Meet the researchers
The team behind the study
Carley Gemelli is the project manager of the ABDS
My role is to make sure that every part of the study is running to plan. When I’m not working on the ABDS I’m a project manager who looks after the coordination of our Research and Development program. I’m also interested in researching ways to improve the donation experience for people who have had their donation postponed. In my spare time I love to attend live music gigs or the theatre as well as enjoy some good food.
Cheyenne is an ABDS research assistant
If you have emailed us before, you may have heard from me! I’m involved in sending out invitations to participate in the study and coordinating sample collection with donor centre staff. In my free time I enjoy painting, cross stitching and trying new cafes.
Lachie is one of our research assistants
I also work on some of the day-to-day ABDS tasks that keep the project running, like talking with donor centres. Outside of work I like woodworking, reading and going to the cinema.
Perfecto Diaz is the data analyst on ABDS
My role is to create and run all reports for the study so we can contact all of you before you donate or capture your donation details so we know to send your surveys out. I also manage our research database. In my spare time, I enjoy cycling, football (soccer) and vegging out watching comedy shows.
Biobank Team
Dr Wayne Dyer is one of the ABDS investigators, responsible for the ABDS Biobank
I helped with many parts of the study, including designing the process, writing the Biobank process manuals, processing samples, coordinating discarding samples, releasing samples to approved investigators, and more! My other research interests are immunovirology, fractionated plasma products, trauma and acute care, and Patient Blood Management. Outside of work, I’m interested in gastronomy, landscaping, marine adventures and audiovisual engineering and content creation.
Kirsten is a research assistant working on the ABDS
My work involves centrifuging and splitting our blood samples before freezing them at -80°C, as well as keeping track of our sample inventory and spreadsheets. In my spare time I enjoy taking dance classes, sewing and crocheting.
Grace is another of our research assistants
My role includes processing and freezing of samples, as well as extracting DNA for further research and testing. I also ride a motorbike and have enjoyed travelling in Europe, Asia, America and NZ by motorbike. I’m a dog lover and have a dachshund.
Medical Team
Dr Phillip Mondy is our medical supervisor
I’m responsible for ensuring that all our processes prioritise your safety, as donors. I’m a haematologist working as a Transfusion specialist at Lifeblood.
Jo is a research nurse
The part I play in ABDS is acting as a clinical research advisor. I work with our Donor Experience (DE) stakeholders (Clinical Nurse Advisors, Communications Team and Change Team) to ensure all the study collateral that our front-line teams receive are in line with most of their business-as-usual processes and provide clinical support for the DE teams. When I’m not working, I enjoy a heart-pumping session of tennis, going on food crawls and exploring new recipes.
Justine is a registered nurse
I have over 30 years’ experience and a Masters in Pharmaceutical Medicine. I’m the Clinical Research Nurse Consultant in Lifeblood’s Research and Development Division. I helped design how the ABDS would work in donor centres and help respond to any clinical queries that come to us. My day-to-day work involves helping Lifeblood make a greater contribution to healthcare by collaborating with external hospitals, medical institutes, and universities on the development of new cellular therapies and precision medicine.
I’m a mum to two adult children who are my everything! My hobby is ocean fishing, targeting a fish known as a luderick.
Doctor Wayne B. Dyer
Wayne’s research focuses on optimal use of fractionated plasma products, clinical application of Patient Blood Management to improve patient outcomes, and management of research biorepositories. He’s currently investigating use of plasma clotting factor concentrates to improve resuscitation strategies for massive bleeding and haemorrhagic shock in surgical and trauma patients, and manages Lifeblood’s ABDS Biobank.Wayne received his PhD from the University of NSW in 1999, and has been a valued research scientist at Lifeblood ever since.
Carley Gemelli
Carley coordinates program management for R&D and works as a project manager across a number of projects. Her research focuses on improving the donors’ experience when their donation is postponed. She’s interested in using statistical techniques to analyse data and developing techniques to encourage donors to return.Carley has a research background in Medical Science and Epidemiology looking at infectious diseases and longitudinal health risks. She has a Masters in Applied Statistics and Clinical Epidemiology. She loves working in an applied setting and seeing research findings translated into practice.
Justine O'Donovan
Justine puts her nursing and transfusion sector experience to use as she facilitates Clinical Trials on precision medicine that have an involve Lifeblood donors and hospital patients.Justine has a Diploma of Applied Science-Nursing, and has completed Haematology Nursing and Immunisation for Health Practitioners at the Australian College of Nursing. Justine is a graduate of the NSW Health Clinical Excellence Commissions Executive Leadership Course and has a Masters of Pharmaceutical Medicine from the University of NSW.Justine’s work is about best practice in research to ensure participant safety. Justine also acts as a clinical reference point for our researcher’s conducting studies on donor health.
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