Christopher Della Vedova

Research Interests

Assessment, development and evaluation of curriculum Education Assessment and Evaluation Genetics Serious games Simulation and Modelling Teaching and instruction technologies

Teaching Strengths

Genetics
Physiology

Dr Christopher Della Vedova

Senior Lecturer: Academic Development (AU Course Development)

Teaching Innovation Unit

Teaching Enterprise

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Available For Media Comment.

Dr Chris Della Vedova has a background in genetics with a focus on the genetic and physiological basis for complex neurobehavioural conditions. He received his PhD in Genetics from the University of Missouri (USA) in 2004 and undertook post-doctoral research in evolutionary developmental genetics at the University of Oxford (UK) before joining UniSA as a Lecturer in Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences in 2008.
In his spare time, Chris is a passionate if not completely competent surfer. He enjoys spending time with his three sons and aging labrador. 

My research focuses on the molecular and genetic basis of complex neurobehavioural conditions such as addiction, stress and fatigue. Some of my ongoing projects are:,Identifying biological markers of operator fatigue. In collaboration with the Defence, Science and Technology Organisation and the Centre for Sleep Research at UniSA, we are attempting to identify biological or genetic markers that can detect or predict the deterioration of performance that accompanies fatigue. The identification of such objective tools may help to prevent accidents and loss of life in industrial, medical or military settings.,Identification of novel genes that play a role in the development of addiction to methamphetamine. Methamphetamine addiction is associated with increased self-reported depression, anxiety and stress levels and a significant risk of drug-induced psychosis. Using a pool of tissue samples collected over several years, we are asking whether variation in a number of candidate genes is associated with an increased risk of drug abuse or dependence, and developing depression, anxiety and/or stress related disorders.

Date Position Institution name
2008 - 2025 Senior Lecturer University of South Australia

Date Institution name Country Title
1999 - 2004 University of Missouri United States Doctor of Philosophy

