Dr Megan Steele
Honorary Senior Research Fellow
School of Public Health
Researcher biography
Dr Megan Steele is a Senior Clinical Research Consultant at Annalise.ai, which is developing comprehensive AI solutions for medical imaging. She is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow affiliated with the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) and the School of Public Health.
Megan was previously a Lecturer in the Academy for Medical Education and was responsible for the development and coordination of the Foundations of Medical Research course, a project-based course for medical students (2018-2022).
Megan completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) at James Cook University in 2006 and a PhD in Medicine at Western Sydney University in 2011. She has over a decade of research experience, including laboratory, clinical and health services research across academic, industry, hospital and government settings.
Book Chapter
Maczurek, Annette E., Krautwald, Martina, Steele, Megan L., Hager, Klaus, Kenklies, Marlene, Sharman, Matt, Martins, Ralph, Engel, Jürgen, Carlson, David and Münch, Gerald (2009). Lipoic acid as a novel treatment for mild cognitive impairment and early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Micronutrients and brain health. (pp. 133-147) edited by Lester Packer, Helmut Sies, Manfred Eggersdorfer and Enrique Cadenas. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press.
Journal Articles
Wittenhagen, Lisa, Hielscher, Emily, Meurk, Carla S, Scott, James G, Steele, Megan L, Bosley, Emma, Watson, Shelby and Heffernan, Ed (2024). A cohort profile of children and adolescents who had a suicide‐related contact with police or paramedics in Queensland (Australia). Emergency Medicine Australasia. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.14392
Moss, Katherine, Meurk, Carla, Steele, Megan L. and Heffernan, Ed (2024). Physical health and activity of inpatients under forensic mental health care: a cross-sectional survey and audit of patients in a high secure setting in Queensland, Australia. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 23 (1), 12-23. doi: 10.1080/14999013.2022.2154872
Dale, Penny R., Meurk, Carla, Williams, Megan, Watson, Marshall, Steele, Megan L., Wittenhagen, Lisa, Harden, Scott, Stathis, Stephen, Scott, James G., Kinner, Stuart and Heffernan, Ed (2023). Our Ways, Your Ways, Both Ways – a multi-disciplinary collaboration to develop, embed and evaluate a model of social and emotional wellbeing care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people who experience detention – Phase 1. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14 1207103, 1-15. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1207103
Steele, Megan L., Wittenhagen, Lisa, Meurk, Carla, Phillips, Jane, Clugston, Bobbie, Heck, Peter, Waterson, Elissa and Heffernan, Ed (2023). Police negotiators and suicide crisis situations: a mixed-methods examination of incident details, characteristics of individuals and precipitating factors. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2023.2206878
Schad, Friedemann, Thronicke, Anja, Steele, Megan L., Merkle, Antje, Matthes, Burkhard, Grah, Christian and Matthes, Harald (2022). Erratum: Overall survival of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with Viscum album L. in addition to chemotherapy, a real-world observational multicenter analysis (PLoS ONE (2018) 13:8 (e0203058) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203058). PLoS ONE, 17 (8 August) e0273387. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273387
Singh, B., Spence, R. R., Steele, M. L. and Hayes, S. C. (2021). Physical activity levels in women with stage II or higher breast cancer: Association, difference and agreement between self-report and objective measurement methods. Science and Sports, 36 (4), 299-307. doi: 10.1016/j.scispo.2020.11.003
Moss, Katherine, Meurk, Carla, Steele, Megan L. and Heffernan, Ed (2021). The physical health and activity of patients under forensic psychiatric care: a scoping review. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 21 (2), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/14999013.2021.1943570
Steele, Megan L., Meurk, Carla, Schess, Jaclyn, Yap, Lorraine, Jones, Jocelyn, Harden, Scott, Davison, Sophie, Butler, Tony and Heffernan, Ed (2021). Substance use and help‐seeking among justice‐involved young people in Queensland and Western Australia: A cross‐sectional survey of 14–17‐year‐olds. Drug and Alcohol Review, 40 (4), 617-626. doi: 10.1111/dar.13238
