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For more information about IHBI media releases, please contact Erin Meyers, on (07) 3138 6073.

An archive of media releases is available on QUT News.

More information on IHBI media releases can be found on the QUT Expert Guide.

June 24, 2008 Older pedestrians sought for road-crossing study
Queensland University of Technology road safety researchers are seeking older pedestrians for a study which will explore their experiences of crossing the road. Dr Alexia Lennon, a researcher with CARRS-Q, said pedestrians were over-represented in crash statistics for both fatalities and injuries.
Alexia Lennon
June 23, 2008

Food ads aimed at kids need regulating: study
The Australian Government needs to regulate laws concerning junk food advertising directed at children if the current rates of childhood obesity are ever to reduce, according to Dr Vinesh Oommen, IHBI Senior Research Assistant.

Vinesh Oommen
June 18, 2008 Intervention may be key to keeping drivers sober
A new study is aiming to stop first-time drink-drivers repeating their mistake. Postgraduate student and researcher for the CARRS-Q Hollie Wilson is undertaking some innovative research including a questionnaire which will eventually lead to the design of an intervention for first-time offenders.
Hollie Wilson
June 17, 2008 Mini ECG gets heart attack rehab patients mobile
QUT scientists have teamed a mobile phone with a miniature heart monitor and a GPS device in research aimed at tackling the low participation rates of heart patients in cardiac rehabilitation.

Charles Worringham
June 13, 2008 New test determines real safety of drinking water
QUT bacterial DNA specialist Dr Flavia Huygens, from the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), is part of a team of scientists spearheading a new, innovative water testing technique to test for all kinds of pathogens, in hours rather than days.

Flavia Huygens
June 11, 2008 Heatwaves: different heatstrokes for different folks
Heatwaves' impact on people varies according to their geographical area but, while no standard heatwave definition exists, you can be sure climate change will bring soaring temperatures to a town near you more often and severely. IHBI researcher Yan Zhang has received a Growing the Smart State PhD Funding and QUT-Chinese Scholarship Council scholarship to investigate the effects of heatwaves on humans.

Yan Zhang
June 6, 2008 New mums sought for fatigue-injury study
IHBI researchers are seeking tired new mums to volunteer for a new study investigating the links between post-birth fatigue and the increased risk of injury. Dr Kerry Armstrong, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow from CARRS-Q, said there was limited research on the relationship between sleep deprivation in new mothers and their incidence of accidents or 'near misses'.

Kerry Armstrong
June 2, 2008 Brain tumor patients' knowledge sought
People with brain tumours have something very valuable to share - their experience. QUT and IHBI researcher Danette Langbecker is seeking brain tumour patients and the friends and family who care for them to assist in her PhD study.
danette langbecker
May 28, 2008 Victim identification researcher seeks volunteers
Queensland University of Technology researchers are looking for a way to aid identification of victims of natural disasters and mass accidents such as the recent Burmese cyclone, the earthquake in China, or the 9/11 attacks. Dr Bill Lott and Alison McCarthy, of QUT's Faculty of Science and IHBI, are developing the methodology to build partial physical profiles of victims, as a tool for victim identification when traditional methods fail.
alison mccarthy
May 28, 2008 ARC grants give QUT researchers a boost
The development of a vaccine for Chlamydial infection by a Queensland Univesity of Technology research team has been given a huge boost, with $90,000 in the Australian Research Council (ARC)'s Linkage grants going towards the project.
Peter Timms
May 19, 2008 Studies outline misconceptions about alzheimers
Better targeted education is needed to prevent misconceptions held by the general public about Alzheimer's disease, according to Queensland University of Technology researcher Dr Karen Sullivan.
karen sullivan
May 15, 2008

Keep slip-slop-slapping despite low vitamin D levels
Nearly half of Brisbane-dwellers, particularly office workers, had inadequate levels of vitamin D, new research from Queensland University of Technology has shown. The study, conducted by Associate Professor Michael Kimlin, revealed 10 per cent of people were deficient in vitamin D, and a further 32.3 per cent had inadequate levels.

