School of Medicine Project Listing

Project ID: 2661

Name: Seetal Dodd

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Project Title: A small portable device for at-home and point-of-care monitoring of blood lithium concentrations

Research Area: Mental Health

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: PhD

Project Background: Lithium is a first line treatment for mania and maintenance in bipolar disorder and is included in the WHO list of essential medicines. It is a low-cost drug that is highly efficacious. Bipolar disorder is a life-changing, debilitating illness that affects an estimated 40 million people worldwide. For safety, people who receive lithium treatment are required to monitor the concentration of lithium in their blood. Our research collaboration is developing a small portable device for monitoring of blood lithium concentrations. Our expert international team includes three major sites for device development: - IMPACT Institute, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. - Faculty of Engineering, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. - Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Sabana, Chia, Colombia IMPACT Institute, Deakin University, leads research investigating clinician and patient perspectives that may provide the design ideas and criteria for the devise.

Research Question: The final device will be required to meet or exceed laboratory parameters including; specificity, accuracy, precision and sensitivity. However, stakeholder requirements are broader than this and include factors such as price point, usability, robustness, etc. The PhD student will use implementation science techniques to probe stakeholder requirements and expectations, how these vary, and what features must be included in the final device.

Methods/Analysis: This project is part of a larger collaboration to develop a small portable device for at-home and point-of-care monitoring of blood lithium concentrations. The PhD project will use implementation science methods to ensure that the final device is fit for purpose, by investigating the context or environment into which the device will be used. The student will conduct focus groups and interviews with stakeholders (clinicians and patients) and qualitative research using NVivo.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

URLs: Video Presentation

Project ID: 2601

Name: John Stambas

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Project Title: Unleashing new therapeutic weapons to fight influenza virus infection

Research Area: Immunity

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Seasonal influenza viruses have re-emerged to significantly impact human health after lockdowns were lifted following the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective oral antiviral treatments, such as Tamiflu/Relenza that target virus protein have been used as the first line of treatment for influenza patients when symptoms first appear. They do however have limitations as this is only a short therapeutic window and are prone to development of anti-viral resistance. In recent studies, host proteins have also been implicated in influenza virus disease outcomes. Over the past two decades, inhibition of immune cell checkpoint proteins such as the programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) have resulted in clinical breakthroughs in cancer, HIV and EBV by regulating immune cell function.

Research Question: Improving or developing new therapeutic strategies is critical to ensure adequate protection against ongoing seasonal epidemics and future pandemics. Research Question: Does combination therapy using antivirals and anti-PD-L1 impact influenza pathogenesis? Aim 1. To investigate viral load kinetics in our in vitro models following combination therapy. Aim 2. To investigate the expression of cytokines and host immunity-related genes following combination therapy.

Methods/Analysis: The honours student will be performing in vitro experiments to investigate combination therapy against influenza virus infection. This project will provide the student with training in cell culture, virology and molecular biology techniques and allow the student to design and optimize novel treatments. Techniques will include but are not limited to, cell culture, RT-PCR and virus plaque assays.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2602

Name: John Stambas

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Project Title: STOP THE FLU: Uncovering host-pathogen interactions involved in control of virus infection

Research Area: Immunity

Location: Waurn Ponds

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Influenza is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses. Each year influenza virus infections have a substantial impact on both the economy and the healthcare system. Recent studies have suggested that host proteins play a crucial role in virus replication and could prove viable therapeutic targets. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent avian influenza outbreaks emphasize the necessity for expansion of novel interventions to be incorporated in the influenza response 'toolbox'. Targeting of host proteins following infection provides a rapid and universal approach that has the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with severe disease. This honours project will identify and investigate the impact of host protein gene expression on virus kinetics following influenza virus infection using established pulmonary cell culture models.

Research Question: Does host protein expression influence influenza virus kinetics? Aim 1. To use relevant in vitro influenza virus infection models to investigate host protein expression kinetics following influenza virus infection. Aim 2. To determine the impact of host protein expression on virus kinetics and cytokine responses following influenza virus infection.

Methods/Analysis: This research project will utilize relevant in vitro infection models to pinpoint key host-pathogen interactions. The student will acquire a diverse range of highly sought-after skills including technical proficiency in virology and molecular biology assays. Techniques in this project will include but are not limited to, cell culture, RT-PCR, virus plaque assay, and microscopy.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2603

Name: Kara Kew

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Project Title: Changes in musculoskeletal health before and after COVID-19

Research Area: Public Health

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: During the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, the state of Victoria imposed strict lockdowns limiting public gatherings, attendance at school and work as well as outdoor activities in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus. These restrictions significantly impacted behaviour during this time, reducing participation in intentional physical activity such as sports, as well as unintentional activity such as walking to or from school or work, using public transport or attending appointments. This reduction in physical activity may have negatively affected muscle and bone health, both of which impact overall health, independence, healthcare utilisation and quality of life. Muscle and bone health can be investigated in multiple ways including assessments of body composition using dual-energy X-ray machines, measurement of hand grip strength and gait speed, quantitative ultrasound and self-rated reports of physical limitation when performing specific tasks.

Research Question: This project will examine differences in muscle (including hand grip strength, gait speed, muscle mass) and bone health (bone mineral density, quantitative ultrasound) at two time points, before and after the COVID-19 lockdowns. It is hypothesised that musculoskeletal health will be poorer at the time point after the COVID-19 lockdowns, even after adjusting for other important factors such as age.

Methods/Analysis: This project will be situated within the Epi-Centre for Healthy Ageing in the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT). The project will involve quantitative statistical techniques to investigate differences between the two time points before and after the COVID-19 lockdowns. It will also provide experience in data collection, through involvement in study appointments for participants of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2606

Name: Roey Elnathan

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Project Title: Engineering control of intracellular routing for nuclear access

Research Area: Imaging

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Limitation in nuclear routing control: Many emerging biomedical technologies—from gene editing to cell reprogramming—depend on delivery of genetic material to the nucleus, where it controls gene expression and cell state. However, current delivery methods cannot reliably ensure that large and functionally diverse cargo reaches the nucleus after entering the cell. While viral and non-viral systems enable cellular entry, much of the delivered material is lost before becoming functional due to sequestration or degradation during intracellular transport, often via endolysosomal pathways (degradative intracellular compartments).Nuclear access remains unpredictable, leading to variable and inefficient outcomes. This limits the reliability of technologies that depend on nuclear delivery to control cell identity, constraining their reproducibility and scalability.

Research Question: How does the mode of intracellular entry influence the nuclear localisation efficiency of delivered DNA, and can nanoinjection—by enabling more direct, cytosol-access-permissive delivery—improve nuclear access compared to conventional vesicular uptake pathways?

Methods/Analysis: This project will compare nanoinjection—delivery of cargo via nanoscale structures that interface directly with the cell membrane—with standard transfection methods to assess how entry route affects intracellular trafficking and nuclear delivery outcomes. This will be addressed through stepwise questions: (i) how do entry modes affect uptake? (ii) how do they influence post-entry trafficking? (iii) how do these differences impact nuclear localisation?

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2608

Name: Kara Anderson

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Project Title: How have the COVID-19 lockdowns influenced health behaviours?

Research Area: Public Health

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: Hons GCert

Project Background: The term “health behaviour” commonly refers to the actions of individuals, groups, and organisations that contribute to health and wellbeing, including overt behaviour patterns, actions and habits that relate to health maintenance, restoration or improvement. Preventative health behaviour is a critical component of the overall health system to reduce preventable disease and support healthy living, but changes to health behaviour are complicated and multifactorial. During 2020 and subsequent years, the lockdowns imposed across Australia to reduce the spread of COVID-19 severely limited work and school attendance, public gatherings and outdoor activities. A number of health behaviours were impacted by these changes, including physical activity and diet. Although the lockdowns were implemented over a several year period, it is not clear whether the changes in health behaviours during this time persisted into the following years after the lockdowns were lifted.

Research Question: This project explores health related behaviours including physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, & sleep quality in a cohort study of adult women before and after the COVID-19 lockdown period using data from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. It will explore ways in which health behaviours may be disrupted by large scale social changes such as pandemic interventions. It is hypothesised that there will be temporal trends in health behaviours across the two timepoints.

Methods/Analysis: This project will be situated within the Epi-Centre for Healthy Ageing in the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT). The project will involve quantitative statistical techniques to investigate differences in health behaviours between the two time points before and after the COVID-19 lockdowns. It will also provide experience in data collection, through involvement in study appointments for participants of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2614

Name: Martin O'Hely

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Project Title: Investigating associations between the maturation of the gut microbiome and child health outcomes

Research Area: Epidemiology

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: PhD

Project Background: Emerging evidence links the bacteria, fungi, yeasts, metabolites and viruses that colonise the gut, to brain development and function during early life. Preclinical studies suggest that disturbances in the maternal and infant gut microbiomes affect early life brain development. However, the relevance of these findings to humans remains uncertain. Mitochondria, cellular structures which evolved from intracellular microbes, are the primary source of cellular energy and are also a critical part of the brain’s rapid growth during early life. Both mitochondrial DNA and the gut microbiome are transmitted from the mother. However, although the concept of microbiome-mitochondrial crosstalk is gaining traction, its potential relevance to early-life development remains underexplored.

Research Question: 1. Identify maternal prenatal and infant microbiome features associated with child developmental and health outcomes. 2. Identify measures of cellular energetics and mitochondrial function obtained from cord blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, in their relation to child developmental and health outcomes. 3. Identify microbiome products with the potential to influence early life development via cellular mitochondrial function.

Methods/Analysis: The candidate will work with existing datasets from a large birth cohort study, the Barwon Infant Study, to investigate the associations between maternal exposures during pregnancy, developmental outcomes and biological mechanisms. They will acquire skills in epidemiological and biostatistical techniques for assessing evidence of causality within observational and omics data.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2619

Name: Alyssa Barry

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Project Title: Genomic epidemiology of the neglected malaria parasite, Plasmodium malariae

Research Area: Infection

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: Hons GCert

Project Background: Plasmodium malariae is a neglected malaria parasite, overshadowed by P. falciparum and P. vivax. The symptoms from P. malariae infections are often mild or absent, necessitating sensitive and targeted screening to detect these infections. Using these methods, studies reveal increased prevalence of P. malariae in areas where other species have decreased. Despite this, P. malariae infection dynamics and relationship to other species remains poorly understood. With advanced sequencing techniques we aim to describe the epidemiology and infection dynamics of this understudied parasite. Understanding these patterns is crucial for ensuring that all species are targeted in ongoing malaria elimination efforts.

