Zachary Munn

Dr Zachary Munn

NHMRC Ext-Funded Research Fellow E

School of Public Health

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

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

Professor Zachary Munn is an advocate for evidence-based healthcare and for ensuring policy and practice is based on the best available evidence. Professor Munn is the founding Director of Health Evidence Synthesis, Recommendations and Impact (HESRI) in the School of Public Health at the University of Adelaide; Head of the Evidence Synthesis Taxonomy Initiative (ESTI); Founding Director of the Adelaide GRADE Centre; past-Chair of the Guidelines International Network (GIN) and a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator. He is a systematic review, evidence implementation and guideline development methodologist.

To enable evidence-based decisions, we need to ensure that the 'evidence' is trustworthy. As such, Zachary advances the methods of systematic review, guidelines and implementation science and conducts methodological research. He has been involved in the conduct of dozens of systematic reviews, clinical guidelines, evidence implementation and health services research projects. He is the convenor/chair of four methodology committees; Systematic Reviews of Prevalence/Incidence, Systematic reviews of Interventions, Scoping Reviews Methodology, Grading evidence, and Predatory Publishing Practices. He is an in-demand invited speaker at numerous conferences internationally, presenting on clinical practice guideline development, implementation science, systematic reviews and evidence-based healthcare. He is on the editorial board for the journal JBI Evidence Implementation and is an Associate Editor for BMC Medical Research Methodology. He is on the advisory board or panel for the Czech Republic National Institute for Quality and Excellence in Healthcare, Singapore's Agency for Care Effectiveness, and Evidence Aid in the United Kingdom, amongst others. He has published hundreds of papers in peer reviewed journals and authored multiple books/book chapters.

He has been involved in and led research grants and commissioned projects for the UK Department for International Development, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Sax Institute, the World Health Organisation, HCF Health and Medical Research Foundation, the Centre of Research Excellence in Aboriginal Chronic Disease Knowledge Translation and Exchange (CREATE), the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Queensland Health, the Heart Foundation of Australia, Australian Diabetes Educators Association and the Julian Burton Burns Trust Clipsal Community Grant - and many more. He is a GIN Board Trustee, a Cochrane author, and a member of the GRADE working group and project groups. He is a current member of the NHMRC Synthesis and Translation of Research Evidence (SToRE) Advisory Group.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Prof Munn contributed to the coordination of global efforts to develop trustworthy evidence to inform decision making regarding Covid-19. He was the Chair of the Guidelines International Network Covid-19 Taskforce, in addition to being a key member of the COVID-19 Evidence Network to support Decision-making (COVID-END), the COVID19 Recommendations and Gateway to Contextualization (https://covid19.recmap.org/about), a member of the WHO Evidence Collaboration for COVID-19 and a member of the Evidence Implementation Council for the Global Commission on Evidence to Address Societal Challenges.

As Head of the Evidence Synthesis Taxonomy Initiative, Prof Munn works to resolve confusion regarding meta-research and to advance methods of evidence synthesis. This grant, which commenced in 2021, has been awarded to investigate and improve the quality and science of the synthesis of medical research through the development of an evidence synthesis taxonomy. This is a comprehensive resource for policy makers, academics, clinicians, consumers and all others who are interested in rigorous and transparent methods of evidence synthesis for informing knowledge, policy and practice. (https://jbi.global/jbi-evidence-synthesis-taxonomy-initiative)

Prof Munn's work in implementation science has resulted in direct improvements in healthcare practice. He has provided practical support, training and advice to clinical and public health professionals on how change can be achieved in healthcare practices and how we can move through evidence generation, synthesis and to implementation/translation resulting in clear health improvements. His PhD focused on using participatory methods to implement evidence-based recommendations in practice. He is lead author on a chapter providing guidance for people implementing evidence (Munn Z et al. Evidence implementation projects using an evidence-based audit and feedback approach: the JBI Implementation Framework, JBI Handbook for Evidence Implementation). In addition, he has been the lead researcher/methodologist/implementation science expert for many quality improvement and health services research projects. In this capacity he ensures that rigorous methods are used and that where evidence implementation activities take place, these are based on trustworthy and valid sources of information. Within these projects he ensures there are strategies for engaging and collaborating with team members and health service staff so they accept and embrace the research program or activity.

