initializeData({"status":1,"result":[{"project_title":"Understanding how the microbiome impacts gut motility in autism","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Elisa Hill,\nProf Ashley Franks","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0434052127, elisa.hill@rmit.edu.au\n0477169590a.franks@latrobe.edu.au","campus":"RMIT Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Gastrointestinal problems including inflammation are commonly experienced by people with autism although the cause is unknown. Many gene mutations affecting the nervous system, including a missense mutation in the Neuroligin-3 gene, are associated with autism (1). It is now well established that the gut microbiome impacts the immune system and gastrointestinal function. \n\nWe hypothesise that Neuroligin-3 mutant mice show altered gut motility which is rescued by treatment with the microbiome-altering drug, AB-2004.\n\nThis project will assess the effect of a microbiome-altering drug (AB-2004) on gut motility in Neuroligin-3 mutant mice and inflammation. Mice will be treated with Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) to cause colitis (inflammation of the colon) and the microbiome will be modified using AB-2004. We will use our published video imaging technique (2, 3) to record gut contractile patterns in an organ bath and detect changes in gut function.\n\nThis project will identify the effects of modifying the microbiome on gut motility in a mouse model of autism and contribute to designing new therapies for clinical applications. \n\n\n1.\tHosie, S., Ellis, M., Swaminathan, M., Ramalhosa, F., Seger, G. O., Balasuriya, G. K., ... & Hill\u2010Yardin, E. L. (2019). Gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients and mice expressing the autism\u2010associated R451C mutation in neuroligin\u20103. Autism Research, 12(7), 1043-1056. \n\n2.\tSwaminathan, M., Hill-Yardin, E., Ellis, M., Zygorodimos, M., Johnston, L. A., Gwynne, R. M., & Bornstein, J. C. (2016). Video imaging and spatiotemporal maps to analyze gastrointestinal motility in mice. JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments), (108), e53828.\n\n3.\tAbo-Shaban, T., Lee, C. Y., Hosie, S., Balasuriya, G. K., Mohsenipour, M., Johnston, L. A., & Hill-Yardin, E. L. (2023). GutMap: A New Interface for Analysing Regional Motility Patterns in ex vivo Mouse Gastrointestinal Preparations. Bio-protocol, 13(19)."},{"project_title":"Investigating sex differences in gut function in autism","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Elisa Hill,\nDr Gayathri Balasuriya","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0434052127, elisa.hill@rmit.edu.au\n0430071515gayathri.balasuriya@rmit.edu.au","campus":"RMIT Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Gastrointestinal problems are commonly experienced by people with autism although the cause is unknown. Many gene mutations affecting the nervous system are associated with autism. We have previously shown that a mutation in the Neuroligin-3 gene alters the enteric nervous system and causes gut dysfunction in male mice (1, 2). The vast majority of autism research has been undertaken in male mice and very little is known about how females are affected. \n\nIn this project, we will assess for changes in gut anatomy and gastrointestinal contractile patterns. To assess anatomical changes, we will measure small intestinal and colon length, as well as caecum weight in wild type and mutant female mice. To determine if gut contractions are altered, we will use our video imaging technique (3, 4) to compare gut motility patterns in wild type and mutant female mice. \n\nThis research will increase our understanding of gastrointestinal dysfunction in females with autism and contribute to designing new therapies.\n\n\n1.\tHosie, S., Ellis, M., Swaminathan, M., Ramalhosa, F., Seger, G. O., Balasuriya, G. K., ... & Hill\u2010Yardin, E. L. (2019). Gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients and mice expressing the autism\u2010associated R451C mutation in neuroligin\u20103. Autism Research, 12(7), 1043-1056.\n\n2.\tSharna, S. S., Balasuriya, G. K., Hosie, S., Nithianantharajah, J., Franks, A. E., & Hill-Yardin, E. L. (2020). Altered caecal neuroimmune interactions in the neuroligin-3R451C mouse model of autism. Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 14, 85.\n\n3.\tSwaminathan, M., Hill-Yardin, E., Ellis, M., Zygorodimos, M., Johnston, L. A., Gwynne, R. M., & Bornstein, J. C. (2016). Video imaging and spatiotemporal maps to analyze gastrointestinal motility in mice. JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments), (108), e53828.\n\n4.\tAbo-Shaban, T., Lee, C. Y., Hosie, S., Balasuriya, G. K., Mohsenipour, M., Johnston, L. A., & Hill-Yardin, E. L. (2023). GutMap: A New Interface for Analysing Regional Motility Patterns in ex vivo Mouse Gastrointestinal Preparations. Bio-protocol, 13(19).\n"},{"project_title":"Epigenetics in immunosenescence: implications to cancer and infections","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nApril Kartikasari","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61 (3) 99257648april.kartikasari@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: Vaccine efficacy is decreased in the elderly, who also experience increased susceptibility to infections and cancers. While age-related immune dysfunction has been extensively studied, underpinning the molecular changes that drive the age-related functional decline of immune cells has proven difficult. Many studies including ours have shown that epigenetic marks including DNA methylation and histone modifications play a fundamental role in determining cell function and identity. These marks are actively modulated by different conditions including stress, lifestyle, sex and age or vaccination. This project will systematically map epigenetic changes that promote age-related immune dysfunction, in the context of human clinical trials. Specifically, this study will underpin molecular epigenetic mechanisms of immunosenescence that are involved in cancer and suboptimal responses to vaccination in the elderly, and may provide leads for novel therapeutic strategies. \nAims: This project is designed to understand cellular and molecular epigenetic mechanisms involved in both innate and adaptive immunosenescence that cause the decline of immune function. \nHypotheses:\n\u2022 Epigenetic mark alterations due to ageing promote dysregulation of immune cell function and may contribute to the increased incidence of cancer and infections in old people\n\u2022 Identification of the changes of epigenetic marks that contribute to the decline of immune function will provide new means of disease prevention and treatment.\nMethods:\nThis study will uncover age-dependent alterations in epigenetic marks that cause increased incidence of cancer and infections as a consequence of age, utilizing in vitro models, animal models and human clinical trials available in the lab. The laboratory uses world-class big-data omics analysis of immune cells, including RNAseq, genome-wide epigenetics, multicolour flowcytometry, cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis, as well as classical immunological techniques, e.g. ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology, proliferation and functional immune-cell assays. "},{"project_title":"Inflammation, immune dysfunction, and molecular changes in cancer","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nApril Kartikasari","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61 (3) 99257648april.kartikasari@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction are significant drivers of cancer development and progression. These factors are also influenced by metabolic and nutritional status, previous infections, and the patient's age. Additionally, molecular changes such as mutations and epigenetic reprogramming of the cancer cells support cancer cell escape from immune surveillance. This project is designed to unravel the complex chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction pathways influenced by such factors, that are significant to cause cancer progression or conversely a positive response to cancer treatment. We will also investigate epigenetic and transcriptomic changes related to cancer and the immune system, to understand the molecular pathways as well as to pinpoint possibilities of using the identified changes as biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic markers or targets of treatment, as well as to optimize treatment. Our projects focus on ovarian cancer, the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Students will have opportunities to learn advanced cellular and molecular immunology techniques, including cutting-edge technologies such as multi-parameter flow cytometry, epigenetic profiling, and blood factor multiplex profiling as well as fundamental skills in cell culture, and human clinical trial sample processing and biobanking from diverse tissues."},{"project_title":"Understanding COVID-19 and improving our immune response to the vaccines. ","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nJennifer Boer","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61 (3) 99257138jennifer.boer@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The Cancer, Ageing and Vaccines Laboratory is currently working to better understand the effects and long-term complications of COVID-19 on the immune system. This project investigates boosting immunity to COVID-19 with different vaccines to promote broad immune responses that recognize viral escape variants. It involves a multi-institutional large scale human trial to address these vital questions. "},{"project_title":"Understanding COVID-19 and and the development of autoimmunity. ","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nKirsty Wilson","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61399258279kirsty.wilson2@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The Cancer, Ageing and Vaccines Laboratory is currently working to better understand the effects and long-term complications of COVID-19 on the immune system. This project compares acute and mild COVID-19 patients over a time course to understand how the virus may be breaking tolerance and causing new autoimmune pathologies."},{"project_title":"Effect of recommended vaccines in elderly populations","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nKirsty Wilson","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61399258279kirsty.wilson2@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Vaccination is an ideal tool to protect against infections in vulnerable populations such as the elderly; however, vaccine efficacy declines with advancing age. Recent studies, including ours, show that there are age- and sex-specific responses to vaccines. On the basis of our large-scale human vaccine trial (DTP and influenza; n=600) in Tasmania we will map how innate immunity differs in humans based on age and sex, and how this affects responses to vaccines. Importantly, DTP and influenza vaccines, given to the elderly together or sequentially, may prevent each other form working optimally. Thus, this study policy implications for vaccine use in the elderly. Understanding the immune system of the elderly, will also underpin in-house development of more effective new generation synthetic vaccines based on nanoparticles.\nAims: The innovative human clinical trial in this project will define the innate immunological imprint following DTP vaccination, and its effect on the induction of subsequent innate and adaptive responses to the seasonal human influenza vaccine. It is designed to specifically study innate immunity and its modulation in the context of an aging immune system, and the effect of sex on vaccination outcomes. \nHypotheses:\n\u2022 DTP vaccination modulates immunity to other stimuli, such as the influenza vaccine.\n\u2022 Baseline immunity and immune imprinting effects will differ between younger adults and the elderly, and females compared to males.\nMethods:\nThe laboratory uses world-class big-data omics analysis of blood immune cells, including RNAseq, epigenetics, multicolour flowcytometry (up to 20 simultaneous markers on cells), cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis (up to 48 analytes at once) as well as classical immunological techniques, e.g. ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology, proliferation and functional T cell assays.\n"},{"project_title":"Enhancing the immune response using nanoparticles and assessing their vaccine potential in animal models of cancer and malaria ","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nKirsty Wilson","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61399258279kirsty.wilson2@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective medical interventions for the prevention of disease. Whilst vaccines are readily available for many diseases, there is a need for vaccines to complex diseases such as malaria and cancer. Vaccines to complex diseases are more difficult to design and manufacture due to the complicated lifecycle of the pathogens that cause the disease, or the multifactorial nature of disease pathology and the resulting immune response. Designing vaccines for complex diseases requires careful consideration of the candidate antigen and generally requires an adjuvant or alternative delivery system to enhance the immune response to the vaccine, particularly regarding inducing a T cell response. Our lab focusses on viral-sized nanoparticles as adjuvanting vaccine delivery systems to improve both the antibody-mediated and cellular immune response. These nanoparticles can either have the vaccine antigen attached to their surface, or be simply mixed with the antigen with a combination of other adjuvants to increase the vaccine response. We are interested in nanoparticles of different materials and compositions to compare to our standard biocompatible and non-inflammatory polystyrene nanoparticles in animal vaccine models, as well as their mechanism of action and how they interact with different cells of the immune system (i.e. with antigen presenting cells). \nAims: This study aims to examine the immune response to vaccines using various nanoparticle formulations and adjuvant combinations and examining how they interact with cells of the immune system to generate a strong immune response, capable of protecting against complex diseases. Hypotheses: Nanoparticles in the viral size range will target antigen presenting cells in the local lymph nodes to elicit a strong vaccine induced immune response dependent on the size and composition of the nanoparticle. We will be able to develop vaccines that effectively prevent an treat severe diseases for which currently there are no effective vaccines.\nMethods: Our laboratory uses new and standard cell biology\/immunology techniques to assess the phenotype and function of immune cells from animal models, including; multicolour flowcytometry (up to 20 simultaneous markers on cells), cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis (Luminex), IVIS imaging, as well as ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology\/immunofluorescence, proliferation and functional T cell assays. There is also potential scope to use RNAseq and epigenetic analysis of immune cell populations, and animal models of cancer and malaria.