JCU > Research Portfolio > A/Prof Suzanne Munns

About

A/Prof Suzy Munns is a researcher in Biomedicine at James Cook University (JCU). She leads the Pulmonary Health in The Tropics (PHiTT) Research Group, a collaborative team of researchers from JCU, Townsville University Hospital, and University of Papua New Guinea (PNG), who have wide ranging interests in both human and animal physiology and pathophysiology.

PHiTT Research primarily focuses on improving early and accurate diagnosis of non-communicable respiratory diseases and improving outcomes for patients and health systems. Current projects involve establishing spirometry reference values for underrepresented populations (e.g. PNG), enhancing adoption and accuracy of best practice spirometry models, and understanding barriers and enablers to spirometry use.

PHiTT Research also includes developing techniques to enhance wildlife health monitoring and investigating integrated physiological responses to physiological and/or environmental challenges. These studies aim to inform and enhance wildlife management, with particular focus on endangered sea turtles.

Teaching

BM5001: Professional Placement 1 (Level 5; TSV)
BM5002: Professional Placement 2 (Level 5; TSV)
BM5003: Clinical Measurements 1 (Level 5; TSV)
MD1020: Introduction to Integrated Medical Studies Part 2 of 2 (Level 1; TSV)
MD2012: Integrated Human System Pathophysiology Part 2 of 2 (Level 2; TSV)
PP2201: Medical Physiology 2 (Level 2; TSV)
PP3101: Advanced and Integrated Physiology (Level 3; TSV)
PP3251: Systemic Pathophysiology and Therapeutics (Level 3; TSV)
PP5101: Advanced and Integrated Physiology (Level 5; TSV)
PP5251: Systemic Pathophysiology and Therapeutics (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

Lung function
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Integrated physiological responses in health and disease
Herpetology and Comparative Physiology

Teaching

Developing research skills in undergraduate students
Determining the effectiveness of e-learning modalities in terms of assessment performance and student satisfaction
Developing teaching techniques that scaffold threshold concepts throughout an integrated curriculum

Experience

2014 to present - Associate Professor, James Cook University
2014 to present - Associate Dean Learning and Teaching, James Cook University
2012 to present - Editorial Board, PLOS One
2010 to present - Biomedicine Teaching and Learning Commitee, James Cook University
2010 to present - Faculty MHMS Teaching and Learning Commitee, James Cook University
2009 to 2014 - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University
2005 to 2008 - Lecturer, James Cook University
2002 to 2005 - Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Irvine
2000 to 2001 - Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Adelaide
1996 to 2000 - PhD, University of Melbourne

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2014 - Office for Learning and Teaching Australian Awards for University Teaching: Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning for "Demand Evidence and think critically: building research excellence in tomorrow's scientists"
2013 - Faculty Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning http://www.jcu.edu.au/learnandteach/public/groups/everyone/documents/awards/jcu_126766.pdf
2012 - James Cook University 3 Minute Thesis: Winner Established Research and Winner Overall
2009 - Faculty Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
2009 - Australian Teaching and Learning Council Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning http://www.jcu.edu.au/learnandteach/public/groups/everyone/documents/advice/jcuprd_050561.pdf
2003 - Scholander Award, American Physiological Society

Memberships

2002 - American Physiological Society
2002 - Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
1999 - Society for Experimental Biology
1995 - Australian Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry

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

Kophamel S, Ward L, Ariel E, Mendez D, O'Brien L, Burchell L and Munns S (2023) A Standardized Protocol for Measuring Bioelectrical Impedance in Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas). Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 96 (2). pp. 87-99
Miller D, Noble P, Medlen S, Jones K and Munns S (2023) Brief Research Report: Psychometric properties of a cognitive load measure when assessing the load associated with a course. The Journal of Experimental Education, 91 (2). pp. 401-410
Kophamel S, Ward L, Konovalov D, Mendez D, Ariel E, Cassidy N, Bell I, Balastegui Martínez M and Munns S (2022) Field?based adipose tissue quantification in sea turtles using bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy validated with CT scans and deep learning. Ecology and Evolution, 12.
Kophamel S, Rudd D, Ward L, Shum E, Ariel E, Mendez D, Starling J, Mellers R, Burchell R and Munns S (2022) Haematological and biochemical reference intervals for wild green turtles (Chelonia mydas): a Bayesian approach for small sample sizes. Conservation Physiology, 10 (1).
Kophamel S, Illing B, Ariel E, Difalco M, Skerratt L, Hamann M, Ward L, Méndez D and Munns S (2022) Importance of health assessments for conservation in noncaptive wildlife. Conservation Biology, 36 (1).
March D, Ariel E, Munns S, Rudd D, Blyde D, Christidis L and Kelaher B (2019) Physiological changes in post-hatchling green turtles (Chelonia mydas) following short-term fasting: implications for release protocols. Conservation Physiology, 7 (1).
Cooper C, Withers P, Munns S, Geiser F and Buttemer W (2018) Geographical variation in the standard physiology of brushtail possums (Trichosurus): implications for conservation translocations. Conservation Physiology, 6 (1).
Kearney M, Munns S, Moore D, Malishev M and Bull C (2018) Field tests of a general ectotherm niche model show how water can limit lizard activity and distribution. Ecological Monographs, 88 (4). pp. 672-693
Andrewartha S, Munns S and Edwards A (2016) Calibration of the HemoCue point-of-care analyser for determining haemoglobin concentration in a lizard and a fish. Conservation Physiology, 4 (1). pp. 1-6
Munns S, Edwards A, Nicol S and Frappell P (2015) Pregnancy limits lung function during exercise and depresses metabolic rate in the skink Tiliqua nigrolutea. Journal of Experimental Biology, 218 (6). pp. 931-939

Conference Papers

Konovalov E, Collin R and Munns S (2018) Support for first year university students in a limited resource environment: recommendations from an Australian University. Proceedings of the Students Transitions Achievement Retention and Success Conference. In: STARS 2018: Students Transitions Achievement Retention and Success Conference, 8-11 July 2018, Auckland, New Zealand
Konovalov E, Sealey R and Munns S (2017) A cohesive Student Support model provides integrated support to at risk students at a regional Australian university. Proceedings of the Students Transitions Achievement Retention and Success Conference. In: STARS 2017: Students Transitions Achievement Retention and Success Conference, 2-5 July 2017, Adelaide, SA, Australia

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 42+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Suzanne Munns from 2003 onwards.

Current Funding

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

The Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand - Robert Pierce Grant-in-Aid for Indigenous Lung Health

All Ages Lung Function in Australia's First Nations Peoples

Indicative Funding: $23,524 over 1 year
Summary: Chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) are over-represented in Australian Indigenous Peoples. CRD cause structural changes that compromise lung function. These functional changes are measured using Spirometry. Ethnic specific reference values should be used when performing spirometry, however, these are missing for Australian Indigenous Peoples. This lack limits the ability to diagnose CRD, especially in the early-stages, and to accurately assess disease severity and response to treatment. This project will measure lung function in apparently healthy Indigenous Australians and determine spirometry reference values for these groups. Ethnic specific reference values will improve the accuracy of CRD diagnosis and assessment using spirometry.
Investigators: Suzanne Munns and Gary Nolan (College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)
Keywords: Pulmonary Function Testing; Indigenous; Reference Values; Spirometry; Chronic Respiratory Disease; standards

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

Spirometry: Are we doing enough to Assess Breathlessness in TUH Acute Patients (Masters , Primary Advisor)

Completed

Bioelectrical impedance analysis for adipose tissue estimation in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) (2022, PhD , Primary Advisor)

Data

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit Research Data Australia.

Kophamel Orduna, S. (2020) Dataset and interactive version of Fig.1 of the manuscript: Health assessments in non-captive wildlife are increasingly important for conservation . James Cook University

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.