Research Question: This project aims to characterise the genetic diversity of P. malaria populations in Papua New Guinea to measure transmission dynamics and validate markers for tracking infections over time and space. The results will contribute to the development of molecular tools for P. malariae surveillance to support malaria control efforts. This can inform more effective public health strategies and contribute to the global effort to control and eventually eliminate malaria of all species.

Methods/Analysis: We will use blood samples from Papua New Guinea that will undergo targeted genotyping and whole genome sequencing to identify genetic markers of P. malariae and map transmission dynamics. Genotyping will serve multiple purposes, including distinguishing new from recrudescent infections to estimate longevity and mapping. Whole genome sequencing of a subset of samples will validate the marker panel and identify new markers and genes under selection including drug resistance.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2620

Name: Clifford Liongue

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Project Title: Investigating the role of cytokine signalling in development and function of blood and immune cells

Research Area: Immunity

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons GCert

Project Background: The development and function of the blood and immune cells is exquisitely controlled by complex signalling networks such as the cytokine signalling network, one of several important pathways for mediating the cell-cell communication. A vital component of this pathway is the cytokine receptors that convert the extracellular (cytokine) signal into the intracellular signalling pathways that ultimately lead to changes in the responsive cells. One such intracellular signalling pathway is the Janus kinase/Signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway, which is controlled by a series of negative regulators including Suppressor of Cytokine Signalling (SOCS). Zebrafish is a powerful model for understanding blood and immune cell development and function, due to its similarities with mammalian immune systems. This project will use zebrafish to investigate the regulation of blood and immune cell function by various cytokine signalling components.

Research Question: We have created zebrafish lines where the cytokine signalling components have been modified to be either more or less activated. This project will utilise loss of function zebrafish lines to investigate the effect of the reduction of negative regulation on the development and function of blood and immune cells.

Methods/Analysis: This project will utilise cutting-edge techniques to directly image and study zebrafish lymphocytes. This includes use of a customised range of zebrafish knockout and transgenic lines coupled with fluorescent activated cell sorting, fluorescent microscopy and molecular biology techniques such as PCR, qPCR, high resolution melt analysis, sanger sequencing, and in vitro transcription.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: Yes (zebrafish)

Project ID: 2621

Name: Carly Botheras

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Project Title: Does the rate of haemolysis affect outcome in SAB

Research Area: Infection

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (SAB) have a 30-day mortality rate of 18% and can present in a myriad of ways, prompting novel investigations in the role of S. aureus on the progression of an infection. S. aureus has numerous toxins that can target the blood cells including red blood cells, but these toxins are not universally present in all strains. Therefore, the rate of haemolysis in vitro vary between isolates and could be a potential marker of more virulent strains and could therefore be a marker of more severe disease.

Research Question: Research question: Do haemolysis rates differ in S. aureus isolates from differing presentations of SAB. Rationale: S. aureus genes vary in proportion across isolates allowing for differing phenotypes. This may be an avenue of reasoning behind why some cases of SAB present differently and may affect outcome

Methods/Analysis: The project will involve assessing different S. aureus isolates using traditional microbiological techniques (plating, microbiological experiments), utilise their pipetting skills, as well as undertake basic statistical analyses and developing their research skills.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2623

Name: Tania de Koning-Ward

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Project Title: Contribution of novel malaria rhoptry proteins to parasite survival and disease

Research Area: Infection

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Malaria is caused by infection of red blood cells (RBCs) by Plasmodium parasites, leading to ~400,000 deaths and ~216 million infections each year. The ability of Plasmodium to invade and renovate its host RBC guarantees its success as a pathogen and relies upon proteins secreted from the rhoptry organelle to achieve this. A recent proteomic study identified potential new rhoptry proteins and proteins that may assist with rhoptry protein trafficking and/or secretion. This project aims to functionally dissect the contribution of some of these newly identified rhoptry proteins to rhoptry protein trafficking, host cell invasion and renovation of the host red blood cell, with the overarching view to examining their potential as malaria vaccine/drug targets.

Research Question: Hypothesis: The rhoptry organelle comprises novel essential proteins that enable malaria parasites to invade and remodel their host cell. This hypothesis will be tested in the following aims. Aim1 : Decipher the function of several putative rhoptry proteins to determine their contribution to parasite survival, invasion and host cell renovation. Aim 2: Examine the polymorphism of some of the novel rhoptry proteins and their ability to generate an immune response in malaria-exposed individuals.

Methods/Analysis: Construction of molecular constructs (PCR, cloning, sequencing) for CRISPR/Cas9 genetic engineering. Parasite cell culture and parasite transfection. Protein expression analysis. Fluorescent microscopy to examine protein localisation microscopy and other biological assays to assess parasite invasion and growth (eg FACS analysis, live cell imaging). Bioinformatic. There may be the opportunity to functionally dissect essential rhoptry proteins in rodent malaria to explore their contribution to disease.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: Yes

Project Involves Animal Testing: Yes (mouse)

Project ID: 2625

Name: Kirsty Mccann

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Project Title: The association between host immunogenetics (Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)) and parasite diversity

Research Area: Infection

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Malaria remains a major global health burden, with vaccines such as RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine and R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine providing only moderate, short-lived protection. Host genetic factors, particularly variation in Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system, play a critical role in shaping immune responses to infection. Certain polymorphisms are associated with protection against severe malaria, influencing antigen presentation and antibody acquisition. However, the extent to which HLA variation accelerates the development of clinical immunity remains unclear. This project will investigate how HLA polymorphisms contribute to antibody responses and protection in malaria-endemic populations, with the aim of informing improved vaccine design and population-specific interventions.

Research Question: Using published whole genome sequence data already available, this project will: Aim 1: Identify HLA types (class I or II) and determine HLA diversity in a malaria endemic cohort. Aim 2: Compare HLA diversity with parasite diversity of Plasmodium falciparum.

Methods/Analysis: Bioinformatic analysis using High Performance Computing cluster and R to analyse available 1000 genome sequence data to develop a pipeline to assign HLA types. Project will include various data wrangling to compare different datasets. Data visualisation and analysis will also be performed in R (e.g., allele frequency, association plots, graphs, statistics).

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2627

Name: Rasika Samarasinghe

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Project Title: Identifying novel epigenetic therapies for the treatment of paediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine

Research Area: Cancer

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons GCert

Project Background: Paediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is an aggressive and universally fatal brainstem tumour with a median survival of less than one year. Conventional therapies, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy, offer only transient symptomatic relief and have not significantly improved outcomes. Recent advances in molecular profiling have revealed that DIPG is driven in part by epigenetic dysregulation, particularly histone mutations such as H3K27M, which alter chromatin structure and gene expression. These findings highlight epigenetic mechanisms as promising therapeutic targets. However, effective epigenetic treatments remain limited, and there is an urgent need to identify novel compounds that can restore normal gene regulation and inhibit tumour growth. Aims: To identify and evaluate novel epigenetic therapies for DIPG. Specifically, it will (1) screen candidate epigenetic-modifying compounds for anti-tumour activity in DIPG models, (2) investigate their effects;

Research Question: The primary research question of this project is: Can novel epigenetic-modifying therapies effectively inhibit tumour cell growth and survival in paediatric DIPG by reversing disease-associated epigenetic dysregulation, pathways and initiating cell death?

Methods/Analysis: The project will include cell culturing of DIPG cancer cell lines, testing cell viability and proliferation assays, apoptosis assays, RNA extraction and qPCR, and analysis of histone modifications (e.g., Western blotting). Data analysis will involve statistical comparisons of treatment effects. Daily activities include lab work, data recording, and literature review.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2628

Name: Rasika Samarasinghe

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Project Title: Investigating Inflammatory Signalling as a Driver of Paediatric Glioblastoma Progression

Research Area: Cancer

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons GCert

Project Background: Paediatric glioblastoma is a highly aggressive brain tumour with poor prognosis and limited effective treatment options. Emerging evidence suggests that inflammation within the tumour microenvironment plays a key role in cancer progression by promoting cell proliferation, survival, and resistance to therapy. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and signalling pathways may contribute to tumour growth; however, their specific role in paediatric glioblastoma remains poorly understood. Investigating how inflammatory processes influence tumour behaviour may reveal novel mechanisms driving disease progression and identify potential therapeutic targets to improve outcomes for affected children. This project aims to investigate the role of inflammation in promoting paediatric glioblastoma cell growth. Specifically, it will (1) assess the effects of pro-inflammatory stimuli on tumour cell proliferation and survival, (2) analyse changes in inflammatory signalling and gene expression, and (3) identify key

Research Question: To what extent does inflammation contribute to the growth and survival of paediatric glioblastoma cells, and through which molecular mechanisms, such as pro-inflammatory cytokine signalling and associated gene expression changes, does this process occur, potentially identifying pathways that could be targeted for therapeutic intervention?

Methods/Analysis: This project will include cell culturing of paediatric glioblastoma cell lines and expose them to inflammatory stimuli such as cytokines. Techniques include cell viability and proliferation assays, apoptosis assays, ELISA for inflammatory markers, and RNA extraction with qPCR for gene expression analysis. Data will be analysed using statistical methods. Daily activities include cell culture maintenance, experimental treatments, data recording, and literature review.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2629

Name: Garth Stephenson

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Project Title: IL 13 mediated epigenetic regulation of inflammatory genes in human placental cells

Research Area: Infection

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Maternal immune activation induces placental inflammation through increased expression of cytokines such as interleukin 1α (IL 1α), IL 6, and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF α). Dysregulated placental inflammation has been linked to placental dysfunction and altered fetal neural development. While acute inflammatory signalling pathways are well characterised, there is increasing interest in how inflammatory responses may be epigenetically regulated in the placenta. IL 13 is a type 2 cytokine enriched during pregnancy and associated with immune tolerance and resolution of inflammation. IL 13 is known to signal through STAT6 and suppress NF κB dependent inflammatory responses; however, it remains unclear whether IL 13 exerts more durable effects by altering the DNA methylation status of inflammatory and signalling genes in placental cells. This project will investigate whether IL 13 modulates DNA methylation at key inflammatory cytokine and signalling genes in human placental cells.

