Researchers

Dr James Daveson is a clinician with a sub-specialty interest in Coeliac Disease, with a large patient cohort and strong mature links to Coeliac Support groups. Over the last 15 years, he has developed an expertise in studies widely recognized as fundamental to the current generation of immune therapies for Coeliac Disease. Expertise arises from overseeing a large patient cohort in specialised clinics across two sites both in metropolitan and regional Queensland.

Anne Tremellen is the Manager of the Clinical Trials Centre. She is a registered nurse and midwife who has been actively supporting researchers for the last 20 years. In her current role, she oversees the implementation and conduct of research projects to ensure the high quality and timeliness of research conducted ensuring that relevant local, national and international regulations and standards are being met. She liaises with clinical staff, investigators and external research entities to ensure that all studies are undertaken efficiently, providing regular reports on research activity to Principal Investigators and the Institute.

Chris is of a nursing background and has a number of years’ experience across an array of clinical areas within The Wesley Hospital, including Neuroscience, acute stroke and surgical Urology. He has joined Wesley Research Institute as a Clinical Research Assistant and is currently focusing on several clinical trials pertaining to Coeliac Disease.

Dr Sehgal completed his PhD at the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh (UK) (2013-2017), where he developed a long-term research passion for investigating gut homeostasis and what happens during dysfunction and disease. In 2018, Dr Sehgal joined the Mater Research Institute as a Research Officer to research the role of macrophages in growth and development. In October 2022, Dr Sehgal joined WRI as Senior Research Officer where he is leading several translational projects to understand the underlying biological mechanisms that regulate immune responses and whether this data can be quickly translated into clinical practice. Dr Sehgal’s research combines exploratory discovery-based research and translational research to understand triggers, disease progression, and both intestinal and extraintestinal manifestations of gastrointestinal disorders such as Coeliac Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Using this approach, he aims to understand the interlinked networks that regulate immune responses during disease.

Dr Arutha Kulasinghe is the QSBC Scientific Director. He leads the Clinical-oMx Lab at the Frazer Institute, University of Queensland. Arutha has pioneered spatial transcriptomics using digital spatial profiling approaches in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to world-first studies for lung cancer, head and neck cancer and COVID-19. His research aims to understand the underlying pathobiology by using an integrative multi-omics approach. Arutha is supported by the NHMRC, Australian Academy of Sciences, US DOD, Cancer Australia, Cure Cancer, MRFF and numerous philanthropic and hospital foundations. 

Elizabeth is a PhD-qualified Health Economist using her economic evaluation and implementation science expertise to find better ways to fund, organise and deliver health services. As leader of the health services research program, she guides a broad range of mixed-methods research and leads team strategy, budgeting and partnerships. Elizabeth has skills and experience in health policy and planning, ensuring the research she leads is useful and relevant for health consumers, clinicians and the health system. Elizabeth’s research and consultancy partnerships have created positive change for health services across Australia and internationally.  

Olivia is an implementation scientist and mental illness prevention researcher with a health sector career spanning 25 years. Olivia has extensive experience supporting organisations to design, implement and evaluate health initiatives in health services, aged care, workplace, and education settings. 

Olivia is strongly committed to improving outcomes for patients, staff, and healthcare organisations by better understanding and promoting good health and preventing illness; improving healthcare equity; and co-designing services with the people who deliver and use those services. 

Olivia’s mental health research investigates how the factors that predict depression and anxiety symptoms and mental wellbeing differ between age groups and generations, and what this means for better prevention and management of mental illness. 

Caroline Grogan is a Research Fellow in the Health Services Research Team, at Wesley Research Institute. Caroline is a qualitative researcher with a PhD from QUT, Faculty of Health, School of Public Health and Social Work. Her PhD focused on the micro-processes involved in implementing Dementia Friendly Community principles locally in Queensland. She has over 10 years’ experience in community services and community development programs, specialising in co-design, person-centered dementia and aged care. Caroline’s current research interests include phenomenology (lived experience) and participatory research methods towards research translation. She is passionate about supporting the well-being and autonomy of people living with dementia and their families. She aims to use research to inform policy and improve services. Caroline’s research champions innovative methods and processes to actively include the voice of consumers in health services research. 

Wendell is a research design and statistics specialist with a PhD in Psychology, who has held roles at several research institutes and universities. He has broad multidisciplinary research experience and has qualifications in both psychology and engineering. His PhD described a new model of depression aetiology.

His work includes large randomised controlled trials of Apps addressing a range of mental health concerns in young people, and a book chapter describing standardised methods for evaluating e-Health apps. Wendell has ongoing national and international collaborations. His additional passion is research that offers pragmatic psycho-social responses to high prevalence public health challenges. 