In his role as a GIN Tech steering group member and as a developer of systematic review software, Prof Munn is familiar with the various tools available for systematic review and clinical guideline development and has been involved in the development of these tools. He understands how these tools can contribute to trustworthy clinical guideline development whilst still maintaining relevancy and currency, and where their use can optimise a digital and trustworthy evidence ecosystem, and the potential for AI, machine learning and automation in the evidence pipeline.

Although Prof Munn is involved in many systematic reviews, implementation and guideline projects, perhaps the most rewarding part of his role is the chance to work hands on with public health professionals, clinicians and health services to facilitate the implementation of evidence into practice, particularly in low resource and LMIC settings.

Professor Munn conducts projects investigating:

  • Evidence-based healthcare and public health
  • Systematic review methodology
  • Clinical guideline development methods
  • Grading and evaluating evidence and developing recommendations
  • Evidence implementation
  • Evidence transfer and knowledge translation
  • Improving the quality of healthcare 

 

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - ongoing Professor University of Adelaide
    2016 - ongoing Director JBI Adelaide GRADE Centre The University of Adelaide
    2016 - 2023 Associate Professor The University of Adelaide
    2007 - ongoing Senior Research Fellow The Joanna Briggs Institute, The University of Adelaide

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    The University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    The University of South Australia Australia Graduate Diploma of Health Sciences
    The University of South Australia Australia Bachelor of Medical Radiation (Nuclear Medicine)

  • Research Interests
    Health Information Systems Medical and Health Sciences Public Health and Health Services

 

Role Project Funding Type Start End Primary Funding Body and Scheme Country Name Amount (Aud)
Chief Investigator Advancing the science of evidence synthesis: developing standards, guidance and resources for better evidence for better health decisions Cat 1-1 Australian competitive National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2026 2030 National Health and Medical Research Council – Investigator Grant Australia 2,792,745
Chief Investigator Development and Implementation of an Australian Motor Neurone Disease Guidelines Cat 3-1 Industry and other Australian not-for profit 2024 2025 FightMND Australia 1,996,000
Co-applicant Reproducibility of systematic reviews with meta-analysis: relevance to clinical practice guidelines Cat 3 – International 2025   Canadian Institutes of Health Research Canada CAD 360,138
Co-applicant Methodological Review of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity for adults, adolescents, and children in Australia and Clinical practice guideline for the implementation of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy in Australia and New Zealand Cat 2 Other Public Sector: Commonwealth Government 2024 2025 Department of Health and Aged Care

