Dr Micaela Quinn
Associate Lecturer
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
College of Health
Micaela is an early career researcher focused on understanding the impacts of cancer and its treatment on musculoskeletal health, to ultimately improve the bone health of peole living with and beyond cancer. Through her PhD, she explored cancer treatment-induced effects on the bone in the breast cancer setting, with an experimental focus on molecularly targeted breast cancer treatment and the bone protective potential of gut-modulating therapy. This experimental work was complemented by a systematic review of the effectiveness and safety of bone protective interventions used in patients with breast cancer. Since completing her PhD, Micaela's research focus has transitioned to cancer-induced bone disease in breast cancer and multiple myeloma, with a particular interest in investigating the interactions between the cells of the bone microenvironment and cancerous cells in bone metastasis and myeloma bone disease, with the aim of developing therapeutic approaches to improve survival, bone health outcomes and quality of life for people with cancer.
My research explores the effects of cancer and cancer treatments on the skeletal system, with a focus on understanding the role of the bone microenvironment in cancers that involve the bone, particular breast cancer and multiple myeloma. The ultimate aim of my research is to identify new therapeutic strategies targeting the bone microenvironment to improve survival and bone health outcomes for people with cancer. To-date, my research has focused on the skeletal effects of small molecule targeted breast cancer therapies and the emerging gut-bone axis as a therapeutic target to improve the bone health of people with cancer.
Additionally, I am also interested in the interaction between cancer-induced bone disease and other co-morbidities of cancer, such as treatment-induced peripheral neuropathy, and examining potential shared therapeutic targets to improve the bone health and overall quality of life of people living with and beyond cancer.
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Award | Christopher and Margie Nordin Young Investigator Award | Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society | Australia | - |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 - 2025 | University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD in Medicine |
| 2021 - 2021 | The University of Adelaide | Australia | Honours Degree of Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences |
| 2018 - 2020 | The University of Adelaide | Australia | Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (Advanced) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Quinn, M. J., Williams, B., Crotti, T. N., & Bowen, J. M. (2026). Effectiveness and safety of bone protective interventions to mitigate bone loss and skeletal fractures experienced by patients with non-metastatic breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osteoporosis International, 37(4), 781-799. Scopus2 WoS1 Europe PMC1 |
| 2026 | Quinn, M. J., Williams, B., Crotti, T. N., & Bowen, J. M. (2026). Author response to OSIN-D-26-00399 bone protection in breast cancer: durability and discontinuation. Osteoporosis International, 37(4), 1005. Europe PMC1 |
| 2026 | Quinn, M. J., Findlay, D. M., Quarrington, R. D., Solomon, L. B., & Muratovic, D. (2026). Osteocyte and vascular network in hip osteoarthritis: A multimodal imaging and histological analysis. Bone, 211, 8 pages. |
| 2025 | Vieyra, C. P., Quinn, M. J., Bateman, E. H., Wardill, H. R., & Bowen, J. M. (2025). Blautia luti reduces neratinib-induced diarrhea in a rat model.. Support Care Cancer, 33(11), 948. |
| 2023 | Muratovic, D., Findlay, D. M., Quinn, M. J., Quarrington, R. D., Solomon, L. B., & Atkins, G. J. (2023). Microstructural and cellular characterisation of the subchondral trabecular bone in human knee and hip osteoarthritis using synchrotron tomography. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 31(9), 1224-1233. Scopus14 WoS14 Europe PMC9 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Quinn, M. J., Findlay, D., Quarrington, R. D., Solomon, B., & Muratovic, D. (2026). Osteocyte and Vascular Network in Hip Osteoarthritis: A Multimodal Imaging and Histological Analysis. DOI |
Bone Health Foundation SA Travel Grant (2025)
Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society Travel Grant (2023)
Course Coordination
HBIO 1002 - Human Anatomy and Physiology A
HLTH 3000 - Research Integrated Learning & Research Placements
Supervision
Co-supervisor: Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences Honours student
Associate Supervisor: HLTH SC 3009A & 3009B -Research Placement
Supervisor: Summer Research Scholarship students
Workshop Lead
HBIO 1002 - Human Anatomy and Physiology IA
Workshop Facilitator
HLTH 1002 - Introduction to Health Research
HLTH SC 1002- Create. Communicate. Connect
Tutorial Lead
NURSING 2005 - Biology of Human Disease I
NURSING 2005 - Biology of Human Disease II
HBIO 1003 - Human Anatomy and Physiology IB
Practical Lead
HBIO 1002 - Human Anatomy and Physiology IA
Practical Demonstrator
HBIO 1002- Human Anatomy and Physiology IA
HBIO 1003- Human Anatomy and Physiology IB
Marking
HLTH SC 3000 - Research Integrated Learning
HLTH SC 3009A & 3009B – Research Placement
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Location | Program | Supervision Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Investigating the role of dietary intervention for methotrexate-induced bone loss in a rat model of breast cancer | University of Adelaide | Honours Degree of Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences | Honours | Full Time | Wilfred Wei Hock Goh |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 - ongoing | Member | Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society Communications Committee | Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society | Australia |
| 2025 - ongoing | Member | Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society Scientific Program Committee | Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society | Australia |
| 2024 - 2025 | Member | Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society Early Career Investigator Committee | Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society | Australia |
| 2024 - 2025 | Member | Australian Society for Medical Research South Australia Committee | Australian Society for Medical Research | Australia |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 - ongoing | Member | Cancer and Bone Society | United States |
| 2024 - ongoing | Member | Bone Research Society | United Kingdom |
| 2023 - ongoing | Member | Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society | Australia |
| 2022 - ongoing | Member | Australian Society for Medical Research | Australia |
Connect With Me
External Profiles
Available For Media Comment.