Discover our team of experts who are driving our research success
Meet the faces of the NCNED team of researchers, support staff and collaborators who together are working to improve the lives of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID patients.
Director
Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
Professor Marshall-Gradisnik, immunologist, is recognised as the world leader in NK cells and ion channel dysfunction in ME/CFS. In the past ten years she has been successful in attaining over $25 million to enable her research staff, students and post-doctoral research fellows to explore and identify novel immunological and ion channel findings in understanding the pathophysiology of ME/CFS and develop a laboratory diagnostic test.
Media
Focus areas
Ion channel research
Experts: Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik and Dr Natalie Eaton-Fitch
Immunology
Experts: Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik and Dr Natalie Eaton-Fitch
Long Haul COVID
Experts: Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik and Dr Natalie Eaton-Fitch
ME/CFS
Experts: Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, Dr Natalie Eaton-Fitch, A/Prof Leighton Barnden, and Dr Kiran Thapaliya
Neuroimaging
Expert: Dr Kiran Thapaliya and Associate Professor Leighton Barnden
Epidemiology and health economics
Expert: Dr Natalie Eaton-Fitch
Disability and NDIS
NCNED Staff and Students
Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, Director
Associate Professor Leighton Barnden, Neuroimmunology Specialist
Dr Kiran Thapaliya, Research Fellow
Dr Natalie Eaton-Fitch, Research Fellow
Dr Etianne Martini Sasso, Research Fellow
Ms Kay Schwarz, Centre Coordinator
Ms Tania Manning, Administrative Assistant
Ms Sofia Jimenez Sanchez, PhD Student
Mrs Vivienne Baraniuk, Administrative Officer
Mr Jacob Batham, Research Assistant
Ms Jessica Dwyer, Research Assistant
Ms Breanne Archer, Honors Student
Mr Tuong Huynh, PhD Student
Mrs Urooj Ishrat, PhD Student
Mrs Chandi Magawa, PhD Student
Ms Samara Melray, Masters Student
Mr Tanoj Singh, PhD Student
Mr Tianyi Song, Masters Student
Visiting Collaborators
Professor Jim Baraniuk, Visiting Professor
Steering Committee
- Mr Ross Humphreys (Chair)
- Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- Professor Don Staines, Specialist Clinical Collaborator
Specialist Clinical Collaborators
- Dr Don Staines, MBBS MPH FAFPHM FAFOEM
- Dr Pete Smith, MBBS FRACP PhD BMedSci
- Dr Jennifer Ng, MBBS MRCP FRACP
- Dr James Baraniuk, MD
- Dr James Jarmin, MBBS MRCP FRACP
- Dr Eric Visser, MBBS MRCP FRACP
PhD Study
Study alongside experts in your field PhD and research candidates play an important role in our research efforts at NCNED. Griffith graduates can attain advantageous professional experience as they complete their research degree and support our aim to transform the overall health and wellbeing of our population.
Find all you need to know about research study at Griffith, from degrees to scholarships and how to apply.
HDR scholarships
PhD and research degree scholarships can cover tuition fees, overseas health cover, living allowances paid as stipends and relocation allowances.
Some scholarship opportunities will also be offered throughout the year for particular research areas.
Contact details
- Phone
- (07) 5678 9283
- ncned@griffith.edu.au
- Media enquiries
- media@griffith.edu.au
- Location and postal address
- Mailbox 68, NCNED National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases
- G40 Griffith Health Centre, Level 8.86
- Griffith University, Parklands Drive
- Gold Coast QLD 4222