micahel kimlin
May 15, 2008 QUT researchers go global
Three IHBI researchers will head to San Diego in June to represent the university at BIO2008, the largest biotechnology event in the world. The researchers were chosen as the successful recipients of the bluebox/IHBI Early Career Researcher 2008 Fellowships based on the innovative research they were undertaking.
Bio2008
May 14, 2008

QUT appoints new nursing professor
Professor Elizabeth Beattie is the newest nursing professor appointed to Queensland University of Technology's Faculty of Health. Professor Beattie has returned to Australia to take the post after spending 13 years in the USA, where she completed her PhD and worked as a research scientist at the University of Michigan, specialising in dementia.Her research has been focused on the phenomenon of wandering and the impact of wandering on the functional capacity and health of people with dementia.

Elizabeth Beattie
May 12, 2008

Search is on for genes that point to womb cancer
A Queensland University of Technology study pinpointing the genetic differences between women with and without womb cancer will help in the early diagnosis of the disease.

Tracey O'Mara
May 2, 2008 Weight loss possible when self-belief high
If you are what you eat, what you eat has a lot to do with how you think about yourself, says a QUT PhD researcher whose study is part of an international research project on the healthy ageing of women.
rhonda anderson
May 1, 2008 Flower power may bring ray of sunshine to cancer sufferers
A mini-protein found in sunflower seeds could be the key to stopping tumours spreading in prostate cancer patients, according to QUT researchers. Dr Jonathan Harris and PhD student Joakim Swedberg are working on the naturally occurring molecule, and have received over $600,000 in grants this year towards their research.
Jon Harris & Joakim Swedburg
April 30, 2008 Study targets effect of obesity on children
With at least one in four Australian children either overweight or obese, Queensland University of Technology researchers are aiming to find out what effect excess weight is having on our kids.
April 29, 2008 Quiet time shuts up hospital noise
A trial of "quiet time" in a Brisbane hospital has seen noise levels cut by a half and found patients are more than twice as likely to sleep, according to Queensland University of Technology researcher Professor Glenn Gardner.
hospital
April 29, 2008 QUT researchers develop smart instrument for tissue damage assessment
A tool with the potential to determine the level of tissue damage in patients with osteo-arthritis, sports injuries and other conditions affecting bone and cartilage is being developed by QUT researchers.
Kunle Oleyede
April 24, 2008

Drunk behind the wheel no more
Road safety researchers at Queensland University of Technology are ramping up a drink driving prevention program that has slashed repeat offences by convicted drink drivers by up to 55 per cent. More than 5000 Queenslanders on drink driving charges have completed the Under the Limit rehabilitation program developed by QUT's Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q) since it was introduced through TAFE colleges in 1993.

roger wheller
April 23, 2008

Studies seek anxious people
With an Australian admitted to hospital every eight minutes suffering from the brittle bone condition osteoporosis, a QUT researcher is using a Smart State PhD Scholarship to further our understanding of how bone fractures.

anxiety studies
April 21, 2008

Diagnosing brittle bones before they break
With an Australian admitted to hospital every eight minutes suffering from the brittle bone condition osteoporosis, a QUT researcher is using a Smart State PhD Scholarship to further our understanding of how bone fractures.

victoria toal
April 17, 2008 Study probes pure oxygen's healing properties
Pure oxygen therapy is reputed to have many medical benefits, including saving limbs from amputation, and PhD researcher James Broadbent, from Queensland University of Technology's School of Life Sciences, is setting out to explore its healing properties.
James_Broadbent
April 14, 2008 Six grants for QUT medical discoveries
QUT researchers have attracted the lion's share of National Health and Medical Research Council development grants announced by the Australian Government today.

A total of 22 grants worth $4.4 million were announced nationwide to 14 universities and research organisations.

Zee_Upton
April 14, 2008

New study probes risk of bike-car collisions
More than 100 crashes involving cyclists were recorded in Brisbane last year, and a new Queensland University of Technology research project is aiming to find out how to make roads a safer place for those travelling on two wheels.

