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Dr Julie Wixey is a Senior Research Fellow at the Perinatal Research Centre and Group Leader in fetal growth restriction research at The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR). She currently holds an NHMRC Investigator grant (2023-2027). Her research focusses on mechanisms, detection, and treatment of brain injury in fetally growth restricted babies.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR), where a fetus fails to grow normally in utero, is a leading cause of death and long-term disability with around 32 million babies born FGR globally each year. The fetal brain is particularly vulnerable to FGR conditions, and adverse outcomes cause life-long difficulties ranging from schooling and behavioural issues to cerebral palsy. These disabilities occur in up to 50% of FGR infants and have significant impacts on their lives. There is no treatment to protect the FGR newborn brain.

Dr Wixey is investigating how inflammation is associated with brain injury in the growth restricted newborn. She is examining novel detection methods of brain injury and applying different treatments to the clinically relevant growth restriction animal model, targeting both inflammation and blood brain barrier integrity to protect the vulnerable newborn brain.

Research Projects

• Mechanisms of brain injury in growth restriction

• Novel detection methods of brain injury in the growth restricted newborn using blood biomarkers

• Treatments to protect the growth restricted newborn from adverse brain outcomes

Dr. Charles Woffinden completed his PhD in experimental physics at the University of York in 2010, under the supervision of Prof. Steve Tear. His doctoral research involved investigating the electronic and magnetic properties of novel surfaces and nanomaterials.

From 2009 to 2019, he worked as an engineer and product development manager at Teledyne e2v, developing imaging systems for space and scientific applications.

In 2020, he joined the group of Prof. Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop at the University of Queensland, and is currently based in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) in the Bose Einstein Condensation Laboratory.

Dr Woldeyohannes is an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland since November 2022 where he worked as postdoctoral researcher from January 2019 to July 2022. Currently, he is a Research Fellow in the School of Translational Medicine, Monash University. In his role, he investigates the inequalities around access to health services by patient with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).

Dr Juliane Wolf obtained her Bachelor degree in Biotechnology-Bioprocess Engineering at the Anhalt University of Applied Science, Germany, in 2008 and completed her Master degree in Biotechnology-Molecular Biology at the Westaehlische Wilhelms Universitaet Muenster, Germany, in 2010. She went on to obtain her PhD at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) at The University of Queensland, Australia, in 2015, where she continued as a postdoctoral researcher. She took a researcher career break from 2018-20 to look after her children and work as an international industry consultant.

Dr Juliane Wolf is a microalgae specialist and manages the Centre for Solar Biotechnology (CSB) Pilot Plant since 2020. Her research focus is on the development of high-efficiency microalgae production systems and automated robotic screening systems. Her work has played an integral role in the establishment of the Centre for Solar Biotechnology (CSB) for which she provides scientific expertise in bioprocess engineering (bioreactor scale up and operation, process design and development), biology (bio-prospecting, optimisation of culturing and production conditions, physiology) and biochemistry. Her research drives the development of high-throughput screening assays for the optimisation of nutrients, light and temperature which are critical to up-scaling the production of photosynthetic microorganisms. More recently her projects focus on the integration of microalgae biotechnologies into industries that support a circular bioeconomy by building new comprehensive techno-economic and life-cycle analysis platforms. This includes leading interdisciplinary teams to drive the development of data-driven models (incl. machine learning techniques) to optimise process design and control leading to the build up of digital twins.

Associate Professor Joy Wolfram leads an extracellular vesicle research program with the goal of developing innovative approaches that bring the next generation of medicines directly to the clinic to alter the trajectory of life-threatening diseases, improve patient outcomes, and prolong healthy lifespans. Wolfram has joint appointments in the School of Chemical Engineering and the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at The University of Queensland, Australia (#41 in Best Global Universities, U.S. News & World Report).

MISSION

1) Develop a new paradigm of therapeutics (using nanotechnology and cell products) to treat life-threatening diseases that are major causes of death globally, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and breast cancer

2) Save lives by manufacturing at scale, by delivering national manufacturing innovation and a skilled workforce

3) Work with a multidisciplinary team and industry partners to position Australia as a global leader in extracellular vesicle medicine

Extracellular vesicles are small biomolecular packages that are crucial for intercellular communication (locally and systemically). Extracellular vesicles have promising potential to be leveraged and engineered to provide a new paradigm of therapeutics that outperform conventional pharmaceuticals due to versatile bioactive cargo. The Wolfram Laboratory is leveraging innovations in manufacturing, biological mechanisms, and drug loading of extracellular vesicles to develop therapeutics.

FOCUS AREAS

1) Developing improved methods for extracellular vesicle isolation from human biofluids

2) Designing hybrid drug delivery systems with extracellular vesicle and synthetic components for a ‘best-of-both-worlds’ approach to treat cardiovascular disease and aging kidney disease

3) Understanding the role of extracellular vesicles in cancer immunoevasion and metastasis

The research program has resulted in more than 100 publications in journals, such as, Nature Nanotechnology, Materials Today, and Nature Reviews Materials. These publications have been cited 16,800 times (Google Scholar). The Wolfram Laboratory has collaborated with 160 universities and industry partners across 45 countries (Scopus). The research program has also been featured in more than 100 presentations at scientific meetings, including 80+ invited talks and nine international keynote talks.