\n"},{"project_title":"Investigating the anticancer activity of novel drugs","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nSrinivasa Reddy Telukutla","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n61 (3) 99253976srinivasareddy.telukutla@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Synopsis:  This project offers honours students an opportunity to work in Cancer Ageing and Vaccines Lab (CAVA) to explore the anticancer effects of newly developed drugs. Metal-based drugs have been a cornerstone of cancer chemotherapy, with cisplatin being one of the most widely used. However, the effectiveness of such platinum drugs is often limited by their serious side effects and the development of resistance in cancer cells. Therefore, there is a constant need to develop new drugs that can overcome these limitations while retaining or improved anticancer activities. This project aims to investigate the anticancer activity of novel drugs in human cancer cell lines, specifically assessing their cytotoxicity, mode of action, and potential to overcome resistance compared to traditional chemotherapeutics like cisplatin. By employing colorimetric cytotoxicity assays, flowcytometry techniques, students will investigate potential anticancer activity of new drugs, providing valuable insights into their potential therapeutic efficacy profiles.\n\nProject Components:\n1.\tCell Culture:  Culture and maintain human cancer cell lines under standard conditions. Seed cells in appropriate culture vessels for cytotoxicity assays.\n2.\tCytotoxicity assays: Treat cells with varying concentrations of novel drugs. Evaluate cell viability using MTT or Trypan Blue assays and calculate IC50 values using dose-response curves.\n3.\tMechanistic Studies. Analyze cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry after propidium iodide staining and assess apoptosis by detecting DNA damage.\n4.\tDrug Resistance Studies: Establish cisplatin-resistant sublines of cancer cells by continuous exposure to increasing concentrations of cisplatin. Compare the cytotoxic effects of novel drugs in these resistant cells to those in non-resistant counterparts.\n5.\tData Analysis: Perform statistical analysis of data using GraphPad Prism. Interpret the results in the context of the potential therapeutic application of the novel drugs.\n\nExpected Outcomes: Identification of novel drugs with significant anticancer activity and lower IC50 values compared to cisplatin. Investigation into the mechanism of anticancer activity of these compounds, including their ability to induce a DNA damage and apoptosis. The potential of these drugs to overcome cisplatin resistance, offers a basis for future therapeutic development.\n"},{"project_title":"Autoreactive immune responses as biomarkers in cancer","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nRhiane Moody","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\nN\/Arhiane.moody@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Understanding the immune system in various cancers has been critical in designing and improving therapies or in improving prognostic and diagnostic tools. Cells of the adaptive immune system, T and B cells, target cancer cells for elimination by recognition of broad targets. Amongst these targets include self-proteins. While the presence of self-reactive immune cells has been reported, their roles particularly during treatment remain unclear. This project aims to investigate self-reactive immune responses in cancers, using techniques such as ELISA and ELISPOT, to identify novel targets as diagnostic and prognostic markers."},{"project_title":"Analysis of Composite Aerogels fabricated from short sequence peptides.","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Celine Valery,\nMr Brody McDonald","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61399257482, celine.valery@rmit.edu.au\n0467338882brody.mcdonald@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West Campus, Building 223, Module E","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"An aerogel is a solid material which is highly porous, extremely light-weight, low density and have diverse material properties due to the underlying micro and nanoscale structures within the aerogel. This work predominantly focuses on Tachykinin peptides such as Substance P and the ultrashort rationally designed derivatives of these peptides for the purpose of fabricating aerogels; length of 5 to 15 amino acids. The rationally designed peptides have the ability to self-assemble in a pure ethanol environment which makes them perfect candidates for aerogel production as they can be instantly turned into aerogels following self-assembly. Over the last few decades, the importance of peptide self-assembled nanostructures has been highlighted due to their range of potential applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering and as biomolecule sensors. Aerogels have also been translated for use in similar applications, therefore the conjunction of peptide self-assembled systems and aerogels offers significant potential for novel biomedical applications.\n\nIn this project you will learn how to produce and analyse peptide-based hydrogels and aerogels in a PC2 laboratory. We will try and control the morphology of the produced gels using extrusion-based 3D printing. The techniques used will be Rheology, Infrared spectroscopy and 3D bioprinting."},{"project_title":"Examination of Undergraduate Nuclear Medicine students' usage and interactions with LMS (Canvas)","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Clare Smith,\nDr Alicia Corlett","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 3 9925 7414 , clare.smith@rmit.edu.au\n+61 3 9925 7414 alicia.corlett@rmit.edu.au","campus":"201.08 but much of this work can be done online\/ remotely","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This research aims to understand the study habits of undergraduate students enrolled in the Nuclear Medicine stream of the Medical Radiations program, by analysing the time spent engaging with the Learning Management System (LMS), Canvas. The study will compare the time spent by students in Canvas, and their final results, with the aim to better understand student behaviours, and if an optimal time widow for engagement and maximised learning is evident. As well, this study will help current lecturers within the Nuclear Medicine team to better tailor their own online content based off this work and ongoing studies. "},{"project_title":"Clinical History Based Imaging","leader":"","supervisor":"Andrew Kilgour,\nRenee French","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"03 9925 0254, andrew.kilgour2@rmit.edu.au\nNArenee.french@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Can be done remotely","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This is a medical imaging based project will look at the differences between clinical history based imaging and protocol based imaging, and use case studies to determine which philosophy produces the best diagnostic results for patients."},{"project_title":"Antiviral approaches for the treatment of dengue virus infection","leader":"","supervisor":"Natalie Borg,\nSamie Elmazi","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":" 9925 3743, natalie.borg@rmit.edu.au\nsamie.elmazi@rmit.edu.au 9925 3743","campus":"Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease in the world, and due to a lack of FDA-approved treatments or efficacious vaccines, represents an ongoing threat to global health. Prior to 1970 only 9 countries had experienced severe dengue epidemics, but the disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries and 3.9 million people are at risk of infection. Dengue virus uses several host cofactors for its replication, and targeting these host proteins offers a way to block viral replication and circumvent the issue of microbial drug resistance. Our experience in the host-virus interface and protein chemistry provides a unique opportunity to identify critical novel host co-factors that interact with dengue virus proteins. In this project we will characterise a new anti-dengue virus host drug target utilising several approaches including RNA interference (RNAi), coimmunoprecipitation, enzymatic assays, analytical ultracentrifugation, and X-ray crystallography."},{"project_title":"Simulated Y-site compatibility of drugs commonly used in Neonatal Intensive care unit (NICU) ","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Ayman Allahham,\nDr Vivek Nooney and Dr Thilini Thrimawithana","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 3 9925 7998, ayman.allahham@rmit.edu.au\n+61399257125vivek.nooney@rmit.edu.au and Thilini.thrimawithana@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Building 201.09.20","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Introduction\nNeonates and Children in younger years in some instances require intensive care support depending on the level of illness. Often patients in this category are unable to use their oral route for medicines and food, due to dependency on respiratory supports requiring intubation, poorly functioning intestines, and regular corrective surgeries requiring continued nil by mouth status.\nFluid balance taking into account input and output of fluids is critical to minimise fluid accumulation. Fluid output is dependent on the kidney function which may also be impacted during times of acute illness such as Septic shock. Sepsis secondary to infection is one of the most common reasons for NICU, along with short-bowel syndrome, bowel perforations and atresia of the oesophagus requiring surgical interventions, meningitis, hydrocephalus, and persistent pulmonary hypertension.\nTo maintain fluid intake and nutrition, intra venous fluids containing higher concentrations of Glucose and electrolytes are often used to minimise the fluid volume. However, patients in NICU often require other IV medicines. Some of the commonly used medicines are calcium gluconate, metronidazole, benzyl penicillin sodium, noradrenaline, adrenaline, milrinone, sildenafil, octreotide, vasopressin and so forth. This creates a need for Y site infusions whereby the medicines being infused come into contact with continuous IV fluids that contain combination of Glucose 10%, Sodium Chloride 0.225% and Potassium 20mmol\/L (GSP). There is a lack of evidence on the physical and chemical compatibility of medicines when they mix at Y -site despite this being practiced in NICU1,2.\nObjectives:\n\u2022\tTo validate the HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) methods or any other relevant methods used to determine the concentration of various medicines commonly used in NICU.\n\u2022\tTo test the physical and chemical compatibility of commonly used medicines in varying concentrations and conditions in combination with key IV fluids like GSP in a simulated Y-site.\nNote: Students working on the project will develop many skills including characterisation, analysis, problem solving, risk assessments as well as research skills and working in a team.\n"},{"project_title":"Study human placental development using stem cells ","leader":"","supervisor":"Professor Guiying Nie,\nDr Yao Wang","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"03 9925 7274 , guiying.nie@rmit.edu.au\n03 9925 7274 yao.wang2@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The placenta is a transient yet critical organ that develops during pregnancy to nourish and protect the conceptus. It functions as the gut, lung and kidney of the growing fetus while these crucial organs are still developing, hence optimal development and function of the placenta is critical to fetal growth and well-being. In addition, the placenta produces hormones and other factors to influence the physiology of the mother to support pregnancy. Unfortunately, if the placenta doesn\u2019t develop or function properly, the fetus will be inevitably affected, and pregnancy complications arise. However, we don\u2019t know a lot about human placental development. Recently we have discovered a very special protein that is produced only by the human placenta, and abnormal regulation of this protein is associated with certain pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. In this study, we will leverage placental stem cells (isolated from first trimester placentas) to investigate the role of protein of our interest in placental cell differentiation and function. The study will utilize techniques such as mammalian cell culture, immunofluorescence, ELISA, real-time RT-PCR, CRISPR-CAS9 technology, RNAseq and proteomics. The results will provide important insights into placental development in the human."},{"project_title":"Bachelor of nursing responses to generative AI in designing teaching, learning & assessment: An integrative review","leader":"","supervisor":"Rebecca Millar,\nTBA","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0399250535, rebecca.millar@rmit.edu.au\nTBATBA","campus":"Off campus\/Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The use of generative artificial intelligence ('AI') is creating a new challenge for nursing academics. It is crucial that students graduate from a nursing degree with the required competencies to practice safely. Arguably, students who use AI may pass a degree and become registered without having gained those competencies, despite having completed the degree. The aim of this study is to investigate the nursing academic response to this challenge\\and identify how student learning and assessment has changed as a result. "},{"project_title":"The changing delivery of a Bachelor of Nursing: Implications for soft skills and workplace competencies","leader":"","supervisor":"Rebecca Millar,\nTBA","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0399250535, Rebecca.millar@rmit.edu.au\nTBATBA","campus":"Bundoora\/City\/Off campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The past five years have seen a push to increase the number of employment ready nurses in Australia and worldwide. As a result, student enrollments are at an all-time high. At the same time, Higher Education is increasingly becoming more customer focused and has been criticized as risking authentic pedagogy for customer ratings and marketability. These issues become significant when determining policy around assessment submission extensions and the use of traditional assessment methods such as exams which have been found to have direct relationships with student experience satisfaction. Arguably, exams can help to prepare students to perform well under pressure. Hard line submission dates provide practice in working to due dates and planning time. These issues are further complication by the omnipresent issue of generative artificial intelligence. With so much technology inbuilt into our everyday lives, is knowing where to capitalize and where to place a comma a relevant academic skill? Little is known about how academics perceive the changing landscape of teaching and learning in Higher Education and the implications for teaching and learning soft skills in a Bachelor of Nursing. This study will use a survey method to explore nursing academics perspectives about teaching and learning soft skills in a Bachelor of Nursing. "},{"project_title":"Comparison of digital vs conventional microscopy.","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr. Jane Moon,\nDr. Rosie Zakaria","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0412609232, jane.moon@rmit.edu.au\n99257668Rosita Zakaria <rosita.zakaria@rmit.edu.au>","campus":"223,2,24","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"You will be comparing Cellavision and manual microscopy: two methods used in the laboratory setting to analyze blood samples. They both serve the purpose of identifying and counting blood cells and other cellular features."