Amy_Schram
April 11, 2008 Blokes downplay blubber: a study
More than half of all Australian men are overweight or obese, but less than a third of them think they are, according to new QUT research into perceptions of weight status. The research, published in the latest issue of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, reveals that many blokes are in dangerous denial about their weight, says Katrina Giskes, an IHBI researcher.
Katrina_Giskes
April 9, 2008 Driver simulator set to crash road crashes
The state's first advanced driver simulator, expected to be up and running within six months, will help Queensland University of Technology researchers tackle the high death toll on Australian roads.
Andry_Rakotonirainy
April 7, 2008 IHBI researchers bring QUT biotech expertise to the world
Three researchers from the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation have been selected to represent Queensland University of Technology at BIO2008, the largest annual biotechnology event in the world.

bluebox
April 7, 2008 Study probes Australians' disaster coping strategies
From flooding in Queensland and bushfires in Perth to gale-force winds and dust storms in Victoria and South Australia - Australians have had their fair share of natural disasters lately.
Catherine Pritchard
April 3, 2008 Driver training at work could lower death toll
Work-based driver education programs could help reduce the national road death toll of which 13 per cent occurs while people are driving for work, Darren Wishart, QUT Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland (CARRS-Q) fleet safety program manager said.
QUT
March 27, 2008 Volunteers sought to story-tell themselves out of depression
People suffering depression are invited to benefit from a program of nine free sessions as part of a Queensland University of Technology study into narrative therapy.
Mary Boles
March 26, 2008 QUT links with national research facility
Queensland University of Technology has become a Linked Laboratory with the national Australian Microsocopy and Microanalysis Research Facility (AMMRF)
John Bell
March 18, 2008 Older drivers safer but more vulnerable
Older drivers were less likely to crash but were more likely to die when they did, a Queensland University of Technology academic said.

Dr Mark King, from the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q) at QUT, said the ageing Australian population meant a new approach to road safety was required.

 

Mark King
March 4, 2008 Breastfed babies overfed to match bottle-fed babies
Breastfed babies could be misdiagnosed as "failing to thrive" because their normal weight gain does not comply with commonly used growth charts which are based on bottle-fed babies' growth patterns.
Jan Payne
February 27 , 2008 New education resource to target dementia
With the number of people diagnosed with dementia expected to more than triple in the next 50 years, Australia faces the challenge of meeting their needs and the needs of those who provide their care, according to Professor Helen Edwards.
Helen Edwards
February 21 , 2008

Spine surgery 'sewn up' before first cut
A computer modelling program that allows surgeons to simulate scoliosis surgery so they can design the best procedure before lifting the scalpel is being developed by QUT biomedical engineering researchers.

IHBI spine research fellow Associate Professor Clayton Adam said the patient-specific computer models, developed by the Paediatric Spine Research Group, let surgeons try out different scenarios before they performed an operation to implant a rod in the spine to correct scoliosis.

Clayton Adam
February 20 , 2008 New wound healing service opens at QUT
Help for people with chronic wounds is now available thanks to a new community-based service which has opened at IHBI, Queensland University of Technology's Kelvin Grove campus.

Michelle Gibb
February 13 , 2008 What drives people to ignore medication labels
Over-the-counter and prescription medications that cause drowsiness are required to display warnings, but how effective are these labels in preventing drivers from getting behind the wheel?

Tanya Smyth
January 30 , 2008 Nurse practitioners hamstrung and patients disadvantaged: study
A new study has found more than two thirds of nurse practitioners in Australia report their role is "extremely limited" because of a clash between state and federal government laws.
Glenn Gardner
January 25, 2008

Baby boomers bulge linked to low exercise
Middle-aged Australians are less active and more overweight than any other age group, a Queensland University of Technology researcher said.

Gavin Turrell
January 17 , 2008

Virtual biopsy cuts out need for diagnostic surgery
A non-invasive diagnostic tool to detect surface cancers quickly and painlessly using technology currently employed by gyms to calculate body composition has been developed by a QUT PhD medical physics researcher.

Jai Smith
January 16, 2008

Queenslanders need sun protection rain or shine
Just because the sun's not shining doesn't mean the UV dangers have disappeared behind cloudy skies, a Queensland University of Technology sun expert has warned.

