Researcher

Biography

Professor Jacqueline Center obtained an MBBS (Hons) from the University of Sydney in 1987, qualified as an endocrinologist in 1993, obtained a Master of Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health  in 1995 and a PhD from UNSW, Sydney in 1999. She has been working on clinical and epidemiological studies related to osteoporotic fracture and its outcomes for over 25 years and has been one of the principal researchers in the Dubbo...view more

Professor Jacqueline Center obtained an MBBS (Hons) from the University of Sydney in 1987, qualified as an endocrinologist in 1993, obtained a Master of Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health  in 1995 and a PhD from UNSW, Sydney in 1999. She has been working on clinical and epidemiological studies related to osteoporotic fracture and its outcomes for over 25 years and has been one of the principal researchers in the Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study. She has pioneered work on consequences of fracture including the high risk of refracture and premature mortality that has resulted in international collaborations involving investigators from multiple large epidemiological studies throughout Europe, UK, Canada and the US.

Jacqueline has also been involved in other areas of translational research and led one of the first set of studies that demonstrated a lack of treatment for osteoporosis following hip fracture and that improvement in treatment rates only occurred after initiation of treatment by hospital personnel and not information alone. This work has led to her being chair of the Osteoporosis working group for the NSW Musculoskeletal Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) and joining the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Taskforce on Osteoporotic Fracture Secondary Prevention. This was the foundation for the introduction of Fracture Liaison Services, now mandated in NSW.

She has been or is currently involved in several national and international organisations including the Scientific Advisory Board of Healthy Bones Australia, Research Committee and subsequently the Clinical Practice committee of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, Ethics committee of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research and Editorial board member of BMC Geriatrics.

As a practicing endocrinologist, primarily working in the bone field she gives regular educational talks to the general public and medical practitioners and is passionate about improving lives and outcomes of people with fractures and poor bone health.


My Grants

NHMRC/MRFF

  1. MRFF Effective Treatment and Therapies MRF 2023782 STOP FRACTURE! Strength Training for Optimum Prevention of Fracture. Beck B, Center JR, March L, Downs M, Zhang P, Speerin R, Wong P, Frank O. 2023-2027 $1,484,865
  2. NHMRC Partnership Grant 2006755 Establishing a digital health foundation for outcomes-based diagnostic excellence, safety and value. Georgiou A, Center JR, Westbrook J, Rawlinson W, Curtis K, Post J, Horvath R, Hillman K, Amin J, Endre Z. 2021-2026 $1,027,500.90
  3. MRFF Quality, Safety and Effectiveness of Medicine Use and Medicine Intervention by Pharmacists Grant MRFQ1000064 Safer medicines To reduce falls and refractures for OsteoPorosis (#STOP). Moles R, Carter S, Ebeling P, Center JR, Kelly A, Perry L, White C, Duque G, Naylor J, Gibson K, Hassett G, Major G, Yates, C, Jennings M, Ly J, Bolton P, Tran T, Sei L, Bliuc D, Frost F, Badger B, Luckie K, Barnett S, Kotowicz M. 2021-2025 $2,337,170.00
  4. MRFF Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Needs Initiative 1199726 Bone loss prevention with Zoledronic Acid or Denosumab in postmenopausal critically ill women trial (Bone Zone Trial). Orford N, Center JR, Nair P, Cooper DJ, Hodgson C, Kotowicz M, Pasco J, Bailey M, Venkatesh B, Myburgh J. 2021-2025 $1,900,000.
  5. MRFF Keeping Australians out of Hospital Project Grant 1176600. Chief Investigator Perry L, Center JR, Harris I, Clifton-Bligh R, Hassett G, Nguyen TV, McKinnes L, White C, Frost S. Translation of best practice osteoporosis prevention: Stopping fragility fractures to keep Australians out of hospital 2020-2022 $892,872.90
  6. MRFF Next Generation Clinical Researchers Program Practitioner Fellowship 1137462. Chief Investigator Center JR Improving outcomes in osteoprosis and bone health. Salary Support 2018-2022 $343,682.50
  7. NH&MRC Project Grant 1128217 Palmer A, Eisman JA, Center JR, Nguyen TV, Wizenburg T, Sanders K, Si L. AusGo-SHEMO….Let’s Go! Australian Gold Standard Health Economics Model of Osteoporosis 2017-2019 $378,958.90
  8. NH&MRC Project Grant 1108886 Center JR, March L, Simpson J. Premature mortality post fracture: A NSW linked data study 2016-2018 $391,000
  9. NH&MRC Project Grant 1079522 Rogers MJ, Center JR, Phan TG, Jenner AM, Segelov E. How do bone active drugs increase survival 2015-2018 $593,501.50
  10. NH&MRC Project Grant 1070187 Center JR, Eisman JA, Nguyen TV Osteoporotic fracture associated mortality: A multinational study 2014-2016 $560,558
  11. NH&MRC Project Grant 031494 Nguyen TV, Center JR, Eisman JA, Bliuc D. (Project) Prediction of adverse outcomes following a fragility fracture, 2012-2014: $148,000
  12. NH&MRC Partnership grant 1027847 Eisman JA, Center JR, Nguyen TV, Peiris D, Patel A, Watt W, Salkeld G, Goldstein S, Dartnell J, Selecki Y. (Partnership Project) Electronic decision support for osteoporosis care to assist clinicians and patients in primary care and hospitals. 2012-2014: $580,000
  13. NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship 1008219 Chief Investigator Center JR Prediction of fracture and its adverse outcome. Salary support 2011-2015 $63,527 pa
  14. NHMRC Project Grant 1003612 Chief Investigators Eisman JA, Center JR, Nguyen TV, Seibel M, Sambrook PN, Elder G. Vitamin D, bone loss, fracture and mortality outcome. 2011-2013 $394,630
  15. NHMRC Project Grant 325601 Chief Investigators Nguyen TV, Eisman JA, Center JR, Esteban LM. Genetic prediction of fractures in a risk-stratified population. 2005-2007; 2005 $179,600; 2006 $179,600; 2007 $179,600. 