},{"project_title":"Development of a Digital Educational Intervention to Enhance Safe Use of Complementary Medicines","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr. Wejdan Shahin,\nDr. Thilini Thrimawithana","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"03 9925 7125, wejdan.shahin@rmit.edu.au\n03 9925 7125thilini.thrimawithana@rmit.edu.au","campus":"RMIT Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The use of complementary medicines (CMs) such as herbal remedies, vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements has become increasingly prevalent in healthcare practices. However, many consumers lack sufficient knowledge about the safety, efficacy, and potential adverse effects of these products. This project aims to address these gaps through the development of an educational intervention.\nThe project will focus on developing a digital intervention specifically designed to improve health literacy and promote the safe use of CMs. Tailored to meet the needs of a high-risk group, the intervention may take the form of an interactive multimedia platform or a mobile application, ensuring that the education provided is both engaging and accessible. \nThe importance of this project lies in its potential to significantly impact public health. By providing consumers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about CMs, the intervention aims to reduce the risks associated with their use and promote safer practices. \n"},{"project_title":"Defining the impact of abortive HIV RNA in the brain on neuropathology","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Melissa Churchill,\nDr Thomas Angelovich","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61399256657, melissa.churchill@rmit.edu.au\n99256066thomas.angelovich@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Despite successful viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain a major clinical problem affecting ~40% people with HIV. These syndromes lead to cognitive impairment and are significant health, economic and social problems for those affected. The mechanisms causing neurocognitive disorders in people with HIV are unclear, but likely involve both viral persistence in the brain and ongoing immune activation and inflammation which persists despite ART treatment. \n\nOur laboratory recently demonstrated that short abortive HIV RNA transcripts are present in the brain of people with HIV, including in those treated with ART. However, the location and impact of these short HIV RNA transcripts on cellular function in the brain is unclear. Whether these HIV RNA transcripts can be therapeutically targeted is also unknown.\n\nIn this project students will utilise a large cohort of human brain tissue samples from people who died with HIV to identify and characterise HIV RNA transcripts in brain cells using highly sensitive multiplex imaging and molecular techniques. The subcellular location and ability of these transcripts to be exported from HIV containing cells and activate the local cellular environment will be measured in vitro. Finally, inhibitors of RNA transport will be assessed.\n\nFindings from this study will provide insight in the ability of short abortive HIV RNA to activate and damage the local cellular environment in the brain. \n"},{"project_title":"Defining the impact of HIV persistence in the brain on neuronal activity","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Melissa Churchill,\nDr Thomas Angelovich","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61399256657, melissa.churchill@rmit.edu.au\n99256066thomas.angelovich@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"HIV is a global health burden affecting >37M people and to date no cure exists. Despite treatment strategies with anti-HIV drugs improving health outcomes in patients, ~20% of people living with HIV develop a form of cognitive disorder that can contribute to memory loss and reduced ability to live and function independently. However, to date the mechanisms driving cognitive disorders in people living with HIV are unclear. \n\nNeurons play a key role in the brain acting to transmit messages throughout the brain and body that control executive thought, function and movement. While HIV does not directly infect neurons, our laboratory has demonstrated that HIV integrates and persists in resident microglia cells of the brain which may have a follow-on effect on neurons of the brain. However, the impact of HIV persistence on neuronal activation is unclear. \n\nIn this project students will employ a range of laboratory techniques such as immunohistochemistry, qPCR and ELISA on human clinical samples from people living with HIV to assess neuronal activation and integrity. Ex vivo models of brain tissue will also be used to understand basic principles of neuronal dysfunction in the presence of HIV.\n\nFindings from this study will aid our understanding as to whether HIV persistence in the brain contributes to brain disorders in people living with HIV.\n"},{"project_title":"Investigating lipid release in epithelial cell injury models of lung fibrosis","leader":"","supervisor":"Steven Bozinovski,\nChristian Aloe, Jonathan McQualter, Elizabeth Verghese","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"9925 6674, steven.bozinovski@rmit.edu.au\ntbachristian.aloe@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Building 223, Module D","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This honours project will explore the release of various lipid classes from epithelial cells subjected to different injuries. These models are designed to simulate different pathological conditions contributing to lung fibrosis. The study will focus on three primary inducers of epithelial cell injury: silica (an occupational hazard), oxidative stress induced by cigarette smoke and\/or iron, and polyinosinic acid (PolyIC) as a viral mimetic. \n\nThe project will utilize a combination of cell culture, cell viability assays, ELISA, and PCR techniques to evaluate cell damage, lipid release, and the cellular responses associated with fibrosis. Conducted in the Airways Inflammation Research Laboratory, led by Professor Steven Bozinovski, this research aims to enhance our understanding of the consequences associated with epithelial cell injury, and to elucidate a fundamental driver of lung fibrosis.\n"},{"project_title":"Investigating novel molecular mechanisms for lung sarcoidosis","leader":"","supervisor":"Steven Bozinovski,\nHao Wang, Elizabeth Verghese","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"99256674, steven.bozinovski@rmit.edu.au\ntbahao.wang@rmit.edu.au","campus":"B223, Module D","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition of unknown origin that primarily affects the lungs, leading to the formation of granulomas. This can result in symptoms such as reduced lung function, pulmonary hypertension, and, in severe cases, pulmonary fibrosis. Although corticosteroids are commonly used to treat sarcoidosis, some patients do not respond to these therapies. This underscores the need for new treatment options, a challenge compounded by our limited understanding of the disease mechanisms.\n\nRecent studies have highlighted the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway as a crucial factor in sarcoidosis, as evidenced by mouse model research. Additionally, neutrophils have been implicated in the disease\u2019s resistance to treatment. Our lab has developed a preclinical mouse model of lung sarcoidosis through systemic exposure to vimentin and has tested a novel biological therapy within this model. In this project, you will investigate archived lung specimens from these studies to explore the roles of mTOR signaling and neutrophil infiltration using techniques such as immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blotting (WB), and RT-qPCR. This research aims to deepen our understanding and contribute to the development of more effective treatments for lung sarcoidosis.\n"},{"project_title":"Using autofluorescence (AFL) to assess concussion-related brain damage","leader":"","supervisor":"Sarah Spencer,\nTBD","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"9925 7745, sarah.spencer@rmit.edu.au\nTBDTBD","campus":"Bundoora campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is challenging because it often relies on mild, transient, non-specific, and subjective symptoms that do not accurately portray the extent of brain damage. \n\nCurrent TBI diagnostics involve on-site questionnaires and clinical assessments of behavior that are non-specific, time-dependent, and unable to reliably detect mild TBI4. Later assessments involve scans such as MRI or positron emission tomography (PET) that are expensive, cumbersome, time consuming, and not appropriate for field deployment. Conventional imaging can also fail to detect subtle damage. Blood biomarkers for TBI diagnosis and prognosis are emerging, but also face significant hurdles before implementation, including that they are technologically demanding and not specific to TBI4. \n\nCurrent understanding of TBI is also lacking. It is based largely on models where rodents are given an isolated experimental brain injury and are then subsequently culled for brain damage assessment. To examine the time course of neurological damage in any detail, and the success or otherwise of any treatments, vast numbers of animals are needed for this approach. Advances in transgenic tools allow for fluorescently tagging proteins of interest so that cells expressing fluorescent markers can be visualized through a cranial window. However, these tools are limited to the one or handful of cells and proteins directly expressing the fluorescent tag(s) and do not provide information on brain health as a whole. \n\nClearly, new technologies are needed to diagnose TBI and prognose recovery, as well as to visualize the brain in real time to understand how TBI develops in various contexts and to assess the success of any treatment interventions. Our project will provide this new technology by exploiting the fact that the eye\u2019s retina behaves in the same way as the rest of the brain in response to injury, together with our finding that central nervous system (CNS) immune cells are highly autofluorescent (naturally bright) and that this brightness can reflect brain damage. \n"},{"project_title":"Navigating the Digital Frontier: Newly Graduated Nurses' Experiences with Digital Health Technologies in Clinical Practice","leader":"","supervisor":"Ruby Walter,\nProfessor Karen Livesay","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"99257429, ruby.walter@rmit.edu.au\n99257070karen.livesay@rmit.edu.au","campus":"On or off campus - project would involve interviews and is not lab based. ","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"How do newly graduated nurses experience and adapt to the use of digital health technologies in their clinical practice, and what challenges and benefits do they encounter?\n\nObjectives:\n\nTo explore the experiences of newly graduated nurses with digital health technologies in their initial practice settings.\n\nTo identify the challenges and benefits associated with the use of these technologies from the perspective of novice nurses."},{"project_title":"Biological Properties of Melanoidins and their anti-viral activity","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof. Vasso Apostolopoulos,\nJack Feehan","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0421 374 037, vasso.apostolopoulos@rmit.edu.au\n0438 273 902jack.feehan@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Melanoidins are dark, brown-coloured nitrogen containing, high molecular weight polymers, found in a wide variety of foods and beverages consumed by humans.  They are formed in the end-stages of the Maillard Reaction (MR), when reducing sugars and amino acids chemically interact during heat processing.\n\nSuch foods and beverages originating from plants also contain micronutrient phytochemicals, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids. These can become incorporated into melanoidin structures during the MR process, modifying their biological properties.  \n\nBoth melanoidins and polyphenols co-exist in many foods\/diets, and jointly share some key in vitro and in vivo biological attributes such as antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory, enzyme inhibition, antimicrobial, cell signalling and immunomodulatory properties. These similarities are offset by their significant differences in their origins, size, structure, digestive pathways, and in vivo metabolism.\n\nIn this project, you will synthesise melanoidins from common sugars, and validate the resulting compounds through analytical chemistry. Following synthesis and validation, you will evaluate the effect of the melanoidins on immune cells, and microbial cultures, to examine their use in the treatment of infectious disease. \n"},{"project_title":"The effect of carnosine on insulin production in vitro","leader":"","supervisor":"Jack Feehan,\nProf. Vasso Apostolopoulos","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0438 273 902, jack.feehan@rmit.edu.au\n0421374037vasso.apostolopoulos@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Carnosine is a naturally occurring dietary dipeptide, which has a range of anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-glycating properties in humans and animals. In our previous work, we have also shown that carnosine imparts a glucose lowering effect in both animal models, and humans with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It has been suggested that his occurs through and insulinogenic action, with carnosine acting to increase insulin secretion, therefore lowering glucose levels in the blood - however this has never been shown, and any mechanisms are unclear. \n\nIn this study, you will evaluate the effect of carnosine on the EndoC-\u03b2H1 pancreatic cell line - a validated, insulin secreting model of pancreatic function. Cells will be expanded in culture, both in a monolayer as well as in pseudo islets, mimicking in vivo conditions, and then treat them with carnosine in vitro. You will then analyse the effects on insulin secretion, as well as potential mechanisms underpinning the effects shown in vitro."