Belinda is a Senior Research Assistant in the Health Services Research Team at Wesley Research Institute. Belinda has dual Bachelor Degrees in Social Science (Development) and Arts (Public Policy and International Relations) and a Master in Public Health. Belinda has a strong public health policy and research background. Belinda has worked on State and Federal Government’s strategic initiatives stemming from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in both the Aged Care and Disability sectors. She has also worked on research strategies that have focused on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities’ access to and capacity building within health care systems. Belinda aims to use her knowledge and experience in public health research, policy design and policy implementation to ensure that evidence-based policies and  research that address real-world challenges and informs decision-making.

Hanna is the Grants & Compliance Specialist. Together with Emma she is responsible for clinical trials compliance processes and research grant administration at Wesley Research Institute. Hanna comes from a background in research; following a PhD in neuroscience, she spent her postdoc coordinating multi-centre collaborative clinical projects. Over the past five years Hanna has been working in a variety of research management roles at The University of Queensland, including the central Research Grants Unit and the Faculty of Medicine. Using her previous experience, Hanna aims to provide high-level support to WRI researchers and clinical staff to facilitate quality research to improve patient outcomes.

Jen has worked as a Clinical Research Practitioner across multiple clinical trials at Wesley Research Institute since 2018. She is a General Practitioner, with special clinical interests in gastroenterology and allergy, and has additional experience in organisational and clinical governance, medical education, and health practitioner wellbeing.

Dr Meg Donovan is a Research Officer at the Queensland Spatial Biology Centre (QSBC). Meg completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science with Class I Honours at the University of Queensland (UQ) specialising in immunology and infectious diseases. She went on to complete her PhD at the UQ Frazer Institute, studying the host-pathogen interactions that occur during infection. In this time, Meg became interested in employing spatial biology technologies to answer biological questions about health and disease. At the QSBC, Meg is working on discovery and translational research projects using cutting-edge tissue profiling technologies to assess a multitude of biomarkers across every cell within cancer, heart, and lung disease. 

Michael currently oversees the operations of the Wesley Research Institute Biobank and Clinical Laboratory. He holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science with First Class Honours and a PhD in Neuroscience. During his time in academic research, Michael investigated the molecular mechanisms underpinning the development of the brain and placenta. Having also worked in both anatomical pathology and clinical trial laboratories, Michael has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the management of biospecimens. In his current role, Michael is dedicated to making high-quality biospecimens available to researchers, recognizing the pivotal role they play in driving scientific discovery and improving human health.

Elise is a Clinical Research Assistant at the Wesley Research Institute. She has a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) with a First Class Honours from the University of Queensland. During her time in research, she studied stem cell fate throughout spinal cord development, as well as following traumatic spinal cord injuries. Her background in academic research and clinical trials settings has uniquely positioned her to support a range of different clinical trials both in and out of the lab, as well as assisting with the Wesley Research Institute Biobank operations.

Emma is the Senior Grants and Compliance Specialist at Wesley Research Institute, and her portfolio includes supporting investigator-led research projects and sponsored clinical trials.

With over 10 years’ experience in the research sector, Emma is responsible for ensuring that all research studies conducted at Wesley Research Institute meet rigorous quality standards and adhere to strict ethical guidelines. Emma plays a critical role in supporting the development of research proposals and applications to both internal and external funding bodies. In addition, she is also responsible for managing all aspects of clinical trial start-up activity and ongoing monitoring.

Emma Brownrigg has been a Registered Nurse for the past 25 years, specializing in both adult and Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, Renal and Palliative Care. Prior to commencement at WRI, Emma worked in Paediatric Immunology, Allergy and Endocrine Research at the Mater Hospital and Queensland Childrens Hospital. She has a special interest in Gastroenterology Research particularly early diagnosis and treatment options to improve the health outcomes and quality of life of people with coeliac disease. Her number one priority is to ensure participants have a positive and worthwhile journey from the first point of contact, continuing throughout the study and post completion.

Hanna is a Clinical Research Assistant at the Wesley Research Institute. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology with a First Class Honours. In her current role, she supports the clinical team in delivering high quality clinical trials and assists with the biobank and clinical trial laboratory operations. Hanna has multiple years’ experience in stem cell banks and phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. She dedicates herself to promoting the best experience for patients and the highest quality of clinical trial sample management. 

Jacqueline is a Registered Nurse who has been with Wesley Research Institute for 10 years, working in her role as Research Nurse – Clinical Trials Coordinator. Gaining her Bachelor of Nursing Degree at Queensland University of Technology, her nursing career covers over 20 years’ experience working across hospitals within the United Kingdom and Brisbane, Australia. Jacqueline has coordinated many clinical trials and been fortunate enough to have seen a number of the investigational products make it onto the PBS, providing the public with life changing treatment.

Keeley is a Mental Health Care Navigator with Isaac Navicare, a mental health information and referral service for the Isaac region run by the Wesley Research Institute. Keeley has a background in Allied health administration and is currently undertaking her Bachelor of Nursing through James Cook University.