Wolfram is actively involved in community outreach and education, including in her previous roles as the Chair of an education and outreach working group of the National Institutes of Health in the United States and the Associate Program Director of the PhD Program in Regenerative Sciences at Mayo Clinic (Best Hospital in the World, Newsweek). As a TED speaker, she strives to bring science to a wide audience.

She has received 40+ awards from nine countries, including the 2016 Amgen Scholars Ten to Watch List (best and brightest up-and-comers in science and medicine across 42 countries), the 2019 Forbes 30 under 30 list in Health Care in the United States/Canada, the 2019 shortlist for the Nature Research Award for Inspiring Science (one of ten worldwide), and the 2021 Finnish Expatriate of the Year (past recipients include Nobel Memorial Prize winners, Millennium Technology Prize winners, and Formula 1 drivers). She is in the top 1% of researchers worldwide in the categories of ‘Biology & Biochemistry’ and ‘Pharmacology & Toxicology' (Essential Science Indicators, 2023) and in the top 0.5% in 'Extracellular Vesicles' (ScholarGPS 5/2024).

Professor Wolvetang is an international leader in the area of pluripotent stem cell biology and human functional genomics. he initiated and leads Cell Reprogramming Australia, a collaborative framework that facilitates induced pluripotent stem cell research in Australa and is co-director of the UQ Centre in Stem Cell Ageing and Regenerative Engineering (StemCARE). He has extensive expertise in reprogramming somatic cells, differentiation and tissue engineering with adult, embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, genome manipulation with CRISPR, molecular biology, transcriptome analysis, high content image analysis, development and use of microfluidic devices for cell analysis, nanoparticle and scaffold design and delivery, and stem cell and cell-free regenerative medicine approaches.Professor Wolvetang has been instrumental in establishing and enabling the technology for derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells across Australia. Professor Wolvetang made the strategic decision to focus on the generation of induced pluripotent stem from patients with neurological and cardiac disorders because live human cells from such patients can usually not be obtained whereas induced pluripotent stem cells have the ability to generate every cell type of the human brain in unlimited amounts and can recapitulate the disease in the dish. Induced pluripotent stem cells combined with emerging technologies such as CRISPR-based genome editing offers a unique opportunity to study the role of individual genes and combinatorial gene regulatory pathways in the eatiology of monogenic and complex brain disorders. Indeed, combined with RNA-seq and organoid generation we are now for the first time able to gain insight into gene regulatory pathways operational in individual brain cell types of healthy and diseased individuals, investigate the connectivity and function of cells, as well as pinpoint where and when during early development such deregulated pathways lead to pathological changes. Induced pluripotent stem cells further not only provide insight into the underlying pathogenesis of neurological disorders but also constitute a valuable drugscreening platform and, following CRISPR-based gene correction, can form the basis of patient specific cellular therapies for currently incurable diseases.

Professor Wolvetang received his PhD in 1992 from the Department of Biochemistry, University of Amsterdam for his original work on peroxisomal disease (6 papers). He undertook postdoctoral studies at the Department of Biochemistry and the Institute for Reproduction and Development of Monash University, investigating apoptosis, Down syndrome and Ets transcription factors, respectively, obtaining the first evidence for an intra-chromosomal regulatory loop on chromosome 21 involving Ets2 (3 papers), and revealing the role of p53 in immune-suppression in Down syndrome (Hum Mol. Genetics). He then joined Prof Martin Pera in the Australian Stem Cell Centre in 2003 to pioneer human embryonic stem cell research in Australia, resulting in a first author Nature Biotechnology paper in 2006 identifying CD30 as a marker for genetically abnormal hESC (72 cites). He was appointed group leader of the Basic human stem cell biology laboratory in the ASCC research laboratory and senior lecturer in the Department of Anatomy and Cell biology until he accepted his current position as an independent group leader at the AIBN and Professor in stem cell biology at the University of Queensland in 2008. There he started to generate integration-free induced pluripotent stem cells from human neurological diseases such as ataxia-telangiectasia (Stem cells translational medicine). In recognition of his leadership role in this area of research he was appointed leader of the “Reprogramming and Induction of pluripotency” Collaborative Stream of the Australian Stem Cell Centre until the end of that initiative in 2011, coordinating collaborative research between eight stem cell laboratories across Australia. He subsequently initiated and is now the president of Cell Reprogramming Australia, a collaborative framework aiming to facilitate and accelerate iPS cell research in Australia and the Asia pacific region and inform the general public about reprogramming technology. His research continues to combine cell reprogramming technology, genome editing/analysis tools and microfluidic/nanoparticle based detection/ delivery technologies with the aim of creating human in vitro models of disease, unravel the underlying gene regulatory networks and enable novel cell- and delivery-based therapeutics, respectively. He further co-direct the UQ-Centre for stem cell ageing and regenerative engineering (UQ-StemCARE).

