Dr Michael Binks

Senior research fellow

Qualifications:

PhD, Charles Darwin University, 2015; Bachelor of Health Sciences (Natural Medicine), Australian College of Natural Medicine, 2006; Bachelor of Science, Monash University, 1996.

Approved level of HDR supervision at Charles Darwin University:

Principal

Location:

Darwin - Royal Darwin Hospital campus

Biography:

Michael is a senior research fellow and program leader within the Child Health Division at Menzies School of Health Research. With expertise in biomedical science, clinical trials and epidemiology, Michael leads a collaborative and multidisciplinary research program dedicated to achieving sustainable improvements in the respiratory health of Indigenous children.

The program focuses on practical and translatable interventions for the prevention of acute respiratory infections coupled with innovative science to address knowledge gaps in aetiology and pathogenesis. Current projects are evaluating perinatal vitamin D supplementation, antenatal vaccination and neonatal probiotic therapy as key preventative strategies against early childhood acute respiratory infections.

For this collective body of innovative work Michael was recently awarded the Charles Darwin University Prize for Exceptional Performance in Research. Michael currently supervises and has successfully supervised several PhD students to completion on projects including ‘Safety of vaccination in pregnancy’ and the ‘Microbiology of otitis media among Indigenous Australian children’.

 

Dr Michael Binks
Email
Research Themes
  1. Binks, M.J., Beissbarth, J., Oguoma, V.M., Pizzutto, S.J., Leach, A.J., Smith-Vaughan, H.C., McHugh, L., Andrews, R.M., Webby, R., Morris, P.S., & Chang, A.B. (2020). Acute lower respiratory infections in Indigenous infants in Australia's Northern Territory across three eras of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine use (2006–15): a population-based cohort study. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4(6), 425-434.
  2. Binks, M.J., Temple, B., Kirkham, L.A., Wiertsema, S.P., Dunne, E.M., Richmond, P.C., et al. (2012). Molecular surveillance of true nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae: an evaluation of PCR screening assays. PLoS One, 7(3), e34083.
  3. Hare, K.M., Binks, M.J., Grimwood, K., Chang, A.B., Leach, A.J., & Smith-Vaughan, H. (2012). Culture and PCR detection of Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus haemolyticus in Australian Indigenous children with bronchiectasis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 50(7), 2444-2445.
  4. Hare, K.M., Marsh, R.L., Binks, M.J., Grimwood, K., Pizzutto, S.J., Leach, A.J., et al. (2012). Quantitative PCR confirms culture as the gold standard for detection of lower airway infection by nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in Australian Indigenous children with bronchiectasis. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 92(3), 270-272.
  5. Marsh, R.L., Binks, M.J., Beissbarth, J., Christensen, P., Morris, P.S., Leach, A.J., et al. (2012). Quantitative PCR of ear discharge from Indigenous Australian children with acute otitis media with perforation supports a role for Alloiococcus otitidis as a secondary pathogen. BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders, 12, 11
  6. Binks, M.J., Cheng, A.C., Smith-Vaughan, H., Sloots, T., Nissen, M., Whiley, D., et al. (2011). Viral-bacterial co-infection in Australian Indigenous children with acute otitis media. BMC Infectious Diseases, 11, 161.
  7. Marsh, R., Smith-Vaughan, H., Hare, K.M., Binks, M., Kong, F., Warning, J., et al. (2010). The nonserotypeable pneumococcus: phenotypic dynamics in the era of anticapsular vaccines. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 48(3), 831-835.
  8. Smith-Vaughan, H., Marsh, R., Mackenzie, G., Fisher, J., Morris, P.S., Hare, K., et al. (2009). Age-specific cluster of cases of serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage in remote indigenous communities in Australia. Clinical Vaccine Immunology, 16(2), 218-221.
  9. Binks, M.J., Fernie-King, B.A., Seilly, D.J., Lachmann, P.J., & Sriprakash, K.S. (2005). Attribution of the various inhibitory actions of the streptococcal inhibitor of complement (SIC) to regions within the molecule. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280(20), 20120-20125.
  10. Binks, M., & Sriprakash, K.S. (2004). Characterization of a complement-binding protein, DRS, from strains of Streptococcus pyogenes containing the emm12 and emm55 genes. Infection and Immunology, 72(7), 3981-3986.
  11. Binks, M., McMillan, D., & Sriprakash, K.S. (2003). Genomic location and variation of the gene for CRS, a complement binding protein in the M57 strains of Streptococcus pyogenes. Infection and Immunology, 71(12), 6701-6706.
Click here to view more Michael Binks publications in PubMed.

 

  1. Acute lower respiratory infections in Indigenous infants in the NT

    Acute lower respiratory infections in Indigenous infants in the NT

    Date

    Menzies senior research fellow Dr Michael Binks examined acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) hospital admissions among Indigenous infants in the Northern Territory from 2006 to 2015, across three periods of different pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) use.

  2. Youth leaders learn about health hurdles of NT

    Youth leaders learn about health hurdles of NT

    Date

    Th Sun Newspapers | The Ship for World Youth Leaders (SWY) program, have visited the Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies)

  3. International youth leaders sail into Menzies School of Health Research

    International youth leaders sail into Menzies School of Health Research

    Date

    The Ship for World Youth Leaders (SWY) program, have visited the Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) to learn about some of the key public health challenges in the region.

  4. $12 Million NT Investment aims to save lives

    $12 Million NT Investment aims to save lives

    Date

    Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion and Indigenous Health Minister Ken Wyatt AM today announced the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding for researchers at Darwin’s Menzies School of Medical Research, covering Indigenous-specific and broader health projects.

  5. Focus on infections

    Focus on infections

    Date

    RESEARCH by a Charles Darwin University PhD candidate into a respiratory disease that hospitalises indigenous children throughout the NT is aimed at helping these kids breathe easier.