QUT Professor Monika Janda has received the 2017 Women in Research Award in the Scopus Researcher of the Year Awards.
Professor Janda leads the Health Determinants and Health Systems research theme in QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) and has established a nationally and internationally recognised program of research in behavioural oncology over the past 15 years.
“The aim of my research is to implement evidence-based interventions for the prevention/early detection of cancer, and to improve supportive care for cancer patients,” Professor Janda said.
“Besides my research work, I am actively involved in the improvements of research environments for women. I serve on QUT’s Athena Swan network and am part of the Women in STEM working group.”
A background as a psychologist/behavioural therapist and extensive postgraduate training in epidemiological research methods and clinical trials has enabled Professor Janda to conduct translational research to derive new clinical interventions and applications for her findings.
With more than 180 publications in high-quality journals, Professor Janda has garnered more than 3300 citations, with 99 of her articles having been cited more than 10 times, and more than 17,000 downloads of research articles on QUT’s open access publication platform, ePrints.
The practical importance of her work is evident in its extensive use in public health and clinical reference works.
Her work on improving sun protection for young people was cited in the US Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer in 2014, while a report to the Queensland Government was used in the statewide Healthier. Happier. Workplaces website.
The US National Cancer Institute has published her program developed to use SMS messages to remind subjects to conduct self-skin checks and practise sun safety, Healthy Texts, as one of its Research-Tested Intervention Programs.
Professor Janda’s research on the laparoscopic approach to the treatment of endometrial cancer in the LACE trial has been used in clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of endometrial cancer, and referenced in The Lancet, and European Journal of Cancer.
“A particularly rewarding aspect of my work is making an impact on community wellbeing,” Professor Janda said.
“I engage with important charitable organisations in my field including Melanoma Patients Australia, an advocacy group providing support to people diagnosed with melanoma, and the Cherish Women’s Cancer Foundation, which aims to find better, more gentle treatments for women.”
The Women in Research Award, introduced to the Elsevier Scopus Researcher Awards this year, was created to inspire and encourage women researchers who choose to pursue academic work.
It is one of three new award categories which recognise innovative and original research across different fields of science and the outstanding researchers who have made significant contributions to research in Australia and New Zealand.
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