Research Question: Does IL 13 alter DNA methylation of inflammatory cytokine and signalling pathway genes in human placental cells under inflammatory conditions? Hypothesis IL 13 induces changes in DNA methylation at promoters or regulatory regions of inflammatory cytokine genes (IL1A, IL6, TNF) and signalling genes (STAT6 and NF κB), leading to epigenetic suppression of placental inflammatory responses

Methods/Analysis: Human trophoblast cell lines will be cultured and exposed to inflammatory stimuli relevant to MIA, including IL 1α (sterile inflammation), LPS (bacterial mimic), and Poly(I:C; (viral mimic). Cells will be treated with or without IL 13 prior or post to inflammatory stimulation. Genomic DNA will be extracted and subjected to bisulfite conversion. DNA methylation levels at selected CpG regions within IL1A, IL6, TNF, STAT6, and NF κB will be quantified using targeted methylation specific PCR.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: Yes (human)

Project ID: 2631

Name: Natalie Counihan

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Project Title: Screening compounds for activity against malaria parasites

Research Area: Infection

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Malaria is one of the worlds most devastating infections causing ~400,000 deaths and ~216 million infections each year. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) are currently recommended by the WHO as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated infection with the most deadly form of malaria (Plasmodium falciparum). However, emergence and spread of artemisinin resistance is a major cause for concern and poses a threat to malaria control efforts. There is an urgent need to identify new drugs that will be effective against resistant parasite strains, or can be combined with artemisinin to resensitise resistant parasites.

Research Question: Can we identify new compounds that inhibit growth of Plasmodium parasites? We have a selection of compounds and supplements that can be included in a screen for inhibition of parasite growth. The project will be divided into 2 aims. Aim 1: Screen selected compounds using an in vitro infection model of blood stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Aim 2: Select 1-3 compounds that inhibit P. falciparum growth and test them using an in vivo model of malaria using a rodent malaria model.

Methods/Analysis: This project will provide students with a broad skills base including cellular biology and parasitology. For the Aim 1, the student will be required to culture P. falciparum in red blood cells, and then expose the parasites to different dilutions of compounds. In the second aim, a mouse model of malaria will be used to test a small selection of compounds from aim 1. Infected mice will be treated with compounds and regularly monitored to determine rates of infection.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: Yes

Project Involves Animal Testing: Yes (mouse)

Project ID: 2633

Name: Colin Bell

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Project Title: Designing a Prevention Support System for Schools

Research Area: Public Health

Location: Waterfront Campus

Project Type: PhD

Project Background: The UN Convention of the Rights of the Child indicates that ‘children have the right to the best health care possible, clean water to drink, healthy food and a clean and safe environment to live in’. Most children in Australia attend school for 7 hours a day making schools an important setting for protecting these rights and helping children make healthy choices. However, in the face of increasing marketing and availability of unhealthy food, reduced opportunities for physical activity and an increasingly gloomy climate outlook, schools need support to protect children’s physical and mental health.

Research Question: Informed by the Interactive Systems Framework, this PhD project explores the form and function of a prevention system for Victorian schools. 1. Can school communities codesign and sustain effective health and wellbeing interventions for students? 2. Can school community partners such as the Department of Education or the Department of Healthy help schools build capacity for sustaining healthy school environments? 3. What is the return on investment?"

Methods/Analysis: Mixed methods. Community-based systems dynamics. Active implementation framework. This project is part of the NHMRC funded Systems Thinking with Active Implementation Research (STAIR) trial supported by world-leading researchers experienced in Community-based Systems Dynamics and implementation science based at the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE) and service delivery partners (Victorian Departments of Education and Health, Royal Flying Doctors Service, VicHealth).

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2634

Name: Craig Smith

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Project Title: Characterising the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system in brain and heart

Research Area: Neuroscience

Location: Waterfront Campus

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Relaxin-3 is a neurotransmitter that is expressed in the brain, and activates RXFP3 (relaxin family peptide 3 receptor). Relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling increases motivational drive, decreases anxiety, and influences other neurological processes that are relevant for depression and other mental health disorders. Therefore, RXFP3 is an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of several neuropsychiatric diseases. Interestingly, our laboratory has recently discovered that RXFP3 is also expressed within atrioventricular heart valves, and likely influences inflammatory pathways to 'relax' connective tissue within this structure. This finding suggests that RXFP3 may also be a therapeutic target for heart valve stenosis (a major cause of heart disease). Overall, this work suggests that relaxin-3 is able to act as a neurotransmitter in the brain and an immunomodulator in the periphery, in a manner similar to serotonin, histamine, and several other important signalling molecules.

Research Question: This project will address two research questions: 1. How does manipulation of the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system alter the brain and behaviour of mice? This work will focus on neurological pathways and behaviours relevant to depression. 2. What functional role does RXFP3 play in the mouse heart? In particular, this project will test the hypothesis that RXFP3 activation 'relaxes' atrioventricular valves.

Methods/Analysis: Live mouse handling, behavioural testing, tests of heart function; - Histochemical procedures such as cryosectioning and immunohistochemistry; - Microscopy (bright field, fluorescence, confocal); - Neuroanatomical analysis; - RT-PCR - Statistical analysis (i.e. using GraphPad Prism).

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: Yes (mice)

Project ID: 2636

Name: Seetal Dodd

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Project Title: Drug safety analyses of psychotropic agents as monotherapy and in combination

Research Area: Psychopharmacology and pharmacovigilance

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: PhD

Project Background: Psychotropic medications exhibit different safety profiles depending on whether they are used alone (monotherapy) or in combination (polypharmacy). While combination therapy is increasingly common in psychiatry, it introduces greater complexity, increases the potential for drug–drug interactions, and may elevate the risk of serious adverse events. Traditional clinical trials often lack the size, duration, or real-world diversity needed to capture these risks fully. To address this gap, the project applies pharmacovigilance theory, which holds that large-scale spontaneous reporting systems can reveal safety “signals”—patterns of adverse events reported more frequently than expected for specific drug regimens. Using multiple global databases, the project uses disproportionality analysis to identify and compare these signals across psychotropic monotherapies and their combinations.

Research Question: There are some common psychotropic drug combinations used to treat patients with mental disorders. These include antidepressant combination therapy for depressive episodes, and mood stabiliser plus antipsychotic combinations to treat bipolar disorder. Drug combinations are often thought to be less safe, however for some common drug combinations this may not hold true and combination therapy may be a safer option than dose augmentation. This project aims to find answers for these concerns.

Methods/Analysis: Pharmacovigilance techniques will be used with multiple global databases (e.g., FAERS, VigiBase, EudraVigilance). The project uses disproportionality analysis and also draws on risk profiling theory. By analysing patterns of reported adverse events and structuring patient-level risk indicators, the project seeks to identify which populations are most vulnerable to harm when exposed to monotherapy or combined psychotropic regimens.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2637

Name: Laura Grey

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Project Title: Access and equity in Health Professions education

Research Area: Medical Education

Location: Flexible location

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: As marginalised communities continue to experience significantly higher rates of chronic disease and mortality, the demand for more health professionals who understand the needs of these communities is urgent and growing. However, students from marginalised or underrepresented groups face barriers in their access to health professions programs, and challenges as they navigate the training process. Many health professions programs aspire to address these inequities. In order to effect meaningful change, we need a better understanding of the perspectives of current students and how they have experienced the learning activities and support systems offered to date. We also need to explore the perspectives of potential applicants to health professions programs, to identify barriers and enablers to access.

Research Question: What are the perspectives of potential applicants to health professions programs from marginalised or underrepresented groups, and what factors shape their experiences as they navigate the admissions process? What are the experiences of students from marginalised or underrepresented groups as they progress through health professions programs, and how can Universities better support these students?

Methods/Analysis: A mixed methods approach will be undertaken. The use of a semi-structured focus group/interview format will allow the researchers to gather deep information regarding participant experiences. Quantitative information regarding demographic and ethnographic patterns, as well as study and career trajectories will be collected in parallel. The research team will be using a thematic analysis framework for the research, involving exploratory analysis of a small number of participants.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2638

Name: Laura Grey

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Project Title: Experiences of neurodivergent students in clinical learning settings

Research Area: Medical Education

Location: Flexible location

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Whilst it is recognised that many neurodivergent individuals are accomplished health professionals, there is also evidence to suggest that many experience significant challenges as they navigate learning and working environments which can be experienced as stigmatising and exclusionary. Health professions students need to develop a sense of themselves as a developing professional; an active process of exploring and enacting behaviours and skills which occurs throughout the learning process. However, students who do not feel a sense of belonging in the learning environment may experience professional identity formation differently, which may flow through to both academic outcomes and wellbeing.

Research Question: The aim of this study is to explore the lived experiences of recent health professions graduates who identify as neurodivergent, to better understand the barriers and facilitators to their learning in the clinical environment. We will focus on aspects of professional identity formation, in particular learning and assessment activities which build self-efficacy and self-regulated learning.

Methods/Analysis: A mixed methods approach will be undertaken. The use of a semi-structured focus group/interview format will allow the researchers to gather deep information regarding participant experiences. Quantitative information regarding demographic and ethnographic patterns, as well as study and career trajectories will be collected in parallel. The research team will be using a thematic analysis framework for the research, involving exploratory analysis of a small number of participants.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2641

Name: Eugene Athan

Contact Eugene

Project Title: SNAPPIER Improving patient outcomes of staphylococcal cardiac device infections

Research Area: Infection

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Electronic cardiac devices (CD), such as pacemakers and defibrillators, are increasingly used for the treatment of heart disease globally. Infection of CDs, most caused by Staphylococcus aureus, is a devastating complication with high morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. The diagnosis and management of CD infection is complex and usually requires complete removal of the electronic system. This can only be performed in a handful of centres internationally by expert interventionists. Currently, there is no clear guideline for when a potentially infected CD should be removed. The creation of a clinical decision guideline will benefit clinicians and patients across Australia and internationally by improving treatment efficiency, reduce the burden on the procedure of device removal, shorten hospital stays and reduce mortality rates. This study aims to produce a guideline identify which patients with a suspected Staphylococcal CD infection require removal to improve patient outcomes.

