Health Sciences Research |
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Health Sciences Research at Curtin University: Jo Crothers |
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Here
is a small sample of the Schools’ research endeavour: pathophysiology
of parasitic infections, DNA profiling, role of sex steroids in human
cancer, molecular genetics and immunology, patient perceptions and
experience, maternal and child health, vocational and functional
rehabilitation, the formulation and analysis of pharmaceutical products,
and pharmacology from natural products. Institutes
and Centres
Curtin
Centre for Developmental Health
The Curtin Centre
for Developmental Health seeks to improve the health of children by
developing and applying research into the causes and prevention of
ill-health, and the maintenance and promotion of health. The Centre is a
joint venture between Curtin University of Technology and the Telethon
Institute for Child Health Research and is the first of its kind in
Australia. It has an impressive array of major research projects
underway. A unique feature of
the Centre’s work is the importance placed on translating research
findings into quality health, education and social services for
children, young people and their families. The Centre conducts
multidisciplinary research into such areas as behavioural neuroscience,
speech and language development, behavioural and emotional problems,
public health prevention strategies, and social marketing and health
communication research. The Curtin Centre
for Developmental Health offers supervision to doctoral and postgraduate
students interested in undertaking research into aspects of
developmental health. The
Freemason’s Centre for Research into Aged Care Services
The Freemason’s
Centre for Research into Aged Care Service (CRACS) works in partnership
with industry providers and practitioners to improve the quality and
cost-effectiveness of aged care services in Western Australia. It has a
multidisciplinary focus, and draws on expertise of researchers and
scholars across the University and the wider community.
Dementia-specific projects are undertaken under the auspices of the TG
Smith Dementia Research and Development Unit. CRACS offers
postgraduate students the opportunity to undertake research related to
health and community services for older people. Partnerships with
industry are a particular feature of the Centre’s work and there are
opportunities to work as part of a research team with an industry
partner. The
Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer Control
The Centre for
Behavioural Research in Cancer Control (CBRCC) is funded jointly by the
Cancer Foundation of WA and Curtin University of Technology to seek ways
of improving prevention and early detection of cancer. It does this by
identifying mechanisms through which behavioural, environmental and
structural determinants of cancer development may be modified and
controlled, so reducing the impact of cancer on the individual and on
the community. The outcomes of
CBRCC’s research inform government policy and health professional
practice. They also help the community take preventive action against
personal ill-health. Research undertaken
by CBRCC has a broad range, including lifestyle factors related to
cancer prevention, indigenous issues, doping in sport, domestic
violence, evaluation of sponsorship,
and media effects. CBRCC offers
supervision to students interested in undertaking postgraduate
behavioural research in social marketing, health promotion and cancer
control. National
Drug Research Institute
Research activities
are grouped into four broad categories: alcohol research; community and
school interventions research; Indigenous Australian research; and
illicit drug use research. With
30 research staff employed, NDRI is one of the largest centres of drug
research expertise in Australia. The quality of its research and the
positive outcomes for drug policy and the community have led to
recognition of NDRI nationally and internationally as a leading
authority in the area of drug and alcohol research. NDRI has been
designated a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for the
prevention and control of alcohol and drug abuse since 1994. As well as enrolling
PhD students, NDRI can offer co-supervision of dissertations and
projects in other Curtin Division of Health Sciences postgraduate
programs. The
Western Australian Biomedical Research Institute
The Western
Australian Biomedical Research Institute (WABRI) is a cooperative
venture between Curtin University of Technology, Murdoch University and
the Chemistry Centre (WA). WABRI carries
out leading-edge research into the molecular basis of disease control,
targeting diseases such as cancer, malaria and diabetes.
WABRI brings together the expertise of 70 research scientists,
many of whom hold well-established international reputations in the
fields of biomedical sciences and pharmacology. WABRI offers PhD
scholarships, on a competitive basis, to students whose research
interests allow their attachment to existing projects.
Broad research areas are in systemsbased research, drug design
and development, targeted drug delivery, molecular microbiology, DNA
analysis and molecular epidemiology, and pharmacogenetics.
Check the website for further details about research and PhD scholarship opportunities.
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Contact: Jo Crothers Division of Health Sciences Curtin University GPO Box U1987 Perth WA 6845 Australia Phone : 61 8 9266 3970 Fax : 61 8 9266 2608 E Mail: Health.International@curtin.edu.au Website:
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The
Division is also home to research centres that offer supervision of
students’ research, which is generally attached to existing major
research programs. Some of these, such as the Western Australian Centre
for Health Promotion Research and the Research Centre for Applied
Psychology, are based in the Schools. Others are autonomous centres,
working in collaboration with colleagues from across and beyond the
Division, offering valuable opportunities for a multidisciplinary focus
on major health issues.
A national Centre of
Excellence in drug research, the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI)
is a vital part of the national strategy to address the harm arising
from drug use in Australia. NDRI offers doctoral students the
opportunity to undertake drug and alcohol research at one of
Australia’s premier drug and alcohol research centres. 