},{"project_title":"Defining the molecular impacts of cigarette smoke exposure on skeletal muscle stem cell function.","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Stanley Chan,\nProf Ross Vlahos","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"613 9925 7353, stanley.chan@rmit.edu.au\n613 9925 7362ross.vlahos@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Level 2, Module D, Level 2, Building 223\nBundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating disease characterised by progressive airflow limitation. Cigarette smoking is the major cause of COPD. Patients with COPD often suffer from severe skeletal muscle wasting, which increases their risk of death and reduces quality of life. The causative mechanism linking cigarette smoking to skeletal muscle health is unclear. Satellite cells are muscle stem cells that are responsible for muscle growth and repair, hence the maintenance of muscle mass. At rest, these cells reside in a quiescent state; but are rapidly activated and recruited to the site of injury. Recent data from our laboratory demonstrated that cigarette smoking may impact on the activation of muscle stem cells leading to exacerbated skeletal muscle injury in mice. However, the exact action of cigarette smoke exposure on muscle stem cell function remains poorly understood. The present project will explore the effects of cigarette smoke exposure on skeletal muscle stem cell viability and function. \n\nThe student will learn about isolation of skeletal muscle stem cell, cell culture, cell viability assay, real-time cell metabolic analysis using the Seahorse AnalyserTM, immunostaining and microscopy. This project will provide proof-of-concept data on stem cell targeting therapies for treating muscle wasting in people with chronic lung disease.\n"},{"project_title":"Machine Learning for Predicting Muscle Wasting in COPD Patients (Using -Omics Data)","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Stanley Chan,\nDr Azadeh Alavi","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"613 9925 7353, stanley.chan@rmit.edu.au\n613 9925 7353azadeh.alavi@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West or City Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease characterized by chronic inflammation and airflow limitation, often exacerbated by muscle wasting, which severely impacts patient outcomes(1). While lung proteomics offers a detailed view of the molecular changes in COPD, the complexity and high dimensionality of this data present challenges in identifying relevant biomarkers. Recent advancements in machine learning provide powerful tools for analysing large datasets, enabling the discovery of key features that correlate with clinical outcomes. This project aims to develop and apply machine learning algorithms for feature selection based on lung proteomics data and correlate these findings with lung inflammation and muscle wasting parameters in a preclinical model of COPD.\n\nAims:\n1.\tIntegrate lung proteomics data from a well-established preclinical model of COPD, including data related to lung inflammation and muscle wasting.\n2.\tDevelop and apply machine learning algorithms to identify key proteomic features that correlate with lung inflammation and muscle wasting parameters. \n3.\tExplore the use of unsupervised learning methods, such as clustering and principal component analysis (PCA), to identify patterns and reduce data dimensionality while preserving biologically relevant information.\n\nExpected outcomes: Development of robust machine learning algorithms capable of efficiently selecting key proteomic features that are predictive of lung inflammation and muscle wasting in a preclinical model of COPD. These algorithms will enhance the ability to uncover critical biomarkers, leading to a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and potentially informing the development of more targeted therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, the methodologies and tools developed in this project can be adapted for broader applications in other complex diseases, demonstrating the utility of machine learning in advancing biomedical research.\n\nThe student will gain hands-on experience in data science, particularly in the application of machine learning to biomedical data. They will develop skills in data pre-processing, algorithm development, and feature selection, all of which are critical for analysing complex omics data. Additionally, the student will learn how to interpret and validate machine learning findings in a biological context, preparing them for further research in computational biology, bioinformatics, or translational medicine.\n"},{"project_title":"Understanding the impacts of transthyretin on brain development","leader":"","supervisor":"Bobbi Fleiss,\nJess Holien","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"bobbi.fleiss@rmit.edu.au, bobbi.fleiss@rmit.edu.au\nJess.Holien@rmit.edu.auJess.Holien@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora.","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"In vertebrates, thyroid hormones are crucial in promoting myelination, the wrapping of neuronal axons with lipid insulation created by oligodendrocytes that ensures the optimal transduction of electrical signals 1. Thus, genetic deletion of the brain\u2019s primary distributor of the thyroid hormone, transthyretin (TTR), would be expected to decrease myelination. Remarkably, we found the opposite effect in TTR null mice 2,3 \u2013 TTR KO mice displayed a hypermyelination, and we have new data preliminary data supporting this finding in an oligodendrocyte cell line. This finding exposes a gap in our fundamental understanding of the role of this evolutionarily conserved protein in brain development.  Further gaps exist because we only studied animals in the late neonatal stage and didn\u2019t explore the impacts of sex on the role of TTR. \nThis project will use tissues collected from male and female TTR KO mice to explore basic brain development in detail from the earliest stages of life through adulthood. It will use immunohistological techniques that are routinely applied in our lab, providing opportunities to learn and collaborate with multiple team members.  The data from this project will be published as part of a larger study of the TTR mice. No collection of tissues from live animals is required, but experience in this can be provided if desired. The student will receive in-depth, hands-on training and work as part of a large team. However, this project is best suited to a student with the drive to optimise the established analysis approaches for this project and delve into the literature to comprehend the impact of TTR in brain development with independence. "},{"project_title":"Understanding lung cell responses to respiratory viral infection. ","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Mark Miles,\nProf Stavros Selemidis","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 3 9925 0743, mark.miles@rmit.edu.au\n+613 9925 7182stavros.selemidis@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Building 223 Level 2, Module D. Bundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: Respiratory viruses such as influenza A virus (IAV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infect millions of people globally each year causing significant morbidity and mortality particularly in high-risk individuals such as the young, elderly, immunocompromised and those with pre-existing respiratory illness. Host inflammatory responses to infection are critical for controlling viral replication and establishing immunity, and these processes are mediated by an intricate network of various cell types at various stages of infection. The type of cellular response can therefore influence the severity of the disease, including any subsequent sequalae that can give rise to chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma. The lung is made up of a plethora of cell types including epithelial, endothelial, and immune cells each with distinct functions that respond directly or indirectly to viral infection. Our laboratory has demonstrated immunostimulatory properties of important families of pattern recognition receptors in driving antiviral and\/or proinflammatory signalling pathways, and it is unclear the degree to which certain cell types engage these receptors and contribute to inflammatory responses to viral infection. This project will utilize cell-based models to interrogate inflammatory responses in various cell types to live viral infection. \nAims: This project aims to compare the antiviral and inflammatory responses in lung cell types to respiratory viral infection.\nOutcomes: Conclusions from this project will help in unravelling novel therapeutic targets that may aid in reducing disease-related morbidity. \nStudent learning: You will learn a range of techniques including cell culture, RNA\/protein extractions, qPCR analysis, western blotting, ELISA, multiplex immunoassays, and flow cytometry.\n\n\n"},{"project_title":"The consequences of respiratory viral infections on neurodevelopment","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Stella Liong,\nProf Stavros Selemidis","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 3 9925 7183, stella.liong@rmit.edu.au\n613 9925 7182stavros.selemidis@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Building 223, Level 2, Module D, Bundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: Viral infections during pregnancy or early life are associated with neurodevelopmental defects and cognitive impairments in the offspring. It is postulated that viral infections can trigger schizophrenia by disrupting developing inhibitory circuits during early life development, however the precise aetiology remains unknown. Moreover, current antipsychotic drugs can only manage psychosis of already diagnosed individuals. There are no available therapeutics that can prevent psychosis development in at-risk individuals. Animal models play an important role in exploring how viruses can cause latent psychosis and unveil mechanisms of schizophrenia pathogenesis for therapeutic targeting. In this project, using a mouse model, students will examine the effects of influenza A virus infection during pregnancy and respiratory syncytial virus infection during early life on neuroinflammation in the adult offspring. \n\nAims: To understand the effects of respiratory viral infections during pregnancy or in early life on offspring neurodevelopment.\n\nOutcomes: This project will allow us to develop better pharmacological strategies that target viral-induced neuroinflammation in early life to prevent the onset of neurological disorders in adulthood.\n\nStudent learning: You will learn a range of techniques including RNA extractions, RNA-seq and qPCR analysis, western blotting, ELISA, multiplex immunoassays, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry.\n\n\n\n\n"},{"project_title":"Internet of Things smart home system to support the elderly aging in place-A systematic review","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr. Jianxia Zhai,\nProf. Kristine Martin-McDonald","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0451995388, jianxia.zhai@rmit.edu.au\n0438331417kris.martin-mcdonald@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora Campus, hybrid","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: \nDespite the remarkable development in smart home monitoring technology, a systematic literature review on Internet of Things smart home system implementation in particular barriers and enablers is lacking.  \nAim: \nTo explore current evidence of smart home technologies for elderly care by conducting a systematic review.\nMethods: \nThe systematic review will be conducted in adherence with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 reporting guideline. The systematic literature search is to be performed in electronic databases. Relevant studies will be selected as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Title and abstract screening followed by full text review will be conducted. Qualitative and quantitative synthesis will be undertaken independently by two researchers. \nEthics and dissemination:\n This study will collate and analyse anonymised data from published research and therefore, ethical approval is not necessary. Study results will be disseminated via publication in academic journals.\n\n"},{"project_title":"Bridging Educational Divides: A Qualitative Study of International Nursing Students from Different Education Systems Adapting to Higher Education in Australia","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Ruby Walter,\nRebecca Millar","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"99257429, ruby.walter@rmit.edu.au\n99250535rebecca.millar@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora campus & off-campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This qualitative project would examine the experiences of international nursing students from countries with education systems markedly different from Australia\u2019s, focusing on how they adapt to and navigate the Australian higher education environment. \n1.\tHow do international nursing students from education systems significantly different from Australia\u2019s experience adapting to Australian higher education?\n2.\tWhat specific challenges do these students encounter due to the differences in educational approaches, practices, and expectations?\n3.\tWhat strategies and resources do these students utilize to overcome the challenges associated with these differences?