Kelly is a Mental Health Care Navigator with Isaac Navicare, a mental health information and referral service for the Isaac region run by Wesley Research Institute and QUT’s Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation. Kelly has a Bachelor of Applied Science, Honours in Life Science, and a Graduate Diploma in Human Nutrition. Her previous research, spanning fourteen years, focused on various types of cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, and community development research. She also developed and taught numerous science, health, and nutrition units at Central Queensland University. Kelly has a passion for health and mental health research and education and ensuring that each individual has access to the best information, treatment, support and improved health & wellbeing.

Leah is an experienced Clinical Trials Coordinator within a multitude of specialty areas including oncology, haematology, immunology (incl. coeliac disease), neuropsychiatry, neuroscience and Tourette Syndrome research. She has a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) from Griffith University, and a Masters of Nursing Studies from the University of Queensland. Leah has 10 years of medical and surgical nursing experience within private and public hospitals in Brisbane. She is passionate about supporting research and clinical trials which continue to provide novel treatment options, practices, and improved health outcomes to all patients. She is committed to ensuring all patients and their families receive the best quality care and support.

Linda is a Registered Nurse who works as a Clinical Trials Coordinator at Wesley Research Institute. She graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Nursing and was awarded First Class Honours for her research project exploring nurses’ participation in patient resuscitation. Clinically, Linda specialises in Interventional Cardiology and is currently completing postgraduate studies in Cardiovascular Nursing. Her current research interests include structural and interventional cardiac research, neurology and strategies to improve health literacy in cardiac patients.

Naomi Berrell is a Research Assistant at the Queensland Spatial Biology Centre. She graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science First Class Honours from the Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland. Naomi has extensive experience applying spatial biology approaches across a number of solid malignancies to identify predictive tissue-based signatures for the development of predictive biomarkers. She has presented her findings at national and spatial user group meetings across Australia.

Paula is working as a Research Administration Assistant at Wesley Research Institute. She has a background in the Fast Moving Consumable Goods (FMCG) industry and the Health and Fitness industry. Paula has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement) and a Bachelor of Business (Marketing). Paula has played an important role in supporting the Ataxia-Telangiectasia research team.

Prof John Fraser is the Queensland Spatial Biology (QSBC) Clinical Director, Founder and Director of the Critical Care Research Group, Director of the Intensive Care Unit at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of De Motu Cordis Pty Ltd and Immediate Past President of the Asia Pacific ELSO Chapter. John has five professorships across major Australian universities, has published over 580 peer-reviewed publications; and has received more than $41 million in competitive grants. In 2018, John was awarded the Australian Society of Medical Research Clinical Research Award.

Sarah is a Registered Nurse who works as a Clinical Trials Coordinator at Wesley Research Institute and on the Paediatric and Adolescent Ward at The Wesley Hospital. Sarah also volunteers as a peer support worker for bereaved parents at Children’s Health Queensland. She has a Bachelor of Nursing from ACU. Sarah then completed a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Child and Adolescent Health) and was awarded The Australian College of Children & Young People’s Nurses Award. Her current research interests include paediatrics, rare diseases, dermatology, food allergies, and immunology.

Venita is a registered nurse who works as a Clinical Trials Coordinator at the Wesley Research Institute. She has a Bachelor or Nursing from QUT. She has worked in clinical trials over the last 10 years in various therapeutic areas including rare diseases, immunology and coeliac disease. She enjoys being part of a team that endeavours to promote a positive experience to study participants engaged in clinical trials.

Bronwen Field is a registered nurse with 20 years’ experience, working in both rural and metropolitan hospitals across 4 different states. She has been working as a clinical trial coordinator since 2019, primarily in cardiac and respiratory trials. Bronwen currently focuses on pulmonary artery hypertension trials and is passionate about bringing better treatment options to improve the quality of life and health outcomes for our patients. 

Dr John Feenstra is a Thoracic and Pulmonary Hypertension Physician.  He is the Director of the Wesley Pulmonary Hypertension Unit and the lead physician for pulmonary hypertension in the Queensland Lung Transplant Service at the Prince Charles Hospital.  He is the current president of the Pulmonary Hypertension Society of Australia and New Zealand.  Dr Feenstra holds the titles of Senior Lecturer with the University of Queensland and Honorary Fellow of the Wesley Research Institute.  Dr Feenstra is actively involved in research, teaching and clinical trials in pulmonary hypertension. He is the Clinical Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Program at the Wesley Research Institute.

Shayma is a Research Fellow in the Health Services Research Team at Wesley Research Institute. Shayma has a research background in health economics and implementation science. Having recently submitted her PhD thesis for examination, Shayma’s doctoral research explored how digital health systems could help mitigate patient non-attendance at scheduled outpatient healthcare appointments.

Shayma brings a diverse skill set to her role, including project management, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, and the preparation of ethics and governance applications for health services research. Her work is driven by a passion for contributing to research that fosters effective, efficient, and equitable healthcare. In addition to her research background, Shayma has extensive experience in graphic design. She is passionate about helping translate complex research findings into accessible graphics, making important information easily understandable for a wider audience.