News and Events
Gates Foundation grant success - Advancing menstrual health innovation
Western Sydney University has secured a prestigious Gates Foundation grant through the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative, supporting work under the Women’s Health stream.
Professor Robert Gorkin (THRI) will lead the project titled Innovating Menstrual Health Management: Implementing Clinically Informed Absorbency Standards & Digital Diaries. The initiative aims to empower women and healthcare professionals by improving how menstrual bleeding is understood and when it may signal a need for medical care.
Professor Gorkin will head an interdisciplinary team, bringing together leading researchers and clinicians across health, technology, and diagnostics. The team includes Associate Professor Mike Armour (NICM, THRI), Associate Professor Carolyn Ee (NICM, THRI), and Dr Millie Mardon (NICM).
Find out more (opens in a new window)
ADA Scientific Session Chicago
American Diabetes Association Poster Presentation
HDR Candidate Ngozika Esther Ezinne (THRI) recently attended the American Diabetes Association Scientific Session held in Chicago from the 20th - 23rd of June where she had the pleasure of presenting her first PhD objective “Ethnic Disparities in the Prevalence of Prediabetes and Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis”. (opens in a new window)
Ezinne stated "The ADA conference was one of the largest I have attended, providing an excellent platform to engage with global scholars and explore potential future collaborations."
Congratulations to our recent graduates!
Dr Colin Ellis
Supervised by: Professor Jane Ussher, Dr Alexandra Hawkey, Professor Janette Perz and Dr Rosalie Power
Thesis Topic: ‘Exploring the effects of cancer on the lives of gay, bisexual, and queer men’.
Dr Andrea Hass
Supervised by: Professor Jane Ussher, Professor Janette Perz and Doctor Rosalie Powers
Thesis topic: ‘The Meaning of Low Sexual Desire: A Qualitative Case-based Study in the Context of Subtle-Body-Oriented Psychotherapy’.
Dr Anton du Toit
Supervised by: Professor Andrew Page, Dr Ante Prodan, Nathaniel Osgood and Geoff McDonnell
Thesis topic: ‘A longitudinal cohort study of psychological wellbeing in university students using ecological momentary assessment and sensor data from smartphones’.
Dr Feleke Hailemichael Astawesegn
Supervised by: Dr Elizabeth Conroy, Associate Professor Virginia Stulz and Dr Haider Mannan
Thesis topic: ‘Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services in East Africa: investigating determinants, inequalities, and effects for scaling-up policy interventions’.
Dr Sam Hogan
Supervised by: Associate Professor Kate McBride, Professor Andrew Page and Dr Sameer Dixit
Thesis topic: ‘Hepatitis B Prevalence, Risk Factors, Stigma and Knowledge within two Diverse Populations in Nepal’.
London Calling 2025
By Chloe Goldsmith (SoSC, THRI)
Attending London Calling 2025, the Oxford Nanopore Technologies conference, was an inspiring and motivating experience. The atmosphere buzzed with innovation, and it was great to be surrounded by researchers pushing the boundaries of genomics.
I had the opportunity to present my work on DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in T cells. This work explored the role of DNA methylation in T cell identification and function, and shed light on their role in tumour initiation. Sharing insights into how epigenetic modifications shape immune responses sparked valuable discussions and connections with fellow scientists. It was particularly rewarding to see how others are applying nanopore sequencing in creative and impactful ways, including real-time diagnostics and deep genome exploration through genomic phasing.
The talks, workshops, and live demos gave a real sense of the pace and potential of the field. Walking away, I felt both proud to contribute and motivated by the collaborative spirit and cutting-edge science on display.
Congratulations to THRI members Dr Sarah Kennedy (SoHS, THRI) and Dr Rosalie Liwela Power (THRI), Professor Rebekah Grace (TeEACH, THRI), Associate Professor Gabriella Heruc (THRI) and their teams on receiving NHMRC funding:
Dr Sarah Kennedy
NHMRC Investigator Grants scheme: Developing muscle-strengthening activity competency in youth: Supporting community health through enhancing knowledge, skills, and behaviour - $688,405
The project will utilise the strong evidence-base for MSA implementation within schools and elite sport, to generate new evidence to inform MSA resources, training and implementation in community grassroots sport. This will provide the next generation of young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to be stronger, more competent movers - able to tackle the current physical inactivity crisis.