Wing-Fai is a multidisciplinary scholar with a PhD in History. He holds academic qualifications and professional skills in computer engineering, electronic commerce, built environment and design. Originally, he was an information technology professional with a strong interest in Chinese metaphysics practised in Australia. While working in IT in various universities he continued to undertake research on Chinese geomancy (fengshui 風水) and chronomancy (zeri 擇日) in the everyday lives of Chinese Australasians. His research interest is in the ritual revolution of Chinese metaphysical culture due to the influence of cross-cultural interaction. At present he is an Honorary Fellow in the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry. His current research focuses on cross-cultural influences in the metaphysical contents of the Dunhuang manuscripts.

Dr. Yee Weng Wong is a clinical cardiologist with sub-specialty interests in cardiomyopathy, heart failure, cardiac transplantation and adult mechanical circulatory support.

In addition to his clinical interest, Dr Wong is an early career clinician researcher, with focus on translational research in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure and development of novel therapeutic targets. Dr Wong is also committed in bringing his clinical and quantitative perspective to healthcare system improvement and implementation science initiatives.

• Medical doctor with specialist registration in both Rural Generalist Medicine and Medical Administration.
• Significant experience in First Nations Health, Primary Care, Anaesthesia, Retrieval Medicine.
• Medical Educator with specific interest in Simulation, Debriefing and Assessment.

​Dr James Wood's research focuses primarily on the design and synthesis of organic ligands to complex inorganic radioisotopes for radiopharmaceutical applications. His work spans across the design and synthesis of these ligands, through to radiolabelling of these compounds and assessing them within animal models. He is particularly interested in applications of these ligands that grant greater flexability or utility to diagnostic and therapeutic platforms.

James works within the ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals at the Centre for Advanced Imaging, working with industry partners to excelerate the production of novel radiopharmaceuticals.

Dr. Ian Wood’s research interests are in classification, bioinformatics, stochastic optimisation, machine learning and mixture models.

He received his PhD from the University of Queensland in 2004.

Carolyn is a theoretical physicist studying quantum information and quantum foundations. She grew up in central Queensland and holds bachelor’s degrees in physics (UQ) and applied linguistics (Griffith University). She completed her PhD in physics at the University of Queensland.

Her research is focused on physics at the interface between quantum mechanics, general relativity and thermodynamics, quantum machine learning, and the applications of both to quantum information theory and quantum computing. She is also broadly interested in artificial intelligence, and cross-disciplinary research combining physics and linguistics.

Carolyn was awarded a Deborah Jin Research Fellowship by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) in 2022.

Ben has been working with food production animals his entire career in both a clinical and research capacity. Initially, a mixed animal practitioner in northern NSW and the UK, he went on to complete a PhD in beef cattle genetics at UNE (Armidale). He then moved to Canada to work in research and development with Hendrix Genetics in poultry genetics. While in Canada he was an adjunct with the Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock (CGIL) at the University of Guelph and continues in that position supervising HDR candidates. He has been a registered veterinarian the UK, Canada and Australia and has experience across Europe and the Americas.

Research interests have included production animal disease diagnosis and control, economic modelling, breeding program design, phenotype optimisation and the application of genomics.

James Woodforde is a lecturer in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at The University of Queensland. His research centres on physical activity in children and young people, with a specific focus on the school setting. James’s PhD research examined physical activity in the before-school segment, drawing on a variety of data sources and engaging with school stakeholders to develop a comprehensive understanding of physical activity patterns and influences during this time of day.

Will is a University of Queensland Amplify Research Fellow and recent ARC DECRA holder (DE190101182). His research aims to bridge scales for remotely sensing dynamic vegetation productivity and health. Will is the Principal Investigator of the CSIRO/TERN-OzFlux Tumbarumba tall forest research site. Now in its 24th year it is one of Australia’s longest continuously running flux tower sites and rated equal second globally for verification of environmental satellite products [1]. Previously Will held the position of Research Scientist at CSIRO, after commencing as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in 2015.

Will has experience with a range of passive and active remote sensing technologies including combining LiDAR, optical- and thermal-imagery for estimating vegetation structure and function. His current research focuses on scaling observations of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) from leaf to canopy scales at flux tower sites. He is based in the Earth Observation Research Centre at UQ.

Please also feel free to get in touch with Will to discuss potential collaborations.

[1] Camacho, F., Román, M.O., Nickeson, J., Göttsche, F.-M., Ducanson, L., Sanchez-Azofeifa, G.A., Woodgate, W., Karan, M., Descalzo, L.d.l.M., & Monzo, C.D. (2018). Proposition of CEOS LPV Super Sites for Validation of Biophysical Satellite Products. Paper presented at the ESA LPVE - Land Product Validation and Evolution 2018, ESA/ESRIN, Frascati, Italy. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.10375.50087