Year Citation
2025 Costabile, M., Caruso, C., Della Vedova, C., Bailey, S., & Mahdi, L. (2025). Leveraging computer-based simulations and immersive software technologies for enhanced student learning in laboratory medicine. ADVANCES IN PHYSIOLOGY EDUCATION, 49(2), 338-351.
DOI Scopus2
2025 Davey, S. K., Birbeck, D., Nallaya, S., Sallows, G., & Della Vedova, C. B. (2025). Utilising one-on-one interactive oral assessments as the major final assessment within a bioscience course. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 50(7), 1154-1171.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2025 Vedova, C. D., Denyer, G., & Costabile, M. (2025). Combining face-to-face laboratory sessions and a computer simulation effectively teaches gene editing and DNA sequencing to undergraduate genetics students. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, 53(3), 286-296.
DOI Scopus1 Europe PMC1
2021 Aidman, E., Balin, M., Johnson, K., Jackson, S., Paech, G. M., Pajcin, M., . . . Banks, S. (2021). Caffeine may disrupt the impact of real-time drowsiness on cognitive performance: a double-blind, placebo-controlled small-sample study. Scientific Reports, 11(1, article no. 4027), 1-10.
DOI Scopus6 Europe PMC3
2019 Pajcin, M., White, J. M., Banks, S., Dorrian, J., Paech, G. M., Grant, C. L., . . . Della Vedova, C. B. (2019). Effects of strategic early-morning caffeine gum administration on association between salivary alpha-amylase and neurobehavioural performance during 50 h of sleep deprivation. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 126, 160-172.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC3
2019 Costabile, M., & Della Vedova, C. (2019). Development of an interactive simulation and app (PipetteMaster) to teach undergraduate students how to read, set and use an automatic laboratory pipette.. Journal of Immunology, 202(S1), 1.
DOI
2019 Pajcin, M., Banks, S., Dorrian, J., Gupta, C. C., Coates, A. M., Grant, C. L., . . . Della Vedova, C. B. (2019). Salivary levels of alpha-amylase are associated with neurobehavioral alertness during extended wakefulness, but not simulated night-shift work. Physiology and behavior, 204, 1-9.
DOI Scopus7 WoS5 Europe PMC6
2018 Aidman, E., Johnson, K., Paech, G. M., Della Vedova, C., Pajcin, M., Grant, C., . . . Banks, S. (2018). Caffeine reduces the impact of drowsiness on driving errors. Transportation research. part F: traffic psychology and behaviour, 54, 236-247.
DOI Scopus18 WoS15
2018 Grant, C. L., Coates, A. M., Dorrian, J., Paech, G. M., Pajcin, M., Della Vedova, C., . . . Banks, S. (2018). The impact of caffeine consumption during 50 hr of extended wakefulness on glucose metabolism, self-reported hunger and mood state. Journal of Sleep Research, 27(5), 1-11.
DOI Scopus6 WoS5 Europe PMC2
2018 Dorrian, J., Hursh, S., Waggoner, L., Grant, C., Pajcin, M., Gupta, C., . . . Banks, S. (2018). How much is left in your "sleep tank"? Proof of concept for a simple model for sleep history feedback. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 126, 177-183.
DOI Scopus6 WoS5 Europe PMC3
2018 Aidman, E., Johnson, K., Hoggan, B. L., Fidock, J., Paech, G. M., Della Vedova, C. B., . . . Banks, S. (2018). Synchronized drowsiness monitoring and simulated driving performance data under 50-hr sleep deprivation: A double-blind placebo-controlled caffeine intervention. Data in brief, 19, 1335-1340.
DOI Scopus1
2017 Gupta, C. C., Dorrian, J., Grant, C. L., Pajcin, M., Coates, A. M., Kennaway, D. J., . . . Banks, S. (2017). It’s not just what you eat but when: The impact of eating a meal during simulated shift work on driving performance. Chronobiology International, 34(1), 66-77.
DOI Scopus39 WoS34 Europe PMC32
2017 Grant, C. L., Coates, A. M., Dorrian, J., Kennaway, D. J., Wittert, G. A., Heilbronn, L. K., . . . Banks, S. (2017). Timing of food intake during simulated night shift impacts glucose metabolism: A controlled study. Chronobiology International, 34(8), 1003-1013.
DOI Scopus79 WoS75 Europe PMC71
2017 Grant, C. L., Dorrian, J., Coates, A. M., Pajcin, M., Kennaway, D. J., Wittert, G. A., . . . Banks, S. (2017). The impact of meal timing on performance, sleepiness, gastric upset, and hunger during simulated night shift. Industrial Health, 55(5), 423-436.
DOI Scopus36 WoS32 Europe PMC28
2017 Pajcin, M., Banks, S., White, J. M., Dorrian, J., Paech, G. M., Grant, C., . . . Della Vedova, C. B. (2017). Decreased salivary alpha-amylase levels are associated with performance deficits during sleep loss. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 78, 131-141.
DOI Scopus26 WoS26 Europe PMC21
2017 Guinan, T. M., Neldner, D., Stockham, P., Kobus, H., Della Vedova, C. B., & Voelcker, N. H. (2017). Porous silicon mass spectrometry as an alternative confirmatory assay for compliance testing of methadone. Drug testing and analysis, 9(5), 769-777.
DOI
2016 Johnson, K., Aidman, E., Paech, G. M., Pajcin, M., Grant, C., LaValle, C., . . . Banks, S. (2016). Early morning repeat-dose caffeine mitigates driving performance impairments during 50 hours of sleep deprivation. Road and transport research, 25(3), 3-15.
2016 Paech, G. M., Banks, S., Pajcin, M., Grant, C., Johnson, K., Kamimori, G. H., & Della Vedova, C. B. (2016). Caffeine administration at night during extended wakefulness effectively mitigates performance impairment but not subjective assessments of fatigue and sleepiness. Pharmacology biochemistry and behavior, 145, 27-32.
DOI Europe PMC17
2016 Paech, G. M., Della Vedova, C., Pajcin, M., Grant, C., Kamimori, G., & Banks, S. (2016). Caffeine has minimal effects on daytime recovery sleep following severe sleep deprivation. Sleep and biological rhythms, 14(2), 149-156.
DOI
2016 Weeks, S., Boshoff, K., Stewart, H., Kelly, S., & Della Vedova, C. B. (2016). Feasibility of a research protocol to investigate the effect of the TherapressureTM Program using salivary cortisol. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 4(2), 1-15.
DOI
2015 Guinan, T. M., Kirkbride, P., Della Vedova, C., Kershaw, S., Kobus, H., & Voelcker, N. (2015). Direct detection of illicit drugs from biological fluids by desorption/ionization mass spectrometry with nanoporous silicon microparticles. Analyst, 140(23), 7926-7933.
DOI
2015 Kershaw, S. G., Dry, M., Della Vedova, C., Majumder, I., Ward, M., Williamson, P., & White, J. (2015). Inspection time as a general measure of cognitive impairment following acute opioid exposure. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 156, e108.
DOI
2015 Kershaw, S., Della Vedova, C., Majumder, I., Ward, M., Farquharson, A., Williamson, P., & White, J. (2015). Acute opioid administration induces hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activation and is mediated by genetic variation in interleukin (Il)1B. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 138, 9-13.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC6
2014 Guinan, T., Della Vedova, C., Kobus, H., & Voelcker, N. H. (2014). Mass spectrometry imaging of fingerprint sweat on nanostructured silicon. Chemical communications, 51(28), 6088-6091.
DOI
2013 Todd, G., Noyes, C., Flavel, S., Della Vedova, C. B., Spyropoulos, P., Chatterton, B., . . . White, J. M. (2013). Illicit stimulant use is associated with abnormal substantia nigra morphology in humans. PLoS one, 8(2), article no. e56438.
DOI Scopus46 WoS41 Europe PMC37
2013 Della Vedova, C., Cathcart, S., Dohnalek, A., Lee, V., Hutchinson, M., Immink, M., & Hayball, J. (2013). Peripheral interleukin-1β levels are elevated in chronic tension-type headache patients. Pain Research & Management : The Journal of the Canadian Pain Society = journal de la société canadienne pour le traitement de la douleur, 18(6), 301-306.
DOI Scopus37 WoS28 Europe PMC30
2013 Cathcart, S., Barone, V., Immink, M., Proeve, M., & Hayball, J. (2013). Mindfulness training does not reduce inflammatory cytokine levels in chronic tension-type headache. Journal of Pain Management, 6(3), 235-238.
Scopus4
2012 Cathcart, S., Bhullar, N., Immink, M. A., Della Vedova, C., & Hayball, J. D. (2012). Pain sensitivity mediates the relationship between stress and headache intensity in chronic tension-type headache. Pain Research and Management, 17(6), 377-380.
DOI Scopus23 WoS24 Europe PMC17