Dr Rosalie Liwela Power
NHMRC Investigator Grants scheme: Transforming Sexual Health through co-design with LGBTQ+ People with Intellectual Disability - $688,405
The project focuses on the vital issue of access to sexual healthcare – including accurate, evidence-based information free from stigma and discrimination – for people with intellectual disability who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) and who face intersecting, compounding disadvantages and inequities resulting in their sexual health being overlooked in research, policy, and practice. To address this urgent health priority, in collaboration with LGBTQ+ people with intellectual disability and other key stakeholders, this research program will establish a comprehensive and multi-faceted knowledge base of the sexual health and healthcare needs of LGBTQ+ people with intellectual disability, using arts-based qualitative methods; Address sexual health literacy and healthcare and support needs through translating the findings into actionable practice guidelines and accessible sexual health information resources for LGBTQ+ people with intellectual disability.
Professor Rebekah Grace
NHMRC Collaborations in Health Services Research Grant:
Health services in the spaces that matter most: Cross-sector collaborations in the provision of health services for young children and their families who experience disadvantage - $950,000
The research will focus on one of the most significant challenges within health services, the ‘inverse care law’, in which families who would most benefit from service engagement, those who experience disadvantage and marginalisation, are the least likely to engage with them. The project will explore five different initiatives, all delivered in home and community settings, and all working in integrated ways with other service systems. Collectively they will inform understanding of the best support place-based and integrated models of care.
Professor Grace’s research team includes Western’s Distinguished Professor Lynn Kemp (SoNM, THRI), Associate Professor Elise Baker (SoHS), Dr Nicole Peel (SoHS, THRI), Dr Betty Luu (TeEACH, THRI) and Dr Elisabeth Duursma (TeEACH, THRI).
Associate Professor Gabriella Heruc
NHMRC 2024 MRFF Early to Mid-Career Researchers Initiative: SHiNE - Supporting Healthful Initiatives in Nutrition Education - $990,000
Utilising knowledge translation and co-design principles, the project is set to develop urgently needed world-first guidelines on safe nutrition messaging for schools. Working in partnership with teachers, parents and young people, the project will deliver positive nutrition messages to support the wellbeing of young people.
Hosted by the School of Medicine and THRI, the project is led by A/Prof Gabriella Heruc and supported by a dedicated team of researchers, including Chief Investigators Dr. Catharine Fleming, Dr. Sarah Kennedy, Dr Lyza Norton, and Dr. Kirrilly Pursey, in collaboration with an incredible group of associate investigators (A/Prof Deb Mitchison, Prof Tracy Burrows, Dr Tetyana Rocks, Dr Zali Yager, A/Prof Deana Leahy, Prof Robert Gorkin, A/Prof Megan Warin, Kylie Burton, Julia Rossi, Alexi Cross) and partner organisations (University of Newcastle, Dietitians Australia, ACHPER Australia, The Embrace Collective, National Eating Disorders Collaboration, Eating Disorders Families Australia, Nutrition Australia, Life Ed). It is also the first successful grant attained by ENRG - The Eating disorders and Nutrition Research Group.
Find out more (opens in a new window)
GMHE 2025 Conference
By Deena Mehjabeen, THRI PhD student
I had the opportunity to attend the Global Migration and Health Equity (GMHE) 2025 Conference in Sydney thanks to receiving a Western Sydney University HDR student scholarship from THRI. The theme this year, Bridging Migration-Related Health Inequities, focused on addressing gaps in health and welfare systems for migrants.
