Josh is a Professor of Cardiometabolic Health in ECU’s Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute.
He leads the disorders of mineralisation research group within the School of Medical and Health Sciences. His innovative research program aims to develop better ways to identify and prevent disorders of mineralisation (bones and blood vessels) before the onset of clinical symptoms such as heart attacks, strokes or fractures. Josh supervises postgraduate students in a range of research areas including developing tests for chronic diseases, clinical nutrition and lifestyle research as well as developing better evidence to improve healthy ageing.
Background
Josh’s expertise is in the epidemiology of disorders of mineralisation and clinical trials. His National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship focuses on better understanding of vascular calcification and how we can use this knowledge to prevent people going on to having clinical cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Josh’s research has been published in leading international medical journals such as Nature, the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Lancet Planetary Health, Nature Communications, the Journal of the American Heart Association, Nature Genetics, Archives of Internal Medicine and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. His research regularly receives national and international media attention and has attracted more than $11 million in competitive funding.
Currently, he is conducting research on developing convenient, reliable and safe tests for vascular calcification as well as the identification of mechanism(s) and modifiable factors related to vascular calcification.
Professional roles (last 5 years)
- 2022-2023: Program advisory group, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2023 annual scientific meeting
- 2021 – present: Co-chair Future Global Leaders Committee, International Federation of Musculoskeletal Research Societies
- 2021 – present: Research program lead & deputy director, Nutrition and Health Research Innovation institute
- 2021 – present: Principal Investigator, Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women
- 2021 – present: Director, Western Australian Cardiovascular Research Alliance
- 2021 – present Council Member, Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Research Society
- 2020 – present: Research committee member, Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society
- 2018 – present: Head of the Disorders of Mineralisation Group
- 2019-2021: Committee member, Nutrition Society Australia Perth Group
- 2019-2020: Co-chair of “My mentor and I” committee, International Federation for Musculoskeletal Research Societies
- 2019: Program organising committee, Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society
- 2018: Communications and advocacy group, Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Research Society
- 2017-2018: Co-chair - Early career researcher committee, Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society
Professional Associations
- 2021 - current, Western Australian Cardiovascular Alliance
- 2019 - current: Australian Cardiovascular Alliance
- 2019 - current: Australian Atherosclerosis Society
- 2017 - current: Nutrition Society Australia
- 2016 - current: International Federation of Musculoskeletal Research Societies
- 2014 - current: American Heart Association, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention (EPI) and Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health
- 2009 - current: Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society
- 2009 - current: American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
- 2008 - current: Australian Society for Medical Research
Awards and Recognition
- 2023, 2019, 2016, 2014, 2012: Top graded reviewer, Annals of Internal Medicine
- 2023: ECU VC research mentoring award
- 2023: WA CVD researcher of the year award, Western Australian Cardiovascular Research Alliance
- 2023: WA leadership award, Western Australian Cardiovascular Research Alliance
- 2022: finalist for ECU research mentoring award
- 2021: mid-career publication prize, Western Australian Cardiovascular Research Alliance
- 2021: finalist for Royal Perth Hospital mentoring award
- 2019: Australian Institute of Policy and Science, Western Australian Tall Poppy Award
- 2017: Australian Academy of Sciences Theo Murphy High Flyers Think Tank participant
- 2016: Nature Publication Award, University of Western Australia
- 2015: ANZBMS Kaye Ibbertson Award for Bone and Mineral Medicine
- 2014: Thompson Reuters highly cited publication
- 2014: ESCEO-MSD Fellowship Young Investigator Award, World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases
- 2013: American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Distinguished Oral Presentation
- 2013: American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Young Investigator Award
- 2013: Thompson Reuters highly cited publication (first author)
- 2013: Strachan Memorial Prize, Best clinical paper, Raine medical research foundation
- 2012 - 2014: Raine Foundation / Alan Robson Fellow
Research Areas and Interests
- Cardiovascular disease
- Aortovascular disease
- Musculoskeletal health
- Vascular calcification
- Mineral-Bone disorders
- Diet and lifestyle