Research Question: What are the key factors that predict cardiac device infection during a S. aureus bloodstream infection? What is the role of biofilm production of S. aureus isolates in a high throughput in vitro biofilm model as a potential novel biomarker of cardiac device infections?

Methods/Analysis: Identifying and utilising/cleaning data from SNAP to identify those with underlying cardiac devices. Identify clinical factors including diabetes and novel factors such as persistence of the bacteria will be assessed and used to create a state-of-the-art clinical decision guideline. Test bacterial isolates for biofilm formation and maintain a bacterial biobank of isolates from the cohort.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2642

Name: Eugene Athan

Contact Eugene

Project Title: Optimising the microbiologic laboratory surveillance testing of endoscopes in Australia

Research Area: Infection

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Fiber-optic endoscopy has revolutionized modern health care in all areas of medicine and surgery for over 50 years. As a reusable medical device one the potential risks is possible transmission of infection between patients. Modern reprocessing and high-level disinfection practices all significantly minimise this risk. A key part of further eliminating the risk of endoscopic transmission of infection between patient use is routine Microbiological surveillance of endoscopes. There are differing methods for Microbiologic sampling as part of a quality program. These include filtration of endoscopic fluids samples and centrifugation. This new method offers improved sensitivity of detecting possible bacterial contamination. Comparison of centrifugation vs filtration methods for different bacterial concentrations of P. Aeruginosa for detecting organisms at all concentrations.

Research Question: 1.We will analyse different microorganisms currently processing endoscopy samples to compare culture results concurrently between centrifugation vs filtration to look at effect of time between sample collection and culture results. 2.We will study whether our lower reported contamination rate actually translates to a lower rate of endoscopy related infections. 3.We will determine if filtration versus centrifugation are feasible methods to be incorporated into the workflow of a clinical micro.

Methods/Analysis: Australian Protocol and Australian Protocol Plus Broth: Samples may be processed in a clinical or environmental laboratory. Entire collected sample should be centrifuged for 15 minutes at about 3000 rpm. Supernatant from each tube. To one of the tubes, resuspend. Semi-quantification of bacterial growth (e.g. no growth, 1–10 colonies, 10–100 colonies, >100 colonies) should be performed. We will perform a health economic evaluation comparing methods.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2643

Name: Lana Williams

Contact Lana

Project Title: Disability-free survival in ageing men and women

Research Area: Public Health

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Disability free survival, the length of time an individual lives without significant physical or cognitive impairment, is increasingly becoming an area of interest due to the ageing population worldwide. Knowledge of the factors which determine a ‘healthy’ lifespan (healthspan) is needed to appropriately intervene. This project will utilise newly generated and archived data from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study (GOS), a large cohort study involving a population-based sample of approximately 3200 women and men aged 20+ years. The contribution of mental health including depression and anxiety, which are common mental health conditions, are less well understood.

Research Question: The overarching aim is to determine mental health as well as biological, medical, lifestyle and/or sociodemographic predictors of disability free survival in a large, longitudinal population-based sample of women and men that have been followed for over two decades. It is hypothesized that healthspan will require the avoidance of mental health conditions as well as their interacting role in chronic conditions and shared risk factors. The project will also explore protective factors.

Methods/Analysis: Australian Protocol and Australian Protocol Plus Broth: Samples may be processed in a clinical or environmental laboratory. Entire collected sample should be centrifuged for 15 minutes at about 3000 rpm. Supernatant from each tube. To one of the tubes, resuspend. Semi-quantification of bacterial growth (e.g. no growth, 1–10 colonies, 10–100 colonies, >100 colonies) should be performed. We will perform a health economic evaluation comparing methods.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2644

Name: Lana Williams

Contact Lana

Project Title: Understanding the long-term impact and burden associated with bipolar disorder

Research Area: Neuroscience

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Understanding the burden associated with bipolar disorder including the impact on mental and physical health, health service utilisation, quality of life and associated societal and health sector costs over time is essential for developing and guiding prevention strategies and resource allocation. This project will utilise newly generated and archived data from a large sample of men and women with bipolar disorder aged 20+ years drawn from the Barwon Statistical Division, a geographically well-defined region of south-eastern Australia.

Research Question: The overarching aim of this project is to examine associations between bipolar disorder and chronic disease and the role of biological, lifestyle and social factors. We hypothesise that bipolar disorder will be associated with greater disease burden over time.

Methods/Analysis: The project will involve (i) conducting mental and cognitive health assessments; (ii) administering a battery of questionnaires to determine lifestyle and social factors including diet, physical activity, mobility and quality of life and exposure to drugs and diseases (iii) conducting statistical analyses including multiple regression techniques to determine associations between bipolar disorder and various health outcomes of interest.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2645

Name: Lana Williams

Contact Lana

Project Title: Psychotropic medication and bone formation and function

Research Area: Mental Health

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Bone loss and increased fracture risk associated with psychotropic medication use is gaining recognition as a public health problem. We were among the first to document a link between the antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and that there are agent specific differences in the effects of SSRIs on bone. Research is required to further elucidate the underlying mechanism and associated pathways in this clinically relevant and novel area of enquiry.

Research Question: This proposed study is part of an existing mixed method program of work investigating psychiatric disorders, medications used in their treatment and bone health. The overarching aim of this project is to investigate how specific psychotropic medications influence human osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation and function in vitro.

Methods/Analysis: The project will involve (i) conducting mental and cognitive health assessments; (ii) administering a battery of questionnaires to determine lifestyle and social factors including diet, physical activity, mobility and quality of life and exposure to drugs and diseases (iii) conducting statistical analyses including multiple regression techniques to determine associations between bipolar disorder and various health outcomes of interest.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: Yes

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2604

Name: Olivia Dean

Contact Olivia

Project Title: Effects of adjunctive mangosteen pericarp on underlying treatments in a trial of bipolar depression

Research Area: Clinical Practice

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: Hons GCert

Project Background: Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness conferring a large burden on the individual and the broader community. Current treatments for bipolar disorder are effective but often leave shortfalls between symptom remission and functional recovery. Bipolar depression is particularly difficult to treat and does not respond to conventional treatments in the same manner as major depressive disorder. A clinical trial investigating adjunctive mangosteen pericarp has found improvements in symptoms and quality of life in people experiencing bipolar depression over 24 weeks of treatment. Participants in the trial were on a variety of underlying treatments (treatment as usual) while taking part. The current project will investigate medications that participants were taking while on the trial to determine if adjunctive mangosteen pericarp had any effect on those underlying medications.

Research Question: Does adjunctive mangosteen pericarp treatment, in the context of a clinical trial, change the underlying treatment as usual participants were undertaking while on the trial? The secondary research question is, do any underlying medications change the improvements seen in those taking adjunctive mangosteen pericarp?

Methods/Analysis: This project will involve the collation and cleaning of the medication data collecting during the clinical trial. These data have been explored at a very high level as part of the initial trial analyses, but have not been analysed to address these specific questions. Once the data is organised, the student will then use covariate and regression analyses to model the data. These data will then be interpreted to determine whether underlying medications change in response to the trial.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2605

Name: Serap Azizoglu

Contact Serap

Project Title: Spectacle Lens Compatibility with Infrared Driver Monitoring Systems

Research Area: Optics/Physics

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Driver fatigue contributes to a substantial proportion of road crashes in Australia, with technology such as infrared-based driver monitoring systems increasingly used to detect early signs of drowsiness. These systems rely on near-infrared light to track pupil visibility and eye movements. However, many drivers wear spectacle lenses that incorporate coatings, filters, or materials designed for visible light performance, which may alter infrared transmission or reflectance. There is limited independent research examining how modern spectacle lenses interact with infrared wavelengths used in driver monitoring systems. Understanding whether lenses interfere with pupil detection is critical to ensuring these safety technologies function effectively without compromising visual performance for driving.

Research Question: This project investigates whether spectacle lens materials and coatings affect infrared pupil detection in driver monitoring systems. The aim is to identify lenses compatible with reliable fatigue detection and determine optical characteristics influencing performance. It is hypothesised that lenses with reduced infrared transmission or increased reflectance impair system accuracy.

Methods/Analysis: The student will conduct experimental testing using an infrared driver monitoring system to assess pupil detection through different spectacle lenses. Activities include standardised device setup, repeated compatibility testing, and recording binary outcomes. The student will also perform spectrophotometric analysis to measure lens transmission across wavelengths and analyse relationships between optical properties and system performance using descriptive and statistical methods.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2615

Name: Martin O'Hely

Contact Martin

Project Title: Investigating associations between the maturation of the gut microbiome and child health outcomes

Research Area: Epidemiology

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: PhD

Project Background: The gut microbiota of a newborn infant is typically a very simple microbial community which diversifies and develops rapidly over the first years of life, and continues to evolve throughout childhood and adolescence. A mature microbiota is a complex community of bacteria and other microbes which can only be fully described using high-dimensional techniques, but lower dimensional summaries can be useful. One such is the microbiota age which compares a child’s microbiota to those of children of a similar age, potentially identifying delayed or advanced microbiota evolution. Differences between calendar age and microbiota age have been linked to immune-related conditions such as asthma and food allergy, and with the richness of data available from the Barwon Infant Study we wish to investigate whether links exist with other conditions, or with exposures during pregnancy and early life.

Research Question: 1. Characterise the maturation of the infant gut microbiome using shotgun metagenomic data; 2. Identify child developmental and health outcomes that are associated with atypical maturation of the gut microbiome; 3. Identify gestational and early-life exposures which are associated with atypical maturation of the gut microbiome; 4. Determine the extent to which early-life exposures’ associations with later child health can be explained by their effects on the maturation of the gut microbiome.

Methods/Analysis: The candidate will work with existing datasets from a large birth cohort study, the Barwon Infant Study, to investigate the associations between maternal exposures during pregnancy, developmental outcomes and biological mechanisms. They will acquire skills in epidemiological and biostatistical techniques for assessing evidence of causality within observational and omics data.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2632

Name: Garth Stephenson

Contact Garth

Project Title: Epigenetic Regulation of Neuroinflammation and Cellular Dysfunction in Autism

Research Area: Neuroscience

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: PhD

Project Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasingly linked to the connection between gut bacteria, the immune system, and brain development. Many people with ASD have an imbalance in gut microbes, with fewer helpful bacteria and more that promote inflammation. This can affect digestion, immune responses, and how the brain develops. Ongoing immune activity, including raised inflammatory signals and changes in brain immune cells, suggests that gut microbes and the immune system influence each other and, in turn, affect brain function. Mothers of children with ASD often show similar gut imbalances. Diets high in fat, sugar, and highly processed foods can worsen gut inflammation during pregnancy, impacting the developing brain. Animal studies show that immune activation in pregnancy can disrupt brain wiring in offspring. Our work has identified increased inflammatory signals during pregnancy that may alter gene regulation through epigenetic changes, increasing ASD risk.

