Menzies School of Health Research

Menzies' Dr Michelle Fitts & the Head Health and Healing team focus on the need for improved care and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have experienced traumatic brain injury (TBI) including concussion from violence. Read more: bit.ly/3PoyQ8e
#BalanceTheScales #IWD2026

Sending a special shout out to Menzies Project Officer in the DIABETES across the LIFECOURSE: Northern Australia Partnership, Seileshia Calma Goodrem, whose deeply personal reflection on weight stigma & working in health research has been published in MJA Insight+. Read her powerful insights below.

Pictured are EFFORT trial participants from Ethiopia who attended a community event to learn about the study’s findings (Photo credit: Arba Minch University). @acreme.bsky.social

MALARIA MILESTONE | New research published today in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, has confirmed the safety & effectiveness of high-dose primaquine & single-dose tafenoquine in G6PD-normal patients in treating P. vivax #malaria. Read more: tinyurl.com/mw7edaup @kthriemer.bsky.social

Kim’s work tracks malaria drug resistance and supports the next generation through mentoring and traineeships, helping build confidence and leadership in the lab. #EveryVoiceInScience

It’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Today we’re spotlighting Kim Piera, Senior Research Assistant at Menzies. For Kim, closing the gender gap means women aren’t just doing the science, they’re leading it & shaping global health decisions. #WomenInScience

Today, #February11, we celebrate International Day of Women & Girls in Science. We’re proud to support the women that are driving research that delivers real-world impact & building inclusive STEM environments for the future. Take a look behind the lab doors. #EveryVoiceInScience

Kelly works with environmental samples like water, soil and air to understand where melioidosis bacteria are found. She believes traineeships and real lab experience build confidence in real time and make science feel achievable.

Tomorrow is Int Day of Women & Girls in Science on #February11. Meet Kelly, from the Melioidosis team. For Kelly, closing the gender gap means creating hands-on opportunities that help women see their work making a real public health impact and see themselves belonging in science.

Angela is part of the Malaria team working on the vivaxGEN project, developing and optimising lab methods that help track malaria transmission and drug resistance in endemic regions. #EveryVoiceInScience

Continuing our International Day of Women & Girls in Science series, meet Angela Rumaseb. Angela believes science isn’t a rigid career path & closing the gender gap starts with following your curiosity and trusting that you don’t need all the answers to begin. #WomenInScience

This senior role combines institute-wide research leadership with an active research program, while strengthening research excellence, collaboration, funding diversity & governance.

Are you an outstanding research leader who inspires others and drives excellence? Menzies is seeking a Deputy Director Research to join the Senior Executive Team and help shape the institute’s research agenda, organisational strategy, and culture. Apply now: tinyurl.com/2rvtwe54

Erin encourages women and girls to stay curious and explore different streams of science to find what truly excites them. Opportunity often starts with saying yes.

We’re celebrating Erin Lewis from Menzies’ Melioidosis lab team in the lead up to #IDWGIS. For Erin, this year’s theme ‘vision to impact’ means turning equity into everyday lab practice, through mentoring, collaboration and creating real opportunities. #WomenInScience #EveryVoiceInScience

Anjana uses the genetics of malaria parasites to understand how it spreads & why some medicines stop working. She works with teams in malaria-endemic countries, supporting evidence-based decisions for malaria control. For her, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard is key to driving real impact.

In the lead up to International Day of Women and Girls in Science on #February11, we’re featuring some of the inspirational women in science at Menzies. First up, meet Anjana Rai who works as part of the malaria team in the Menzies lab. #WomenInScience #EveryVoiceInScience

MENTOR AWARD ✨ Congratulations to A/Prof Shawn Ting, a Menzies Mentorship Award recipient, recognised for fostering professional growth and embodying akompana (side-by-side) mentoring with Timor-Leste colleagues that supports both people and projects.

MENTOR AWARD ✨ We’re delighted to announce Katherine Hancock as a Menzies Mentorship Award recipient, recognised for her consistent support, thoughtful guidance and ability to balance individual needs while strengthening teams across Menzies.

MENTOR AWARD ✨ Mentoring is central to research at Menzies. We’re proud to celebrate Dr Josie Povey, a Menzies Mentorship Award recipient, recognised for her calm guidance, thoughtful supervision and long-standing support of staff, students and trainees

IDEAS GRANT | Congratulations to Dr Jemima Beissbarth on your NHMRC Ideas Grant! This project will examine the prevalence & impact of a new bacterial species of Oligella found in severe middle ear infections, to further understanding and help shape treatment approaches.

This project builds on a groundbreaking Menzies discovery, driven by Dr Kho and Prof Anstey, who transformed the understanding of malaria biology and shifted the focus to the spleen as the main infection site.

IDEAS GRANT | We’re celebrating a NHMRC Ideas Grant, supporting Menzies’ Prof Nick Anstey & Dr Steven Kho in collaboration with @burnetinstitute.bsky.social & IDRC, to investigate the burden of hidden splenic reservoirs of P. falciparum #malaria in Africa & seek elimination strategies.

WELCOME | We’re open for 2026 & look forward to the new opportunities, milestones and stories that this year brings!

Stay up-to-date with our work through social media & email updates. See the bottom of our home page to subscribe: www.menzies.edu.au

HAPPY HOLIDAYS | We’re wishing you a safe, healthy and happy festive season!

Menzies will wrap up for the year on Tuesday 23 December 2025 and will re-open on Monday 5 January 2026.

Thanks again to all who joined us to celebrate our 40th Anniversary this year!

The Fakhrul Islam Scholarship supports Menzies HDR students researching renal disease or diabetes to enhance their research & professional development. This will support Emma to present her research internationally in 2026.

Congrats to Menzies PhD student Emma Weaver, recipient of the Fakhrul Islam Scholarship! Her work focuses on improving strategies to support Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young people to prevent & manage type 2 diabetes.

This is in memory of Harry Christian Giese, a leader in health & education in the NT, who was instrumental in the establishment & early years of Menzies. Made possible by the Giese Family, this Prize supports the professional development of an emerging research leader at Menzies.

Congrats to Dr Chris Lowbridge, the 2025 Harry Christian Giese Research Impact Prize recipient! His work at Menzies is strengthening TB understanding & response in northern Australia. Read more here: tinyurl.com/23v4xzpa

PhD OPPORTUNITY | Do you have a bioinformatics background & want to be part of a team researching zoonotic Plasmodium knowlesi malaria? Check out this PhD opportunity under the supervision of Matthew Grigg & Jacob Westaway. Learn more tinyurl.com/44wvrz8f