Simone Harrison

Background

About Simone Harrison

I am an accomplished health researcher with extensive experience designing, implementing & evaluating behavioural, epidemiological & clinical research projects (incl RCTs) resulting in 120+ peer-reviewed publications (incl lead-author manuscript in The Lancet & 2 Aust Standards). I have 2 decades of experience leading a multi-disciplinary research team (JCU Skin Cancer Research Unit), a strong track-record in grantsmanship ($7.2m including 4 NHMRC grants) & a reputation for successfully translating research outcomes into policy and practice with relevant stakeholders from government, NGOs, standards orgs & communities. In addition to my tertiary qualifications (BSc, Masters Public Health (GPA 6.43) & PhD) I completed a formal research management qualification (ARMS Accredited Research Manager) in 2022. While the prevention of skin cancer and epidemiology of pigmented moles and melanoma have been the primary foci of my research, many of the projects I've been involved in have targetted modifiable risk-factors (sun-exposure; diet; exercise; smoking; alcohol; obesity; sleep; alcohol consumption; rock-fishing; swimming outside flags; solarium-use; NSAID-use; supplement-use; countering risky health-beliefs/misinformation). Consequently, my research spans a broad range of health issues including: prevalence and predictors of serum 25-OH vitamin D insufficiency in Aust (CI-C on NHMRC-funded AusD studies); GP knowledge of postural & eating behaviours that improve gastro-oesophageal reflux disease; Prevalence of coastal drownings in Aust; Dietary intervention to reduce CVD risk (NHMRC-funded NQ Barramundi RCT, CIA H.Peach); Predictors of successful resuscitation by surf lifesavers; Accuracy & precision of commercial 25-OH-D assays in Canada, NZ & Aust; Body-image issues in North Queensland (NQ) school students; Knowledge of locals and tourists to NQ about venomous marine jellyfish; Environmental predictors of marine jellyfish stings in Aust; CI-B on NHMRC-funded the Aus-Immunity Study; prevalence of varicose veins in NQ; Studies of the nutrition-related knowledge and beliefs of postpartum women and midwives; GP education needs assessments; review of the effectiveness of emotional support animals as a therapeutic aid for chronic mental health sufferers; the ability of hairdressers to recognise suspicious skin lesions; the impact of an image-enhancement app on ability of novice dermoscopists to recognise early melanoma; investigation of obstacles to rural and remote Australian GPs maintaining advanced procedural skills in radiology etc.