Research Question: How do maternal immune activation–associated cytokines induce inflammatory signalling and epigenetic changes in placental and trophoblast tissues, and do these alterations disrupt gene regulation pathways controlling fetal neurodevelopment and synaptic function that may increase neurodevelopmental risk?

Methods/Analysis: This project will use molecular and immunological techniques to analyse the epigenetic state of neurodevelopmental and synaptic functional genes. PCR and qPCR, Bisulphite conversion, next generation sequencing, histology, transcriptomics, advanced cell culturing (Microglia-containing brain organoids via iPSC technology) , FACS sorting and analyses and statistical analysis.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2640

Name: Eugene Athan

Contact Eugene

Project Title: Improving skin health and scabies control in Central Australian Communities

Research Area: Public Health

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Scabies infestation causes a significant burden of disease in Central Australian communities. Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) represented 2.1% of ASH admissions during 2014. 82.6% occurred in Indigenous patients (n = 382) with an estimated incidence of 18.9 per 1, 000 people years compared to the non-Indigenous population of 2.9 per 1000, with an incident rate ratio of 6.6 (95% confidence interval 5.1-8.5). Complications include skin and soft tissue infections including Group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. Annualised incidence of 24.2 intensive care unit admissions per 100 000 population. These infections also predispose to acute rheumatic fever. Scabies control measures have been successfully piloted in Northern Australia and Pacific Islands.

Research Question: What is the burden of scabies in Central Australian communities? What is the burden of skin and soft tissue infection in Central Australian communities presenting to health care? Will a co-design approach to scabies control be safe, acceptable and cost effective to Central Australian communities?

Methods/Analysis: Approval of project proposal, establish agreements between parties, recruitment of project team, submit Ethics proposal to NTHREC Ethics committee, undertake a systematic review of the scientific literature for scabies control programs including WHO control programs, detailed deidentified clinical data collection of burden of scabies in local community townships, detailed deidentified data of health care utilisation for scabies, skin and soft tissue infections including bacteremia.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2646

Name: Julie Pasco

Contact Julie

Project Title: Dietary patterns and healthy ageing

Research Area: Musculoskeletal Medicine

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Osteoporosis and sarcopenia are associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes such as falls, fractures and hospitalisation. Their association with frailty is less well-described, particularly in ambulant population-based older adults. While nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining bone and muscle health, the complex relationship between osteoporosis, sarcopenia and nutrition in the pathogenesis of frailty remains to be unravelled. This project is designed to assess parameters of bone and muscle health in conjunction with nutritional status for participants of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study, a well-recognised long-term, prospective cohort study focused on musculoskeletal health. The student will utilise archived data and generate new data in order to investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between dietary patterns and musculoskeletal health.

Research Question: The over-arching aim is to use cross-sectional and longitudinal data from men and women to identify modifiable dietary factors that could improve the trajectory to musculoskeletal decline during ageing. Research questions: Is the age-related trajectory to low bone mass, bone fragility, altered bone turnover, low muscle mass and poor muscle strength influenced by: (i) a pro-inflammatory diet? (II) a diet rich in ultra-processed foods? (iii) foods rich in polyphenols? (iv) malnutrition?

Methods/Analysis: The candidate will undertake face-to-face interviews with participants of Geelong Osteoporosis Study, with the purpose of identifying dietary patterns in conjunction with a series of clinical measures of musculoskeletal health, chronic disorders, sociodemographic variables and lifestyle behaviours. The candidate will also learn how to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and lean mass by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and peripheral quantitative tomography (pQCT) and assess skeletal muscle

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2649

Name: Maria Dahm

Contact Maria

Project Title: Ethics and uncertainty in kidney transplantation: Nephrologists’ decision-making about deceased and living donor kidney offers

Research Area: Bioethics and Professionalism

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Kidney transplantation involves complex clinical and ethical decision-making that is often undertaken in the context of considerable uncertainty. Kidney specialists must evaluate donor organ quality, recipient health status, competing risks and benefits, long-term prognoses, and issues related to informed consent and resource allocation. These uncertainties arise across both deceased donor organ offers and living donor assessments, where clinicians are required to balance ethical obligations with practical and clinical considerations.

Research Question: How do Australian kidney specialists perceive, communicate, and manage uncertainty and ethical considerations when making decisions about deceased and living donor kidney transplantation offers?

Methods/Analysis: This qualitative project, situated within bioethics and health services research, will involve audio-recorded semi-structured as well as separate “think-aloud” interviews with approximately 20 kidney specialists from Australian transplantation centres across 3–4 states. Interviews will be conducted online or in person and will include discussion of detailed, realistic deceased and living donor case scenarios involving ethical complexity and uncertainty.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2651

Name: Clifford Liongue

Contact Clifford

Project Title: Investigating innate immune cells and their regulation using customised animal models.

Research Area: Immunity

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: We have created a series of customised zebrafish lines where the cytokine signalling components have been modified to be either more or less activated using genome editing technologies. The aim of this project is to investigate the regulation of neutrophil and macrophage functions by cytokine signalling components using these zebrafish lines.

Research Question: How do Australian kidney specialists perceive, communicate, and manage uncertainty and ethical considerations when making decisions about deceased and living donor kidney transplantation offers?

Methods/Analysis: This project will utilise cutting-edge techniques to directly image and study live zebrafish macrophages and neutrophils responding to immune challenges. This includes use of a customised range of zebrafish knockout and transgenic lines coupled with fluorescent activated cell sorting, fluorescent microscopy and molecular biology techniques such as PCR, qPCR, high resolution melt analysis, sanger sequencing, and in vitro transcription.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: Yes - Zebrafish

Project ID: 2652

Name: Clifford Liongue

Contact Clifford

Project Title: Understanding the communication networks underpinning lymphoma and leukemia

Research Area: Cancer

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: White blood cells such as lymphocytes are important in the fight against viruses and other pathogens. However, a class of cancers known as lymphomas, involves dysfunctional lymphocytes. Lymphomas represent the most common malignancy in children, with their incidence doubling in Australia over the past 20 years and is the 8th most common cancer-causing death in Australia. Lymphomas are particularly dangerous because lymphocytes are vital for normal immune function but are depleted at the expense of dysfunctional cancerous cells resulting in reduced immunity and susceptibility to a range of infectious agents. The normal function of cells is governed by complex communication networks. One such network is the cytokine signalling pathway that is crucial for the generation and function of blood and immune cells. The importance of the cytokine signalling highlighted as awry communications, caused by malfunctioning components of the pathway, often leads to diseases like lymphoma and leukemia.

Research Question: This project utilises zebrafish to investigate dysregulation of cytokine signalling components in normal immune development, function, and disease. Understanding the interactions and regulatory functions of cytokine signalling will reveal key insights to the cause of lymphomas and identify novel therapeutic targets.

Methods/Analysis: This project will utilise cutting-edge techniques to directly image and study zebrafish lymphocytes. This includes use of a customised range of zebrafish knockout and transgenic lines coupled with fluorescent activated cell sorting, fluorescent microscopy and molecular biology techniques such as PCR, qPCR, high resolution melt analysis, sanger sequencing, and in vitro transcription.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: Yes - Zebrafish

Project ID: 2617

Name: Iksheta Verma

Contact Iksheta

Project Title: Sleep Disruption and Mental Health among Australian Farming Communities

Research Area: Rural and Regional Health

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons GCert

Project Background: Early mornings, seasonal workloads and environmental stressors often disrupt sleep in farming populations. Poor sleep contributes to mood disorders, cognitive fatigue and overall health decline impacting productivity and quality of life. Despite the clear link between sleep and mental health, research specifically quantifying sleep patterns and mental wellbeing among Australian farmers is limited. Existing Australian research, including recent work by Ag Health Australia has examined fatigue in farming populations primarily in relation to safety and injury outcomes; however, less is known about how sleep disruption specifically relates to mental health and wellbeing. Understanding these relationships is essential for designing interventions to support wellbeing, resilience and mental health in rural communities where occupational demands and environmental challenges create unique stressors that may exacerbate sleep disruption.

Research Question: This study aims to examine the prevalence and patterns of sleep disruption among Australian farming communities and investigate associations with mental health outcomes including mood disorders and cognitive fatigue while considering occupational and demographic factors that may influence these relationships.

Methods/Analysis: The study will survey farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire to assess sleep patterns and mental health outcomes. Demographic and wellbeing data will be obtained from Health and Lifestyle Assessments at the National Centre for Farmers’ Health. SPSS will be used for statistical analysis. Ethics approval has been obtained for a similar study and this project will utilise the same approved recruitment framework; however, an amendment will be submitted to include an additional questionnaire.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2618

Name: Iksheta Verma

Contact Iksheta

Project Title: Heat Stress, Seasonal Workload and Musculoskeletal Strain in Rural Farming communities

Research Area: Rural and Regional Health

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons GCert

Project Background: Prolonged physical labour and exposure to extreme temperatures increase the risk of musculoskeletal strain, fatigue and injury among farmers. These risks are intensified during seasonal peak periods when workload demands are high and recovery time is limited, with repeated exertion and heat stress contributing to cumulative musculoskeletal load and increased injury risk. Despite these occupational risks, there is limited research quantifying the combined effects of heat exposure and seasonal workload on musculoskeletal health in rural farming communities. Existing Australian research, including work by Ag Health Australia, has highlighted the burden of fatigue and injury risk in agricultural settings; however, fewer studies have examined the interaction between heat stress, workload patterns and musculoskeletal outcomes. Understanding these relationships is critical for developing targeted interventions and occupational safety strategies to reduce injury risk and support wellbeing.

Research Question: This study aims to investigate how heat exposure and seasonal workload contribute to musculoskeletal strain in rural farming communities and to examine how occupational and demographic factors including work patterns, physical demands and individual characteristics may influence susceptibility to injury and related health outcomes.