Michael Kimlin
January 16, 2008 QUT offers free program for people with Parkinson's
Help for people with Parkinson's disease to stay mobile and live with confidence is being offered in a free program offered by Queensland University of Technology's School of Human Movement Studies.
Graham Kerr
January 15, 2008

QUT researcher seeks the views of off-road riders
Off-road motorbike riders account for half of all motorcyclists admitted to hospital with serious crash injuries, but very little is known about this group of bike riders, a Queensland University of Technology accident researcher said.

Dale Steinhardt
January 10 , 2008 Couples therapy doubles chance of better relationship
People experiencing marriage difficulties have almost double the chance of improving their relationship with couple therapy than if they try to sort out their differences by themselves.
Matthew Bambling
January 7, 2008 Pollution shrinks foetus size: Brisbane study
Exposure to air pollution significantly reduces foetus size during pregnancy, according to a new study by Brisbane scientists. IHBI senior research fellow Dr Adrian Barnett said the study compared the foetus sizes of more than 15,000 ultrasound scans in Brisbane to air pollution levels within a 14km radius of the city.
qut
19 December, 2007 40 per cent of Aussies dial and drive
IHBI researcher, Shari Walsh, is urging drivers to turn their mobile phones off before getting into their car this festive season, with a new study revealing 40 per cent of Aussies use their phone at least once a day while driving.

Shari Walsh
13 December, 2007

QUT study tests the safety of your car stereo
Does classical music slow down the speeding driver or will thumping doof doof tunes encourage hoons? A QUT study into the effects of music on your driving behaviour is set to find out.

safety_car_stereo
13 December, 2007

Mad Queenslanders go out in the midday sun
Today's call for people to head out into the midday sun to stave off vitamin D deficiency doesn't mean we should roll back years of sun safe behaviour, according to a Queensland University of Technology international sun scientist.

michael kimlin
30 November, 2007 Young guns replace from the hip
Repeat hip replacement patients will have their recovery time slashed from six weeks to just a few days with a new orthopaedic tool designed by Queensland University of Technology researchers.
young_guns
26 November, 2007

Study finds eyes "on the nose"
Dr Benjamin Birt, who recently completed his PhD with QUT's Faculty of Science, has found that our eyes may be to blame for the higher than average rates of skin cancers found on our nose. He found that high rates of basal cell carcinoma skin cancers on the sides of the nose could be due to ultraviolet (UV) radiation rays reflected off the eye.

benjamin birt

22 November, 2007 Attacking asthma in the airways
Dr Colin Solomon and his team are setting out to track down the asthma-causing role of two groups of proteins involved in airway inflammation and they need people both with asthma and without asthma to help them do it.
colin_samuel
21 November, 2007 QUT shines spotlight on ozone pollution
South-East Queensland residents can breathe easier this summer knowing that Australia's only Brewer Spectrophotometer ozone monitoring instruments which measure air pollution and UV levels are based at Queensland University of Technology.
michael
19 November, 2007 Small window to influence kids' nutrition
Children's food preferences are well developed by age five, leaving parents a short time to establish positive eating habits for life, according to a Queensland University of Technology health researcher.
kids_nutrition
16 November, 2007 Sun badge exposes risks of working outdoors
A badge that is not much bigger than a 50 cent piece has been developed by Associate Professor Michael Kimlin and his team at from the Australian Sun and Health Research Laboratory to monitor the sun exposure of people working outdoors.
kimlin_outdoors
15 November, 2007

Can fish oil treat ADHD? Australian study to find out.
A new study being run by QUT and the University of South Australia will investigate whether daily doses of fish oil (Omega-3 Fatty Acids) can improve the attention, memory and learning of school-aged kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

ross_young
15 November, 2007 International award for QUT prostate researcher
The discovery of a new enzyme found in men suffering prostate cancer is one of many advances that have led to QUT's Professor Judith Clements being honoured with a prestigious international award.
judith
31 October, 2007 Weight loss - not one size fits all
There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to weight loss through exercise, says Queensland University of Technology behavioural scientist Neil King.
Neil_King
29 October, 2007

Mice help researchers understand Chlamydia
Genetically engineered mice may hold the key to helping scientists from Queensland University of Technology and Harvard hasten the development of a vaccine to protect adolescent girls against the most common sexually transmitted disease, Chlamydia.

