Based in a region focused on healthy cattle and healthy mining profits, CQUniversity has managed to forge a research focus on human health too.

Some of our leading scientists are contributing to the worldwide fight against respiratory infections, particularly middle ear infection which has had terrible consequences for Aboriginal communities as well as the wider population.

Photos courtesy Central Queensland Medical Imaging

CQUniversity offers opportunities for research and coursework in many health-related areas

including sonography, medical imaging, medical science (including pathology, clinical investigation

 and nutrition), paramedic science, nursing, midwifery and exercise and sport science.

Up to 80% of Australian children have at least one episode of middle ear infection in their first 3 years and about one third of these will suffer recurrent or chronic middle ear infections.

The Capricornia Centre for Mucosal Immunology has been established under the leadership of Professor Jennelle Kyd, whose research on immunity and vaccines is recognized internationally.

Professor Kyd is collaborating with researchers in Australia, Europe and the USA and is working with major pharmaceutical companies on the research and development of patents to the clinical trials stage for a range of new therapies.

"We currently treat respiratory infections with antibiotics but we need to find better preventative therapies otherwise we'll continue increase the emergence of bacteria that are drug resistant. Vaccines offer the best strategy for long term prevention of infections," she said.

Jennelle is currently the Queensland Tall Poppy Ambassador and has been invited to be a Director on the Board of the Australian Institute of Policy and Science this year.

Meanwhile, Dr Andrew Fenning is investigating the potential benefits of several natural products, resveratrol (antioxidant/anti-inflammatory found in red wine), THC (active compound in medicinal marijuana) Gogi Berry extract and the plant-based sweetener Stevia, on the cardiovascular system and in the reduction of secondary complications following diabetes.  These compounds appear to improve oxidative stress and inflammation translating to reduced cardiovascular complications in models of these diseases.

With funding from a National Heart Foundation scholarship program, Dr Fenning hopes to understand how the products can lower blood pressure and improve heart and blood vessel function, particularly for patients suffering from cardiovascular disease.

"We are particularly interested to see if the treatments can prevent potentially fatal arrhythmias in heart disease patients and improve blood vessel function compared to standard pharmacological therapy."

In collaboration with Dr Mitch Duncan the team is also examining the effects of air pollution and obesity-inducing diets on parameters of cardiovascular disease and if exercise interventions can mitigate typical pathological cardiovascular responses.

Some of these findings have been translated into human trials examining the outcomes of cardiac rehabilitation programs and workplace activity levels on improving markers of chronic cardiovascular disease.

For the past few years, Dr Duncan has been researching the physical activity levels of various cohorts of people. In 2009, he developed an innovative way of surveying these groups.

Rather than relying on people completing written surveys, Dr Duncan is using GPS monitors that show exactly where people have travelled over a given period. Matched with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) maps, he can now gauge whether people have encountered obstacles or disincentives to activity.

"With surveys people are not always as accurate as they should be and that limits our ability to see how environments influence their activity."

Dr Duncan now hopes to develop the concept further with a smaller, integrated monitor that could not only measure the paths people take, but the intensity of the activity as well.

Mitch was recently named among the 10 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award winners for 2010.

His research is centred on the effects of too little physical activity and too much sitting; the influence that community designs and workplace environments have on these behaviours; and how best to measure our behaviour in these environments.

Dr Duncan and his colleagues have secured a $896,000 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant for Project WALK 2.0, which investigates the internal and external validity of the latest web applications in promoting physical activity.

Another CQUniversity research leader is Dr Kerry Reid-Searl who has become known as the 'masked educator'.

Early on she found that role play could enhance the learning experience and it was not long before she introduced a wig, glasses and a fat suit so students could have a character to interact with.

That's how the eccentric 'Iva Sore' character was born. Iva soon made her way out of the lecture room and made several surprise conference appearances.

"It worked well but there was still a power imbalance because students could still detect the lecturer under the costume," Kerry said.

"We tried with solid masks but it was not until we found an American company who could make realistic flexible silicone masks that the idea really took off."

Kerry says students have really engaged well with her new characters, epitomised by retired butcher Cyril Smith and former matron Murial Mona Moore.

Kerry says the American company has now been approached to make a whole range of authentic looking wounds, body parts including breasts, abdomens and genitalia and even colostomies.

These resources will be a part of what Kerry is creating as MASK-ED (KRS simulation) which has recently been trade-marked.

MASK-ED simply means masking of the educator and masking of the educational process, whilst KRS is about knowledgeable, realistic and spontaneous simulation.

CQUniversity is also in the final stages of establishing an agreement with the company and the silicone props made for MASK-ED will be exclusive.

The University will market MASK-ED^TM (KRS simulation) which will include not only the props but also educational resources.

Kerry believes that whilst the props hide the face of the educator, the skill is in knowing how to use this technique.  Hence it is fundamental that the educator is prepared with the educational resources that Kerry has created.

CQUniversity recently welcomed a federal government Excellence in Research report which places its Engineering, Medical & Health Sciences and Nursing research at a world-class standard.