16.     NHMRC Project Grant 276413 Chief Investigators Nguyen TV, Center JR, Eisman JA, Cumming RG. Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study.  2004-2006; 2004 $221,675; 2005 $221,675; 2006 $221,675.

 

Other Competitive Funding

  1. RES-ON Research Funding Program (SESLHD) Chief Investigators Beech A, Wu D, White C, Close J, Tran T, Center JR. $39,793 2026-2027 BLOOM-BMD (Better Lives and Outcomes for Older Members of the community)-BMD   
  2. ANZBMS/BHF (Bone Health Foundation) Chief Investigator Kim A, Associated Investigators Center JR and others. ‘Zoledronate Early Administration to limit bone loss following denosumab discontinuation (ZEAL). $50,000 2025-2026.
  3. National Breast Cancer ALL-CLEAR grant Chief Investigators Shaffer C, Croucher P, ….Center JR, and others. 2025-2029 $25,000,000 (includes funding for epidemiological studies).
  4. SPHERE funding from Rapid Applied Research Translation 2023 grant. Chief Investigator Center JR. 2025-2026 $75,893
  5. Garvan Institute Catalytic Funding for COVID-19 research. Chief Investigator Center JR, Rogers MR, Bliuc D, Tran T, Munoz M. 2020-2021 $90,000
  6. NSW Dept of Health Public Health and Chronic Disease Program GO3113. Chief Investigator Eisman JA, Center JR, White CP. Osteoporosis Consumer Awareness: Bone Up. 2020-2023 $500,000
  7. St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation Grant. Chief Investigator Center JR, Ghaly S and Bliuc D. Predicting bone loss in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. 2020 $25,000
  8. Amgen Investigator Initiated Research Study. Chief Investigator Center JR. The effect of antiresorptive medication on fracture outcomes. 2018-2021 $372,000
  9. Amgen Pocock N and Center JR. Technology innovation in prediction of vertebral fracture 2018-2019 $115,000
  10. Osteoporosis Australia Chief Investigator White CP and Center JR. Validation of XRAIT in fracture prediction in the Dubbo Study 2018 $15,000
  11. St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation Grant. Chief Investigator Greenfield JR and Center JR. Insulin resistance and fractures in the Dubbo Study. 2016 $50,000
  12. Kidney Health Australia. Elder G, Center, JR, Nguyen TV, Peirera, L. Mortality among dialysis patients on non calcium-based phosphate binders 2015 $49,000
  13. Osteoporosis Australia. Chen W, Center JR, Pocock, N. Use of trabecular bone score in addition to bone mineral density. 2014 $25,000
  14. Osteoporosis Australia. Chen JS, Simpson J, Blythe F, Center JR, March L. Quality use of osteoporosis medication in clinical practice 2014 $43,845
  15. Australian and NZ Intensive Care Society Foundation Grant. Chief Investigator Nair P and Center JR Vitamin D dosing study in ICU patients with SIRS 2014 $29,000
  16. St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation Grant. Chief Investigator Nair P and Center JR Vitamin D dosing study in ICU patients with SIRS 2014 $30,000
  17. HCF Research Foundation RCBUSYD201368. Chief Investigators Clifton-Bligh R, Center JR, Seibel M, Nguyen TV, Eisman JA, Pocock, NA, Kotowicz M. Evaluation of fracture risk Calculators for Clinical Practice 2014 $124,268.36.
  18. BUPA Health Foundation Grant Chief Investigator Center JR. Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study and International collaboration on mortality prediction following fracture $260,000 2013-2014
