Researcher profile

Jason Ferris

Professor Jason Ferris is a nationally and internationally recognised expert in alcohol and drug epidemiology, with almost 30 years of experience spanning public health, behavioural science, biostatistics, and policy evaluation. He leads the Global Substance Use and Mental Health Unit at the Centre for Health Services Research and directs the Research and Statistical Support Service (RASSS) in the Faculty of Medicine at The University of Queensland (UQ). He is also the Deputy Director of the UQ-wide Data Science Collaborative Research Platform. A trusted advisor at local, national, and international levels, Professor Ferris provides expert guidance to the Queensland Mental Health Commission (since 2019), the Australian Defence Force Mental Health and Wellbeing Branch, and the Australian Government’s Technical Advisory Group to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Internationally, his research has shaped responses to alcohol and drug-related harm through contributions to the World Health Organization and submissions to international government inquiries. This cross-jurisdictional engagement reflects his deep commitment to translating evidence into meaningful, context-driven policy and practice. Professor Ferris is Chief Biostatistician for the Global Drug Survey (since 2013), the world’s largest annual survey of drug use, collaborating with more than 190 researchers across 50+ countries. His statistical leadership has informed national planning, harm reduction strategies, and international drug policy. Domestically, his co-leadership of the QUANTEM project and the Safe Night Precincts Triennial Review delivered independent evaluations of Queensland’s alcohol-related violence policy, driving legislative reform and influencing the state’s Alcohol and Other Drug Strategy (2021–2026). Beyond research, he is a national leader in research infrastructure. In 2018, he founded RASSS to support the statistical and methodological needs of over 6,000 researchers across UQ. His leadership culminated in the development of KeyPoint, a secure research data platform recognised by the Australian Information Industry Association, the UQ Innovators of the Year Award (2022, 2023), and shortlisted for a National iAward. He now co-leads the development of UQ-TRE, a scalable solution for sensitive data analysis in alignment with national data governance frameworks. Professor Ferris is a Chief Investigator on over 70 funded projects totalling more than $75 million, including support from NIH, MRFF, NHMRC, and ARC. He has authored over 180 peer-reviewed publications, contributed to over 200 presentations, and regularly serves on grant panels and editorial boards for leading international journals. His interdisciplinary leadership continues to shape national and global responses to substance use, while advancing data-driven, ethical approaches to public health research.