Meurk, Carla, Wittenhagen, Lisa, Bosley, Emma, Steele, Megan L., Bunting, Denise, Waterson, Elissa, Edwards, Bronwen, Martain, Ben and Heffernan, Ed (2021). Suicide crisis calls to emergency services: Cohort profile and findings from a data linkage study in Queensland, Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 56 (2) ARTN 00048674211009604, 1-10. doi: 10.1177/00048674211009604
Green, Bob, Steele, Megan L., Davidson, Fiona and Neillie, Daren (2021). Contact with mental health services in the 12-month period before offending in a cohort of forensic order patients. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 28 (6), 1-12. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2021.1894264
Yap, Lorraine, Jones, Jocelyn, Donovan, Basil, Nathan, Sally, Sullivan, Elizabeth, Davison, Sophie, Heffernan, Ed, Richards, Alun, Meurk, Carla, Steele, Megan, Fisher, Christopher, Ton, Bianca and Butler, Tony (2020). The sexual behaviours of adolescents aged between 14 and 17 years involved with the juvenile justice system in Australia: A community-based survey. PLoS One, 15 (12) e0243633, 1-19. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243633
Singh, Ben, Spence, Rosa, Steele, Megan L., Hayes, Sandi and Toohey, Kellie (2020). Exercise for individuals with lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events, feasibility, and effectiveness. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 36 (5) 151076, 151076. doi: 10.1016/j.soncn.2020.151076
Singh, Benjamin, Hayes, Sandra C., Spence, Rosalind R., Steele, Megan L., Millet, Guillaume Y. and Gergele, Laurent (2020). Exercise and colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of exercise safety, feasibility and effectiveness. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17 (1) 122, 122. doi: 10.1186/s12966-020-01021-7
Meurk, Carla, Wittenhagen, Lisa, Steele, Megan L., Ferris, Laura, Edwards, Bronwen, Bosley, Emma and Heffernan, Ed (2020). Examining the use of police and ambulance data in suicide research: a systematic scoping review of data linkage studies. Crisis, 42 (5), 1-11. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000739
Steele, Megan L., Janda, Monika, Vagenas, Dimitrios, Ward, Leigh C., Cornish, Bruce H., Box, Robyn, Gordon, Susan, Matthews, Melanie, Poppitt, Sally D., Plank, Lindsay D., Yip, Wilson, Rowan, Angela, Reul-Hirche, Hildegard, Obermair, Andreas and Hayes, Sandra C. (2019). A bioimpedance spectroscopy-based method for diagnosis of lower-limb lymphedema. Lymphatic Research and Biology, 18 (2) lrb.2018.0078, 101-109. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2018.0078
Steele, Megan L., Janda, Monika, Vagenas, Dimitrios, Ward, Leigh C., Cornish, Bruce H., Box, Robyn, Gordon, Susan, Matthews, Melanie, Poppitt, Sally D., Plank, Lindsay D., Yip, Wilson, Rowan, Angela, Reul-Hirche, Hildegard, Obermair, Andreas and Hayes, Sandra C. (2018). Normative interlimb impedance ratios: implications for early diagnosis of uni- and bilateral, upper and lower limb lymphedema. Lymphatic Research and Biology, 16 (6), 559-566. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2017.0082
Singh, Ben, Spence, Rosalind R., Steele, Megan L., Sandler, Carolina X., Peake, Jonathan M. and Hayes, Sandra C. (2018). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the safety, feasibility and effect of exercise in women with stage II+ breast cancer. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 99 (12), 2621-2636. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2018.03.026
Schad, Friedemann, Thronicke, Anja, Steele, Megan L., Merkle, Antje, Matthes, Burkhard, Grah, Christian and Matthes, Harald (2018). Overall survival of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with Viscum album L. in addition to chemotherapy, a real-world observational multicenter analysis. PLoS ONE, 13 (8) e0203058, e0203058. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203058
Schad, Friedemann, Thronicke, Anja, Merkle, Antje, Steele, Megan L., Kröz, Matthias, Herbstreit, Cornelia and Matthes, Harald (2018). Implementation of an Integrative Oncological Concept in the Daily Care of a German Certified Breast Cancer Center. Complementary Medicine Research, 25 (2), 85-91. doi: 10.1159/000478655
Schad, Friedemann, Axtner, Jan, Kroez, Matthias, Matthes, Harald and Steele, Megan L. (2018). Safety of combined treatment with monoclonal antibodies and Viscum album L preparations. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 17 (1), 41-51. doi: 10.1177/1534735416681641
