Dr Awais Babri
Dr

Awais Babri

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 51753

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:

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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).

  • 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

Allied health and rehabilitation science Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Clinical sciences Health Sciences Medical physiology Midwifery Neurosciences Nursing Other biomedical and clinical sciences Sports science and exercise

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

  • 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

  • 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)

  • Small to medium group teaching

    Use of mixed-methods approaches to evaluate teaching practices Qualitative research on student learning experiences and feedback

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Led 7 research projects (total $36K in grants) to evaluate and refine anatomy assessments, ensuring they are fair, inclusive, and effective.

  • 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

  • Presented research at 15+ conferences, including the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) and ANZAHPE, influencing educators worldwide.

  • 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

  • Supervised students whose work on surgical simulation and ward-round teaching methods earned scholarships and conference presentations.

  • 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.

Search Professor Awais Babri’s works on UQ eSpace

25 works between 2001 and 2024
All (25) Journal Article (5) Conference Publication (17) Book (2) Other Outputs (1)

21 - 25 of 25 works

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

Structural and functional properties of peripheral nerves of the human lower limb

2006

Journal Article

Strain and excursion of the sciatic, tibial, and plantar nerves during a modified straight leg raising test

Coppieters, M. W., Alshami, A. M., Babri, A. S., Souvlis, T., Kippers, V. and Hodges, P. W. (2006). Strain and excursion of the sciatic, tibial, and plantar nerves during a modified straight leg raising test. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 24 (9), 1883-1889. doi: 10.1002/jor.20210

Strain and excursion of the sciatic, tibial, and plantar nerves during a modified straight leg raising test

2004

Conference Publication

Morphometric analyses of collagen content in the peripheral nerves of the human lower limb

Kippers, V., Babri, A. S. and Bennett, M. B. (2004). Morphometric analyses of collagen content in the peripheral nerves of the human lower limb. 16th International Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA 2004): Morphological Sciences as the Basis of New Life Science in the 21st Century, Kyoto International Conference Hall, Kyoto, Japan, 22-27 August, 2004. Victoria, Australia: Blackwell Publishing Asia.

Morphometric analyses of collagen content in the peripheral nerves of the human lower limb

2003

Conference Publication

Longitudinal Excursion of Peripheral Nerves of the Human Lower Limb

Babri, A. S., Kippers, V. and Bennett, M. (2003). Longitudinal Excursion of Peripheral Nerves of the Human Lower Limb. 19th Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 6-11 July 2003. Dunedin, N.Z.: University of Otago.

Longitudinal Excursion of Peripheral Nerves of the Human Lower Limb

2001

Conference Publication

Length changes in lower limb peripheral nerves related to joint motion

Babri, S., Kippers, V. and Bennett, M. B. (2001). Length changes in lower limb peripheral nerves related to joint motion. 2001 Queensland State Conference Sports Medicine in the New Millennium, Coolum, Queensland, Australia, 23-25 March, 2001. Brisbane, Australia: Sports Medicine Australia (Queensland Branch).

Length changes in lower limb peripheral nerves related to joint motion

Availability

Dr Awais Babri is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Eye tracking to understand learner behaviours when examining x-rays

  • Developing image respository of human cadaveric organs

    This project is supported by UQ TIG grant (2024-2025) and has been approved by UQHREC.

Enquiries

Contact Dr Awais Babri directly for media enquiries about their areas of expertise.

Need help?

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

communications@uq.edu.au