\n\n"},{"project_title":"Using quantitative sensory tests to evaluate the preventive effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy ","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Zhen Zheng ,\nDr George Lenon","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"9925 7167, Zhen.zheng@rmit.edu.au\n99256587George.lenon@rmit.edu.au","campus":"It will be at the NH Cancer service. The external supervisor Prof Wanda Stelmach and Dr Frances Barnett will supervise the conduct of the study at NH ","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This honours project will be embedded in a PhD project, which is a randomised wait-list controlled clinical trial and will assess the protective effect and safety profile of tailored acupuncture treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a condition occurring in 50 \u2013 70% of cancer patients. CIPN impairs the quality of life of patients and causes a reduction of chemo-therapy dose or suspension of the therapy. Previous studies have shown that acupuncture alleviates existing CIPN, but few studies have examined its protective effect. \nThe PhD project will focus on the clinical outcomes, whereas this honours project will focus on objective measures obtained from using quantitative sensory tests (QST). The QST tests will include measuring sensitivity to vibration, tactile, cool and warm sensations. Sixty cancer patients who plan to undergo chemo-therapy at Norther Health Cancer Service will be recruited in 2025 to take part in the acupuncture trial. Acupuncture will be delivered before the commencement of and during the chemotherapy for 30 weeks. \nThe aims of the project are 1) to assess if participants in the acupuncture group will experience no or less sensory deterioration compared with the wait-list control group; 2) to assess if the protective effect as assessed with QST is maintained 4 weeks after the cession of acupuncture. \n"},{"project_title":"Effects of natural bioactives on pancreatic cancer cells","leader":"","supervisor":"Vasso Apostolopoulos,\nJack Feehan","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"99252000, Vasso.Apostolopoulos@rmit.edu.au\n99252000Jack.Feehan@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of only 5-7%. The treatment options are severely limited, primarily due to the late stage at diagnosis, the tumour's resistance to chemotherapy, and the poor suitability for surgical resection. Current treatment strategies are inadequate, and there is a pressing need for novel therapeutic approaches to address these challenges. Our research into natural bioactives represents a significant and innovative step in cancer therapy, particularly for PDAC In this project you will work on determining the effects of natural bioactives on different pancreatic cancer cell lines with different genetic mutations. You will lean techniques such as, WST-8, EdU, (proliferation assays) apopotosis assays, cytokine assays, western blots, mRNA extractions, gene analysis, mitochondrial assays. "},{"project_title":"Force-time characteristics of a simulated spinal manipulation technique: a comparative study of students and professionals","leader":"","supervisor":"Azharuddin Fazalbhoy,\nDanielle Baxter","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"9925 7655, azharuddin.fazalbhoy@rmit.edu.au\n9925 7647danielle.baxter@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Pre-professional training for chiropractic and osteopathy students requires them to learn the safe and effective delivery of manual therapy skills. This includes the skillful, effective, and safe delivery of spinal manipulation technique. Current practices involve students primarily acquiring the skills through demonstration from clinical educators and practice through peer-to-peer learning. Appreciation of safe and effective optimal force has not been standardised in the literature making it significantly challenging for clinical learning and teaching approaches.   \n\nWe have recently shown that forces generated by chiropractic and osteopathy students applying spinal manipulation technique in a standardised approach using a Human Analogue Mannequin (HAM) and an instrumented practitioner table that has embedded force sensors demonstrates a loss of pre-thrust force prior to delivery of peak thrust force, thus impacting the delivery of safe and effective technique. The proposed project will compare force-time characteristics of pre-professional students to professional practitioners applying spinal manipulation to determine whether experience in professional practice improves these characteristics. "}],"discipline":{"1":""}}); showSheetData({"status":1,"result":[{"project_title":"Understanding how the microbiome impacts gut motility in autism","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Elisa Hill,\nProf Ashley Franks","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0434052127, elisa.hill@rmit.edu.au\n0477169590a.franks@latrobe.edu.au","campus":"RMIT Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Gastrointestinal problems including inflammation are commonly experienced by people with autism although the cause is unknown. Many gene mutations affecting the nervous system, including a missense mutation in the Neuroligin-3 gene, are associated with autism (1). It is now well established that the gut microbiome impacts the immune system and gastrointestinal function. \n\nWe hypothesise that Neuroligin-3 mutant mice show altered gut motility which is rescued by treatment with the microbiome-altering drug, AB-2004.\n\nThis project will assess the effect of a microbiome-altering drug (AB-2004) on gut motility in Neuroligin-3 mutant mice and inflammation. Mice will be treated with Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) to cause colitis (inflammation of the colon) and the microbiome will be modified using AB-2004. We will use our published video imaging technique (2, 3) to record gut contractile patterns in an organ bath and detect changes in gut function.\n\nThis project will identify the effects of modifying the microbiome on gut motility in a mouse model of autism and contribute to designing new therapies for clinical applications. \n\n\n1.\tHosie, S., Ellis, M., Swaminathan, M., Ramalhosa, F., Seger, G. O., Balasuriya, G. K., ... & Hill\u2010Yardin, E. L. (2019). Gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients and mice expressing the autism\u2010associated R451C mutation in neuroligin\u20103. Autism Research, 12(7), 1043-1056. \n\n2.\tSwaminathan, M., Hill-Yardin, E., Ellis, M., Zygorodimos, M., Johnston, L. A., Gwynne, R. M., & Bornstein, J. C. (2016). Video imaging and spatiotemporal maps to analyze gastrointestinal motility in mice. JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments), (108), e53828.\n\n3.\tAbo-Shaban, T., Lee, C. Y., Hosie, S., Balasuriya, G. K., Mohsenipour, M., Johnston, L. A., & Hill-Yardin, E. L. (2023). GutMap: A New Interface for Analysing Regional Motility Patterns in ex vivo Mouse Gastrointestinal Preparations. Bio-protocol, 13(19)."},{"project_title":"Investigating sex differences in gut function in autism","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Elisa Hill,\nDr Gayathri Balasuriya","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0434052127, elisa.hill@rmit.edu.au\n0430071515gayathri.balasuriya@rmit.edu.au","campus":"RMIT Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Gastrointestinal problems are commonly experienced by people with autism although the cause is unknown. Many gene mutations affecting the nervous system are associated with autism. We have previously shown that a mutation in the Neuroligin-3 gene alters the enteric nervous system and causes gut dysfunction in male mice (1, 2). The vast majority of autism research has been undertaken in male mice and very little is known about how females are affected. \n\nIn this project, we will assess for changes in gut anatomy and gastrointestinal contractile patterns. To assess anatomical changes, we will measure small intestinal and colon length, as well as caecum weight in wild type and mutant female mice. To determine if gut contractions are altered, we will use our video imaging technique (3, 4) to compare gut motility patterns in wild type and mutant female mice. \n\nThis research will increase our understanding of gastrointestinal dysfunction in females with autism and contribute to designing new therapies.\n\n\n1.\tHosie, S., Ellis, M., Swaminathan, M., Ramalhosa, F., Seger, G. O., Balasuriya, G. K., ... & Hill\u2010Yardin, E. L. (2019). Gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients and mice expressing the autism\u2010associated R451C mutation in neuroligin\u20103. Autism Research, 12(7), 1043-1056.\n\n2.\tSharna, S. S., Balasuriya, G. K., Hosie, S., Nithianantharajah, J., Franks, A. E., & Hill-Yardin, E. L. (2020). Altered caecal neuroimmune interactions in the neuroligin-3R451C mouse model of autism. Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 14, 85.\n\n3.\tSwaminathan, M., Hill-Yardin, E., Ellis, M., Zygorodimos, M., Johnston, L. A., Gwynne, R. M., & Bornstein, J. C. (2016). Video imaging and spatiotemporal maps to analyze gastrointestinal motility in mice. JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments), (108), e53828.\n\n4.\tAbo-Shaban, T., Lee, C. Y., Hosie, S., Balasuriya, G. K., Mohsenipour, M., Johnston, L. A., & Hill-Yardin, E. L. (2023). GutMap: A New Interface for Analysing Regional Motility Patterns in ex vivo Mouse Gastrointestinal Preparations. Bio-protocol, 13(19).\n"},{"project_title":"Epigenetics in immunosenescence: implications to cancer and infections","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nApril Kartikasari","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61 (3) 99257648april.kartikasari@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: Vaccine efficacy is decreased in the elderly, who also experience increased susceptibility to infections and cancers. While age-related immune dysfunction has been extensively studied, underpinning the molecular changes that drive the age-related functional decline of immune cells has proven difficult. Many studies including ours have shown that epigenetic marks including DNA methylation and histone modifications play a fundamental role in determining cell function and identity. These marks are actively modulated by different conditions including stress, lifestyle, sex and age or vaccination. This project will systematically map epigenetic changes that promote age-related immune dysfunction, in the context of human clinical trials. Specifically, this study will underpin molecular epigenetic mechanisms of immunosenescence that are involved in cancer and suboptimal responses to vaccination in the elderly, and may provide leads for novel therapeutic strategies. \nAims: This project is designed to understand cellular and molecular epigenetic mechanisms involved in both innate and adaptive immunosenescence that cause the decline of immune function. \nHypotheses:\n\u2022 Epigenetic mark alterations due to ageing promote dysregulation of immune cell function and may contribute to the increased incidence of cancer and infections in old people\n\u2022 Identification of the changes of epigenetic marks that contribute to the decline of immune function will provide new means of disease prevention and treatment.\nMethods:\nThis study will uncover age-dependent alterations in epigenetic marks that cause increased incidence of cancer and infections as a consequence of age, utilizing in vitro models, animal models and human clinical trials available in the lab. The laboratory uses world-class big-data omics analysis of immune cells, including RNAseq, genome-wide epigenetics, multicolour flowcytometry, cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis, as well as classical immunological techniques, e.g. ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology, proliferation and functional immune-cell assays. "},{"project_title":"Inflammation, immune dysfunction, and molecular changes in cancer","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nApril Kartikasari","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61 (3) 99257648april.kartikasari@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction are significant drivers of cancer development and progression. These factors are also influenced by metabolic and nutritional status, previous infections, and the patient's age. Additionally, molecular changes such as mutations and epigenetic reprogramming of the cancer cells support cancer cell escape from immune surveillance. This project is designed to unravel the complex chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction pathways influenced by such factors, that are significant to cause cancer progression or conversely a positive response to cancer treatment. We will also investigate epigenetic and transcriptomic changes related to cancer and the immune system, to understand the molecular pathways as well as to pinpoint possibilities of using the identified changes as biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic markers or targets of treatment, as well as to optimize treatment. Our projects focus on ovarian cancer, the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Students will have opportunities to learn advanced cellular and molecular immunology techniques, including cutting-edge technologies such as multi-parameter flow cytometry, epigenetic profiling, and blood factor multiplex profiling as well as fundamental skills in cell culture, and human clinical trial sample processing and biobanking from diverse tissues."},{"project_title":"Understanding COVID-19 and improving our immune response to the vaccines. ","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nJennifer Boer","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61 (3) 99257138jennifer.boer@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The Cancer, Ageing and Vaccines Laboratory is currently working to better understand the effects and long-term complications of COVID-19 on the immune system. This project investigates boosting immunity to COVID-19 with different vaccines to promote broad immune responses that recognize viral escape variants. It involves a multi-institutional large scale human trial to address these vital questions. "},{"project_title":"Understanding COVID-19 and and the development of autoimmunity. ","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nKirsty Wilson","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61399258279kirsty.wilson2@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The Cancer, Ageing and Vaccines Laboratory is currently working to better understand the effects and long-term complications of COVID-19 on the immune system. This project compares acute and mild COVID-19 patients over a time course to understand how the virus may be breaking tolerance and causing new autoimmune pathologies."},{"project_title":"Effect of recommended vaccines in elderly populations","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nKirsty Wilson","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61399258279kirsty.wilson2@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Vaccination is an ideal tool to protect against infections in vulnerable populations such as the elderly; however, vaccine efficacy declines with advancing age. Recent studies, including ours, show that there are age- and sex-specific responses to vaccines. On the basis of our large-scale human vaccine trial (DTP and influenza; n=600) in Tasmania we will map how innate immunity differs in humans based on age and sex, and how this affects responses to vaccines. Importantly, DTP and influenza vaccines, given to the elderly together or sequentially, may prevent each other form working optimally. Thus, this study policy implications for vaccine use in the elderly. Understanding the immune system of the elderly, will also underpin in-house development of more effective new generation synthetic vaccines based on nanoparticles.\nAims: The innovative human clinical trial in this project will define the innate immunological imprint following DTP vaccination, and its effect on the induction of subsequent innate and adaptive responses to the seasonal human influenza vaccine. It is designed to specifically study innate immunity and its modulation in the context of an aging immune system, and the effect of sex on vaccination outcomes. \nHypotheses:\n\u2022 DTP vaccination modulates immunity to other stimuli, such as the influenza vaccine.