Peter_Timms_Michael_Starnbach
24 October, 2007 QUT Company toasts successful stock market float
Queensland University of Technology's medical device start-up company, ImpediMed Limited, has listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) with one of the most successful technology stock market floats this year.
22 October, 2007 Global deal fuels QUT's world changing research
Queensland University of Technology has joined forces with the world's largest agribusiness company, Syngenta, to develop technologies that will provide an economical, green fuel alternative for cars.
James_Dale
19 October, 2007

Study shines spotlight on Vitamin D deficiency
Despite Queensland being considered the "sunshine state" many older Australians are at risk of serious health problems by not getting enough Vitamin D from sun exposure, a Queensland University of Technology researcher said.

David Borradale
15 October, 2007

bluebox honours real world research ideas
Innovative ideas in orthopaedic surgery, wound healing and computer gaming were honoured at the inaugural bluebox Discovery Competition for 2007.

bluebox
12 October, 2007

Call for Gen Ys to take part in mobile phone study
A Queensland University of Technology psychology researcher is looking for people aged 16 to 24 to complete an online survey investigating mobile phone use.

 
12 October, 2007

Indigenous suicide prevention needs culturally relevant approach
Focusing on pro-social, rather than anti-social, behaviour may be the key to preventing suicide among Indigenous adolescents, according to a Queensland University of Technology academic.

 
11 October, 2007

Tool helps patients when clock is ticking
When minutes count, a tool that gives doctors up to three hours additional warning of a patient's failing health can lead to improved patient outcomes.

 
10 October, 2007

Type 2 diabetes volunteers needed for TLC trial
Brisbane people with Type 2 diabetes are being sought for a trial of a new interactive telephone system that will help them self-manage their condition.

 
8 October, 2007

QUT study maps the grief of separated dads
Dads who have a strong nurturing instinct suffer less grief from family breakdown than those who don't, a Queensland University of Technology study has found.

 
2 October, 2007 Fighting the spread of food poisoning
An IHBI researcher has developed a new technique that can help scientists and clinicians quickly and cheaply diagnose the bacteria which causes the most common bout of food poisoning in Australia.
 
26 September, 2007

The eyes can be a portal to a person's health
A study that will use a simple eye test to save the lives and limbs of diabetics is one of seven QUT projects funded in the latest round of National Health and Medical Research Council grants.

 
25 September, 2007 Communication breakdown puts patients at risk
Patient welfare could be put at risk by hospitals that don't communicate with casual nurses, a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researcher said.
 
19 September, 2007 That's so not cool: Peers apply pressure in right place
An IHBI PhD researcher is aiming to harness the forces of teen peer pressure for good - to lower the risk-taking by adolescents.
 
19 September, 2007 Diet support helps chronic kidney sufferers
Regular counselling on diet and lifestyle offers significant benefits to people with chronic kidney disease, according to new Queensland University Technology research.
 
6 September, 2007

Fever causing headaches for Aussie parents
Australian parents need to be educated about managing fever in young children because many give medication incorrectly and often unnecessarily, according to a Queensland University of Technology nursing researcher.

 
5 September, 2007 New device protects against blood clots
A tiny mechanical device that has the potential to prevent blood clots after surgery will be tested on 20 patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery at The Prince Charles Hospital.
 
4 September, 2007 Hungry to lose weight? Help is at hand
Imagine an electronic hand-held device that can track your appetite, record feelings of hunger, monitor food intake, and contribute to weight management research.
 
22 August, 2007

Summer dengue fever warning for northern Australia
Northern Australia should be on high alert for an outbreak of dengue fever this summer following outbreaks in neighbouring Asian countries.

 
22 August, 2007

Humble cup of tea protects against disease
South east Queensland women's love of tea could protect them from lifestyle diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.

 
20 August, 2007

Holocaust still resonates 60 years on - research
The effects of the Holocaust are still being felt three generations later and more than 60 years after the events, according to new Queensland University of Technology (QUT) research.

