Flinders University has appointed Professor Jaqui Hughes as the inaugural Clinical Research Professor – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Advancement within Rural and Remote Health Northern Territory (NT).
Professor Hughes is a Torres Strait Islander woman, and a Darwin-based clinical researcher who grew up in the NT.
She has previously been based at Menzies School of Health Research and is a clinical nephrology consultant for NT Department of Health.
She will continue to work closely with her colleagues at Menzies, other health institutions and partners to undertake important health-based research, strengthening Flinders existing partnerships and developing new ones.
Professor Hughes is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians, Deputy Chairperson of the National Indigenous Kidney Transplant Taskforce convened by Transplant Society of Australia and New Zealand, and a member of the Australian & New Zealand Society of Nephrology.
Her research has focussed on improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with, or at risk of chronic kidney disease.
Professor Hughes is the Principal Chief Investigator of the NHMRC funded Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) Study, and has been a eGFR Study team member since 2007. She is also leading a research project entitled “Yes We Will: Implementing Indigenous-led Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kidney health in Northern and Central Australia” as part of her NHMRC Emerging Leader Fellowship.
Professor James Smith, Deputy Dean of Rural and Remote Health NT said, “Professor Hughes comes with a distinguished track-record of leading patient-centred and transitionally impactful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, from the ground-up.”
“It is exciting to have Professor Hughes join our growing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce at Flinders and bring important clinical research expertise to our team.”
Professor Hughes said she was looking forward to the opportunities the new role would bring.
“I’m excited to move to Flinders as a professor and recognise the extraordinary value these leaderships roles can have to support health advancement,” she said.
Professor Hughes will commence at Flinders in the NT on 9th May 2022, and will be located at our Royal Darwin Hospital campus.