\n\u2022 Baseline immunity and immune imprinting effects will differ between younger adults and the elderly, and females compared to males.\nMethods:\nThe laboratory uses world-class big-data omics analysis of blood immune cells, including RNAseq, epigenetics, multicolour flowcytometry (up to 20 simultaneous markers on cells), cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis (up to 48 analytes at once) as well as classical immunological techniques, e.g. ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology, proliferation and functional T cell assays.\n"},{"project_title":"Enhancing the immune response using nanoparticles and assessing their vaccine potential in animal models of cancer and malaria ","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nKirsty Wilson","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61399258279kirsty.wilson2@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective medical interventions for the prevention of disease. Whilst vaccines are readily available for many diseases, there is a need for vaccines to complex diseases such as malaria and cancer. Vaccines to complex diseases are more difficult to design and manufacture due to the complicated lifecycle of the pathogens that cause the disease, or the multifactorial nature of disease pathology and the resulting immune response. Designing vaccines for complex diseases requires careful consideration of the candidate antigen and generally requires an adjuvant or alternative delivery system to enhance the immune response to the vaccine, particularly regarding inducing a T cell response. Our lab focusses on viral-sized nanoparticles as adjuvanting vaccine delivery systems to improve both the antibody-mediated and cellular immune response. These nanoparticles can either have the vaccine antigen attached to their surface, or be simply mixed with the antigen with a combination of other adjuvants to increase the vaccine response. We are interested in nanoparticles of different materials and compositions to compare to our standard biocompatible and non-inflammatory polystyrene nanoparticles in animal vaccine models, as well as their mechanism of action and how they interact with different cells of the immune system (i.e. with antigen presenting cells). \nAims: This study aims to examine the immune response to vaccines using various nanoparticle formulations and adjuvant combinations and examining how they interact with cells of the immune system to generate a strong immune response, capable of protecting against complex diseases. Hypotheses: Nanoparticles in the viral size range will target antigen presenting cells in the local lymph nodes to elicit a strong vaccine induced immune response dependent on the size and composition of the nanoparticle. We will be able to develop vaccines that effectively prevent an treat severe diseases for which currently there are no effective vaccines.\nMethods: Our laboratory uses new and standard cell biology\/immunology techniques to assess the phenotype and function of immune cells from animal models, including; multicolour flowcytometry (up to 20 simultaneous markers on cells), cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis (Luminex), IVIS imaging, as well as ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology\/immunofluorescence, proliferation and functional T cell assays. There is also potential scope to use RNAseq and epigenetic analysis of immune cell populations, and animal models of cancer and malaria.\n"},{"project_title":"Investigating the anticancer activity of novel drugs","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nSrinivasa Reddy Telukutla","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n61 (3) 99253976srinivasareddy.telukutla@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Synopsis:  This project offers honours students an opportunity to work in Cancer Ageing and Vaccines Lab (CAVA) to explore the anticancer effects of newly developed drugs. Metal-based drugs have been a cornerstone of cancer chemotherapy, with cisplatin being one of the most widely used. However, the effectiveness of such platinum drugs is often limited by their serious side effects and the development of resistance in cancer cells. Therefore, there is a constant need to develop new drugs that can overcome these limitations while retaining or improved anticancer activities. This project aims to investigate the anticancer activity of novel drugs in human cancer cell lines, specifically assessing their cytotoxicity, mode of action, and potential to overcome resistance compared to traditional chemotherapeutics like cisplatin. By employing colorimetric cytotoxicity assays, flowcytometry techniques, students will investigate potential anticancer activity of new drugs, providing valuable insights into their potential therapeutic efficacy profiles.\n\nProject Components:\n1.\tCell Culture:  Culture and maintain human cancer cell lines under standard conditions. Seed cells in appropriate culture vessels for cytotoxicity assays.\n2.\tCytotoxicity assays: Treat cells with varying concentrations of novel drugs. Evaluate cell viability using MTT or Trypan Blue assays and calculate IC50 values using dose-response curves.\n3.\tMechanistic Studies. Analyze cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry after propidium iodide staining and assess apoptosis by detecting DNA damage.\n4.\tDrug Resistance Studies: Establish cisplatin-resistant sublines of cancer cells by continuous exposure to increasing concentrations of cisplatin. Compare the cytotoxic effects of novel drugs in these resistant cells to those in non-resistant counterparts.\n5.\tData Analysis: Perform statistical analysis of data using GraphPad Prism. Interpret the results in the context of the potential therapeutic application of the novel drugs.\n\nExpected Outcomes: Identification of novel drugs with significant anticancer activity and lower IC50 values compared to cisplatin. Investigation into the mechanism of anticancer activity of these compounds, including their ability to induce a DNA damage and apoptosis. The potential of these drugs to overcome cisplatin resistance, offers a basis for future therapeutic development.\n"},{"project_title":"Autoreactive immune responses as biomarkers in cancer","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nRhiane Moody","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\nN\/Arhiane.moody@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Understanding the immune system in various cancers has been critical in designing and improving therapies or in improving prognostic and diagnostic tools. Cells of the adaptive immune system, T and B cells, target cancer cells for elimination by recognition of broad targets. Amongst these targets include self-proteins. While the presence of self-reactive immune cells has been reported, their roles particularly during treatment remain unclear. This project aims to investigate self-reactive immune responses in cancers, using techniques such as ELISA and ELISPOT, to identify novel targets as diagnostic and prognostic markers."},{"project_title":"Analysis of Composite Aerogels fabricated from short sequence peptides.","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Celine Valery,\nMr Brody McDonald","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61399257482, celine.valery@rmit.edu.au\n0467338882brody.mcdonald@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West Campus, Building 223, Module E","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"An aerogel is a solid material which is highly porous, extremely light-weight, low density and have diverse material properties due to the underlying micro and nanoscale structures within the aerogel. This work predominantly focuses on Tachykinin peptides such as Substance P and the ultrashort rationally designed derivatives of these peptides for the purpose of fabricating aerogels; length of 5 to 15 amino acids. The rationally designed peptides have the ability to self-assemble in a pure ethanol environment which makes them perfect candidates for aerogel production as they can be instantly turned into aerogels following self-assembly. Over the last few decades, the importance of peptide self-assembled nanostructures has been highlighted due to their range of potential applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering and as biomolecule sensors. Aerogels have also been translated for use in similar applications, therefore the conjunction of peptide self-assembled systems and aerogels offers significant potential for novel biomedical applications.\n\nIn this project you will learn how to produce and analyse peptide-based hydrogels and aerogels in a PC2 laboratory. We will try and control the morphology of the produced gels using extrusion-based 3D printing. The techniques used will be Rheology, Infrared spectroscopy and 3D bioprinting."},{"project_title":"Examination of Undergraduate Nuclear Medicine students' usage and interactions with LMS (Canvas)","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Clare Smith,\nDr Alicia Corlett","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 3 9925 7414 , clare.smith@rmit.edu.au\n+61 3 9925 7414 alicia.corlett@rmit.edu.au","campus":"201.08 but much of this work can be done online\/ remotely","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This research aims to understand the study habits of undergraduate students enrolled in the Nuclear Medicine stream of the Medical Radiations program, by analysing the time spent engaging with the Learning Management System (LMS), Canvas. The study will compare the time spent by students in Canvas, and their final results, with the aim to better understand student behaviours, and if an optimal time widow for engagement and maximised learning is evident. As well, this study will help current lecturers within the Nuclear Medicine team to better tailor their own online content based off this work and ongoing studies. "},{"project_title":"Clinical History Based Imaging","leader":"","supervisor":"Andrew Kilgour,\nRenee French","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"03 9925 0254, andrew.kilgour2@rmit.edu.au\nNArenee.french@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Can be done remotely","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This is a medical imaging based project will look at the differences between clinical history based imaging and protocol based imaging, and use case studies to determine which philosophy produces the best diagnostic results for patients."},{"project_title":"Antiviral approaches for the treatment of dengue virus infection","leader":"","supervisor":"Natalie Borg,\nSamie Elmazi","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":" 9925 3743, natalie.borg@rmit.edu.au\nsamie.elmazi@rmit.edu.au 9925 3743","campus":"Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease in the world, and due to a lack of FDA-approved treatments or efficacious vaccines, represents an ongoing threat to global health. Prior to 1970 only 9 countries had experienced severe dengue epidemics, but the disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries and 3.9 million people are at risk of infection. Dengue virus uses several host cofactors for its replication, and targeting these host proteins offers a way to block viral replication and circumvent the issue of microbial drug resistance. Our experience in the host-virus interface and protein chemistry provides a unique opportunity to identify critical novel host co-factors that interact with dengue virus proteins. In this project we will characterise a new anti-dengue virus host drug target utilising several approaches including RNA interference (RNAi), coimmunoprecipitation, enzymatic assays, analytical ultracentrifugation, and X-ray crystallography."},{"project_title":"Simulated Y-site compatibility of drugs commonly used in Neonatal Intensive care unit (NICU) ","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Ayman Allahham,\nDr Vivek Nooney and Dr Thilini Thrimawithana","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 3 9925 7998, ayman.allahham@rmit.edu.au\n+61399257125vivek.nooney@rmit.edu.au and Thilini.thrimawithana@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Building 201.09.20","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Introduction\nNeonates and Children in younger years in some instances require intensive care support depending on the level of illness. Often patients in this category are unable to use their oral route for medicines and food, due to dependency on respiratory supports requiring intubation, poorly functioning intestines, and regular corrective surgeries requiring continued nil by mouth status.\nFluid balance taking into account input and output of fluids is critical to minimise fluid accumulation. Fluid output is dependent on the kidney function which may also be impacted during times of acute illness such as Septic shock. Sepsis secondary to infection is one of the most common reasons for NICU, along with short-bowel syndrome, bowel perforations and atresia of the oesophagus requiring surgical interventions, meningitis, hydrocephalus, and persistent pulmonary hypertension.\nTo maintain fluid intake and nutrition, intra venous fluids containing higher concentrations of Glucose and electrolytes are often used to minimise the fluid volume. However, patients in NICU often require other IV medicines. Some of the commonly used medicines are calcium gluconate, metronidazole, benzyl penicillin sodium, noradrenaline, adrenaline, milrinone, sildenafil, octreotide, vasopressin and so forth. This creates a need for Y site infusions whereby the medicines being infused come into contact with continuous IV fluids that contain combination of Glucose 10%, Sodium Chloride 0.225% and Potassium 20mmol\/L (GSP). There is a lack of evidence on the physical and chemical compatibility of medicines when they mix at Y -site despite this being practiced in NICU1,2.\nObjectives:\n\u2022\tTo validate the HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) methods or any other relevant methods used to determine the concentration of various medicines commonly used in NICU.\n\u2022\tTo test the physical and chemical compatibility of commonly used medicines in varying concentrations and conditions in combination with key IV fluids like GSP in a simulated Y-site.\nNote: Students working on the project will develop many skills including characterisation, analysis, problem solving, risk assessments as well as research skills and working in a team.