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Dr Vanessa Hughes

BSc(Biomedical) (Biological & Biomedical) UTS Grad Cert HE ACU PhD (Medicine) Sydney
Senior Lecturer (Bioscience)

M02C - 88 Mallett Street - Building C
The University of Sydney

Telephone +61 2 9114 4225
Fax +61 2 9351 0615

Website Contact details

Biographical details

I have been involved in a variety of teaching and research roles in the tertiary sector involving education in the areas of medical science, forensic science and nursing. My areas of expertise include pathophysiology, forensic medicine, haematology and immunology. I am currently coordinating the bioscience units within BN(AS) and MN courses offered at Sydney Nursing School.


I am a former University of Sydney postgraduate student. My doctoral work evaluated methods for the ageing of bruises for use in forensic cases. This research changed the way forensic evidence is used in court and I was recognised as a finalist in NSW for Young Australian of the Year (2004) for my research.

Currently, I am working with a team at the Institute of Immunology and Allergy Research (IIAR) investigating the immunological mechanisms that lead to the development of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). As well as investigating the pathophysiological causes of MS, I am collaborating with a team of nurses to further understand the factors that influence the patient’s quality of life and response to therapy.

In addition to my scientific pursuits, I have a keen interest in tertiary education research. I completed my Graduate Certificate in Higher Education in 2010 and am now conducting projects which examine the use of technology in the classroom to increase student engagement and learning, and that also allow students to understand the connection between bioscience and clinical practice.

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Research interests

Research interests and areas of expertise

  • Intracellular signalling and gene expression in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Changes to nursing practice & policy that increase the quality of life of the MS patient
  • Analysis of the effectiveness of new MS therapies
  • Developing assessments and e-Tools that enable nursing students to connect bioscience with clinical practice

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Awards and honours

  • 2011 Women’s Research Award (ACU) – $10,000
  • 2011 Uni Jobs Lecturer of the Year (ACU)
  • 2009 Uni Jobs Lecturer of the Year (ACU)
  • 2005 Australia Day Ambassador to Baulkham Hills Shire
  • 2004 Young Australian of the Year (NSW) Finalist
  • 2004 Australia Day Ambassador to Wollongong
  • 2002 Faculty of Medicine Scholarship
  • 2001 John Whitely Award for Continuing Education in Medical Science
  • 2000 UTS and CSL Transfusion Science Award

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Selected publications

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Journals

  • Hughes, V., Langlois, N. (2011). Visual and spectrophotometric observations related to histology in a small sample of bruises from cadavers. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 7(3), 253-256.
  • Hughes, V., Langlois, N. (2010). Use of reflectance spectrophotometry and colorimetry in a general linear model for the determination of the age of bruises. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 6(4), 275-281.
  • Hughes, V., Ellis, P., Langlois, N. (2006). Alternative light source (polilight(R)) illumination with digital image analysis does not assist in determining the age of bruises. Forensic Science International, 158(2-3), 104-107.
  • Hughes, V., Ellis, P., Langlois, N. (2004). The Perception Of Yellow In Bruises. Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine, 11(5), 257-259.
  • Hughes, V., Ellis, P., Burt, T., Langlois, N. (2004). The Practical Application Of Reflectance Spectrophotometry For The Demonstration Of Haemoglobin And Its Degradation In Bruises. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 57(4), 355-359.

Conferences

  • Hughes, V. (2013). Concepts, context and connection: A new approach to bioscience education in nursing. Symposium on Teaching Science to non-science majors: how do we engage the students, Sydney: Institute for Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education.
  • Hughes, V., Gordon, C. (2012). Bioscience Assessments: Making Connections to Clinical Practice. Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education, Sydney: University of Sydney.
  • Hughes, V., Robinson, K. (2007). Linking students with one another to share information about drugs and alcohol. ANZAME Conference 2007: Linking Learners and Leaders, Canberra, Australia: The Association Of Health Professional Education (ANZAME).
  • Langlois, N., Hughes, V., Ellis, P., Hambly, B. (2005). Evaluation of visual inspection, digital image analysis, reflectance spectrophotometry and colorimetry for the medico-legal ageing of bruises. World Police Officers’ International Conference on Clinical Forensic Medicine, Scotland.
  • Hughes, V., Langlois, N. (2005). The Medico-legal ageing of bruises and the potential use of emerging technologies. Australian Institute of Medical Science Conference 2005, Sydney: Australian Institute of Medical Science.
  • Hughes, V., Langlois, N. (2004). Evaluation of methods for the Medico-legal ageing of bruises. 5th APRU Doctoral Students Conference.
  • Hughes, V., Langlois, N., Ellis, P. (2002). The Medico-legal ageing of bruises. Australasian Coroners Conference 2002, Sydney.
  • Hughes, V. (2001). Integrin Mediated Adhesion to fibrin and fibrinogen: modulation through the ß3 cation sub-unit. Australian Institute of Medical Science NSW Conference 2001, Jamberoo: Australian Institute of Medical Science.
  • Hughes, V. (2000). Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: what is the risk to the Australian blood supply?. Victorian Immunohaematology Discussion Group, Melbourne: Victorian Immunohaematology Discussion Group.
  • Hughes, V. (2000). Does Mad Cow’s Disease pose a threat to the Australian blood supply?. National Immunohaematology Continuing Education Weekend 2000, Albury.