I presented my final PhD study, a Delphi study that developed recommendations for mental health self-care strategies for Arabic-speaking individuals with refugee-like backgrounds in Australia. These recommendations were based on self-care activities endorsed by a combined panel of health professionals and Arabic-speaking community members, who provided their opinions on the relevance of these activities across four levels of the Australian Mental Health Stepped Care Model: informal community care, primary/generalist care, community-based mental health services and hospital-based services. The audience engaged with my findings, raising relevant questions that highlighted the significance of my research.
Attending the conference with my supervisors, Associate Professors Shameran Slewa-Younan and Ilse Blignault, enriched the experience. The session on loneliness and mental health among Assyrian adults in Australia, presented by Associate Professor Slewa-Younan, was particularly relevant. It emphasised community-based activities such as engaging in traditional crafts, storytelling and church events to address loneliness and promote social support. Associate Professor Neil Hall’s presentation on mental health and suicide literacy among international students in Australia was insightful, given my own experiences as an international student.
Distinguished Professor Andre Renzaho’s closing remarks highlighted the importance of addressing ethnicity-specific health concerns, rather than broad CALD categories. He also called for a 'contact, communicate and negotiate' approach, encouraging researchers to work with community members to ensure research is co-designed and participatory. Overall, the GMHE 2025 Conference was a transformative experience, expanding my professional network, deepening my understanding of migration-related health challenges and reinforcing how research can shape policy and practice for migrant health equity.
Grant Success: Clinical Trials Coordination Traineeship Program
SPHERE Cancer Theme has announced the two recipients of the 2024 Clinical Trial Capacity Building Grants, funded through the Cancer Institute NSW Clinical Trial Support Grant. These initiatives aim to enhance cancer clinical trial capacity across NSW, facilitating broader participation and advancing equitable cancer care.
Associate Professor Kate McBride (SoM, THRI) spearheads one of the initiatives - Clinical Trials Coordination Traineeship Program which is aimed at building the capacity of Greater Western Sydney's cancer clinical trials workforce. The program, developed in partnership with South Western Sydney Local Health District and other LHDs, will launch a practice-based six-month internship for health and medical science graduates.
This pioneering program blends practical training with online microcredentials to equip participants with essential skills in clinical trial coordination. By integrating culturally tailored educational resources, the initiative ensures inclusivity across diverse communities across NSW. The ultimate goal is to expand this internship into a comprehensive Western Graduate Certificate by 2026, further embedding clinical trials expertise within local health districts.
"This grant is crucial as it will enable us to expand the clinical trials workforce and equip them with skills to ensure diverse representation in cancer clinical trials. This marks a significant step towards reducing cancer outcome disparities among New South Wales residents, and advances one of my core research priorities which is to address inequities in cancer outcomes."
Read more (opens in a new window)
Sydney Fringe Festival: Caroline Mills - Headsets & disability
Dr Caroline Mills (SoHS, THRI) recently took part in the Science Comedy Program and delivered a talk at the Sydney Fringe Festival.
It’s a great opportunity to improve your communication skills and share your work in an accessible way.
Watch full talk (opens in a new window)
Dr Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu wins Western NSW Research Academic Leader of the Year Award
Dr Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu (opens in a new window) (BRCS, SoM | THRI) has been recognized with the Research Academic Leader of the Year Award by the Western NSW Health Research Network (WHRN).
The award, WHRN's highest accolade, celebrates individuals making outstanding contributions to rural health research and capacity building in western NSW.
Dr Osuagwu’s innovative research focuses on addressing health disparities in rural communities, with significant strides made in diabetes prevention, eye health, and Indigenous health. His work has resulted in the implementation of progressive, evidence-based strategies that have positively impacted health outcomes in Western NSW communities.
Beyond his groundbreaking research, Dr Osuagwu has played a pivotal role in building research capacity by mentoring early-career researchers, building research capacity among local clinicians, engaging community groups, and fostering strong collaborations between universities, local health districts, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations. His leadership has brought new focus and energy to health research partnerships across the region.
Elected Fellow, Australian Academy of the Humanities
Congratulations to Associate Professor Alison Downham Moore (SoHCA, THRI) who has been elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.