\n"},{"project_title":"Study human placental development using stem cells ","leader":"","supervisor":"Professor Guiying Nie,\nDr Yao Wang","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"03 9925 7274 , guiying.nie@rmit.edu.au\n03 9925 7274 yao.wang2@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The placenta is a transient yet critical organ that develops during pregnancy to nourish and protect the conceptus. It functions as the gut, lung and kidney of the growing fetus while these crucial organs are still developing, hence optimal development and function of the placenta is critical to fetal growth and well-being. In addition, the placenta produces hormones and other factors to influence the physiology of the mother to support pregnancy. Unfortunately, if the placenta doesn\u2019t develop or function properly, the fetus will be inevitably affected, and pregnancy complications arise. However, we don\u2019t know a lot about human placental development. Recently we have discovered a very special protein that is produced only by the human placenta, and abnormal regulation of this protein is associated with certain pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. In this study, we will leverage placental stem cells (isolated from first trimester placentas) to investigate the role of protein of our interest in placental cell differentiation and function. The study will utilize techniques such as mammalian cell culture, immunofluorescence, ELISA, real-time RT-PCR, CRISPR-CAS9 technology, RNAseq and proteomics. The results will provide important insights into placental development in the human."},{"project_title":"Bachelor of nursing responses to generative AI in designing teaching, learning & assessment: An integrative review","leader":"","supervisor":"Rebecca Millar,\nTBA","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0399250535, rebecca.millar@rmit.edu.au\nTBATBA","campus":"Off campus\/Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The use of generative artificial intelligence ('AI') is creating a new challenge for nursing academics. It is crucial that students graduate from a nursing degree with the required competencies to practice safely. Arguably, students who use AI may pass a degree and become registered without having gained those competencies, despite having completed the degree. The aim of this study is to investigate the nursing academic response to this challenge\\and identify how student learning and assessment has changed as a result. "},{"project_title":"The changing delivery of a Bachelor of Nursing: Implications for soft skills and workplace competencies","leader":"","supervisor":"Rebecca Millar,\nTBA","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0399250535, Rebecca.millar@rmit.edu.au\nTBATBA","campus":"Bundoora\/City\/Off campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The past five years have seen a push to increase the number of employment ready nurses in Australia and worldwide. As a result, student enrollments are at an all-time high. At the same time, Higher Education is increasingly becoming more customer focused and has been criticized as risking authentic pedagogy for customer ratings and marketability. These issues become significant when determining policy around assessment submission extensions and the use of traditional assessment methods such as exams which have been found to have direct relationships with student experience satisfaction. Arguably, exams can help to prepare students to perform well under pressure. Hard line submission dates provide practice in working to due dates and planning time. These issues are further complication by the omnipresent issue of generative artificial intelligence. With so much technology inbuilt into our everyday lives, is knowing where to capitalize and where to place a comma a relevant academic skill? Little is known about how academics perceive the changing landscape of teaching and learning in Higher Education and the implications for teaching and learning soft skills in a Bachelor of Nursing. This study will use a survey method to explore nursing academics perspectives about teaching and learning soft skills in a Bachelor of Nursing. "},{"project_title":"Comparison of digital vs conventional microscopy.","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr. Jane Moon,\nDr. Rosie Zakaria","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0412609232, jane.moon@rmit.edu.au\n99257668Rosita Zakaria <rosita.zakaria@rmit.edu.au>","campus":"223,2,24","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"You will be comparing Cellavision and manual microscopy: two methods used in the laboratory setting to analyze blood samples. They both serve the purpose of identifying and counting blood cells and other cellular features."},{"project_title":"Development of a Digital Educational Intervention to Enhance Safe Use of Complementary Medicines","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr. Wejdan Shahin,\nDr. Thilini Thrimawithana","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"03 9925 7125, wejdan.shahin@rmit.edu.au\n03 9925 7125thilini.thrimawithana@rmit.edu.au","campus":"RMIT Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The use of complementary medicines (CMs) such as herbal remedies, vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements has become increasingly prevalent in healthcare practices. However, many consumers lack sufficient knowledge about the safety, efficacy, and potential adverse effects of these products. This project aims to address these gaps through the development of an educational intervention.\nThe project will focus on developing a digital intervention specifically designed to improve health literacy and promote the safe use of CMs. Tailored to meet the needs of a high-risk group, the intervention may take the form of an interactive multimedia platform or a mobile application, ensuring that the education provided is both engaging and accessible. \nThe importance of this project lies in its potential to significantly impact public health. By providing consumers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about CMs, the intervention aims to reduce the risks associated with their use and promote safer practices. \n"},{"project_title":"Defining the impact of abortive HIV RNA in the brain on neuropathology","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Melissa Churchill,\nDr Thomas Angelovich","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61399256657, melissa.churchill@rmit.edu.au\n99256066thomas.angelovich@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Despite successful viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain a major clinical problem affecting ~40% people with HIV. These syndromes lead to cognitive impairment and are significant health, economic and social problems for those affected. The mechanisms causing neurocognitive disorders in people with HIV are unclear, but likely involve both viral persistence in the brain and ongoing immune activation and inflammation which persists despite ART treatment. \n\nOur laboratory recently demonstrated that short abortive HIV RNA transcripts are present in the brain of people with HIV, including in those treated with ART. However, the location and impact of these short HIV RNA transcripts on cellular function in the brain is unclear. Whether these HIV RNA transcripts can be therapeutically targeted is also unknown.\n\nIn this project students will utilise a large cohort of human brain tissue samples from people who died with HIV to identify and characterise HIV RNA transcripts in brain cells using highly sensitive multiplex imaging and molecular techniques. The subcellular location and ability of these transcripts to be exported from HIV containing cells and activate the local cellular environment will be measured in vitro. Finally, inhibitors of RNA transport will be assessed.\n\nFindings from this study will provide insight in the ability of short abortive HIV RNA to activate and damage the local cellular environment in the brain. \n"},{"project_title":"Defining the impact of HIV persistence in the brain on neuronal activity","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Melissa Churchill,\nDr Thomas Angelovich","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61399256657, melissa.churchill@rmit.edu.au\n99256066thomas.angelovich@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"HIV is a global health burden affecting >37M people and to date no cure exists. Despite treatment strategies with anti-HIV drugs improving health outcomes in patients, ~20% of people living with HIV develop a form of cognitive disorder that can contribute to memory loss and reduced ability to live and function independently. However, to date the mechanisms driving cognitive disorders in people living with HIV are unclear. \n\nNeurons play a key role in the brain acting to transmit messages throughout the brain and body that control executive thought, function and movement. While HIV does not directly infect neurons, our laboratory has demonstrated that HIV integrates and persists in resident microglia cells of the brain which may have a follow-on effect on neurons of the brain. However, the impact of HIV persistence on neuronal activation is unclear. \n\nIn this project students will employ a range of laboratory techniques such as immunohistochemistry, qPCR and ELISA on human clinical samples from people living with HIV to assess neuronal activation and integrity. Ex vivo models of brain tissue will also be used to understand basic principles of neuronal dysfunction in the presence of HIV.\n\nFindings from this study will aid our understanding as to whether HIV persistence in the brain contributes to brain disorders in people living with HIV.\n"},{"project_title":"Investigating lipid release in epithelial cell injury models of lung fibrosis","leader":"","supervisor":"Steven Bozinovski,\nChristian Aloe, Jonathan McQualter, Elizabeth Verghese","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"9925 6674, steven.bozinovski@rmit.edu.au\ntbachristian.aloe@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Building 223, Module D","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This honours project will explore the release of various lipid classes from epithelial cells subjected to different injuries. These models are designed to simulate different pathological conditions contributing to lung fibrosis. The study will focus on three primary inducers of epithelial cell injury: silica (an occupational hazard), oxidative stress induced by cigarette smoke and\/or iron, and polyinosinic acid (PolyIC) as a viral mimetic. \n\nThe project will utilize a combination of cell culture, cell viability assays, ELISA, and PCR techniques to evaluate cell damage, lipid release, and the cellular responses associated with fibrosis. Conducted in the Airways Inflammation Research Laboratory, led by Professor Steven Bozinovski, this research aims to enhance our understanding of the consequences associated with epithelial cell injury, and to elucidate a fundamental driver of lung fibrosis.\n"},{"project_title":"Investigating novel molecular mechanisms for lung sarcoidosis","leader":"","supervisor":"Steven Bozinovski,\nHao Wang, Elizabeth Verghese","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"99256674, steven.bozinovski@rmit.edu.au\ntbahao.wang@rmit.edu.au","campus":"B223, Module D","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition of unknown origin that primarily affects the lungs, leading to the formation of granulomas. This can result in symptoms such as reduced lung function, pulmonary hypertension, and, in severe cases, pulmonary fibrosis. Although corticosteroids are commonly used to treat sarcoidosis, some patients do not respond to these therapies. This underscores the need for new treatment options, a challenge compounded by our limited understanding of the disease mechanisms.\n\nRecent studies have highlighted the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway as a crucial factor in sarcoidosis, as evidenced by mouse model research. Additionally, neutrophils have been implicated in the disease\u2019s resistance to treatment. Our lab has developed a preclinical mouse model of lung sarcoidosis through systemic exposure to vimentin and has tested a novel biological therapy within this model. In this project, you will investigate archived lung specimens from these studies to explore the roles of mTOR signaling and neutrophil infiltration using techniques such as immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blotting (WB), and RT-qPCR. This research aims to deepen our understanding and contribute to the development of more effective treatments for lung sarcoidosis.\n"},{"project_title":"Using autofluorescence (AFL) to assess concussion-related brain damage","leader":"","supervisor":"Sarah Spencer,\nTBD","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"9925 7745, sarah.spencer@rmit.edu.au\nTBDTBD","campus":"Bundoora campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is challenging because it often relies on mild, transient, non-specific, and subjective symptoms that do not accurately portray the extent of brain damage. \n\nCurrent TBI diagnostics involve on-site questionnaires and clinical assessments of behavior that are non-specific, time-dependent, and unable to reliably detect mild TBI4. Later assessments involve scans such as MRI or positron emission tomography (PET) that are expensive, cumbersome, time consuming, and not appropriate for field deployment. Conventional imaging can also fail to detect subtle damage. Blood biomarkers for TBI diagnosis and prognosis are emerging, but also face significant hurdles before implementation, including that they are technologically demanding and not specific to TBI4. \n\nCurrent understanding of TBI is also lacking. It is based largely on models where rodents are given an isolated experimental brain injury and are then subsequently culled for brain damage assessment. To examine the time course of neurological damage in any detail, and the success or otherwise of any treatments, vast numbers of animals are needed for this approach. Advances in transgenic tools allow for fluorescently tagging proteins of interest so that cells expressing fluorescent markers can be visualized through a cranial window. However, these tools are limited to the one or handful of cells and proteins directly expressing the fluorescent tag(s) and do not provide information on brain health as a whole. \n\nClearly, new technologies are needed to diagnose TBI and prognose recovery, as well as to visualize the brain in real time to understand how TBI develops in various contexts and to assess the success of any treatment interventions. Our project will provide this new technology by exploiting the fact that the eye\u2019s retina behaves in the same way as the rest of the brain in response to injury, together with our finding that central nervous system (CNS) immune cells are highly autofluorescent (naturally bright) and that this brightness can reflect brain damage. \n"},{"project_title":"Navigating the Digital Frontier: Newly Graduated Nurses' Experiences with Digital Health Technologies in Clinical Practice","leader":"","supervisor":"Ruby Walter,\nProfessor Karen Livesay","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"99257429, ruby.walter@rmit.edu.au\n99257070karen.livesay@rmit.edu.au","campus":"On or off campus - project would involve interviews and is not lab based. ","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"How do newly graduated nurses experience and adapt to the use of digital health technologies in their clinical practice, and what challenges and benefits do they encounter?