Methods/Analysis: The student will survey farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire to assess heat exposure and musculoskeletal symptoms. Selected variables will be retrieved from Health and Lifestyle Assessments at the National Centre for Farmers’ Health. SPSS will be used for statistical analysis. Ethics approval was obtained for a similar study on chronic pain barriers, this project will utilise the same recruitment framework; however, an amendment will be submitted to include an additional questionnaire.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2653

Name: Alyssa Barry

Contact Alyssa

Project Title: Genomic epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Papua New Guinea

Research Area: Infection

Location: Health Education and Research Building (HERB)- Geelong

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Tackling malaria in the Asia-Pacific region involves a number of key challenges related to increasingly heterogeneous malaria transmission, the presence of a large reservoir of infected but asymptomatic individuals, and the development of drug resistance. The predominance of Plasmodium vivax infections also poses the challenge of relapsing malaria caused by P. vivax hypnozoites (dormant parasites). Epidemiological and surveillance programs in Papua New Guinea over almost two decades have resulted in a large sample set covering a period of transmission decline and resurgence. An understanding of how malaria control efforts impact the parasite population, and identifying possible causes of resurgence is crucial to eliminating malaria.

Research Question: Through genomic analysis of Plasmodium vivax isolates collected in Papua New Guinea, this project aims to: 1) Harmonize and optimise genetic marker panels for use in PNG and comparison to data from other countries 2) Measure parasite population genetic structure over time and space. 3) Measure the prevalence of putative P. vivax drug resistance markers over time 4) Combine the data to understand how drug resistance impacts parasite transmission dynamics.

Methods/Analysis: The project uses custom Next Generation Sequencing assays and bioinformatic approaches for analysing human malaria samples including population genetics and statistical analyses. Working in the context of a large multidisciplinary team, and extensive collaborative network, the genomic data will be further combined with other epidemiological data on malaria risk and exposure to investigate spatio-temporal determinants of malaria, and to develop new approaches for improved surveillance.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2655

Name: Alyssa Barry

Contact Alyssa

Project Title: Development of Nanopore sequencing based clinical metagenomics for diagnosis of infectious diseases

Research Area: Infection

Location: Health Education and Research Building (HERB)- Geelong

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Life-threating infections such as bacterial meningitis, septic shock, and lower respiratory tract infections require rapid and accurate diagnosis for effective treatment. Traditional culture methods are slow, often taking 48-72 hours, and PCR, while faster, can only detect known pathogens, missing novel or unexpected organisms potentially resulting in delays in the initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy. Metagenomics sequencing overcomes these limitations by enabling comprehensive and unbiased detection of all pathogens in a sample. Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing is particularly promising due to its affordability, portability, fast library preparation, and real-time data output, providing actionable results even before sequencing is complete. The use of ONT-based metagenomics for direct pathogen identification from biological fluids marks a significant advancement, offering timely and precise diagnostics that can transform patient management and outcomes.

Research Question: Could a Nanopore sequencing system (developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies) based platform be developed and optimized to be used as the routine diagnostic service for the metagenomics detection and characterization of pathogens from CSF, blood and lower respiratory tract infection?

Methods/Analysis: The project uses custom Next Generation Sequencing assays and bioinformatic approaches for analysing human malaria samples including population genetics and statistical analyses. Working in the context of a large multidisciplinary team, and extensive collaborative network, the genomic data will be further combined with other epidemiological data on malaria risk and exposure to investigate spatio-temporal determinants of malaria, and to develop new approaches for improved surveillance.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2656

Name: Alyssa Barry

Contact Alyssa

Project Title: PredictR: Understanding the emergence and spread of antimalarial resistance in Plasmodium falciparum

Research Area: Infection

Location: Health Education and Research Building (HERB)- Geelong and Burnet Institute

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Emerging resistance of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum to all available antimalarial treatments is an ongoing threat to the control and elimination of the disease. Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs) were introduced in the early 2000s, however growing resistance to artemisinin monotherapies and the partner drugs used in ACTs threatens to reverse gains made against malaria in the last two decades. Whilst artemisinin (ArtR) and multi-drug resistance has been predominantly confined to the Greater Mekong Subregion where P. falciparum transmission is low to moderate, recent evidence of emerging ArtR in Africa and Papua New Guinea (PNG) where transmission is high, is a major threat to the effective treatment and control of malaria. Two sub-projects are available: 1) Genomic epidemiology of ArtR in PNG. Genomic analysis of isolates collected in ongoing epidemiological surveys. 2) Discovering genetic determinants of P. falciparum artemisinin resistance "

Research Question: This project aims to define the genetic determinants underlying ArtR and how it has emerged and is spreading in PNG. The project will confirm if malaria parasite variants from PNG with mutations that may cause and/or modulate drug resistance are resistant to current antimalarial treatments. This knowledge will enable surveillance of markers that contribute to the spread of resistance and development of a mathematical model that predicts where drug resistance may emerge.

Methods/Analysis: 1) Population genomic analysis of isolates collected in ongoing epidemiological surveys. 2) Wildtype and ArtR parasite lines will be crossed in mosquitoes followed by genomic and functional analyses to determine essential genes for maintaining resistance. Methods in both projects will include PCR, sequencing, bioinformatics and population genetics /statistical analyses. Project 1 includes in vitro parasite culture and drug sensitivity assays.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2654

Name: Jacquie Cotton

Contact Jacquie

Project Title: Gut Health and Inflammatory Disease Risk in Rural Farming Communities

Research Area: Rural and Regional Health

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: PhD

Project Background: Farming work patterns, including early starts, seasonal workloads and environmental stressors can negatively affect dietary quality and overall health in farming communities. Limited time, fatigue and restricted food access may contribute to poorer nutrition choices which in turn can increase systemic inflammation and elevate the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Despite these risks, research examining dietary patterns and related inflammatory or metabolic health markers in farming communities remains limited. Understanding these relationships is important for developing tailored, evidence-based nutrition interventions aimed at improving diet quality, reducing inflammation and supporting long-term health and wellbeing in rural farming communities.

Research Question: This study aims to investigate dietary patterns and related clinical health markers in farming communities and evaluate whether diet-focused interventions, including education and coaching sessions can improve diet quality and reduce inflammation-related risk factors.

Methods/Analysis: The study will be conducted in two phases in farming communities. Phase I will survey participants and collect basic blood samples to assess dietary patterns and inflammation/metabolic markers. Phase II will implement dietitian-designed group sessions or coaching facilitated by a nurse and a research assistant. Post-intervention surveys and samples will evaluate changes. SPSS will be used to analyse trends, associations and intervention effects.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: Yes

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2657

Name: Leni Rivera

Contact Leni

Project Title: Improving gut health in metabolic disorders

Research Area: Metabolic Disease

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: A traditional whole-food diet is characterised by high consumption of vegetables, fruits, seafood, wholegrains, lean meats, nuts, and legumes, alongside minimal intake of ultra-processed foods. In contrast, modern dietary patterns in both developed and emerging economies increasingly favour energy-dense, nutrient-poor, and highly processed foods. As a result, many individuals are paradoxically both overnourished and undernourished. This global dietary transition has been accompanied by rising prevalence of obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and other metabolic disorders. The intestine is the first organ to be exposed to dietary components and food-derived toxins, positioning it as a critical interface between diet and systemic health. Growing evidence now indicates that diet-induced intestinal damage and dysfunction contribute to downstream metabolic and inflammatory consequences.

Research Question: This project aims: (1) To determine how specific components of the modern diet affects enteric neurons, mucosal structure, and function in vitro, (2) To investigate the beneficial effects of dietary modification and supplementation in improving gut health and gut barrier function.

Methods/Analysis: This project, using a mouse model, will involve: comprehensive analysis of metabolic health, cell culture, molecular analysis, gut physiological experiments including measuring gut leakiness, histological and immunohistochemical analysis to determine changes in gut morphology and other organs, and analysis of gut microbiota.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: Yes (mouse)

Project ID: 2658

Name: Leni Rivera

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Project Title: Effect of metformin on gut microbiome in gestational diabetes

Research Area: Metabolic Disease

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Diabetes during pregnancy, or gestational diabetes, is becoming increasingly prevalent. Gestational Diabetes increases the risks of adverse effects during pregnancy including pre-eclampsia, large for gestational age offspring and fetal abnormalities. Poor glucose control during pregnancy also increases the risk for adult obesity and type 2 diabetes in the offspring. Therefore, effectively treating gestational diabetes is of utmost importance. One of the most effective pharmaceuticals to manage blood glucose is the type 2 diabetes drug metformin, and this drug is being used more widely to treat gestational diabetes. One of effects metformin treatment has is to alter the gut microbiome, which may be beneficial for diabetes management. However, as offspring develop their microbiomes from their mother during birth, an altered microbiome may translate to changes in the offspring microbiome thereby altering their susceptibility or resilience to a wide range of diseases, including diabetes.

Research Question: This project aims: (1) To use a mouse model to determine the effect of maternal metformin treatment on maternal gut microbiome, enteric neurons, mucosal structure and gut function, (2) To determine whether maternal metformin treatment will result in differences in the gut microbiome, enteric neurons, mucosal structure and gut function of the offspring.

Methods/Analysis: Summary of techniques to be used: - Bacterial DNA extraction -Next Generation Sequencing -Microbiome analysis -Gut permeability measurement -Histological and immunohistochemical analysis to determine changes in gut morphology and other organs -ELISA -Western blotting -Real-time PCR -Statistical analysis.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: Yes (mouse)

Project ID: 2659

Name: Kirsty Mccann

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Project Title: The association between host immunogenetics (HLA), parasite diversity and protection against malaria

Research Area: Infection

Location: Health Education and Research Building (HERB) - Geelong

Project Type: PhD

Project Background: Malaria remains a major global health burden, with vaccines such as RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine and R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine providing only moderate, short-lived protection. Host genetic factors, particularly variation in Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system, play a critical role in shaping immune responses to infection. Certain polymorphisms are associated with protection against severe malaria, influencing antigen presentation and antibody acquisition. However, the extent to which HLA variation accelerates the development of clinical immunity remains unclear. This project will investigate how HLA polymorphisms contribute to antibody responses and protection in malaria-endemic populations, with the aim of informing improved vaccine design and population-specific interventions.

