A strategic partnership agreement between Griffith University’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics (IBG) and Burnet Institute will strengthen biomedical research, innovation and health outcomes in Australia and internationally.
Announced today at the AusBiotech International Conference on the Gold Coast, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will see Burnet Institute and IBG establish a research relationship that leverages their respective research and technology development strengths through collaborative research programs.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Lee Smith
Griffith’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Lee Smith welcomed the partnership announcement and research benefits it would bring to the industry.
“Burnet Institute is an internationally recognised medical research institute dedicated to improving health equity through research, education and public health initiatives,” Professor Smith said.
“I’m delighted this partnership will enhance research in infectious diseases, global health, diagnostics, epidemiology, and international health programs.”
IBG Executive Director Professor Paul Clarke
Burnet’s work complements the research being undertaken at IBG, a leading institute with internationally recognised strengths in drug and vaccine discovery, and translational research.
IBG Executive Director Professor Paul Clarke said both institutes shared a commitment to translating research into improved health outcomes.
“Together we aim to address the challenges in infectious diseases, diagnostics, First Peoples health, global health, and precision medicine whilst seeking to establish a long-term framework which supports collaborative research excellence, research, workforce development, and health impact,” Professor Clarke said.
Burnet Institute Director and CEO Professor Brendan Crabb AC
Although the strategic collaboration will cover a variety of projects, one specific area of endeavour is the development of a novel diagnostic platform that will have application in cancer and infectious diseases.
Burnet Institute Director and CEO Professor Brendan Crabb AC said the partnership reflected a shared ambition to make advances in biomedical research accessible to more people.
“This partnership brings together expertise that can help us tackle shared research challenges and develop new diagnostics, treatments and vaccines,” he said.
Burnet Institute Director of Commercialisation and Research Translation Jen Barnessaid
“Working with Griffith University creates opportunities to bring together complementary research strengths and accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into solutions that improve health in Australia and across the wider region.”
Burnet Institute Director of Commercialisation and Research Translation Jen Barnessaid said: “We look forward to working with the Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics to explore new opportunities for research translation.”
“An exciting area of potential is bringing Burnet’s ISO-certified diagnostic development capability together with Griffith’s therapeutic research programs to explore the development of companion diagnostics and help advance promising discoveries towards clinical application.”
Young women are often exposed to social media content that can contribute to negative body image, but new research has found small, deliberate changes to their feeds could help reduce body image pressures.
A team of researchers from Griffith University, Flinders University, and the University of the Sunshine Coast, recruited 230 Australian women aged between 17-35 years to participate in a seven-day social media intervention.
The study examined three strategies over seven days: following non-objectified body-positivity accounts, following nature-focused accounts, or removing appearance-focused content from existing feeds.
The findings showed deliberately curating content on Instagram and TikTok reduced self-objectification and perceived pressure from social media to meet beauty standards.
Dr Veya Seekis
Dr Veya Seekis from Griffith University’s School of Applied Psychology said the findings highlighted how social media users could take greater control of their online experiences.
“Our findings suggest appearance pressures can be reduced by removing appearance-focused content or following body-positive accounts that promote body acceptance and appreciation without sexualising women’s bodies,” Dr Seekis said.
“Importantly, content doesn’t need to focus on bodies or appearance to be beneficial.
“Following nature-focused accounts can also help reduce appearance pressures while increasing feelings of connectedness to nature.”
The findings highlighted feed curation as a simple, accessible strategy for creating healthier online experiences.
Professor Ivanka Prichard from Flinders University said young women thrived when their value was defined by more than their appearance.
“Finding content that inspires, educates or connects us with the world around us can be a powerful reminder that who we are is much more than how we look,” Professor Prichard said.
Dr Seekis said positive changes did not always require leaving social media.
“The message isn’t necessarily that young women need to stop using social media,” she said.
“It’s that they can be more intentional about the content they allow into their feeds.”
The paper ‘Testing social media feed curation: Effects of non-objectified body positivity, nature, and feed cleansing on young women’s body image’ has been published in Body Image.
Mitigating underwater threats such as detecting invasive aquatic species, investigating structural issues on vessels, and performing sometimes complex stocktakes of marine life could soon be completed without the cost and potential risks to human safety thanks to novel, artificial-intelligence powered technology.
Led by Griffith University, alongside partner institutions and industry partners Cyborg and KJR, the project – enabling underwater “robot” vehicles to detect species and structures using AI – applies Griffith’s existing AI decision-making technology to marine life surveys and underwater inspections.