Steels, E., Steele, M., Harold, M., Adams, L. and Coulson, S. (2018). A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating safety and efficacy of an ayurvedic botanical formulation in reducing menopausal symptoms in otherwise healthy women. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 11, 30-35. doi: 10.1016/j.hermed.2018.01.001
Bloomquist, Kira, Oturai, Peter, Steele, Megan L., Adamsen, Lis, Moller, Tom, Christensen, Karl Bang, Ejlertsen, Bent and Hayes, Sandra C. (2018). Heavy-Load Lifting: Acute Response in Breast Cancer Survivors at Risk for Lymphedema. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 50 (2), 187-195. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001443
Gane, Elise M., Steele, Megan L., Janda, Monika, Ward, Leigh, Reul-Hirche, Hildegard, Carter, Jonathan, Quinn, Michael, Obermair, Andreas and Hayes, Sandra C. (2018). The Prevalence, Incidence, and Quality-of-Life Impact of Lymphedema After Treatment for Vulvar or Vaginal Cancer. Rehabilitation Oncology, 36 (1), 48-55. doi: 10.1097/01.REO.0000000000000102
Hayes, S. C., Steele, M. L., Spence, R. R., Gordon, L., Battistutta, D., Bashford, J., Pyke, C., Saunders, C. and Eakin, E. (2018). Correction to: exercise following breast cancer: exploratory survival analyses of two randomised, controlled trials. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 167 (2), 515-515. doi: 10.1007/s10549-017-4569-x
Thronicke, Anja, Steele, Megan L., Grah, Christian, Matthes, Burkhard and Schad, Friedemann (2017). Clinical safety of combined therapy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and Viscum album L. therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic cancer. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 17 (1) 534. doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-2045-0
Schad, Friedemann, Thronicke, Anja, Merkle, Antje, Matthes, Harald and Steele, Megan L. (2017). Immune-related and adverse drug reactions to low versus high initial doses of Viscum album L. in cancer patients. Phytomedicine, 36, 54-58. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.09.004
Hayes, S. C., Steele, M. L., Spence, R. R., Gordon, L., Battistutta, D., Bashford, J., Pyke, C., Saunders, C. and Eakin, E. (2017). Exercise following breast cancer: exploratory survival analyses of two randomised, controlled trials. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 167 (2), 505-514. doi: 10.1007/s10549-017-4541-9
Steels, E., Steele, M. L., Harold, M. and Coulson, S. (2017). Efficacy of a proprietary Trigonella foenum-graecum L. de-husked seed extract in reducing menopausal symptoms in otherwise healthy women: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Phytotherapy Research, 31 (9), 1316-1322. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5856
Hayes, Sandra C., Janda, Monika, Ward, Leigh C., Reul-Hirche, Hildegard, Steele, Megan L., Carter, Johnathan, Quinn, Michael, Cornish, Bruce and Obermair, Andreas (2017). Lymphedema following gynecological cancer: results from a prospective, longitudinal cohort study on prevalence, incidence and risk factors. Gynecologic Oncology, 146 (3), 623-629. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2017.06.004
Steele, M. L. and Schad, F. (2016). Immune-related and adverse events following low versus high initial dose of Viscum album L. in cancer patients. Annals of Oncology, 27 (S6), vi515. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdw390.55
Axtner, Jan, Steele, Megan, Kroez, Matthias, Spahn, Guenther, Matthes, Harald and Schad, Friedemann (2016). Health services research of integrative oncology in palliative care of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. BMC Cancer, 16 (579) 579. doi: 10.1186/s12885-016-2594-5
Steele, Megan L., Axtner, Jan, Happe, Antje, Kroez, Matthias, Matthes, Harald and Schad, Friedemann (2014). Use and safety of intratumoral application of European mistletoe (Viscum album L) preparations in oncology. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 14 (2), 140-148. doi: 10.1177/1534735414563977
Steele, Megan L., Axtner, Jan, Happe, Antje, Kroez, Matthias, Matthes, Harald and Schad, Friedemann (2014). Adverse drug reactions and expected effects to therapy with subcutaneous mistletoe extracts (Viscum album L.) in cancer patients. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014 724258, 1-11. doi: 10.1155/2014/724258
