School of Public Health and Community Medicine

Qualitative Research Network Hub launches at UNSW
The inauguration of the Qualitative Research Network Hub was held in June on the UNSW Sydney Campus. The QRN Hub is the first initiative to offer a range of services in qualitative research.  It aims to expand and strengthen scholarship in the rigorous application and use of qualitative research methods and will extend its training and seminars to partners and collaborators in Australia and internationally.  <Read News Item>  <Visit website>

Lifesaving sepsis study wins MJA best research article
A study for the early recognition and treatment of sepsis in NSW public hospitals in collaboration with the Clinical Excellence Commission and UNSW’s Prof Mary-Louise McLaws has been judged the best research article published in the MJA. The winning article, “SEPSIS KILLS: early intervention saves lives” was the journal’s most highly cited paper in 2016 and followed the 2011 program that transformed the way emergency departments respond to the condition.  <See News Item>

Flu pandemic likelihood increasing as new strains emerge
A gathering number of new influenza strains in the past five years has escalated the likelihood of a major influenza pandemic on the scale of the deadly Spanish flu, researchers say. UNSW researchers in the SPHCM are calling for better collaboration between countries and first responder agencies. <See News Item>

First responder
Professor Raina MacIntyre is on the front line of the fight against emerging bio-threats. She warns biosecurity breaches could be as catastrophic as nuclear war. Her interest in bioterrorism stems from concerns around dual-use research that is done “with the intent of helping humanity, but which can also harm – either by deliberate misuse or by accident”. <Read UNSW Uniken article>

Check out Pandemic, our new web series about Bioterrorism and Health Intelligence
Our movie Pandemic has been nominated for 4 awards at the Melbourne Web Festival.  You can view the trailer and then click-through to view the full five-part series.