 		 Australia 9,120
Co-applicant Evidence synthesis to support clinical practice guideline development  Cat 3 – International 2024 2028 Health Research Board (Ireland) Ireland EUR 2,498,321
Co-applicant A systematic and living evidence and guideline recommendation map on COVID-19 (extension) Cat 3 – International 2022 2023 Canadian Institutes of Health Research Canada CAD 999,984
Chief Investigator Residual surface insecticide for preventing malaria: systematic review to inform WHO guidelines Cat 3 – International 2022 2022 World Health Organisation Switzerland 39500
Chief Investigator Insecticide treated nets for preventing malaria: systematic review to inform WHO guidelines Cat 3 – International 2022 2022 World Health Organisation Switzerland 31600
Chief Investigator Residual surface insecticide for preventing malaria: protocol for a systematic review Cat 3 – International 2021 2022 World Health Organisation Switzerland 26000
Chief Investigator: First Named The evidence synthesis taxonomy: developing a structured resource for synthesising and collating evidence to inform policy and practice Cat 1-1 Australian competitive National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2020 2024 National Health and Medical Research Council – Investigator Grant Australia 645205
Chief Investigator JBI and Wolters Kluwer Health Research Translation Agreement Cat 3 – International 2020 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health USA 30m
Chief Investigator: First Named JBI Software Development Grant Cat 3 – International 2020 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health USA 1.68m
Co-applicant A systematic and living evidence and guideline recommendation map on COVID-19 Cat 3 – International 2020 2022 Canadian Institutes of Health Research Canada CAD 1.45m
Chief Investigator Improving the capacity of healthcare practitioners to implement evidence-based practice in Indigenous communities in Northern Territory, Australia Cat 3-2 Industry and other Australian not-for profit 2019 2020 Perpetual Trustee Company Limited - Perpetual Philanthropic Services Australia 74500
Chief Investigator: First Named Australia Award in PNG Capacity Development Cat 2 Other Public Sector: Commonwealth Government 2018 2018 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Australia Awards PNG Australia 13200
Chief Investigator: First Named Evidence appraisal to inform guidelines for the management of heart failure (part 1) Cat 3-2 Industry and other Australian not-for profit 2018 2018 Heart Foundation Australia 85000
Chief Investigator Evidence appraisal to inform guidelines for the management of heart failure (part 2) Cat 3-2 Industry and other Australian not-for profit 2018 2018 Heart Foundation Australia 115000
Chief Investigator: First Named Facilitated evidence implementation program and research consultancy Cat 3-2 Industry and other Australian not-for profit 2018 2018 New South Wales Health Australia 311896
Chief Investigator: First Named Development of guidelines for smoking cessation Cat 3-2 Industry and other Australian not-for profit 2018 2019 Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Australia 48300
Chief Investigator People’s views and experiences of microfinance intervention: a systematic review Cat 3 – International 2016 2016 UK Department for International Development UK (£)42080
Chief Investigator Safe management of expressed breast milk Cat 3-2 Industry and other Australian not-for profit 2015 2015 Sax Institute Australia 27000
Associate-Investigator 1061242 - Innovation in the synthesis and translation of research evidence to inform the prevention, management and treatment of chronic disease in indigenous populations Cat 1 Commonwealth Schemes 2013 2019 National Health and Medical Research Council – Centres of Research Excellence Australia 2765001
Chief Investigator Use of surgical and radiology checklists in Australian hospitals: uptake, barriers and enablers Cat 1 Non-Commonwealth Schemes 2013 2014 HCF Health and Medical Research Foundation Australia 311194

 

Munn Z, McArthur A, Lizarondo L. Facilitated evidence implementation program and research consultancy. Liverpool Hospital, NSW Health. ($31,896)

Tivey D, Tufunaru C, Munn Z, Riitano D, Aromataris E, Pearson A. Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Continuing Professional Development to maintain competency and achieve improvements in practice: a systematic review ($52,500)

Munn Z, Porritt K, Xue Y et al. Development and update of six standards a nursing role and guideline; chief investigator Australian College of Operating Room Nurses (ACORN). ($18,700)

Munn Z, Tufanaru C, Campbell J. Development of evidence summaries for the bluepages depression online resource. ($7,500)

Singer Y, Munn Z, Australian & New Zealand Burns Association (ANZBA) Nursing Group 2012. Bridging the Gap Between Burns Evidence and Practice. Julian Burton Burns Trust Clipsal Community Grant. (AU $11,376).

Munn Z, Xue Y, Aromataris E (2012). Proposal to provide up to date evidence for ACORN standards. Australian College of Operating Room nurses. $4,900.

Lockwood C, Munn Z (2012). Australian Burns Conglomerate, Development of an evidence-base for burns care, $26,000 – Senior Content Developer.

Munn Z, Tufanaru C, Aromataris E, Pearson A. Clinical education and training for allied health assistants. Queensland Health. (AU $55,000)

Jayasekara R.S., Munn, Z. & Lockwood, C. (2008), The effectiveness and appropriateness of educational components and strategies associated with insulin pump therapy (IPT): A comprehensive systematic review. Australian Diabetes Educators Association, Canberra. (AU $ 37,280)

Member of a large project team. South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) Benchmarking Cancer Researchers in South Australia: 2008 – 2012 ($40,000)

Teaching experience includes:

  • Development of online educational projects and resources.
  • Currently involved in course development and face-to-face presentation of a series of interactive workshops and short courses ranging from 1 to 5 days duration (7hrs/day), to health professionals (doctors, nurses, allied health professionals) and academics both in Australia and abroad. Course topics include systematic reviews, guideline development, decision support systems, evidence based healthcare, quantitative research methods, qualitative research methods and others.
  • Development and presentation of intensive postgraduate program (part of HDR structured program), primarily focussed on research methods, to Master of Clinical Science/Master of Philosophy in Evidence Based Health Care students.
  • Previous Postgraduate Coordinator for Master of Clinical Science/Master of Philosophy and PhD programs in Evidence Based Health Care at JBI
  • Development of online courses for an online Masters of Public Health program

