RESEARCHER PROFILE
Professor Kristofer Thurecht, Deputy Director of Research & Senior
Group leader, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology,
University of Queensland, Australia
Finding better ways of treating cancer, aside from finding a cure, aim to provide a better quality of life for those who suffer from it.
Professor Thurecht’s work focuses on nanomedicine and spans across the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the Centre for Advanced Imaging, at the University of Queensland in Australia.
Professor Thurecht undertook his PhD at the University of Queensland and decided he wanted to go to the University of Nottingham in the UK, where his mentors pushed him into the new field of nanomedicine. On returning to Australia he brought his ideas on nanomedicine back to the University of Queensland, where he works today.
His research focuses on understanding how nanomedicines behave in biological environments using high-end imaging infrastructure, with a focus on radiopharmaceutical research to establish next generation drugs for diseases like cancer.
Nanomedicine research, particularly in the field of cancer treatment, has the potential to revolutionise traditional medicine and improve the quality of life for those suffering from the disease. Radiopharmaceuticals and molecular imaging are revolutionising cancer treatment by providing targeted therapies and precise drug delivery, showing potential for groundbreaking advancements in the field.
Radiopharmaceuticals utilise radiation as a potent therapy for treating diseases, particularly cancer. As Professor Thurecht states, the development of radiopharmaceutical for cancer treatment is a promising and innovative field in nanomedicine.
Outside of research Professor Thurecht enjoys fishing and boating with family on weekends.
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Unnecessary tests and treatments in low value critical care
Dr Gerben Keijzers is a Senior Staff Specialist Emergency Physician at the Gold Coast University Hospital Emergency Department. His research focus includes low-value care, which is in the area of unnecessary tests and treatments with minimal benefits. Dr Keijzers has contributed to over 100 publications and more than 20 grant applications. Through his involvement in multi-site collaborative research projects, he encourages critical thinking and curiosity among clinical staff, striving to enhance both patient care and the efficiency of healthcare resources.
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Health impacts of donor milk for pre-term babies
Professor Alice Rumbold is Theme Leader of SAHMRI Women and Kids, managing a multidisciplinary research team focussed on improving health outcomes for women, babies and families. She also holds an affiliate position as a Research Leader within the Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide.
An epidemiologist and health services researcher, she is internationally renowned for her leadership of large-scale clinical trials, epidemiological studies and systematic review activities to improve perinatal and reproductive health care. She is passionate about improving health outcomes for women and babies, particularly those experiencing vulnerability. Her current research interests include preterm birth, breastfeeding, human milk banking and infertility
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Cellular interactions responsible for development, maintenance, and strength of the skeleton
Professor Sims directs the Bone Cell Biology and Disease Unit at St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research and is a Professorial Fellow at The University of Melbourne and Australian Catholic University.
She leads a team who studies the cellular interactions responsible for development, maintenance, and strength of the skeleton. She completed her PhD at the University of Adelaide, followed by postdoctoral work at the Garvan Institute in Sydney then at Yale School of Medicine, in New Haven, Connecticut, where she studied the role of the estrogen receptor in regulating bone structure.
