Rate My Professor Jessica Browne

Dr Jessica Browne is a Lecturer in Biomedical Science in the Faculty of Health at Southern Cross University, based at the Gold Coast campus. She earned her Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours), and PhD from Central Queensland University. In her role, she serves as Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science and the Bachelor of Biomedical Science programs. Dr Browne teaches courses in Immunology, Microbiology, and Clinical Microbiology, contributing to the education of future medical scientists equipped for patient-focused healthcare, disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. She also engages in community partnerships, including with NSW Health Pathology.

Dr Browne's expertise is in molecular microbiology and immunology, with her research focused on understanding immunity to and interactions of human mucosal pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. This work aims to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms and the immune responses necessary for an effective otitis media vaccine. Her investigations extend to host-microbe interactions in otitis media and other respiratory diseases, development of improved screening methods for otopathogens, and evaluation of novel compounds' bioactivity for respiratory disease treatment. Key research interests include respiratory infectious diseases, otitis media, clinical microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, microbe-host relationships, and immunology. She supervises higher degree by research students on projects such as the anti-inflammatory activity of brominated indoles for respiratory disease and the pharmaceutical potential of molluscan extracts, including hemocyanins from Dicathais orbita, against respiratory pathogens and inflammatory responses. Among her key publications are 'Molluscan Compounds Provide Drug Leads for the Treatment and Prevention of Respiratory Disease' (Marine Drugs, 2020, co-authored with K. Summer, L. Liu, K. Benkendorff) and 'Out of control: The need for standardised solvent approaches when extracting natural products from organisms for biological screening' (Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2022, co-authored with K. Summer et al.). Dr Browne's research supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to good health and well-being.