Identifying novel pheno-endotypes in children with chronic cough
(No longer available – student recruited)
Professor Anne Chang AM is an established leading researcher with international recognition in cough, bronchiectasis and evidence based medicine (EBM) related to paediatric respiratory medicine. She has helped develop and apply EBM for respiratory illnesses nationally and internationally.
She is the editor of two EBM series, one on respiratory medicine and the other on Indigenous health.
She will bring her technological expertise related to cutting-edge technologies in the field of molecular biomarkers and delivering a robust foundation for future programmatic growth.
Professor Chang is also responsible for changing paradigms in the investigation and management of pediatric cough leading to earlier diagnosis of bronchiectasis, describing a pre-bronchiectasis condition (PBB), the inclusion of respiratory symptoms in primary care child assessments (Northern Territory and Queensland) and the establishment of the first international Indigenous collaborative respiratory study.
Scholarship details
- Scholarship: $40,000 a year, for three years ($120,000). See the eligibility criteria and how to apply.
- Generous relocation allowances (flights, temporary accommodation on arrival)
- Location: Multiple locations including Darwin/Brisbane/Alice Springs/Sydney
- Start time: Between January 5 and March 31 in 2024
Project details
Chronic wet cough (CWC)is among the commonest symptoms of chronic lung disease. In Australia, the most common cause of child CWC is protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB), a clinical entity we first described, and now shown to be a precursor to bronchiectasis which causes substantial morbidity and mortality, especially from acute respiratory exacerbations (REs).
Novel gene expression (GE) signatures are proven biomarkers for REs and provide molecular mechanistic insights. Lung inflammation in children with persistent CWC is an important driver of ongoing and progressive tissue damage, leading to bronchiectasis, highlighting the need for optimal care in preventing irreversible lung damage and improving clinical outcomes.
Biomarkers add to clinical decision-making by informing diagnosis during stable and acute phases of disease, making them useful for diagnostic and disease progression monitoring, as well as patient’s response to therapy.
Biomarkers that reflect pulmonary and systemic effects of CWC in the spectrum of PBB through to bronchiectasis, may provide a measure of disease progression, however no such marker currently exists.
Strengthening molecular surveillance to inform on the safe and effective radical cure of Plasmodium vivax
(No longer available – student recruited)
Associate Professor Sarah Auburn is a molecular biologist with internationally recognized expertise in malaria genomic epidemiology. She leads the vivaxGEN research program, a global collaboration developing genetic and genomic surveillance tools for P. vivax.
Professor Auburn has supervisors four PhD candidates (one to completion, with three ongoing).
Scholarship details
- Scholarship: $40,000 a year, for three years ($120,000). See the eligibility criteria and how to apply.
- Generous relocation allowances (flights, temporary accommodation on arrival)
- Location: Multiple locations including Darwin/Brisbane/Alice Springs/Sydney
- Start time: Between January 5 and March 31 in 2023
Project details
The project spans a wide range of techniques, with training opportunities across molecular biology, bioinformatics, diagnostics and biostatistics. The supervisory panel comprise a diverse and multidisciplinary team with expertise in the respective fields.
Plasmodium vivaxis a major public health burden particularly in children and pregnant women. P. vivax forms dormant liver stages(hypnozoites)that can relapse weeks to months after the primary infection. The only antimalarial drugs that can kill hypnozoitesare the 8-aminoquinoline (8AQ) drugs, which can cause severe haemolysis in people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a common enzymopathy.
The project will generate parasite and host genotyping data on >3,000 samples from four provinces collected from surveys and trials conducted between 2016-2022.G6PD polymorphisms associated with enzymed efficiency will be identified using MinION sequencing of the G6PD gene.
Parasite genotyping will be used to aid resolution of relapse, recrudescence and reinfection events in patients with recurrent parasitemia. We will use this data to quantify the risk of relapse following different primaquine treatment regimens.
The Future of Education Equity in Remote Australia
(No longer available – student recruited)
Kalinda Griffiths
Dr Kalinda Griffiths work addresses complex health disparities in populations by using existing administrative data. She holds honorary positions at the University of Sydney and Menzies School of Health Research and is deputy editor of the Health Promotion Journal of Australia.
Her research currently addresses issues of quality and the utilisation of Indigenous data with a focus on data governance, measurement and cancer care and outcomes.
Dr Griffiths is the recipient of a number of awards.
Notably, she was awarded the Northern Territory Young Australian of the Year in 2011 and more recently, the 2019 Lowitja Institute Emerging Researcher Award. She is also a 2019-2021 Science and Technology Australia Superstar of STEM.
Scholarship details
- Scholarship: $40,000 a year, for three years ($120,000). See the eligibility criteria and how to apply.
- Generous relocation allowances (flights, temporary accommodation on arrival)
- Location: Multiple locations including Darwin/Brisbane/Alice Springs/Sydney
- Start time: Between January 5 and March 31 in 2023
Project details
This project will develop an education equity framework within the existing Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre to influence long-term, systemic, and sustainable change in education opportunities in the NT.
Education is a core dimension of social capital and an integral determinant of health, yet half of NT youth do not complete high school, and 63% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the NT do not have employment.
For educational models to be effective in this context, they must address issues of equity and human rights in their engagement strategies, pathways development,policies, systems, and transition mechanisms. This project brings together national and international leaders in health equity measurement, pathways program delivery and diversity and inclusion policy reform in higher education to measure, describe and develop an education equity framework in the NT.
This PhD project brings together an interdisciplinary team of experts in Aboriginal health research,leadership, education, and higher education policy to address issues of international concern in education equity in Northern Australia. It will impact education, training, capacity-building and health workforce through the development of an evidence-based education equity framework for the future of the NT.
