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Clara Jiang is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland. Clara’s research focuses on using genomic and transcriptomic analysis to investigate the genetic basis of cardiovascular and psychiatric disorders, with a particular focus on female health, as well as using statistical genomic approaches to explore possible opportunities for drug repurposing. Clara graduated from the University of Queensland with Bachelor of Advanced Science (First Class Honours) in 2017, and was awarded the University Medal. Clara was awarded her PhD at the University of Queensland in 2021, where she utilised bioinformatic approaches and molecular experiments to decipher the genetic aetiology of breast cancer, specifically the regulatory role of transposons or ‘jumping genes’ in modulating the transcriptional landscape in the cancer state. Clara is also a UQ Wellness ambassador and an advocate for promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in academia.

Dr Wenying (Wendy) Jiang taught at the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Alberta in Canada and The University of Western Australia in Perth before taking a position at School of Languages and Cultures at The University of Queensland in Australia. She is a specialist in Applied Linguistics, a graduate of Qufu Normal University (BA 1988, MA 1998) in China, University of Luton (MA 2001) in UK and The University of Queensland (PhD 2006) in Australia. She taught English at Taishan Medical University in China for more than ten years before switching to teaching Chinese as a foreign language in English-speaking countries such as the UK, Canada and Australia. She has been publishing regularly in the fields of second language acquisition, language teaching and learning, and computer assisted language learning (CALL) since 1992. Her monograph "Acquisition of Word Order in Chinese as a Foreign Language" was published by Mouton de Gruyter in 2009. Her article "Measurements of development of L2 written production: the case of Chinese L2" appeared in the journal Applied Linguistics in 2013 is a widely cited piece of publication.

Dr. Jin is a mid-career researcher with expertise in organic photonics and electronics, with a focus on organic photovoltaics. She began her postdoctoral career at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (2008–2010), before joining the Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics at The University of Queensland in 2010. There, she led the development of large-area organic solar cells. Her current research focuses on organic and perovskite optoelectronic materials and devices, including transparent conductive electrodes for flexible applications.

Jenny is a Research Fellow at The University of Queensland-Mater Research Institute’s Centre for Health System Reform and Integration. Her research focus is evaluating the implementation of remote and digitally delivered health services, and diet and physical activity behaviour interventions. Between 2010 - 2020 Jenny was a researcher at The University of Queensland’s School of Public Health with the Cancer Prevention Research Centre conducting and evaluating broad reach, remotely delivered lifestyle interventions (e.g. delivered via telephone and text messages) to achieve and maintain weight loss and behaviour change in adults with complex chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cancer. Jenny’s PhD ‘Evaluating text message-delivered, extended contact interventions targeting healthy weight, diet and physical activity behaviour’ focused on a digitally delivered intervention with evaluation of outcomes important to informing translation into practice. Jenny has extensive experience in public hospitals, private settings and community sectors as an Accredited Practicing Dietitian working in maternal and child health, and chronic disease management.

Dr Anne Jobling is part of an on-going research team examining the development and longer term adjustment of adolescents and young adults with Down Syndrome. This research project is the longest running study of its kind in the world.

I am an ARC Future Fellow and Group Leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland (UQ). I received my PhD (with distinction) from the University of Helsinki, Finland, in 2014 and joined UQ in 2015. My research has been supported by prestigious fellowships, including an Academy of Finland Postdoctoral Fellowship, ARC DECRA, UQ Amplify Fellowship and ARC Future Fellowship (2026).

My laboratory investigates the cellular mechanisms that sustain brain function and contribute to neurological disease. Our research challenges longstanding assumptions about brain energy metabolism by demonstrating that neurons use fatty acids to generate energy, revealing a previously underappreciated pathway supporting synaptic function and cognition. These discoveries open new avenues for understanding and potentially treating neurological disorders associated with impaired lipid metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Combining advanced imaging, molecular and cell biology, human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and organoid models, we investigate how genetic and environmental disturbances disrupt neuronal function. Our research spans inherited neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, and viral infections.

Our goal is to translate fundamental discoveries into therapeutic strategies that restore neuronal function and improve outcomes for people living with neurological disease.

Laurel is a spatial and social planner with over 30 years of experience as a practitioner and an educator/researcher. Laurel has led, designed and participated in over 60 applied research projects. Many of those research projects guide and influence the policies and programs of various Australian Local and State governments and non-Government organisations in the fields of social infrastructure, social planning, urban planning and transport provision.

