About

Research Profile: I am a field epidemiologist with 30 years of experience conducting applied public health research. I have a particular interest in the epidemiology and prevention of skin cancer (particularly pigmented moles and melanoma) and finding "real-world" solutions to public health problems with a view to reducing morbidity and mortality in Queensland's highly susceptible population. I am the Director and Principal Research Fellow of JCU's Skin Cancer Research Unit and hold an Adjunct Associate Professor position in the University of Southern Queensland's UV Laboratory in the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences.

My doctoral research focused primarily on the relevance of childhood sun exposure in the aetiology of pigmented moles (the major phenotypic risk-factor for cutaneous melanoma), and culminated in manuscripts that were published in The Lancet and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI). I have directed several RCTs and large community-based skin cancer prevention interventions. I have attracted over $5 million in research funding and have 100 peer-reviewed publications despite having worked mainly part-time for family reasons since 2002. I am a member of several influential committees including the Queensland Skin Cancer Prevention Alliance, Queensland Health; School uniform advisory panel, Procurement Branch, Education Queensland; and the Australian Standards Technical Committee TX-021, responsible for revising the Australian and New Zealand Standard for the Evaluation and Classification of sun-protective clothing (AS/NZ 4399:2017).

Research Opportunities in Skin Cancer suitable for Grad.Cert/Grad.Dip Research Methods, Hons, MPhil & PhD students, MPH student projects (TM5527/TM5549) Potential Honours, MSc and PhD candidates are welcome to join us to undertake higher research degrees. We also have a range of projects available suitable for Research Methods certificate/diploma students and post-graduate students looking to undertake a supervised research project or lit review project such as TM5527 (3 units) or TM5549 (6 units). Alternatively health professionals interested in gaining research experience with an opportunity to publish are invited to contact Simone on simone.harrison@jcu.edu.au. For possible scholarships and other funding opportunities (internal and external), see JCU’s scholarships database. Students interested in undertaking a PhD or Masters project should contact me on simone.harrison@jcu.edu.au to discuss potential projects. Funding can be applied for through the Research Training Program (RTP), the James Cook University Postgraduate Research Scholarships, or an equivalent national or international scheme. Information and application forms can be obtained from the Graduate Research SchoolClosing Dates: 30th September of each year.

Interests
Professional
  • Epidemiology
Research
  • Melanocytic naevi (pigmented moles)
  • Health Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation
  • Population-based studies of Vitamin D levels
  • reproducibility and accuracy of serum vitamin D assays
  • sun-protective clothing
  • Shade estimation
  • Marine envenomation
  • Box jellyfish
  • Carukia Barnesi
  • Chironex fleckeri
  • Coastal drowning
  • Surf lifesaving resuscitation success
  • marine envenomation
  • evaluation and classification schemes for personal sun-protection products
  • sunscreen
  • photoprotection
  • non-melanocytic skin cancers
  • melanoma
  • sun-protection
  • melanogenesis
  • cancer epidemiology
  • translational research
  • child health
  • midwifery
  • population health
  • longitudinal studies
  • RCT
Research Disciplines
Socio-Economic Objectives
Honours
Awards
  • 2009 - Regional (NQ) Winner of Queensland Government’s inaugural Healthy Queensland Awards (Healthy Communities)
  • 2007 - Cancer Council Queensland International travel fellowship
  • 2000 - Cancer Council Queensland Allied Health Professionals Oncology Group International travel fellowship
  • 1995 - Queensland Cancer Fund International travel fellowship
  • 2007 to 2009 - Cancer Council Queensland John McCaffrey Cancer Prevention & Control Research NQ Fellowship
Fellowships
  • 1999 - Fellow of the Australasian College of Tropical Medicine
Memberships
  • 2014 - Australian Health Promotion Association
  • 2012 - Centre for Research Excellence in Sun and Health Research Affiliate
  • 2007 - International Union for Health Promotion and Education
Other
  • 2015 - Associate Professor (Adjunct), University of Southern Queensland, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science.
  • 2014 - Associate Editor, Frontiers in Public Health (Radiation & Health Section)
  • 2012 to 2015 - Associate Professor QUT (Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation - Sun and Health Lab)
  • 1994 to 2002 - Consultant Epidemiologist/ Biostatistician for Surf Lifesaving Australia
Publications

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
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 88+ research outputs authored by Dr Simone Harrison from 2000 onwards.

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

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
  • Trial of Image Enhancement Software as an Educational Tool in Melanoma Diagnosis for Medical Students (Masters , Primary Advisor)
Collaboration

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.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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