Meet The Team
PROFESSOR
VICKI CLIFTON
Scientific Director of QLD Family Cohort
Professor Vicki Clifton is the Scientific Director of the Queensland Family Cohort
Study.
She has a special interest in the placenta and pregnancy outcomes. She is particularly interested in asthma in pregnancy.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
KYM RAE
Lead of QLD Family Cohort (Indigenous)
A/Prof Rae will lead the Queensland Family Cohort Study areas that are unique to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and ensure that this cohort includes representation of these families from across the state, including rural and remote regions.
SAILESH KUMAR
QFC Governance Team
Professor Sailesh Kumar is the Clinical Director of the Queensland
Family Cohort Study.
He has research interests in fetal growth and early biomarkers for pregnancy complications.
EMILY BAILEY
QFC Governance Team
Emily Bailey manages finance, facility and compliance of Mater Research and operational management of the institute's partners.
She provides financial oversight and operational logistics for the Queensland Family Cohort Study biobank.
KAREN MORITZ
QFC Governance Team
Professor Moritz is the Associate Dean of Research at The University of Queensland’s Faculty of Medicine.
Her research focuses on maternal health during pregnancy, impacts of fetal development and the health of children and adolescents.
ANTHONY PERKINS
QFC Governance Team
Professor Perkins is an expert biochemist with particular interests in placental mitochondria and antioxidant enzyme systems.
He is the current Australasian Editor for the journal Placenta and on the editorial board for Nutrients and has held executive appointments at Griffith University.
MICHAEL KIMLIN
QFC Governance Team
Professor Kimlin is a radiation epidemiologist and public health specialist, with specific expertise in environmental exposure and cancer risk. He advises the US National Institute of Health and Centre for Disease Control on cancer risk in adults and children.
MAREE TOOMBS
QFC Governance Team
Professor Toombs is a Kamilaroi/Kooma woman and Associate Dean (Indigenous Engagement) in the Faculty of Medicine at The University of Queensland.
She holds significant expertise in Indigenous governance and is passionate about Indigenous health, particularly mental health.
BRENDA GANNON
QFC Governance Team
Professor Brenda Gannon is the Director of Research in the School of Economics at The University of Queensland.
Her research involves applied health economics using big data sets, using health economics theory and concepts to test causal hypotheses, and leading critical economic evaluations.
Professor Gannon brings her expertise in the field of health, ageing and lifecycle economics to help advise on cost-effectiveness of Australian health services.
MICHAEL HOGAN
QFC Governance Team
Adjunct Professor Hogan is positioned at QLD University of Technology and is leading work on ‘Advancing Child Wellbeing through Systems Leadership’.
Prof Hogan brings his substantial expertise in policy, public interest advocacy, and innovation to this committee.
His prior Director-General roles in Queensland government will facilitate effective cross-sectoral partnerships for the Queensland Family cohort.
JANET DAVIES
QFC Governance Team
Professor Davies is the Associate Dean of Research for QUT Faculty of Health.
She is passionate about allergen characterisation, clinical studies understanding immunity to allergens, and environmental health.
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Professor Davies will provide experience from her position as Assistant Director of Research at Metro North Health to guide research strategy, policy and implementation including partnership and engagement for the Queensland Family Cohort.
LORETTA WEATHERALL
QFC Governance Team
Loretta is a Gamilaraay woman and a passionate Aboriginal Health Practitioner who has effectively delivered and promoted education and health programs in Aboriginal communities for the past 10 years. She joins the Indigenous-Queensland Family Cohort program as the Indigenous Research Assistant and looks forward to improving outcomes in Queensland for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
DANIELLE BORG
QFC Governance Team
Dr Borg is a mid-career researcher and Queensland Family Cohort program coordinator. She maintains communication with QFC stakeholders and collaborators. Her research interest lies in diabetes, metabolism and most recently the effects of chronic disease during pregnancy and child development.
IAN WRIGHT
QFC Governance Alumni member
Professor Wright is the Head of the Clinical School in Cairns under the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine for James Cook University in Northern Queensland.
He has a special interest in fetal development, paediatrics, reproductive medicine and care of premature babies. Currently his research has a focus on the mechanisms of microvascular and gasotransmitter control, particularly in the preterm infant.
CLAIRE THURSTON
QFC Governance Alumni member
Ms Thurston led the QFC research midwifery team from the QFC for four years. She has over 33 years’ experience as a midwife. She has worked in home birthing, tertiary hospitals, hospital management and education. Claire was instrumental in developing the software to capture survey and questionnaire data asked of our Queensland families.