If you are interested in systematic review or GRADE workshops, contact HESRI@adelaide.edu.au

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2025 Co-Supervisor Designing Principles and Protocols for Testing Clinical Guidelines and Cognitive Aids in Simulation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Velouria Indigo Phoenix Wild
    2025 Principal Supervisor Developing a toolkit using the GRADE approach to aid systematic reviews and guideline development for rare diseases. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Abigail Molly Day-Sharman
    2025 Co-Supervisor Developing evidence based clinical and public health guidelines for people with lived experience (PLEX) of motor neuron disease (MND) in Australia. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Lara Stollery
    2024 Principal Supervisor Establishing an evidence-based framework for developing diagnostic criteria for conditions with no obvious test, biomarker or reference standard Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Sam White
    2024 Principal Supervisor Implementing a novel development approach to augment the quality of evidence-based out-of-hospital clinical practice guidelines Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Brendan Vincent Schultz
    2024 Co-Supervisor Improving Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes for Adolescents from Migrant and Refugee Backgrounds through Consumer-Driven Prioritisation, Evidence Synthesis and Knowledge Translation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Ahmed Shabbir Chaudhry
    2023 Principal Supervisor Improving the conduct of scoping reviews for informing policy and practice in health through the development of a novel risk of bias tool. Master of Philosophy (Public Health) Master Part Time Miss Sabira Hasanoff
    2022 Principal Supervisor Does suture button or syndesmosis screw fixation deliver better outcomes for the management of acute ankle syndesmosis injuries? Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Mr Matthew Gaetano Cehic
    2022 Principal Supervisor Clinical practice guideline development in paramedicine Master of Clinical Science Master Part Time Mrs Michelle Helen Thomson
    2021 Principal Supervisor Establishing a framework for development of pragmatic, evidence-based quality indicators for use in healthcare implementation programs incorporating a collaborative approach Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Alexa McArthur

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 - 2025 Principal Supervisor Effectiveness of erector spinae plane block for traumatic rib fracture analgesia Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Full Time Dr Philip James Harford
    2022 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Prophylactic tranexamic acid use in orthognathic surgery: a systematic review Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Dr Hooman Baghaie
    2021 - 2024 Principal Supervisor THE RISK OF METABOLIC CONSEQUENCES IN ADULTHOOD FROM RAPID WEIGHT GAIN AND CATCH-UP GROWTH IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF LIFE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW Master of Clinical Science Master Part Time Ms Natalie van der Haak
    2019 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Provider Experiences of Delivering Nutrition Focussed Lifestyle Interventions for Adults with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: A Qualitative Systematic Review Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Miss Elsie Patterson
    2019 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Outcomes after Hernioplasty Utilising Low Cost Mesh in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Systematic Review Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Ashish Immanuel Vaska
    2019 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Circulating Leptin Levels in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic
    Fatigue Syndrome and/or Fibromyalgia: a Systematic Review    		 Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Michael Peter Musker
    2018 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Effectiveness of endoscopic versus external surgical approaches in the treatment of orbital complications of rhinosinusitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Dr Vimal Sekhar
    2018 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Diagnostic Accuracy of Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography in Patients with High Heart Rates: A Systematic Review Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Mr Gordon Thomas Waterland Mander
    2018 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Optimisation of Radiographic Technique Factors for Direct Digital Radiography: A Systematic Review Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Ms Caitlin Jane Steffensen
    2016 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings through the development of an evidence-informed guideline Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Garumma Tolu Feyissa
    2016 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Effectiveness of operative interventions in individuals with hemi or total hip arthroplasty who sustain a Vancouver B2 peri-prosthetic femoral fracture Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Dr Jamie Raffaele Ianunzio
    2016 - 2018 Principal Supervisor The Effect of Moisturisers on Scars: A Systematic Review Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Ms Tanja Klotz
    2015 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Fixation methods for acute syndesmotic injury – A systematic review and meta-analysis Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Dr Tom Jan Gieroba
    2015 - 2018 Principal Supervisor The Effectiveness of Selective Thoracic Fusion for Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Nathan David Eardley-Harris
    2014 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Muscle Strength in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review of Manual Muscle Testing, Isokinetic and Hand Held Dynamometry Clinimetrics Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Mrs Kerry Peek
    2014 - 2015 Co-Supervisor The Effectiveness of Surgical versus Conservative Treatment for Symptomatic Unilateral Spondylolysis of the Lumbar Spine in Athletes. Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Dr Morné Stephan Scheepers
    2014 - 2015 Co-Supervisor The Effectiveness of Interventions Designed to Improve the Academic Outcomes of Children and Adolescents in Out-of-Home Care: A Systematic Review Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Ms Dagmara Riitano
    2014 - 2016 Principal Supervisor Effectiveness of tight glycaemic control on mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing cardiac surgery in hospital: a systematic review Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Mr Ali Azam Mohammad Morshed
    2013 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Women's experience of diabetes and diabetes management in pregnancy: A systematic review of qualitative literature Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Mrs Lynn Costi