“It combines autonomous survey modes, computer vision and AI-assisted data review to make underwater survey and monitoring safer, more repeatable and easier to scale, particularly in inconvenient and low-visibility environments.”
In recent in-field tests, the teams deployed the AI-powered AUVs in several underwater locations, including off Moreton Island, Port of Brisbane, Queensland Maritime Museum and Redcliffe Boat Ramp, finding the AUV could maintain distance to a structure or to the seabed, and its software accurately identified underwater objects and living organisms.
“We have also integrated computer vision models for object detection and tracking in real-time from the AUV’s camera stream,” Dr Hou said.
“Combining autonomous survey modes, computer vision and AI-assisted data reviews make underwater surveying and monitoring safer, more repeatable and easier to scale, particularly in inconvenient and low-visibility environments.”
Dr Zhe Hou
“Our team is now focused on further field validation tests in real operating conditions with potential applications across environmental monitoring, biosecurity surveillance and underwater infrastructure inspection.”
The project was funded by an Australian Economic Accelerator Ignite Round 1 grant valued at $483,414, and included researchers from partner institutions the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, and the University of Sunshine Coast.
Australians use short-term rental accommodation (STRA) for non-leisure purposes, including during emergencies, medical treatment, work-related travel and periods of housing transition, new findings from Griffith University reveal.
The study titled ‘More Than a Bed’ was commissioned by Airbnb, and found non-leisure STRA could function as a flexible layer within Australia’s temporary accommodation system, complementing hotels and long-term rentals where accommodation needs were urgent, uncertain in duration or required household-style facilities.
The national survey identified seven main reasons people used short-term rental accommodation for non-holiday stays including:
Work: 21.9 per cent, the largest individual category
Property issue and renovation: 17.8 per cent, including planned renovation and unexpected housing displacement
Natural hazard: 16.3 per cent
Moving between homes: 15.4 per cent
Domestic and family violence: 15.2 per cent
Education: 8.1 per cent
Health and care: 5.3 per cent
The study drew on 68 interviews and two national surveys involving 2,223 non-leisure STRA guests and 420 hosts.
“More than 80 per cent of respondents in both the natural hazard and domestic and family violence categories booked immediately or at short notice,” Professor Denizci Guillet said.
“Work-related guests often used STRA as a practical base during temporary assignments, while health and care-related stays included patients travelling for treatment as well as family members and carers travelling to support them and often needed extra rooms for children, space for family pets, a functional kitchen and room for daily life.
“Across the study, many guests valued having a stable, home-like place where they could maintain everyday routines, retain a degree of independence and adapt their stay as circumstances changed.
“For many non-leisure guests, STRA was not simply somewhere to sleep, but a temporary living environment during periods of work, care, disruption or transition.”
Professor Denizci Guillet said the results had important implications for policymakers, industry participants and organisations involved in STRA.
“The findings suggest that non-leisure uses should be taken into account when assessing the broader implications of STRA policy and regulation,” Professor Denizci Guillet said.
“Regulatory settings that affect STRA supply may also influence access to temporary accommodation for healthcare-related travel, workforce mobility, housing disruption and disaster-related displacement.”
The report ‘More Than a Bed: How short-term rentals support Australians through crisis, care, work and change’ was published at Griffith Institute for Tourism.
Distribution of Guest Survey Respondents Across Non-Leisure STRA Categories.
Two Winter Olympians have been awarded Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and Griffith University Sports Scholarships as they balance sporting ambitions with higher education.
Snowboard cross athletes Mia Clift and James Johnstone are the latest recipients of the prestigious scholarships.
The athletes have been welcomed into the Griffith Sports College community, which has supported hundreds of student-athletes to combine elite training and competition with university studies.
Griffith Sports College Director Naomi McCarthy OAM PLY
Griffith Sports College Director Naomi McCarthy OAM OLY said the scholarship recipients were among four Griffith students who competed at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“The flexibility and support offered through Griffith Sports College helps athletes like Mia and James pursue their sporting ambitions while continuing their studies,” Ms McCarthy said.
Griffith University was the first institution recognised as an Australian Olympic Pathway University and has produced more Olympians than any other Australian university across the past three Olympic Games.
Studying a Bachelor of Business, Mia Clift began snow sports at age five and has established herself as one of Australia’s leading snowboard cross athletes.
She won silver at the 2025 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships and represented Australia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.