Steele, Megan L., Axtner, Jan, Happe, Antje, Kroez, Matthias, Matthes, Harald and Schad, Friedemann (2014). Safety of intravenous application of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) preparations in oncology: An observational study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014 236310, 1-10. doi: 10.1155/2014/236310
Maczurek, Annette E., Wild, Rebekka, Laurenti, Daunia, Steele, Megan L., Ooi, Lezanne and Muench, Gerald (2013). Generation of hydrogen peroxide-resistant murine neuroblastoma cells: a target discovery platform for novel neuroprotective genes. Journal of Neural Transmission, 120 (8), 1171-1178. doi: 10.1007/s00702-013-0995-z
Steele, Megan L., John Truong, Govindaraghavan, Suresh, Ooi, Lezanne, Sucher, Nikolaus J. and Muench, Gerald (2013). Cytoprotective properties of traditional Chinese medicinal herbal extracts in hydrogen peroxide challenged human U373 astroglia cells. Neurochemistry International, 62 (5), 522-529. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2012.08.018
Steele, Megan L., Fuller, Stacey, Maczurek, Annette E., Kersaitis, Cindy, Ooi, Lezanne and Muench, Gerald (2013). Chronic inflammation alters production and release of glutathione and related thiols in human U373 astroglial cells. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 33 (1), 19-30. doi: 10.1007/s10571-012-9867-6
Steele, Megan L., Fuller, Stacey, Patel, Mili, Kersaitis, Cindy, Ooi, Lezanne and Muench, Gerald (2013). Effect of Nrf2 activators on release of glutathione, cysteinylglycine and homocysteine by human U373 astroglial cells. Redox Biology, 1 (1), 441-445. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2013.08.006
Steele, Megan L., Ooi, Lezanne and Muench, Gerald (2012). Development of a high-performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous quantitation of glutathione and related thiols. Analytical Biochemistry, 429 (1), 45-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2012.06.023
Steele, Megan L. and Robinson, Stephen R. (2012). Reactive astrocytes give neurons less support: implications for Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiology of Aging, 33 (2), 423.e1-423.e13. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.09.018
Krautwald, Martina, Leech, Dale, Horne, Stacey, Steele, Megan L., Forbes, Josephine, Rahmadi, Anton, Griffith, Renate and Muench, Gerald (2011). The advanced glycation end product-lowering agent ALT-711 is a low-affinity inhibitor of thiamine diphosphokinase. Rejuvenation Research, 14 (4), 383-391. doi: 10.1089/rej.2010.1143
Srikanth, Velandai, Maczurek, Annette, Thanh Phan, Steele, Megan, Westcott, Bernadette, Juskiw, Damian and Muench, Gerald (2011). Advanced glycation endproducts and their receptor RAGE in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiology of Aging, 32 (5), 763-777. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2009.04.016
Fuller, Stacey, Steele, Megan and Muench, Gerald (2010). Activated astroglia during chronic inflammation in Alzheimer's disease-Do they neglect their neurosupportive roles?. Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, 690 (1-2), 40-49. doi: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2010.08.016
Shanmugam, Kirubakaran, Maczurek, Annette E., Steele, Megan L., Benavente-Garcia, Obdulio, Castillo, Julian and Muench, Gerald (2010). Novel neuroprotective therapies for Alzheimer's and Parkinsons's disease. Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry, 5 (1), 15-57. doi: 10.2174/978160805208011005010015
Hansen, Elizabeth, Krautwald, Martina, Maczurek, Annette E., Stuchbury, Grant, Fromm, Phillip, Steele, Megan, Schulz, Oliver, Benavente Garcia, Obdulio, Castillo, Julian, Koerner, Heinrich and Muench, Gerald (2010). A versatile high throughput screening system for the simultaneous identification of anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective compounds. Journal of Alzheimers Disease, 19 (2), 451-464. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2010-1233
Fuller, Stacey, Muench, Gerald and Steele, Megan (2009). Activated astrocytes: A therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease?. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 9 (11), 1585-1594. doi: 10.1586/ern.09.111