Associate Professor Moore is a world leading historian and interdisciplinary medical humanities scholar who teaches, researches and has held governance roles. She is now Editor-in-Chief of Australian Feminist Studies and has received competitive grants and fellowships from the Australian Research Council, the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Study, the Hanse Wissenschaftskolleg, and the Society for French Studies (UK). She holds a Senior Teaching Fellowship from AdvanceHE, is a Fellow of the UK Royal Historical Society, and is an international peer-reviewer of online teaching design with Quality Matters (USA).
SMHR Conference 2024
By Sinead Day, THRI PhD Candidate
I recently had the privilege of presenting my PhD research at the Society for Mental Health Research conference (SMHR) 2024) in Sydney. It was an honour to share our findings from the Wandi Nerida evaluation of residential treatment for eating disorders, including alongside my supervisor Prof Phillipa Hay.
The conference offered many wonderful opportunities to connect with others conducting exciting research in other areas of mental health. Thank you to THRI, the Butterfly Foundation, and Digital Health CRC for their support of my participation in this conference.
EASD Annual Meeting 2024
By the Diabetes and Islet Biology Group, SOM and THRI
Members of Diabetes and Islet Biology Group attended and presented their work at the 60th EASD annual meeting 2024 in Madrid, Spain.
Being one of the largest meetings in the field of diabetes, EASD was attended by over 10,000 participants from all around the world. It was a perfect opportunity to learn new clinical advances, next generation medications, technologies as well as basic science discoveries in diabetes.
Our group had three different presentations, which were very well received:
- Prof. Anand Hardikar presented our work on development, validation, and application of a microRNA-based dynamic risk score in type 1 diabetes. Here, we discussed data on human clinical samples and use of machine-learning and generative AI workflows for analysis.
- Dr. Mugdha Joglekar talked about our preclinical work on a diet-induced obese mouse model and potential use of microbial metabolites as early markers of future prediabetes.
- In vitro experimental findings using human islet tissues aimed at protecting insulin-producing cells were presented by Dr. Wilson Wong.
Representing Western Sydney University at an international conference of repute, where only ~55% of submitted abstracts got selected this year, was a proud moment for us. We thank all our team members, Breakthrough T1D for the travel support to Dr. Wilson Wong, and to the Western Syndey University VC professional development scholarship awarded to Dr. Mugdha Joglekar.
Applications close COB Friday 22 March 2019
Soup Kitchen is Back! Please, come and join THRI members and students for a $5 bowl of homemade soup or curry.
LitAssit aims to assist you in tracking details of your literature evaluations to keep you, the researcher, organized and focused. It is recommended as a tool for completing dissertation and thesis literature reviews, as well as assisting advanced researchers who want to stay organized when conducting research for articles or books.
THRI will be hosting this year's ASPOG conference: Women’s health, life and rights. ASPOG invites critical health psychologists, obstetricians, gynaecologists, general practitioners, sexual health providers, allied health professionals, trainees and women’s reproductive health researchers to present and attend the conference.
THRI invites all computer scientists, biostatisticians, epidemiologists, and public health researchers across the University to showcase current research and identify potential collaborations in the application of technology, data science, big data, and systems science methods to population health problems.
The SPHERE 2017 International Symposium aspires to become synonymous with healthcare innovation and solutions that the world will strive to emulate.
Register Now
Western health and medical researchers are invited to attend a presentation on impact, hosted by the Translational Health Research Institute.
NHMRC and ARC assessors share their insights into assessing funding submissions. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A session.
This course introduces public health researchers and practitioners to tools, practical skills and the conceptual background required to collect and analyse mobile data on health behaviour collected using smartphones.
WSU Campbelltown Cultural Events Committee have selected a range of film segments to be introduced, screened and discussed in light of this year's 2016 NAIDOC Theme Songlines: The living narrative of our nation.
We are collecting donations of towels and bedding for Brand New Day - a women's DV and health network and referral agency serving Macarthur that we support through the fortnightly 'soup kitchen'.