Mia Clift. Image credit: Chris Hocking, Olympic Winter Institute Australia
“I believe it is extremely important for athletes not to tie their identity solely to sport,” Ms Clift said.
“I’d like to have other opportunities outside of sport, and studying helps ensure I have another pathway for the future.
“The support provided by the AOC and Griffith University demonstrates the importance they place on developing athletes as individuals, both during and beyond their sporting careers.”
As one of Australia’s rising snowboard cross athletes, James Johnstone won gold in the mixed team event at the 2023 Junior World Championships and represented Australia at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
James Johnstone
He is studying a Bachelor of Communication and aspires to build a career in sports media after competition, drawing on his experience as an elite athlete.
“Juggling training and study isn’t always easy, especially in a season where I’m trying to push up the rankings, so having the AOC and Griffith back me like this takes a real bit of pressure off,” Mr Johnstone said.
“It lets me give both things a proper go instead of feeling like I have to sacrifice one for the other.
“The support for elite athletes from the sports college at Griffith is exceptional, and that was a massive part of why choosing to study here was a no brainer for me.
“After being solely focused on sport since finishing high school, I can start to work on my post-sport career while competing – which has been made incredibly easy thanks to this scholarship.”
Applications for the next round of Australian Olympic Committee and Griffith University Sports Scholarships are now open. More information is available here.
Australia has made significant strides in improving cancer survival, but new research from Griffith University finds far less progress in supporting a survivor’s return-to-work journey, which remains a major challenge for many.
Researchers interviewed 22 cancer survivors, healthcare professionals and employers within the return‑to‑work ecosystem, to identify barriers and gaps across the system, and delivered 13 recommendations.
Associate Professor Carys Chan from the Department of Management said return‑to‑work challenges for cancer survivors were becoming increasingly significant as advances in medical treatment continued to improve survival rates.
“Returning to work is an important part of recovery after cancer, helping survivors rebuild social connections, restore identity, improve quality of life, and achieve financial security,” Associate Professor Chan said.
“We found that fatigue was the single most significant physical barrier to returning to work – unlike ordinary tiredness, cancer-related fatigue is overwhelming, persistent, and unrelieved by rest.”
One survivor described the impact of fatigue: “I had my full four days a week last week, and I was cooked by the end of the week, by the end of the day, and really, really, really am pushing my body to the limit to try and get back to work.”
Other major barriers included cognitive impairment, unsupportive employers, financial pressure and social discomfort, as well as loss of confidence and fear about work capacity following treatment.
For many, the experience also involved a profound disruption to identity, as one survivor explained: “Well, I didn’t have an identity. When I left, I didn’t have an identity. My identity was I had cancer, that was it.”
“If we want cancer survivors to thrive, not just survive, we need systems and workplaces that understand their experiences and adapt to meet their needs,” Associate Professor Chan said.
Though employers held a genuine interest in supporting continued employment, without guidance on appropriate workplace adjustments, some held fast to inflexible workloads or didn’t understand their employee’s needs.
Health professionals felt frustrated by late insurer referrals, which often delayed patient rehabilitation, leading to prolonged recovery times and higher claim costs, despite evidence that earlier intervention during treatment could improve outcomes.
“Clinicians said there needed to be more communication with oncologists about return-to-work planning, which was a gap that left survivors to advocate for their own needs – a difficult task for those who are experiencing a lack of confidence and persistent fatigue,” Associate Professor Chan said.
The recommendations outlined a roadmap for supporting life after cancer by prioritising earlier access to rehabilitation, recognising fatigue and identity disruption as legitimate barriers, strengthening employer and clinician capability, and embedding survivorship support into health and policy systems.
Griffith University medical student Ryo Takamizawa has been named Queensland’s 2027 Rhodes Scholar.
The Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland and Chair of the Rhodes selection panel, announced the prestigious award at Government House in Brisbane.
Mr Takamizawa, 24, graduated with a Bachelor of Medical Science in 2022 and is due to complete a Doctor of Medicine in November 2026.
He ranked first in a cohort of 220 students in 2025, received a Sir Samuel Griffith Medical Scholarship and consecutive Griffith Awards for Academic Excellence.
He is currently working as a researcher in Griffith University’s Public Health and Economics Modelling Group and as a tutor in anatomy.
Mr Takamizawa will use his Rhodes Scholarship to undertake a Master of Science in Health Service Improvement and Evaluation.
“My mission is to help build Australian primary care that protects a person’s place in their community,” he said.
