Dr Danica Vojisavljevic (also known as Dana), currently lectures in Physiology in the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences. She completed her PhD at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University Australia, in 2017. The focus of her PhD was looking at the effects of premature birth and fetal growth restriction on kidney development and function in the neonate. To achieve this, Dana’s research projects included both the use of animal models (sheep; in collaboration with the Ritchie Centre, Monash University, Australia and The University of UTAH) and clinical studies (undertaken at Monash Medical Centre, Australia and Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia) to observe changes in kidney development and function in early life in response to intra-uterine and extra-uterine environments.

More recently, Dana has expanded her clinical research with a particular focus on the prevention and diagnosis of neonatal acute kidney injury. She is part of the Perinatal Neonatal Research Group at Townsville University Hospital and through this strong collaboration her current projects are dedicated to solving the conundrum of acute kidney injury in neonates and children up to 2 years of age; with a particular focus on development and translation of novel biomarkers to improve early detection of kidney injury.

Dana has a keen research interest in understanding the relationships between kidney health and preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and maternal health. 

Teaching

• BM1001: Introduction to Biomedicine (Level 1; TSV)
• BM1002: Anatomy and Physiology 1 (Level 1; TSV)
• BM1003: Biomedicine in the Tropics (Level 1; TSV)
• BM1011: Physiological Systems and Processes 1 (Level 1; CNS & TSV)
• BM1022: Physiological Systems and Processes 2 (Level 1; CNS & TSV)
• BM1031: Anatomy and Physiology for Occupational Therapy 1 (Level 1; TSV)
• BM1032: Anatomy and Physiology for Occupational Therapy 2 (Level 1; TSV)
• BM1041: Anatomy and Physiology for Physiotherapy 1 (Level 1; TSV)
• BM1042: Anatomy and Physiology for Physiotherapy 2 (Level 1; TSV)
• BM1051: Anatomy and Physiology for Speech Pathology 1 (Level 1; TSV)
• BM1052: Anatomy and Physiology for Speech Pathology 2 (Level 1; TSV)
• BM1061: Anatomy and Physiology for Sport and Exercise Science 1 (Level 1; TSV)
• BM1062: Anatomy and Physiology for Sport and Exercise Science 2 (Level 1; TSV)
• PC1001: Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 (Level 1; CNS & TSV)

Interests

Research

• 2019 - present: Perinatal Neonatal Research Group, Townsville University Hospital.
• Investigating the early origins of kidney disease and novel biomarkers of early kidney injury in neonates and infants.
• Premature birth, fetal growth restriction and kidney health.
• Maternal health and neonatal outcome followed up to 2 years of age.

Teaching

• Biomedicine Home Groups Coordinator. Deliver Physiology Content to Allied Health, Biomedical Science and Nursing Students.

Experience

• 2020 to present - Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2019 to 2020 - Associate Lecturer and Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2018 to 2019 - Lecturer, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University (Melbourne, Australia)
• 2017 to 2018 - Postdoctoral Researcher & Teaching Associate, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University (Melbourne, Australia)
• 2012 to 2017 - Teaching Associate, Monash University (Melbourne, Australia)
• 2012 to 2017 - PhD, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University (Melbourne, Australia)

Research Disciplines

• Clinical sciences (3202)
• Reproductive medicine (3215)
• Education systems (3903)

Awards

• 2018 - Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology 2018 Publication Excellence Award (Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University).
• 2017 - Anatomy and Developmental Biology High Achieving Award for an exceptional contribution to teaching programmes (Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University).
• 2013 to 2016 - Anatomy and Developmental Biology Postgraduate Scholarship over 3.5 years (Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University).

Memberships

• 2013 to 2022 - Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand

Other

• 2012 to 2017 - PhD thesis entitled: The effects of premature birth and intrauterine growth restriction on kidney development and function in the neonate

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Sutherland M, Vojisavljevic D and Black M (2020) A practical guide to the stereological assessment of glomerular number, size, and cellular composition. The Anatomical Record, 303 (10). pp. 2679-2692
• Hokke S, de Zoysa N, Carr B, Abruzzo V, Coombs P, Allan C, East C, Ingelfinger J, Puelles V, Black M, Ryan D, Armitage J, Wallace E, Bertram J and Cullen?McEwen L (2019) Normal foetal kidney volume in offspring of women treated for gestational diabetes. Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, 2 (4). pp. 1-9
• Sutherland M, Chatfield M, Davison B, Vojisavljevic D, Alison K, Hoy W, Singh G and Black M (2019) Renal dysfunction is already evident within the first month of life in Australian Indigenous infants born preterm. Kidney International, 96 (5). pp. 1205-1216
• Ryan D, Sutherland M, Flores T, Kent A, Dahlstrom J, Puelles V, Bertram J, McMahon A, Little M, Moore L and Black M (2018) Development of the human fetal kidney from mid to late gestation in male and female infants. EBioMedicine, 27. pp. 275-283
• Sutherland M, Ryan D, Dahl M, Albertine K and Black M (2016) Effects of preterm birth and ventilation on glomerular capillary growth in the neonatal lamb kidney. Journal of Hypertension, 34 (10). pp. 1988-1997
• Sutherland M, Ryan D, Black M and Kent A (2014) Long-term renal consequences of preterm birth. Clinics in Perinatology, 41 (3). pp. 561-573

Other research outputs

• Choate J, Vojisavljevic D, Carroll F, Carroll D, Filby C and Dichtl B (2022) Recommendations for a ‘Wellbeing Curriculum’ to Mitigate Undergraduate Psychological Distress Associated with Lack of Careers Confidence and Poor University Engagement. Higher Education Studies, 12 (4). pp. 92-103
• Ryan D and Black M (2015) Preterm birth and/or factors that lead to preterm delivery: effects on the neonatal kidney. Journal of Neonatal Biology, 4 (1). pp. 93-104

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Nephrin ? A novel biomarker for determining acute kidney injury (PhD , External Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.