 
16 August, 2007

Don't let bird flu stop you flying
Australians travelling to Bali should not panic and take simple precautions in the face of the recent deaths from bird flu, Professor Gerard Fitzgerald says.

 
2 August, 2007

Study reveals the dangers of printer pollution
The tiny particles emitted from some home or office laser printer are as dangerous to human health as inhaling cigarette smoke, according to a new study by Professor Lidia Morawska from QUT's International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health.

 
23 July, 2007

Preventing obesity in the developing world
Developing countries in Asia aiming to head-off a western-style obesity crisis are using QUT obesity prevention expertise to help them do it.

 
18 July, 2007

QUT and BAC take lead in improving airport security
Dr Renata Meuter, from QUT's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, is undertaking a preliminary study to analyse BAC data on the efficiency of passenger screeners.

 
16 July, 2007

QUT gene research used in test for schizophrenia
QUT's research on schizophrenia genetic markers forms the basis of a collaboration with a major United States diagnostic product manufacturer.

 
16 July, 2007

Vaccine trials inject hope into koala's future
The first Australian trials of a vaccine developed by Queensland University of Technology that could save Australia's iconic koala from contracting chlamydia are planned to begin later this year.

 
12 July, 2007

Parents teach their teens alcohol misuse
Parents' drinking patterns are the strongest predictor of adolescent alcohol use, suggesting alcohol education programs should start before high school, a new Queensland University of Technology study of Australian teenagers has found.

 
10 July, 2007

QUT's top researchers honoured with Fellowships
A Queensland University of Technology health researcher has been honoured with a prestigious Smart State Fellowship to develop a genetic test that has the potential to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of people with schizophrenia.

 
29 June, 2007

Call for Qld road safety award nominations
QUT's Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q) and the RACQ will recognise initiatives designed to help cut the state's road toll when they hand out the 2007 Queensland Road Safety Awards later this year.

 
14 June, 2007

Invisible symptoms pain MS sufferers the most
One out of three people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) rate pain as their worst symptom, despite the disease also causing spasticity, paralysis and blindness.

 
7 June, 2007 QUT nutrition researchers honoured
Two Queensland University of Technology dietetic researchers have been recognised by the Dietitians Association of Australia for their commitment to improving their profession.
 
5 June, 2007

QUT toasts success of Smart State Scholars
Psychology PhD researcher Nerida Leal, has won a prestigious Smart State Scholarship announced by the government today to study the road dangers of illegal street racing and hooning.

 
10 May, 2007 Spreading viruses as we breathe
Keeping at arm's length won't protect you from catching an infectious disease, according to new research by Queensland University of Technology which reveals airborne viruses can spread far and wide.
 
8 May, 2007 Funding boost for stem cell therapies
Biomedical company Tissue Therapies Limited in conjunction with Queensland University of Technology has been awarded $225,000 by the State Government to further develop stem cell therapies.
 
30 April, 2007 Fish oil may help kidney disease sufferers
Fish oil, it's been touted as an answer to Alzheimers, arthritis and even weight-loss but now a Queensland University of Technology researcher will test its health benefits in people with chronic kidney disease.
 
19 April, 2007 QUT sun scientist addresses UN summit
Queensland University of Technology sun scientist Michael Kimlin has joined some of the world's leading environment experts in Singapore to address the United Nations Global Business Summit for the Environment.
 
9 March, 2007 Dementia - the new battle for baby boomers
It's probably - and understandably - the last retirement topic baby boomers want to think about ... but this huge demographic group has reached the age that places them straight into the high-risk category for dementia.
 
7 February, 2007 Chlamydia vaccine a step closer to reality
Scientists at Queensland University of Technology are one step closer to developing a world-first vaccine to protect women against contracting the most common sexually-transmitted disease, Chlamydia.
 
7 February, 2007 Queensland cyclists burn - research
Cyclists are being warned to slip, slop, slap following a Queensland study which shows they are regularly getting sunburnt.
 
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More information on IHBI media releases can be found on the QUT Expert Guide.