  19. Shine Translational Fellowship Center JR 2013-2015 $50,000 pa
  20. Osteoporosis Australia Clinical Grants Program. Chief Investigator Center JR. Fracture-associated mortality: An international study combining multiple datasets. 2012 $40,000
  21. MBF Living Well Foundation Grant Chief Investigators Center JR, Eisman JA. , Prediction of adverse outcomes following osteoporotic fracture 2010-2012; 2010: $150,000, 2011: $150,000, 2012: $150,000.
  22. Perpetual Trustees. Chief Investigators Center JR, Samaras K. 2011 $30,000
  23. NovoNordisk Regional Diabetes Support Scheme Grant. Chief Investigators Center JR, Lee P, Greenfield J, Crawford B, Chen R. 2010 $10,000
  24. MBF Living Well Foundation Grant Chief Investigators Eisman JA, Center JR, Nguyen TV.  Assessment of strength and balance to identify individuals at high risk of osteoporotic fracture.  July 2006-July 2008; 2006 $92,870; 2007 $92,870

My Qualifications

1999

PhD, University of New South Wales, Sydney

1995

MS Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health

1993

FRACP

1987

MBBS (Hons) University of Sydney 


My Awards

2024, 2022

Recognised by Stanford University as one of the “Worlds Top 2% Scientists”

2024

Fellow of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

2023

Recognition by The Australian Research Magazine 2023 as 2nd most influential program in Healthy Ageing in Australia

2018-2022

MRFF Next Generation Clinical Researchers Program Practitioner Fellowship

2013-2015

John Shine Translational Fellowship

2011-2015

NH&MRC Practitioner Fellowship

2002

Young Investigator Award, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

1999

Garvan Institute of Medical Research, award for best thesis

1998

Aust and NZ Bone and Mineral Society Travel Grant, Perth national meeting

1996

Endocrine Society Travel Award, International Congress of Endocrinology, San Francisco

1995-1998

NH&MRC Medical Postgraduate Scholarship

1992

RNSH Medical Staff Council Fellowship for Outstanding Achievement

1985

RNSH - F. J. Browne Memorial Prize for Obstetrics and Gynaecology

1981

AMSA - AMA - J. G. Hunter Research Fellowship

1981

National Heart Foundation Vacation Scholarship

1981

Vacation Scholarship - Cardiovascular Physiology, University of Sydney, Department of Physiology

 


My Research Activities

My lab has multiple projects related to outcomes following low trauma fractures including the risks of re-fracture, disability, hospitalisation need for residential aged care and premature mortality. We have access to multiple large administrative and clinical cohorts with collaborations around the world.

A more recent interest and focus is the role of comorbidities and multimorbidity on these outcomes, for example diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases. 

My lab also conducts clinical studies and implementation work, particularly around the tertiary to primary care gap in post fracture management. 

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Location

Medicine & Health

ORCID as entered in ROS

orcid_icon https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5278-4527

UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 Australia Telephone +61 2 93851000
Authorised by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
UNSW CRICOS Provider Code: 00098G ABN: 57 195 873 179

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