluating a combination of simulated patients and flipped classroom hybrid pedagogy to enhance learning in a nursing cohort. Australia NewZealand Association of Health Professionals Education, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 12 July 2020. Melbourne, Australia: ANZAHPE.
2019
Conference Publication
Evaluation of flipped classroom as a pedagogical instrument to enhance higher-order thinking in masters of nursing cohort- A Qualitative Study
Babri, Awais Saleem (2019). Evaluation of flipped classroom as a pedagogical instrument to enhance higher-order thinking in masters of nursing cohort- A Qualitative Study. ANZACA, Perth, Australia, 4-6 December 2019.
2014
Book
Clinical examination: a systematic guide to physical diagnosis
Awais Saleem Babri and Janice Elliot eds. (2014). Clinical examination: a systematic guide to physical diagnosis. Chatswood, Australia: Elsevier.
2012
Journal Article
Using student-generated questions for student-centred assessment
Papinczak, Tracey, Peterson, Raymond F., Babri, Awais Saleem, Ward, Kym, Kippers, Vaughan and Wilkinson, David (2012). Using student-generated questions for student-centred assessment. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 34 (4), 439-452. doi: 10.1080/02602938.2010.538666
2011
Journal Article
Students generating questions for their own written examinations
Papinczak, Tracey, Babris, A.S., Peterson, Ray, Kippers, Vaughan and Wilkinson, David (2011). Students generating questions for their own written examinations. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 16 (5), 703-710. doi: 10.1007/s10459-009-9196-9
2009
Conference Publication
Using student generated questions to enhance learning in the MBBS program
Babri, Awais Saleem, Papinczak, Tracey, Peterson, Raymond, Kippers, Vaughan and Wilkinson, David (2009). Using student generated questions to enhance learning in the MBBS program. ANZAME2009, Launceston, TAS Australia, 25-28 June 2009.
2008
Journal Article
Strain in the tibial and plantar nerves with foot and ankle movements and the influence of adjacent joint positions
Alshami, A. M., Babri, A. S., Souvlis, T. and Coppieters, M. W. (2008). Strain in the tibial and plantar nerves with foot and ankle movements and the influence of adjacent joint positions. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 24 (4), 368-376. doi: 10.1123/jab.24.4.368
2008
Book
School of Medicine clinical skills program handbook
Aland, R. C., Babri, S., Bennett, S., Colbrook, P., Callaway, L. K., Fitzgerald, J. R., Forbes, K., Hutchinson, A., Kippers, V., Knaggs, R., Landmann, J., Lewis, A., McGill, J., McPhee, B., Mitchell, C., Moore, D., Ozolins, I., Rego, P., Schafer, J., Spooner, A., Thornton, E., Turner, J., Walker, P., WIlkinson, D. and Wood, W. (2008). School of Medicine clinical skills program handbook. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: School of Medicine, The University of Queensland.
2007
Other Outputs
Structural and functional properties of peripheral nerves of the human lower limb
Babri, Saleem A. (2007). Structural and functional properties of peripheral nerves of the human lower limb. PhD Thesis, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/151551
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Awais Babri is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Using technology to enhance delivery of anatomy
This project design has been approved by the UQHREC (Reference 2020000058). This study is designed with input from learning designer, statistician and clinically qualified professionals. It is anticipated that data collection should complete within a twelve month period witht he required nuumber of participants (n=40). This project was granted TIG funding in late 2022.
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Using ward round pedagogy to improve lecture delivery
This project design has been approved by the UQHREC (Reference 2020000534). Using evidence based pedagogy we anticipate to produce a remarkable design that will assist in improving the lecture delivery methodologies and enhance student experiences.
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Eye tracking to understand learner behaviours when examining x-rays
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Developing image respository of human cadaveric organs
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Using technology to enhance delivery of anatomy
This project design has been approved by the UQHREC (Reference 2020000058). This study is designed with input from learning designer, statistician and clinically qualified professionals. It is anticipated that data collection should complete within a twelve month period witht he required nuumber of participants (n=40). This project was granted TIG funding in late 2022.
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Using ward round pedagogy to improve lecture delivery
This project design has been approved by the UQHREC (Reference 2024/HE001955). Using evidence based pedagogy we anticipate to produce a remarkable design that will assist in improving the lecture delivery methodologies and enhance student experiences.
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Eye tracking to understand learner behaviours when examining x-rays
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Developing image respository of human cadaveric organs
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Using virtual reality to enhance delivery of anatomy
This project design has been approved by the UQHREC (Reference 2020000058). This study is designed with input from learning designer, statistician and clinically qualified professionals. This project was granted TIG funding in late 2022. The pilot is completed and the next step is developed to create image repositores for virtual labs.
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Using ward round pedagogy to improve lecture delivery
This project design has been approved by the UQHREC (Reference 2024/HE001955). Using evidence based pedagogy we anticipate to produce a remarkable design that will assist in improving the lecture delivery methodologies and enhance student experiences. Currently a student is progressing this project during honours.
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Eye tracking to understand learner behaviours when examining x-rays
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Developing image respository of human cadaveric organs
This project is supported by UQ TIG grant (2024-2025) and has been approved by UQHREC.
Media
Enquiries
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