National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine

Research spotlight: tackling persistent UTIs

Southern Cross University PhD graduand Cathrina Geldard is building a body of research focused on one of medicine’s most pressing challenges: persistent urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Her recently published research in Scientific Reports investigates how microbial communities behave within the polymicrobial biofilms that can make these infections particularly difficult to treat.

Building on this work, Cathrina’s ongoing research is exploring the potential of herbal medicines as part of new approaches to persistent UTIs.

Her research also extends beyond the laboratory. Cathrina contributes to the World Naturopathic Federation’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Committee and its AMR Evidence Map — an international initiative developed with BIREME, a specialised centre of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, to strengthen the evidence base for tackling antimicrobial resistance.

🔬 Read Cathrina’s research in Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-50919-y

🌏 Explore the WNF AMR Evidence Map and resources: https://www.wnf-amr.org/

When an international health crisis is unfolding, expertise isn't always abstract — sometimes it comes from someone sitting in a university office in Australia who has actually lived and worked through an outbreak.

As concerns continue to grow around the latest Ebola outbreak in Africa, NCNM’s Dr Peter Bai James has provided his expert perspective to The Wall Street Journal in an article examining why the current Bundibugyo strain presents a unique public health challenge.

Peter brings a particularly valuable perspective to the conversation. Before joining Southern Cross University. he worked in Sierra Leone during the 2014–16 Ebola outbreak and has continued to research emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

Today, Peter is based in the Northern Rivers, sharing that experience through his teaching and research at NCNM — providing a direct connection between lessons from past outbreaks and the public health challenges unfolding today.

It’s a powerful reminder of the depth of expertise within our NCNM team, and the value of bringing lived experience from global health settings into conversations happening here in Australia.

Read Peter’s contribution in The Wall Street Journal: https://ow.ly/L94Y50ZB968



Image: Jospin Mwisha/AFP/Getty Images

🌿We're proud to recognise Bio Concepts as a sponsor of the 5th Annual Natural Products Futures Forum.

For more than four decades, Bio Concepts has played an important role in supporting the natural medicine profession through education, innovation and a commitment to practitioner excellence. Their investment in knowledge sharing and professional development continues to strengthen the sector and support better health outcomes.

The Natural Products Futures Forum exists to connect research, education and industry, creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue and collaboration. We're grateful for Bio Concepts' ongoing support in helping bring these important conversations to life.

📧 Want your organisation to be part of these conversations? Contact our team to discuss partnership opportunities: https://ow.ly/ejT550ZAbHr

A familiar voice at the Forum 🎤

For five years, John O’Doherty has been a familiar and highly anticipated voice at the Natural Products Future Forum — and we’re delighted to welcome him back as a Keynote Presenter at this year’s event.

As CEO of Complementary Medicines Australia, John brings a wealth of experience and insight into the complementary medicines sector, offering an engaging snapshot of the industry, the issues shaping its future and the opportunities ahead.

With a background spanning public affairs, government relations, corporate affairs, media communications, law, finance and governance — including previous senior advisory roles within the Australian Government and as Head of Public Affairs at Blackmores Group — John brings a uniquely informed perspective to the conversation.

And if you've heard John present at the Forum before, you'll know he never fails to deliver.

Join us at this year's Forum to hear John's keynote, alongside a stellar line-up of national and international speakers exploring the theme Strengthening Today, Building for Tomorrow.

👉 Register now to hear John and be part of the conversation: https://ow.ly/Su1750Zzg2f

🌿 Thinking about a career in clinical naturopathy, lifestyle medicine or integrative medicine? Come and meet the team at Southern Cross University’s Northern Rivers Open Day this Sunday 16 August, from 9am–2pm at our Lismore campus.

If you’re interested in becoming a clinical naturopath, join us at 10am for a special panel discussion featuring a graduate, current student and course coordinator from our naturopathy program. Hear first-hand about their experiences, what you can expect from your studies, and where a career in clinical naturopathy can take you.

🎓 Interested in Lifestyle Medicine or Integrative Medicine? Our academics will also be available throughout the day to answer your questions about our postgraduate programs, study options and pathways.

And there’s an added incentive to book your place — when you register for Open Day, you’ll go in the running to win a MacBook Pro! 💻

📍 Southern Cross University, Lismore campus
📅 Sunday 16 August
⏰ 9am–2pm
🌿 Naturopathy panel: 10am

Book your spot today and take the first step towards your future in integrative medicine: https://www.scu.edu.au/open-day/lismore/

As we count down to the 5th Annual Natural Products Futures Forum, we're proud to recognise BioCeuticals NutraCeuticals as a valued sponsor of this year's event.

BioCeuticals' commitment to advancing evidence-informed natural healthcare and supporting professional education aligns strongly with our vision for a future-focused natural products sector.

BioCeuticals' partnership plays an important role in helping us deliver this year's Forum and foster meaningful collaboration across the sector, bringing together researchers, clinicians, educators and industry leaders to share knowledge, explore innovation and strengthen the future of our profession.