Other

  • Hughes, V. (2007), The medico-legal ageing of bruises.
  • Hughes, V. (2000), Integrin mediated adhesion to fibrin and fibrinogen: modulation through the ß3 cation sub-unit.

2013

  • Hughes, V. (2013). Concepts, context and connection: A new approach to bioscience education in nursing. Symposium on Teaching Science to non-science majors: how do we engage the students, Sydney: Institute for Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education.

2012

  • Hughes, V., Gordon, C. (2012). Bioscience Assessments: Making Connections to Clinical Practice. Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education, Sydney: University of Sydney.

2011

  • Hughes, V., Langlois, N. (2011). Visual and spectrophotometric observations related to histology in a small sample of bruises from cadavers. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 7(3), 253-256.

2010

  • Hughes, V., Langlois, N. (2010). Use of reflectance spectrophotometry and colorimetry in a general linear model for the determination of the age of bruises. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 6(4), 275-281.

2007

  • Hughes, V., Robinson, K. (2007). Linking students with one another to share information about drugs and alcohol. ANZAME Conference 2007: Linking Learners and Leaders, Canberra, Australia: The Association Of Health Professional Education (ANZAME).
  • Hughes, V. (2007), The medico-legal ageing of bruises.

2006

  • Hughes, V., Ellis, P., Langlois, N. (2006). Alternative light source (polilight(R)) illumination with digital image analysis does not assist in determining the age of bruises. Forensic Science International, 158(2-3), 104-107.

2005

  • Langlois, N., Hughes, V., Ellis, P., Hambly, B. (2005). Evaluation of visual inspection, digital image analysis, reflectance spectrophotometry and colorimetry for the medico-legal ageing of bruises. World Police Officers’ International Conference on Clinical Forensic Medicine, Scotland.
  • Hughes, V., Langlois, N. (2005). The Medico-legal ageing of bruises and the potential use of emerging technologies. Australian Institute of Medical Science Conference 2005, Sydney: Australian Institute of Medical Science.

2004

  • Hughes, V., Langlois, N. (2004). Evaluation of methods for the Medico-legal ageing of bruises. 5th APRU Doctoral Students Conference.
  • Hughes, V., Ellis, P., Langlois, N. (2004). The Perception Of Yellow In Bruises. Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine, 11(5), 257-259.
  • Hughes, V., Ellis, P., Burt, T., Langlois, N. (2004). The Practical Application Of Reflectance Spectrophotometry For The Demonstration Of Haemoglobin And Its Degradation In Bruises. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 57(4), 355-359.

2002

  • Hughes, V., Langlois, N., Ellis, P. (2002). The Medico-legal ageing of bruises. Australasian Coroners Conference 2002, Sydney.

2001

  • Hughes, V. (2001). Integrin Mediated Adhesion to fibrin and fibrinogen: modulation through the ß3 cation sub-unit. Australian Institute of Medical Science NSW Conference 2001, Jamberoo: Australian Institute of Medical Science.

2000

  • Hughes, V. (2000). Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: what is the risk to the Australian blood supply?. Victorian Immunohaematology Discussion Group, Melbourne: Victorian Immunohaematology Discussion Group.
  • Hughes, V. (2000). Does Mad Cow’s Disease pose a threat to the Australian blood supply?. National Immunohaematology Continuing Education Weekend 2000, Albury.
  • Hughes, V. (2000), Integrin mediated adhesion to fibrin and fibrinogen: modulation through the ß3 cation sub-unit.
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Keywords

Multiple sclerosis; E-learning and teaching technologies; Autoimmunity; Educational models; Immunology

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