“We have never been better at saving people from disease, but far less adept at preserving a person’s place within it.”
Mr Takamizawa said his GP placement in rural Queensland further inspired him to advocate for chronically ill patients.
“I want to design and evaluate a risk-adjusted blended funding model for GP-led multidisciplinary care, paying for continuity to prevent deterioration,” he said.
“Medicare mostly pays a GP for each visit – I want to test paying them to look after you over time, with more support for those who need care most.
“My ambition is to make functional independence a funded responsibility of primary care, rather than an aspiration sustained by exceptional clinicians.”
Mr Takamizawa chairs the board of the Australian Medical Students’ Association and is an elected representative on the Griffith University Council.
He has co-authored two academic articles published in peer-reviewed journals.
Outside of academia, Mr Takamizawa is an accomplished musician, playing piano and cello.
He founded the Aurum Health Orchestra, a community organisation of 60 musicians who regularly perform for people in oncology, palliative-care and aged-care settings.
Mr Takamizawa said he aimed to draft an Australian GP-led chronic care model.
“My training lets me treat the patient before me,” he said.
“My research in policy analysis and meta-analysis showed me how decisions shape health beyond the consultation and how to evaluate those effects rigorously.”
Mr Takamizawa said the scholarship would give him the skills needed to make lasting change in Australian public health.
“Oxford’s Health Economics and Policy Evaluation Group specialises in evaluating primary-care policy and its outcomes,” he said.
“I could run analyses through the world’s largest primary-care database, while the department’s role as a WHO Collaborating Centre on Primary Health Care would help me distinguish what Australia can adapt from what it should not.”
About the Rhodes Scholarships
Rhodes Scholarships are postgraduate awards, that started in 1903 under the will of the late Cecil John Rhodes.
This prestigious award recognises outstanding all-round students from diverse backgrounds, and enables them to study at the University of Oxford.
More than 100 scholars are selected each year from countries such as Australia, Bermuda, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica and the Commonwealth Caribbean, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, Southern Africa (including South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland), United Arab Emirates, United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The qualities Cecil Rhodes set out for those seeking Rhodes Scholarships include academic and intellectual excellence, integrity of character, respect for fellow beings, and a capacity for leadership.
More than 500 Australian Rhodes Scholars have been selected since the scheme began. A Rhodes Scholarship covers all University and College fees, a personal stipend and return airfare.
Griffith University has excelled in two rankings metrics jumping 24 places in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027 to be 266th in the world, and is first in Australia for nursing in the Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking for Academic Subjects (GRAS) 2026.
The rankings saw Griffith improve five places nationally to 15th, and was ranked third in Queensland.
The THE World University Rankings 2027 assessed 2,297 research-intensive institutions from 118 countries and territories based on teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.
The 17 performance indicators were grouped into five core pillars of evaluation:
Teaching (the learning environment)
Research environment (volume, income and reputation)
Research quality (citation impact, research strength, research excellence and research influence)
International outlook (staff, students and research)
Industry (income and patents)
Griffith has been recognised as a leader across a range of subjects in the prestigious Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2026.
Nursing was listed as the best in Australia, with hospitality and tourism management earning second place nationally.
Several subjects were rated number one in Queensland including law, political sciences, economics, and marine and ocean engineering.
Business administration, artificial intelligence, and electrical and electronic engineering were ranked equal first.
GRAS assesses approximately 2,000 world universities from 100 countries and regions across 57 subjects including natural sciences, engineering, life sciences, medical sciences, and social sciences.
Nine objective indicators were grouped into five categories:
World-class faculty
World-class research output
High-quality research
Research impact
International collaboration
A Griffith University graduate whose career has helped strengthen Laos’ relationships across Asia, the Pacific and Africa has been recognised with the 2026 Outstanding Alumnus Award from Griffith Business School.
Dr Bounthanongsack (Bo) Chanthalath, who completed a Doctor of Philosophy at Griffith in 2016 and was a HDR member of the Griffith Asia Institute during his time here, is the Director General of Asia Pacific and Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). Over more than two decades in diplomacy, he has played a key role in building international partnerships, advancing regional cooperation and promoting mutual understanding between nations.
Dr Chanthalath recently returned to Griffith University as a guest of the Griffith Asia Institute (GAI), where he delivered a seminar examining contemporary relations between Australia and Laos. The visit provided students and researchers with valuable insights into diplomacy, regional cooperation and the evolving Australia-Laos relationship.