  • Board Memberships
    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2024 - ongoing Member INGUIDE International Advisory Board McMaster University and Guidelines International Network Canada
    2023 - ongoing Advisory Board Member EDELL - International Advisory Board Institute for Health Services and Health Systems Research Center for Health Services Research Brandenburg Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane (MHB) Germany
    2023 - ongoing Board Member National Institute for Quality and Excellence in Healthcare Institute of Health Information and Statistics, Ministry of Health Czech Republic Czech Republic
    2023 - ongoing Advisory Board Member Advisory Board of the Resilient Health Systems Evidence Collection Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Evidence Aid United Kingdom
    2023 - ongoing Board Member Agency for Care Effectiveness International Advisory Panel Ministry of Health, Singapore Singapore
    2023 - ongoing Advisory Board Member LATITUDES Advisory Group LATITUDES Network United Kingdom
    2018 - ongoing Board Member NHMRC Synthesis and Translation of Research Evidence National Health and Medical Research Council Australia
    2017 - ongoing Board Member Guidelines International Network Board of Trustees - United Kingdom
    2016 - ongoing Director Adelaide GRADE Centre University of Adelaide Australia

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2024 - ongoing Member ECDC Methodological Advisory Group European Centre For Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Sweden
    2023 - ongoing Member The Global Evidence Commission Implementation Council McMaster University Canada
    2021 - ongoing Member World Health Organization Evidence Collaboration for COVID-19 World Health Organization Switzerland
    2020 - 2022 Member COVID-19 Evidence Network to support Decision-making McMaster University Canada
    2019 - ongoing Member Global Evidence Summit Scientific Committee Global Evidence Summit United Kingdom
    2015 - ongoing Member Guidelines International Network Australia and New Zealand Regional Steering Committee - -
    2014 - ongoing Chair The Joanna Briggs Institute Scientific Committee - -

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2024 - ongoing Member World Health Organization Global Research Agenda on Knowledge Translation Switzerland
    2017 - ongoing - Guidelines International Network Conference Committee -
    2017 - ongoing - Guidelines International Network Membership Committee -
    2017 - ongoing - GRADE Prognostic working group -
    2017 - ongoing - Living Systematic Reviews Network -
    2016 - ongoing - GRADE Education and credentialing working group -
    2014 - ongoing - JBI Diagnostic Reviews Methodological Group -
    2014 - ongoing Member GRADE Working Group -
    2013 - ongoing - JBI Qualitative Methods Group -

  • Editorial Boards
    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2016 - ongoing Associate Editor BMC Medical Research Methodology - -
    2014 - 2015 Editor JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports - -
    2014 - ongoing Board Member The International Journal of Evidence-based Healthcare - -

  • Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice
    Date Title Type Institution Country
    2024 - ongoing Scientific Framework for Guidance Development Advice Public Health Agency of Canada Canada
  • Position: NHMRC Ext-Funded Research Fellow E
  • Phone: 83133642
  • Email: zachary.munn@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: Womens & Childrens Hospital
  • Building: WCH - Norwich Centre, floor 3
  • Org Unit: School of Public Health
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