Year Citation
2018 Grant, C. L., Coates, A. M., Dorrian, J., Paech, G. M., Pajcin, M., Della Vedova, C., . . . Banks, S. (2018). THE EFFECT OF CAFFEINE ON GLUCOSE METABOLISM, SELF-REPORTED HUNGER AND MOOD STATE DURING EXTENDED WAKEFULNESS. In SLEEP Vol. 41 (pp. A84-A85). Baltimore, MD: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.
DOI
2016 Pajcin, M., Banks, S., White, J. M., Paech, G. M., Grant, C., Tooley, K., . . . Della Vedova, C. B. (2016). Decreased levels of salivary alpha-amylase are associated with greater driving performance deficits following one night of sleep deprivation. In JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH Vol. 25 (pp. 153). Bologna, ITALY: WILEY.
2016 Gupta, C., Dorrian, J., Grant, C., Pajcin, M., Coates, A., Kennaway, D., . . . Banks, S. (2016). Eating during the nightshift: the impact of meal timing on driving performance during simulated shift work. In JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH Vol. 25 (pp. 105-106). Bologna, ITALY: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2016 Pajcin, M., Banks, S., White, J. M., Dorrian, J., Paech, G. M., Grant, C., . . . Della Vedova, C. (2016). SALIVARY ALPHA-ANYLASE: A POTENTIAL BIOMARKER OF REACTION TIME DURING TOTAL SLEEP DEPRIVATION. In JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH Vol. 25 (pp. 11-12). WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Year Citation
2017 Banks, S., Della Vedova, C., Almond, T., Pajcin, M., Paech, G., Grant, C., . . . Bull, C. (2017). TELOMERE LENGTH AND SALIVARY DNA METHYLATION AFTER 48 HOURS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION. Poster session presented at the meeting of JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH. Auckland, NEW ZEALAND: WILEY.
DOI WoS1

  • Identification and validation of biological markers to predict and detect changes in operator state, Defence Science & Technology Organisation - Business & Commercialisation Office, 01/01/2014 - 31/01/2018

Courses I teach

  • BIOL 2016 Genetics (2025)
  • BIOL 1056 Biomedical Research Training (2024)
  • BIOL 2016 Genetics (2024)
  • BIOL 2056 Fetal and Maternal Pathophysiology (2024)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2024 Co-Supervisor - Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Ms Natasha Jane Radcliffe
2023 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Zinabu Fentaw Werashe

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