Research Question: This project will include lab work and bioinformatics to understand human genetic diversity in the context of malaria: Aim 1: Development of long read sequencing and analysis of HLA diversity in a malaria endemic cohort. Aim 2: Association with parasite diversity and T-cell epitopes and looking into any associations between parasitemia levels and clinical symptoms. Aim 3: Association between HLA and immune responses to specific genotypes.

Methods/Analysis: This project will include lab work involving sequencing with Oxford Nanopore Technology and possibly ELISAs to validate functional antibody prediction. The project will involve computational analyses using a mix of High Performance cluster and R coding including association between HLA I and II types, between parasitemia and clinical symptoms. Statistical modelling (e.g., regression). Population genetics analyses of allele frequencies in malaria endemic regions.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2660

Name: Sajal Kumar Saha

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Project Title: Improving antimicrobial stewardship in acute pharyngitis infections utilising novel Group A Streptoc

Research Area: Infection

Location: Centre for Innovation in Infectious Diseases and Immunology Research

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Diagnostic uncertainty regarding the cause (e.g., group A streptococcus) of sore throat or pharyngitis infections leads to unnecessary use of antibiotics and development of antimicrobial resistance in primary care. Group A streptococci lead to 700000 worldwide deaths annually. Only around 20% of sore throat infections (ranging from 5% to 15% in adults and from 20% to 30% in children) are caused by group A streptococci. However, up to 70% of sore throat cases are treated with inappropriate antibiotics. The limited capacity of primary care GPs and pharmacists in detecting group A streptococci is a challenge for rational antibiotic use in patients with pharyngitis. Molecular GAS testing has been recognised as a potential stewardship strategy to optimise antimicrobial use in patients with pharyngitis. However, point-of-care GAS testing screening and treatment service is not routinely available for pharyngitis management in general practice and community pharmacy in Australia.

Research Question: Is point-of-care GAS testing feasible? Is point-of-care GAS testing effective? Is point-of-care GAS testing cost-effective? to reduce antimicrobial use in patients with acute sore throat or pharyngitis infections? What are the implementation barriers for the routine integration of testing in primary care?

Methods/Analysis: The student will conduct relevant literature reviews and a pilot effectiveness-implementation trial on GAS testing in GP and pharmacy practices in Victoria in Australia. The student will apply a mixed-method implementation evaluation study design involving surveys and interviews of general practitioners and community pharmacists to assess the effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness and implementation challenges of the GAS testing program.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2647

Name: Julie Pasco

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Project Title: Knee joint irregularities, changes in bone and body composition, and the trajectory to disability

Research Area: Musculoskeletal Medicine

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic condition; approximately 12.5% of people aged >45yr live with OA. As the condition progresses, affected joints become painful and swollen, making it increasingly difficult to perform normal activities. There is no cure for OA and treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and restoring function, until worsening symptoms lead to disability and costly joint replacement surgery. This project is embedded in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study, a population-based study that has been following participant health over decades. In 2006-2008, images were taken of the inside of knee joints (using magnetic resonance imaging) for premenopausal women without OA. Since then, as the women transitioned through menopause, changes in bone mineral density, body composition, mental health, lifestyle factors, medication use and diseases have been monitored. Changes in knee pain, mobility and physical function have been noted; joint replacement surgeries have been monitored.

Research Question: Building on existing and new data, the aim of this project is to identify in young women, how menopausal changes of lifestyle, bone and muscle health and body composition combine with early, but outwardly normal, knee-joint abnormalities, to progress towards disability as the women age. The aim is to highlight modifiable risk factors that could be targeted to interrupt this unwanted pathway to disability.

Methods/Analysis: The candidate will learn how to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and lean mass by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and peripheral quantitative tomography (pQCT) and collect other clinical data. Skills for epidemiology and statistical modelling will be developed to enable the candidate to design, perform and interpret intricate data analyses. The candidate will work with researchers in the Population Health Pillar in IMPACT, at the University Hospital Geelong (Barwon Health).

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2648

Name: Julie Pasco

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Project Title: Novel association between primary aldosteronism and bone health

Research Area: Musculoskeletal Medicine

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: MPhil PhD

Project Background: One of the health outcomes that may be a secondary cause of poor bone health is primary aldosteronism, and this is yet to be fully explored in population-based men and women. Primary aldosteronism is due to overproduction of the hormone aldosterone, which regulates blood levels of sodium and potassium. The project will use stored blood samples and relevant data routinely collected through questionnaires and physical examinations of over 1000 participants ranging in age across adulthood (20-94yr) enrolled in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. The data will be used to identify people with probable aldosteronism and compare their bone health to those without probable aldosteronism. Using this approach, the project will likely identify primary aldosteronism as a novel and under-recognised contributor to poor bone health and fracture risk, with potential to influence future diagnostic and management strategies in osteoporosis.

Research Question: (i)What is the prevalence and distribution of aldosterone excess and how does it differ by age and sex? (ii)How does aldosterone excess evolve from young adulthood to older age, and how does it correlate with markers of poor bone health? (iii)Are there sex differences in the association between biomarkers of primary aldosteronism (PA) and parameters of bone health?

Methods/Analysis: Data collection: blood pressure, bone density, bone turnover markers, trabecular bone score, calcaneal ultrasound and incident fractures. PA screening will use aldosterone-to-renin ratio. Plasma aldosterone concentration, plasma steroid profile and direct renin concentration will be measured. Other biomarkers, comorbidity and lifestyles will be obtained. Regression models will identify confounding and test for interactions to enable sex-specific insights into the aldosterone–bone relationship.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2611

Name: Chathuranga Kiramage

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Project Title: Dissecting how malaria parasites hijack host pathways to survive

Research Area: Infection

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Malaria parasites remodel the host red blood cell by exporting a large number of proteins into the host cytosol, where they support parasite survival and virulence. However, how these parasite proteins are post-translationally regulated once they are exported into the red blood cell remains poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that host ubiquitin pathways might be hijacked by the parasite to contribute to this regulation. Our preliminary data and ongoing mass spectrometry analyses have identified host E3 ubiquitin ligases associated with parasite proteins at the host-parasite interface. In addition, published ubiquitome datasets report ubiquitination of several exported parasite proteins. Thus, we hypothesise that host E3 ligases may modify exported proteins to control their stability and function during infection. Testing and confirming direct protein-protein interactions between parasite and host proteins is essential before defining the detailed molecular mechanisms.

Research Question: We hypothesise that host E3 ligases are utilised by malaria parasites to modify their proteins to regulate their stability or activity. This project will identify and validate interactions between host E3 ubiquitin ligases and exported malaria proteins. Protein candidates will be selected from preliminary and published datasets and protein-protein interaction will be tested using molecular and biochemical approaches.

Methods/Analysis: The student will culture malaria parasites and extract genomic DNA for PCR amplification of selected genes. Genes encoding exported malaria protein and host E3 ligase will be cloned into mammalian expression vectors and expressed in HEK293T cells. Protein expression will be confirmed by western blotting, and protein interactions will be assessed using immunoprecipitation assays. The project will provide training in molecular cloning, mammalian cell culture, parasite culture and protein analysis.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: Yes

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2607

Name: Luba Sominsky Bar

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Project Title: Placental and cord blood mechanisms at the interface between maternal and infant health

Research Area: Epidemiology

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: PhD

Project Background: In mammalian pregnancy, the placenta is a conduit between the environment, the mother and the developing foetus. Placental pathology is linked with pregnancy complications and adverse foetal development, with the foetal brain being particularly vulnerable. These effects may result in part from limited availability of nutrients and oxygen for mitochondrial energy generation in the foetus, leading to progressive oxidative stress during critical periods of foetal brain development. Cord blood mononuclear cells can memorise and reflect metabolic alterations during pregnancy, as well as in exposure to environmental and lifestyle factors. However, studies integrating the investigation of placental and cord blood biological pathways at the interface of maternal and infant health are scarce. Such research has implications for identifying potential modifiable prenatal pathways to improve the health and wellbeing of mothers and their children.

Research Question: Determine associations between maternal lifestyle factors (mental health, diet, exposure to plastic chemicals and others) and placental and cord blood functional signatures. Determine associations between placental transcriptome signature, cord blood bioenergetics and child health outcomes. Determine if placental and cord blood functional signatures mediate the associations between maternal lifestyle factors and child health outcomes.

Methods/Analysis: The candidate will work with existing datasets from a large birth cohort study, the Barwon Infant Study, to investigate the associations between maternal exposures during pregnancy, developmental outcomes and biological mechanisms. They will acquire skills in epidemiological and biostatistical techniques for assessing evidence of causality within observational and omics data. The candidate will also have the opportunity to obtain skills in laboratory techniques.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: Yes

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2630

Name: Garth Stephenson

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Project Title: Regulation of placental inflammatory cytokine responses by IL 13 during maternal immune activation

Research Area: Immunity

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Successful pregnancy requires precise immune regulation at the maternal–fetal interface to maintain placental function while protecting against infection. Maternal immune activation (MIA), resulting from infection or sterile tissue damage, induces placental production of pro inflammatory cytokines including interleukin 1α (IL 1α), interleukin 6 (IL 6), and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF α). Dysregulated or prolonged activation of these inflammatory pathways has been associated with placental dysfunction and adverse fetal outcomes including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Interleukin 13 (IL 13) is a type 2 cytokine enriched during pregnancy and implicated in immune tolerance and suppression of inflammatory signalling. While IL 13 is known to modulate inflammatory responses in immune cells, its direct effects on inflammatory signalling in human placental cells, particularly across different inflammatory stimuli relevant to MIA, remain poorly characterised.