GAI Acting Director, Associate Professor Gloria Ge said hosting Dr Chanthalath was a valuable opportunity for the institute and wider Griffith community, stating that, “Bo’s seminar provided important perspectives on the opportunities and challenges shaping relations between Australia and Laos.”
“[Bo’s] insights helped deepen our understanding of a relationship that continues to grow in importance across diplomacy, education, development cooperation and people-to-people connections.”
Reflecting on his career, Dr Chanthalath said diplomacy offered an opportunity to foster cooperation across cultures and countries:
“I serve my country with pride and honour by building bridges between Laos and the international community through diplomacy and cooperation.”
Having worked with diplomats and officials from a wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds, Dr Chanthalath said every interaction had broadened his perspective and strengthened his commitment to international engagement.
“My work matters because it helps strengthen Laos’ relationships with the international community,” he said.
“Diplomacy is about more than representing a country. It is about building trust, fostering cooperation, and creating opportunities that support national development and improve people’s lives.”
Dr Chanthalath credits Griffith University with helping shape both his professional and personal development. As an international student arriving from Laos, he found a welcoming environment and strong support network that helped him succeed. He stated, his supervisor, former GAI Directors, Professor Andrew O’Neil and Professor Ian Hall, along with his lecturers and classmates, created a supportive environment that gave him the confidence to succeed.
“What I often share with friends and colleagues is that Griffith was much more than a place to earn a degree. It was where I built lifelong friendships with people from around the world, expanded my global perspective, and developed both personally and professionally.”
The experiences and relationships formed during his time at Griffith continue to influence his work today, where understanding different cultures and building lasting partnerships remain at the heart of effective diplomacy.
The Outstanding Alumnus Award recognises graduates whose professional achievements have made a significant contribution to their field and community. For Dr Chanthalath, the honour reflects a career dedicated to cooperation, dialogue and strengthening connections between Laos and the wider world. Our Griffith Asia Institute community congratulate him and all his success for the future.
Pro Vice Chancellor (Business), Professor Caitlin Byrne (right) with 2026 Outstanding Alumni recipients, (L-R): Seema Chauhan, Dr Bounthanongsack (Bo) Chanthalath, Ryan James and Joseph Hardy.
The human breath could help identify cancerous lung nodules negating the need for invasive testing.
New Griffith University research, funded by Tour de Cure, analysed exhaled breath to help doctors distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous lung nodules, supporting earlier lung cancer diagnosis.
Approximately 2.5 million new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year.
Professor Chamindie Punyadeera
Professor Chamindie Punyadeera from Griffith’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics said the study evaluated two complementary technologies, with both showing promise.
“We studied an electronic nose, or eNose, which identifies patterns in breath chemicals,” Professor Punyadeera said.
“The second technology was gas chromatography-mass spectrometry which identified specific volatile organic compounds in breath.
“Both breath-based approaches showed substantially better discrimination between malignant and benign nodules than models using standard clinical information alone.”
The research could replace the need for invasive testing which currently entailed a CT-guided lung biopsy to obtain tissue for a diagnosis.
Other invasive techniques encompassed a bronchoscopy to sample suspicious nodules, or in some cases, surgery to remove or investigate nodules that may be cancerous.
Dr Xi Zhang
Sometimes patients underwent invasive techniques to later find out 95 per cent of pulmonary nodules identified on low-dose CT scans were ultimately found to be non-cancerous.
Co-author Dr Xi Zhang said: “Biopsying lung nodules can be technically challenging, particularly when lesions are small or difficult to access, and can cause complications such as pneumothorax or collapsed lung.”
“While a simple breath test is showing promise in identifying which nodules are most likely to be malignant, it is not intended to replace biopsies, but rather to help clinicians decide who needs invasive intervention most urgently.
“It is hoped it could also potentially reduce unnecessary procedures for patients with benign nodules by including the non-invasive test into routine clinical care.”
This research was conducted by PhD student Waqar Ahmed Afridi.
Professor Punyadeera and Dr Zhang worked in collaboration with Adjunct Associate Professor David Fielding, a staff thoracic physician at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, who provided clinical guidance and leadership throughout the research, was critical to the paper’s translation relevance.
This research was undertaken in collaboration with Dr David Paas from Queensland Health.
The paper ‘Complementary breath profiling using eNose and GC-MS for non-invasive triage of indeterminate pulmonary nodules’ has been published in MedComm.
