Staff & Students
- Nitschke
- Toi
- O’Sullivan
- Orszulak
- O'Toole
- Power
Joanne Tamara Nitschke is a recent graduate from the University of Western Sydney obtaining her BSc Forensic Science in 2007, and comes to CIDM from a regional multidisciplinary private laboratory within Port Macquarie Base Hospital. During her period as a Hospital Scientist Joanne gained experience and practicalities in Haematology and Coagulation, Biochemistry, Blood Banking and Histology.
Since joining CIDM as a Research Technical Officer in 2009, Jo is rotating through the various Reference Laboratories beginning in Molecular Biology where she has acquired skills in conducting Single, Semi-Nested, ELISA and Real Time PCR amplification assays on clinical samples. Currently Jo is working in the NSW Enteric Reference Laboratory (ERL) obtaining knowledge and proficiency in the identification and serotyping of enteric pathogens, predominantly Salmonella in addition to Vibrio, Shigella, Yersinia enterocolitica and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates. Jo assists ERL with the ongoing collaboration with NSW Public Health in the investigation and surveillance of epidemiological clusters of enteric pathogens, by providing information of serotypes via the maintenance and daily transfer of enteric database.
In 2005 Cheryl was awarded a PhD at the University of the Witwatersrand, Dental Research Institute (DRI) working on the prevalence, source of transmission, genetic diversity and influence of traditional African foods on the attenuation of virulence genes in mutans streptococci. Cheryl continued working at the DRI as a senior research technologist and was awarded the ARP Walker Research Award of the SA Sugar Association for 2006. In February 2007, she joined CIDM-Public Health as a postdoctoral fellow in virology investigating novel methods to differentiate between the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) vaccine (Oka) and wild-type strains to determine the prevalence of circulating genotypes in Australia, as well as to identify VZV strains apparent in ‘breakthrough’ varicella and zoster. Current work also includes the detection and quantitation of VZV to determine any association between VZV with other neurotropic viruses in the aetiology of multiple sclerosis.
Dr Matthew O’Sullivan MBBS, DTM&H, FRACP, FRCPA, PhD Scholar
Matthew graduated in medicine from the University of Queensland, completing specialist training in infectious diseases in Brisbane and in microbiology in Sydney. He has been enrolled in PhD studies since 2007, in which he is supported by an NH&MRC scholarship. His research focus is in the application of molecular typing systems in hospital infection control, with a particular interest in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Current projects include identification of novel binary targets for molecular typing of MRSA using multiplexPCR/reverse line blot assay, computerised selection of target subsets to maximise typing system utility and development of highly discriminatory real-time PCR typing systems.
With over 16 years of experience within the NSW health industry, Lou Orszulak’s projects have included implementation of clinical standards in SWAHS Cancer Services, co-ordination and facilitation of quality improvement teams and projects across SWAHS, and facilitation of education forums for clinical staff on the use of quality improvement tools and methodologies.
Most recently, Lou established new multi-disciplinary approaches to patient care in SWAHS Cancer Services, resulting in 16 teams meeting regularly to review patient care. This project positively impacted the NSW Health system with the NSW Cancer Institute providing funds to support the creation of MDT’s state-wide.
Lou has presented at several national quality health improvement and oncological conferences and has contributed to the NSW Cancer Plan 2007-2010.
Lou’s current Project Officer role involves the management and promotion of the CIDM Public Health education, research and development program. Lou is involved in organising local and international workshops and conferences, website content, newsletters, annual reports and quality improvement of operational procedures.
Dr Brian I O’Toole BSc, PhD, MPH
Brian O’Toole is an epidemiologist who has followed a peripatetic research path. He completed his PhD in psychology/neuroscience (Sydney, 1980) and a later Masters in Public Health by research (Sydney, 1990) into risk factors for mortality in 20-40 year old men. With major interests in research design and analysis, psychiatric epidemiology and the psychological effects of trauma, he has pursued largely a research career in community medicine, epidemiology, psychiatry and public health. Milestones have included headship of the only academic survey research centre in Australia; a major set of clinical epidemiologic studies in General Practice Integration research; a national evaluation study of early psychosis intervention programs; and a longitudinal study of the health of Australian Vietnam veterans and their families. He has developed and taught postgraduate courses in epidemiology since the mid-1980s and is a consultant to academic research groups in study design and statistical analysis strategies. He has over 100 published papers and government reports. His current purview at CIDM-PH is to assist staff and students with design and analysis of clinical epidemiological studies.
Damla Power – CIDM Public Health Research Assistant
Having a BSc from UWS, Damla started working at the ICPMR in 2001 as a Research Assistant in various Nuclear Magnetic Resonance projects. In 2006, Damla assisted the Bacterial Pathogenesis Laboratory in detecting certain resistant genes in Gram Negative bacteria. Currently she is working in the Pneumococcal Reference Laboratory, where she participates in many research projects from within and outside of the hospital. In the years of working in the ICPMR, Damla has acquired skills in antibiotic susceptibility testing, media production, bacterial identification, molecular techniques such as single and multiplex PCR, Serotyping by mPCR/RLB and Quellung reaction. Damla has also been involved in creating and managing the database for the Pneumococcal Reference Laboratory and has taken part in preparing paperwork for NATA accreditation.
