JCU is actively involved in a collaborative network of research institutes and initiatives dedicated to tackling the unique health challenges of tropical, Indigenous, rural and underserved communities.

Northern Queensland’s five Hospital and Health Services have strong translational research partnerships with James Cook University (JCU), the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine and other renowned institutes and research collaborations. 

 Medical students, junior doctors and vocational doctors are encouraged to contribute to groundbreaking research and transformative solutions in tropical health.  

Research facilities

Health and medical research at James Cook University responds to priority health needs, chronic disease and infections, tropical health systems strengthening and tropical health security.

• Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre (TAAHC) is a collaboration between northern Queensland’s five hospital and health services, the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network, James Cook University and the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine. Through an emphasis on translational research, the TAAHC partnership is designed to enhance collective capability in health service delivery, health and medical research and workforce development. 
• Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) is Australia’s only dedicated health and tropical medicine research institute. Based at JCU, AITHM focuses on diseases of high burden in the tropics, tropical health security and strengthening health systems. ATHM has research facilities in Cairns, Townsville, Thursday Island and Mackay.
• James Cook University College of Medicine and Dentistry conducts internationally recognised research in tropical medicine and public health care in underserved populations. It contributes to the work of AITHM. Connect with JCU research and researchers here.
• Anton Breinl Research Centre for Health Systems Strengthening at JCU in Townsville is dedicated to building strong and equitable health systems for rural, remote, Indigenous and tropical communities. The Centre’s highly collaborative program of translational research has a strong social justice focus, progressing health equity in partnership with the region’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, rural and remote populations, our near tropical neighbours and other underserved groups.
• Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease (QRC-PVD) in Townsville is an innovative translational research program dedicated to improving management of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). The group is interested in the full range of PVD problems (including but not limited to arterial occlusive, aneurysmal and venous disease) as well as the whole range of associated complications, including myocardial infarction, stroke, renal impairment and other complications common in these patients. A large range of skills and techniques are used and sought in the group including those involving in vivo pre-clinical models, in vitro studies, genomics, genetics, bio-informatics, molecular biology, epidemiology, clinical trials, health economics and complex statistical analyses.

Townsville

• Townsville Institute of Health Research and Innovation (TIHRI), a purpose-built research facility at Townsville University Hospital, supports and translates research into innovative, high-quality patient care. Find Townsville HHS specialty research groups and contacts here.

North West and Central West

• Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health (MCRRH) aims to build a healthy community and a skilled workforce in and for rural and remote Queensland through education and research. It is the foundation University Department of Rural Health in Queensland and spans more than half of Queensland, including the Central West.

Mackay

• Mackay Institute of Research and Innovation (MIRI) facilitates research and drives innovation for the delivery of evidence and value-based, patient-centred care across Mackay Health and Hospital Service. MIRI supports clinical trials and is active in the new TeleTrial concept involving regional and rural hospital and health services in northern Queensland.

>   Medical Research Fund research grant opportunities

Postgraduate Courses 

Health Professional Education 

Become a leader in improving clinical teaching and education with JCU’s Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Health Professional Education. 

Focus on teaching and learning in health contexts with specific strategies for clinical settings. Develop skills in assessment, curriculum design, and research based on evidence relevant to your career in health. Experience exceptional flexibility and support with online subjects and JCU’s outstanding teaching staff. 

> Health Professional Education study opportunities 

Lifestyle Medicine 

Lifestyle medicine is the evidence-based practice of nutrition, fasting, movement, sleep, mind-body approaches like meditation, relaxation therapy and breathwork, substance reduction, social connection, social prescribing, connection to our natural world combined with behaviour change skills like health coaching, technology, translational research and model of care innovation. 

Through JCU’s Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master of Lifestyle you’ll learn how to use evidence-based approaches to prevent and treat chronic physical and mental illness through lifestyle and social interventions and innovative approaches to service delivery. 

> Lifestyle Medicine study opportunities 

Surgical Anatomy 

The Graduate Diploma of Surgical Anatomy provides clinically relevant advanced anatomy training for medical graduates registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).  

Advance your learning of human anatomy through performing full human body cadaveric dissection workshops, based on core anatomy teaching and specialist surgical teaching. 

> Surgical anatomy course opportunities 

Public Health 

Take the next step in your health career with JCU’s Master of Public Health. Become equipped to address pressing public health issues relevant to tropical Australia and the Asia-Pacific. Gain an in-depth understanding of the urgent problems facing vulnerable communities and learn how to develop strategies to detect, prevent and control communicable and non-communicable diseases, ensuring safe and healthy environments for tropical, rural, remote and Indigenous communities. 

> Public health study opportunities