We're proud to have BioCeuticals alongside us as we explore this year's theme, Strengthening Today, Building for Tomorrow.

Interested in aligning your organisation with one of Australia's leading natural products and integrative healthcare events?

A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are still available. Get in touch with our team to discuss how your organisation can be part of this year's Forum: https://ow.ly/UEBP50ZwQpZ

Looking to broaden your scope of practice and strengthen your facilitation skills?

As healthcare continues to evolve, clinicians are increasingly seeking innovative, evidence-informed models of care that improve patient outcomes while enhancing the clinician experience.

Our Facilitator and Health Coaching for Shared Medical Appointments short course provides the knowledge and practical skills to design, implement and facilitate Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs)—an efficient, patient-centred approach to group-based healthcare.

Designed for bachelor-qualified health professionals, health service managers and those seeking SMA facilitation skills, this course combines flexible online learning with a practical workshop and skills assessment.

With online learning commencing on 31 August and the face-to-face workshop taking place on 12 September, now is the time to secure your place and prepare to put your new skills into practice.

Course highlights:
📅 Online learning opens 31 August (study at your own pace)
📍 Face-to-face workshop: 12 September | Gold Coast campus
⏱️ Equivalent to 50 hours of university study
👩‍⚕️ Ideal for bachelor-qualified health professionals, health service managers and those wanting to build facilitation and health coaching skills
🚀 May contribute towards Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine Fellowship and be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning at SCU

Invest in your professional development and gain practical skills you can apply in your workplace.

👉 Start building your Shared Medical Appointment facilitation skills. Enrol today: https://ow.ly/6ok350ZiuxO

Southern Cross University

Clinical trial of marine supplement for Glioblastoma (GBM) by Southern Cross University

Researchers at Southern Cross University are inviting GBM-diagnosed adults to participate in a clinical trial assessing the feasibility and potential benefit of adding a sea cucumber combination supplement to standard of care treatment.

What’s involved:
• Monthly in-person appointments at the trial site
• Blood sample collections and questionnaires
• Taking the supplement over 24 weeks

Your participation will help researchers better understand the safety profile and potential health benefits of this natural product.

For more information, contact: [email protected]

📊 More than 94% of First Peoples without access to traditional healers say they would use them if they were available. Yet only 9.7% report having easy access.

These powerful findings come from the first Australia-wide, co-designed study exploring First Peoples' use of, access to, and desire to use cultural medicines—led by Dr Alana Gall from the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine at Southern Cross University. The research highlights a significant unmet need and calls for structural change to better support culturally governed care.

Published in First Nations Health and Wellbeing – The Lowitja Journal, the study found that cultural medicines remain central to health and wellbeing for First Peoples, with Aboriginal community-controlled health services identified as the preferred access point and strong support for integrating cultural medicines into palliative and end-of-life care.

Congratulations to Alana and the research team on this landmark publication that will help inform policy, strengthen health equity and elevate Indigenous-led approaches to healthcare.

📖 Read the full story and learn more about the research: https://www.scu.edu.au/news/2026/indigenous-australians-want-to-use-cultural-medicines-more-often/

Indigenous Australians want to use cultural medicines more often - Southern Cross University First Peoples say cultural medicines remain central to health and wellbeing, with access to physical medicines a top priority.

🌿 How can research strengthen Indigenous knowledge without replacing it?

This week, NCNM's Associate Professor Andrea Bugarcic and Charlotte McMahon represented the Centre at the ISE Congress in Cairns, where NCNM was proud to be a sponsor.

Across the Congress, a powerful message emerged: Country and knowledge are inseparable. Discussions explored how research can support Traditional Knowledge while ensuring Indigenous peoples are recognised as rights holders, not just stakeholders, with governance, ethics and consent led by community.

Sessions also highlighted:
🌱 Protecting Traditional Owner rights in bushfoods research and supply chains
🤝 Fair recognition and benefit-sharing through community-led governance
💻 The potential of emerging technologies, including blockchain, to help safeguard Indigenous knowledge
🔥 The importance of keeping knowledge accountable to Country, recognising land itself as an authority rather than simply a resource

The team were inspired hearing from leading voices including Professor Martin Nakata AM, Professor Michael-Shawn Fletcher, Gerry Turpin, Dale Chapman, Kim Bryceson and Barry Hunter, whose insights reinforced the importance of respectful collaboration between Indigenous knowledge systems and scientific research.

We're especially pleased that Gerry Turpin, renowned ethnobotanist and Mbabaram Traditional Owner, will join us as a panel member at this year's Natural Products Futures Forum.

If these conversations resonate with you, don't miss the opportunity to hear Gerry and other leading experts discuss the future of natural products, Indigenous knowledge and evidence-informed innovation.

👉 Register for the Natural Products Futures Forum here: https://www.scu.edu.au/national-centre-for-naturopathic-medicine/events/natural-products-futures-forum/



Southern Cross University