Research Question: Does IL 13 suppress inflammatory cytokine expression and associated signalling pathways in human placental cells stimulated with sterile, bacterial, and viral inflammatory agents? Hypothesis IL 13 suppresses IL 1α , lipopolysaccharide (LPS) , and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly(I:C)) induced expression of IL 1α, IL 6, and TNF α in human placental cells, and modulates expression of key inflammatory signalling genes including STAT6 and NF κB

Methods/Analysis: Human trophoblast cell lines (BeWo or JEG 3) will be cultured under standard conditions. Cells will be stimulated with IL 1α (sterile inflammation), LPS (bacterial mimic), or Poly(I:C) (viral mimic), with or without IL 13 pre treatment. Expression of IL1A, IL6, TNF, STAT6, and NF κB mRNA will be quantified using quantitative real time PCR. Secretion of IL 6 and TNF α will be measured by ELISA. Cell viability assays will be used to control for cytotoxic effects of treatments.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: Yes (human)

Project ID: 2616

Name: Joanna Macdonald

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Project Title: A Decade of Change: Trends in Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Farming Men and Women

Research Area: Rural and Regional Health

Location: Western District Health Service - Hamilton

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Cardiovascular disease remains a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality in Australia, with people living in rural and agricultural communities experiencing a higher burden of cardiovascular risk factors and poorer health outcomes than those in metropolitan areas. Farming populations face unique health challenges, including physically demanding work, long working hours, geographic isolation, limited access to healthcare services, and reduced opportunities for preventative health screening. This study will provide valuable insight into how cardiovascular risk factors among farming men and women have changed over the past decade, by analysing trends in body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and medication use. Analysing these trends will help identify emerging risks and trends, inform targeted prevention strategies, and support rural health services to design and deliver interventions that better address cardiovascular health in farming communities.

Research Question: Aim: To examine trends in cardiovascular risk indicators—including body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and antihypertensive medication use—among farming men and women over a 10-year period. Research Question: What trends in cardiovascular risk factors are evident among farming men and women over a 10-year period?

Methods/Analysis: This study will use a retrospective longitudinal design to analyse de-identified health and lifestyle assessment data collected by the National Centre for Farmer Health from Australian farming men and women over a 10-year period. Students will observe current data collection processes at agricultural field days and events. Statistical analyses using IBM SPSS Statistics will examine trends in cardiovascular risk factors using chi-square tests, regression models, and t-tests/ANOVA.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2612

Name: Amanda Wade

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Project Title: Compliance with guideline-based screening in infants born to women living with hepatitis C

Research Area: Public Health

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: In Australia, pregnant women are offered antenatal hepatitis C testing as the risk of vertical transmission is 4-6%. Infants born to hepatitis C positive mothers are recommended to have antibody testing from 12 months of age. However, rates of infant testing have been low due to disengagement and a long latency to recommended testing. Rates of testing in infants born to hepatitis C positive mothers at Barwon Health are unknown. In recent years, there has been a growing body of evidence that hepatitis C treatment is safe in pregnancy, and guidelines are expected to change to enable treatment during pregnancy.

Research Question: This study will identify gaps in current follow-up of infants born to mothers with hepatitis C, a population at risk of preventable long-term morbidity. The findings will inform local protocols. Aims: •To determine the proportion of infants born to women with hepatitis C at Barwon Health who have received screening in line with current guidelines. •To determine the proportion of pregnant women living with hepatitis C who have been linked to specialist antenatal viral hepatitis care

Methods/Analysis: Students will create a REDCap database for analysis to determine the proportion receiving guideline-based management and perform regression analysis for characteristics associated with guideline-based management. The student will be introduced to using Stata and will be supported to learn techniques in data visualisation, descriptive epidemiology and analytical epidemiology to identify service gaps to inform protocols.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2613

Name: Amanda Wade

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Project Title: Hepatitis B management during immunosuppression at Barwon Health: a cohort study

Research Area: Public Health

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: The past 10 years has seen a revolution in the therapeutic use of immunosuppressive agents. All people undergoing significant immune suppression should be tested for hepatitis B infection as viral reactivation and associated flares of hepatitis can occur, which can be fatal. Use of new immunosuppressive agents for a multitude of conditions has expanded the pool of practitioners initiating immunosuppressive agents. Management of people living with hepatitis B undergoing immunosuppression is guidelines based and often requires specialist care. The Viral Hepatitis Service at Barwon Health is the largest public service in the region, contributing data on > 300 people to the national REACH-B study. https://www.kirby.unsw.edu.au/research/projects/real-world-assessment-people-living-chronic-hepatitis-b-australia-reach-b

Research Question: With increased prescribing of immunosuppressive agents, reviewing hepatitis B management during immunosuppression to inform and optimise testing and linkage to care protocols Aims •Identify the proportion of patients at Barwon Health prescribed immunosuppressive agents that have had a hepatitis B test, and if positive, referred for specialist care •Identify the proportion of patients with hepatitis B receiving immunosuppression at the Viral Hepatitis Service being managed according to guidelines

Methods/Analysis: Students will have access to a populated REDCap database for analysis to determine the proportion receiving guideline-based management and perform regression analysis for characteristics associated with guideline-based management. The student will be introduced to using Stata and will be supported to learn techniques in data visualisation, descriptive epidemiology and analytical epidemiology to identify service gaps to inform protocols.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2622

Name: Carly Botheras

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Project Title: Routine Blood tests in Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections.

Research Area: Infection

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: Hons

Project Background: Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (SAB) have a 30-day mortality rate of 18% and can present in a myriad of ways, prompting novel investigations to manage infection. The first seven days are important for the progression of SAB as most diagnostic tests are performed. Routine blood tests are performed throughout an admission but are not frequently read and used as a marker for severity of infection. This Study assesses routine blood tests over the first seven days of a SAB presentation to see if there are patterns or numbers that are associated with poor outcomes

Research Question: Do routine blood test markers change over the first seven days of admission in SAB. Rationale: Routine Blood tests are already collected and may provide a cost-effective marker of disease progression in SAB. Hypothesis: platelet and clotting related factors will be differentiated between differing presentations of SAB

Methods/Analysis: The project will involve the student performing primary data collection from clinical data, use of research software such as R, SPSS, REDCap, longitudinal data analysis, epidemiological skillsets as well as the research development required for an honours student such as critical analysis, research writing and communication skills.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2624

Name: Sajal Kumar Saha

Contact Sajal Kumar

Project Title: Feasibility of SPOTFIRE R/ST testing in managing acute respiratory infections

Research Area: Infection

Location: Health Education and Research Building

Project Type: Hons GCert

Project Background: Diagnostic uncertainty regarding the cause of acute respiratory infections, including group A streptococcus sore throat infections, leads to unnecessary use of antibiotics and development of antimicrobial resistance in primary care. Only around 20% of sore throat infections (ranging from 5% to 15% in adults and from 20% to 30% in children) are caused by group A streptococci. However, up to 70% of sore throat cases are treated with inappropriate antibiotics. Likely, 30-50% prescriptions are inappropriate in respiratory infections in primary care. Molecular diagnostic testing has been recognised as a potential strategy to optimise antimicrobial use in patients with respiratory infections. However, point-of-care testing service is not routinely available in primary care in Australia to improve antibiotic stewardship in acute respiratory infection. Understanding the feasibility and clinical utility of SPOTFIRE R/ST point-of-care testing is critical

Research Question: Is SPOTFIRE R/ST point-of-care testing feasible to implement into routine care? Is SPOTFIRE R/ST point-of-care testing clinically useful to optimise antimicrobial use in patients with acute respiratory infections? What are the challenges and opportunities of the testing?

Methods/Analysis: The student will be part of a feasibility study in an urgent care clinic in Victoria. The student’s day-to-day activities include data management and analysis and reporting. Student will learn and perform statistical analysis for the collected data with the help of a biostatistician. Student will also analyse post-study interviews data collected from nurses to better understand the challenges and opportunities of implementing the testing into routine patient care.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2626

Name: Sajal Kumar Saha

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Project Title: Exploring Clinician Experiences of using Point-of-Care C-reactive Protein Testing for Respiratory Infections in Primary Care: A Qualitative Study

Research Area: Infection

Location: Barwon Health - Geelong

Project Type: Hons GCert

Project Background: Diagnostic uncertainty in acute respiratory infections (ARIs), including sore throat, contributes to inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and antimicrobial resistance in primary care. Point-of-care tests such as Afinion™ 2 (C-reactive protein) and FebriDx® (C-reactive protein and myxovirus resistance A) may support clinical decision-making and antimicrobial stewardship. However, successful implementation depends on clinician acceptance, workflow integration, and perceived usefulness. Understanding clinician experiences and implementation challenges is essential to support broader adoption in primary care settings.

Research Question: What are clinicians’ experiences and perceptions towards implementing C-reactive protein point-of-care tests for managing acute respiratory infections in primary care, and what barriers and facilitators influence their integration into routine clinical practice?

Methods/Analysis: The student will support a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with clinicians in GP clinic in Victoria. Activities include interview transcription, coding and thematic analysis with support from supervisor, and identifying barriers and facilitators to implementation. The student will work with supervisors to interpret findings and develop recommendations to support integration of point-of-care testing into routine practice.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None

Project ID: 2662

Name: Garth Stephenson

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Project Title: Placental Oxidative Stress and Sterile Inflammation Linking Exposures to Neurodevelopment Risk

Research Area: Immunity

Location: Waurn Ponds Campus

Project Type: PhD

Project Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with a complex and heterogeneous aetiology. Epidemiological evidence links ASD risk to maternal metabolic and inflammatory exposures during pregnancy, including gestational diabetes, obesity, infection, and multiple gestation. However, the biological mechanisms connecting these exposures to altered fetal brain development remain unclear. The placenta serves as a key immunological and metabolic interface between mother and fetus, and increasing evidence suggests placental stress and immune activation mediate maternal immune activation effects on neurodevelopment. Rather than a single cytokine driver such as IL-6, emerging data indicate a dysregulated placental cytokine network involving danger signalling, inflammatory amplification, immune recruitment, regulatory responses, and tissue repair.

Research Question: Does placental oxidative stress induced immune dysregulation act as a unifying mechanism linking maternal exposures to neurodevelopmental risk, and is IL a key upstream alarmin driving sterile inflammation and downstream cytokine cascades (including IL6, GMCSF, CXCL10, CCL4, IL4, IL‘5, IL13, and IL10) that modulate placental immune states and influence fetal brain development via microglial priming?

Methods/Analysis: Translational human data analysis. Hypoxia pathway analysis. Cell Culture Methods - trophoblast models. Animal Model Methods - Induction of maternal/placental stress, Placental immune profiling (cytokine network analysis), Behavioural Phenotyping. Brain gene expression analysis: qPCR (quantitative PCR). Systems biology and computational modelling.

Project Has Exposure To Blood And/Or Bodily Fluids: No exposure

Project Involves Animal Testing: None