Shanmugam, Kirubakaran, Holmquist, Lina, Steele, Megan, Stuchbury, Grant, Berbaum, Katrin, Schulz, Oliver, Garcia, Obdulio Benavente, Castillo, Julian, Burnell, Jim, Rivas, Vernon Garcia, Dobson, Geoff and Muench, Gerald (2008). Plant-derived polyphenols attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and tumour necrosis factor production in murine microglia and macrophages. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 52 (4), 427-438. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.200700180
Steele, Megan and Munch, Gerald (2007). Healthy nutrition and selected micronutrients can delay the cognitive decline in the elderly. Experimental Gerontology, 42 (1-2), 8-9. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2006.09.012
Steele, Megan, Stuchbury, Grant and Munch, Gerald (2007). The molecular basis of the prevention of Alzheimer's disease through healthy nutrition. Experimental Gerontology, 42 (1-2), 28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2006.06.002
Holmquist, L., Stuchbury, G., Steele, M. and Muench, G. (2007). Hydrogen peroxide is a true first messenger. Journal of Neural Transmission-Supplement (72), 39-41. doi: 10.1007/978-3-211-73574-9-6
Conference Papers
Moss, K., Meurk, C., Steele, M. L. and Heffernan, E. (2023). THE PHYSICAL HEALTH AND ACTIVITY OF INDIVIDUALS UNDER INPATIENT FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH CARE: A NATIONAL SURVEY. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
Li, Joan, Reddy, Venkat, Steele, Megan, Forster, Ashlee, Oancea, Ilulia, Midwinter, Mark, Aland, Claire, Pillai, Suja, Simpson, Peter, Babri, Saleem and Barry, Ben (2020). Designing retrospective analysis of examination items for medical students in clinical science categorisation by Bloom’s Taxonomy, clinical relevance and student perceptions. ANZAHPE2020, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 12-15 July 2020.
Meurk, Carla, Ferris, Laura J., Wittenhagen, L., Davidson, F., Steele, M., Waterson, E., Bosley, E., Edwards, B. and Heffernan, E. (2020). Partners in Prevention: Understanding and enhancing first responses to suicide crisis situations - Context and methods. TheMHS, Brisbane, Queensland, 27-30 August . Australia: TheMHS Learning Network.
Heffernan, E., Dale, P., Muller, Y., Davidson, F., Steele, M. and Waterson, E. (2019). From custody to community: The indigenous mental health intervention programme. RANZCP 2019 Congress, Cairns, Australia, 12–16 May 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications. doi: 10.1177/0004867419836919
Barry, Benjamin K. , Frawley, Emily , Crabb, Meagan , Steele, Megan , Jansen, Pieter and Engstrom, Craig (2019). Supervised exercise programs to enhance the health and well-being of medical students: a cross-faculty student service program. ANZAHPE 2019 Conference, Canberra, ACT Australia, 1-4 July 2019. Canberra, ACT Australia: Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators.
Moss, K., Heffernan, E., Meurk, C. and Steele, M. (2019). Physical health and mental illness: can implementation science assist in addressing the needs of forensic patients in secure facilities?. RANZCP 2019 Congress, Cairns, QLD Australia, 12–16 May 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications. doi: 10.1177/0004867419836919
Moss, K., Heffernan, E., Meurk, C. and Steele, M. (2019). The physical health, activity and activation measures of patients with severe mental illness residing in a secure facility. RANZCP 2019 Congress, Cairns, QLD Australia, 12–16 May 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications. doi: 10.1177/0004867419836919
Heffernan, E., Meurk, C., Waterson, E. and Steele, M. (2019). Partnering with police to improve outcomes in mental health crisis situations. RANZCP 2019 Congress, Cairns, Australia, 12–16 May 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications. doi: 10.1177/0004867419836919
Hayes, Sandra C., Steele, Megan, Spence, Rosa, Gordon, Louisa, Battistutta, Diana, Bashford, John, Pyke, Chris, Saunders, Christobel and Eakin, Elizabeth (2018). Can exercise influence survival following breast cancer? Evidence from randomised, controlled trials. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio Texas, United States, 5-9 December 2017. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research.
Research Report
Meurk, Carla, Steele, Megan, Yap, Lorraine , Jones, Jocelyn , Heffernan, Ed , Davison, Sophie , Nathan, Sally , Donovan, Basil , Sullivan, Lisa , Schess, Jaclyn , Scott Harden, Bianca Ton and Tony Butler (2019). Changing direction: mental health needs of justice-involved young people in Australia. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Kirby Institute, UNSW.