Invertebrate Virology

Insects are commonly infected with viruses. We study the interactions between viruses and their insect or arthropod hosts.

Viruses are obligate parasites, that is, they are completely dependent on the host cell machinery to complete their replication cycle. During infection, viruses commonly cause pathology in the host. For these reasons, viruses and hosts are in a constant evolutionary arms race. The host evolves antiviral mechanisms to prevent virus infection, while the virus adapts to overcome these host responses. Insects are ideal hosts to understand both the host response and the virus mechanisms for controlling the host.

My research group investigates the interactions between viruses and insects, primarily using Drosophila as a model. In this model we can control the genetics of both the host and the virus to tease apart the contribution of each partner to the interaction.

We discovered that a bacterium, Wolbachia, mediated antiviral protection in insects. We have several projects investigating both the mechanisms that protect the insects from virus infection and the impact of this protection on virus transmission.

Professor David Johnson PSM

MB BS (Hons, Univ Medal), PhD (Syd), DMed(Res), FASN, FISN, FAHMS, FRACP

Department of Kidney and Transplant Services, Division of Medicine, Building 31, Princess Alexandra Hospital

david.johnson2@health.qld.gov.au

David Johnson is full-time Director of the Metro South Kidney and Transplant Service (MSKATS) and Medical Director of the Queensland Kidney Transplant Service (QKTS) at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Professor of Medicine and Professor of Population Health at University of Queensland, and Director of the Centre for Kidney Disease Research in Brisbane, Australia. He has a number of international leadership responsibilities, including Co-Chair of the International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN GKHA), Co-Chair of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) Guidelines on Peritonitis Prevention and Treatment, Co-Chair of the Global PDOPPS Steering Committee, Chair of SONG-PD, Chair of the Australasian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN), Immediate Past President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN), Past President of the ISPD (2018-2020), Past Councillor of the ISN (2013-2019), and member of the ISN-ACT, ISN Research and ISN Monitor groups. He is currently a chair or member of 11 national and 11 international guideline groups and is ranked by Expertscape as the “top-rated expert in dialysis in the world during the years 2013-2023.” He has influenced policy and practice through his leadership as Deputy Chair of the Australian Better Evidence And Translation in Chronic Kidney Disease (BEAT-CKD) program, Chair of the Primary Healthcare Education Advisory Committee to Kidney Health Australia (PEAK), Co-Chair of the Australasian Creatinine and eGFR Consensus Working Party, Co-Chair of the Australasian Proteinuria Consensus Working Party, Member and Past-Chair of the ANZDATA Registry Peritoneal Dialysis Working Group, and Past-Chair of the Queensland Statewide Renal Clinical Network.

Having published over 1300 original manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and presented over 570 abstracts at national and international scientific meetings, he brings critical expertise in designing and conducting multi-centre, multi-national randomised controlled trials (RCTs), developing national and international registries, using innovative research methodologies (such as registry-based RCTs) and implementing trial findings into practice. He has held lead roles in high-impact, large, multi-centre RCTs that have informed global clinical practice, including CKD-FIX, IDEAL, balANZ, HONEYPOT, TESTING, HERO, BEST-FLUIDS and IMPENDIA. He is currently principal investigator of the TEACH-PD and INCH-HD trials, and chair of the PHOSPHATE and INCH-HD and co-chair of the STEP-PD Trial Global Steering Committees. He helped establish the Australian Peritonitis Registry and led the highly successful National PD Peritonitis Quality Improvement Project, which reduced national peritonitis rates by two-thirds. He also led the universal implementation of automated laboratory reporting of eGFR in ANZ which increased national detection rates by 40%. Globally, he has co-led the ISN-GKHA project which for 10 years has enabled data-driven advocacy, informed WHO and UN policy, driven policy change in many countries and fundamentally changed how kidney care is measured, discussed and planned worldwide.

He has won numerous awards for both his basic science and clinical research science studies, including the ANZSN TJ Neale Award for “outstanding contributions to nephrologic science” (2005), the US National Kidney Foundation International Distinguished Medal (2014), the Canadian Society of Nephrology Dimitrios Oreopoulos Award (2017), the Asia-Pacific Society of Nephrology Priscilla Kincaid-Smith Award (2021) and the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis Oreopoulos Award (2026). He was a Queensland finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards in 2009 and was awarded a Public Service Medal by the Governor-General of Australia in 2011 for outstanding public service, particularly research into the early detection and management of kidney disease.