\n\nObjectives:\n\nTo explore the experiences of newly graduated nurses with digital health technologies in their initial practice settings.\n\nTo identify the challenges and benefits associated with the use of these technologies from the perspective of novice nurses."},{"project_title":"Biological Properties of Melanoidins and their anti-viral activity","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof. Vasso Apostolopoulos,\nJack Feehan","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0421 374 037, vasso.apostolopoulos@rmit.edu.au\n0438 273 902jack.feehan@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Melanoidins are dark, brown-coloured nitrogen containing, high molecular weight polymers, found in a wide variety of foods and beverages consumed by humans.  They are formed in the end-stages of the Maillard Reaction (MR), when reducing sugars and amino acids chemically interact during heat processing.\n\nSuch foods and beverages originating from plants also contain micronutrient phytochemicals, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids. These can become incorporated into melanoidin structures during the MR process, modifying their biological properties.  \n\nBoth melanoidins and polyphenols co-exist in many foods\/diets, and jointly share some key in vitro and in vivo biological attributes such as antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory, enzyme inhibition, antimicrobial, cell signalling and immunomodulatory properties. These similarities are offset by their significant differences in their origins, size, structure, digestive pathways, and in vivo metabolism.\n\nIn this project, you will synthesise melanoidins from common sugars, and validate the resulting compounds through analytical chemistry. Following synthesis and validation, you will evaluate the effect of the melanoidins on immune cells, and microbial cultures, to examine their use in the treatment of infectious disease. \n"},{"project_title":"The effect of carnosine on insulin production in vitro","leader":"","supervisor":"Jack Feehan,\nProf. Vasso Apostolopoulos","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0438 273 902, jack.feehan@rmit.edu.au\n0421374037vasso.apostolopoulos@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Carnosine is a naturally occurring dietary dipeptide, which has a range of anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-glycating properties in humans and animals. In our previous work, we have also shown that carnosine imparts a glucose lowering effect in both animal models, and humans with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It has been suggested that his occurs through and insulinogenic action, with carnosine acting to increase insulin secretion, therefore lowering glucose levels in the blood - however this has never been shown, and any mechanisms are unclear. \n\nIn this study, you will evaluate the effect of carnosine on the EndoC-\u03b2H1 pancreatic cell line - a validated, insulin secreting model of pancreatic function. Cells will be expanded in culture, both in a monolayer as well as in pseudo islets, mimicking in vivo conditions, and then treat them with carnosine in vitro. You will then analyse the effects on insulin secretion, as well as potential mechanisms underpinning the effects shown in vitro."},{"project_title":"Defining the molecular impacts of cigarette smoke exposure on skeletal muscle stem cell function.","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Stanley Chan,\nProf Ross Vlahos","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"613 9925 7353, stanley.chan@rmit.edu.au\n613 9925 7362ross.vlahos@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Level 2, Module D, Level 2, Building 223\nBundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating disease characterised by progressive airflow limitation. Cigarette smoking is the major cause of COPD. Patients with COPD often suffer from severe skeletal muscle wasting, which increases their risk of death and reduces quality of life. The causative mechanism linking cigarette smoking to skeletal muscle health is unclear. Satellite cells are muscle stem cells that are responsible for muscle growth and repair, hence the maintenance of muscle mass. At rest, these cells reside in a quiescent state; but are rapidly activated and recruited to the site of injury. Recent data from our laboratory demonstrated that cigarette smoking may impact on the activation of muscle stem cells leading to exacerbated skeletal muscle injury in mice. However, the exact action of cigarette smoke exposure on muscle stem cell function remains poorly understood. The present project will explore the effects of cigarette smoke exposure on skeletal muscle stem cell viability and function. \n\nThe student will learn about isolation of skeletal muscle stem cell, cell culture, cell viability assay, real-time cell metabolic analysis using the Seahorse AnalyserTM, immunostaining and microscopy. This project will provide proof-of-concept data on stem cell targeting therapies for treating muscle wasting in people with chronic lung disease.\n"},{"project_title":"Machine Learning for Predicting Muscle Wasting in COPD Patients (Using -Omics Data)","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Stanley Chan,\nDr Azadeh Alavi","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"613 9925 7353, stanley.chan@rmit.edu.au\n613 9925 7353azadeh.alavi@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West or City Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease characterized by chronic inflammation and airflow limitation, often exacerbated by muscle wasting, which severely impacts patient outcomes(1). While lung proteomics offers a detailed view of the molecular changes in COPD, the complexity and high dimensionality of this data present challenges in identifying relevant biomarkers. Recent advancements in machine learning provide powerful tools for analysing large datasets, enabling the discovery of key features that correlate with clinical outcomes. This project aims to develop and apply machine learning algorithms for feature selection based on lung proteomics data and correlate these findings with lung inflammation and muscle wasting parameters in a preclinical model of COPD.\n\nAims:\n1.\tIntegrate lung proteomics data from a well-established preclinical model of COPD, including data related to lung inflammation and muscle wasting.\n2.\tDevelop and apply machine learning algorithms to identify key proteomic features that correlate with lung inflammation and muscle wasting parameters. \n3.\tExplore the use of unsupervised learning methods, such as clustering and principal component analysis (PCA), to identify patterns and reduce data dimensionality while preserving biologically relevant information.\n\nExpected outcomes: Development of robust machine learning algorithms capable of efficiently selecting key proteomic features that are predictive of lung inflammation and muscle wasting in a preclinical model of COPD. These algorithms will enhance the ability to uncover critical biomarkers, leading to a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and potentially informing the development of more targeted therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, the methodologies and tools developed in this project can be adapted for broader applications in other complex diseases, demonstrating the utility of machine learning in advancing biomedical research.\n\nThe student will gain hands-on experience in data science, particularly in the application of machine learning to biomedical data. They will develop skills in data pre-processing, algorithm development, and feature selection, all of which are critical for analysing complex omics data. Additionally, the student will learn how to interpret and validate machine learning findings in a biological context, preparing them for further research in computational biology, bioinformatics, or translational medicine.\n"},{"project_title":"Understanding the impacts of transthyretin on brain development","leader":"","supervisor":"Bobbi Fleiss,\nJess Holien","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"bobbi.fleiss@rmit.edu.au, bobbi.fleiss@rmit.edu.au\nJess.Holien@rmit.edu.auJess.Holien@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora.","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"In vertebrates, thyroid hormones are crucial in promoting myelination, the wrapping of neuronal axons with lipid insulation created by oligodendrocytes that ensures the optimal transduction of electrical signals 1. Thus, genetic deletion of the brain\u2019s primary distributor of the thyroid hormone, transthyretin (TTR), would be expected to decrease myelination. Remarkably, we found the opposite effect in TTR null mice 2,3 \u2013 TTR KO mice displayed a hypermyelination, and we have new data preliminary data supporting this finding in an oligodendrocyte cell line. This finding exposes a gap in our fundamental understanding of the role of this evolutionarily conserved protein in brain development.  Further gaps exist because we only studied animals in the late neonatal stage and didn\u2019t explore the impacts of sex on the role of TTR. \nThis project will use tissues collected from male and female TTR KO mice to explore basic brain development in detail from the earliest stages of life through adulthood. It will use immunohistological techniques that are routinely applied in our lab, providing opportunities to learn and collaborate with multiple team members.  The data from this project will be published as part of a larger study of the TTR mice. No collection of tissues from live animals is required, but experience in this can be provided if desired. The student will receive in-depth, hands-on training and work as part of a large team. However, this project is best suited to a student with the drive to optimise the established analysis approaches for this project and delve into the literature to comprehend the impact of TTR in brain development with independence. "},{"project_title":"Understanding lung cell responses to respiratory viral infection. ","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Mark Miles,\nProf Stavros Selemidis","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 3 9925 0743, mark.miles@rmit.edu.au\n+613 9925 7182stavros.selemidis@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Building 223 Level 2, Module D. Bundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: Respiratory viruses such as influenza A virus (IAV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infect millions of people globally each year causing significant morbidity and mortality particularly in high-risk individuals such as the young, elderly, immunocompromised and those with pre-existing respiratory illness. Host inflammatory responses to infection are critical for controlling viral replication and establishing immunity, and these processes are mediated by an intricate network of various cell types at various stages of infection. The type of cellular response can therefore influence the severity of the disease, including any subsequent sequalae that can give rise to chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma. The lung is made up of a plethora of cell types including epithelial, endothelial, and immune cells each with distinct functions that respond directly or indirectly to viral infection. Our laboratory has demonstrated immunostimulatory properties of important families of pattern recognition receptors in driving antiviral and\/or proinflammatory signalling pathways, and it is unclear the degree to which certain cell types engage these receptors and contribute to inflammatory responses to viral infection. This project will utilize cell-based models to interrogate inflammatory responses in various cell types to live viral infection. \nAims: This project aims to compare the antiviral and inflammatory responses in lung cell types to respiratory viral infection.\nOutcomes: Conclusions from this project will help in unravelling novel therapeutic targets that may aid in reducing disease-related morbidity. \nStudent learning: You will learn a range of techniques including cell culture, RNA\/protein extractions, qPCR analysis, western blotting, ELISA, multiplex immunoassays, and flow cytometry.\n\n\n"},{"project_title":"The consequences of respiratory viral infections on neurodevelopment","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Stella Liong,\nProf Stavros Selemidis","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 3 9925 7183, stella.liong@rmit.edu.au\n613 9925 7182stavros.selemidis@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Building 223, Level 2, Module D, Bundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: Viral infections during pregnancy or early life are associated with neurodevelopmental defects and cognitive impairments in the offspring. It is postulated that viral infections can trigger schizophrenia by disrupting developing inhibitory circuits during early life development, however the precise aetiology remains unknown. Moreover, current antipsychotic drugs can only manage psychosis of already diagnosed individuals. There are no available therapeutics that can prevent psychosis development in at-risk individuals. Animal models play an important role in exploring how viruses can cause latent psychosis and unveil mechanisms of schizophrenia pathogenesis for therapeutic targeting. In this project, using a mouse model, students will examine the effects of influenza A virus infection during pregnancy and respiratory syncytial virus infection during early life on neuroinflammation in the adult offspring. \n\nAims: To understand the effects of respiratory viral infections during pregnancy or in early life on offspring neurodevelopment.\n\nOutcomes: This project will allow us to develop better pharmacological strategies that target viral-induced neuroinflammation in early life to prevent the onset of neurological disorders in adulthood.\n\nStudent learning: You will learn a range of techniques including RNA extractions, RNA-seq and qPCR analysis, western blotting, ELISA, multiplex immunoassays, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry.\n\n\n\n\n"},{"project_title":"Internet of Things smart home system to support the elderly aging in place-A systematic review","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr. Jianxia Zhai,\nProf. Kristine Martin-McDonald","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0451995388, jianxia.zhai@rmit.edu.au\n0438331417kris.martin-mcdonald@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora Campus, hybrid","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: \nDespite the remarkable development in smart home monitoring technology, a systematic literature review on Internet of Things smart home system implementation in particular barriers and enablers is lacking.  \nAim: \nTo explore current evidence of smart home technologies for elderly care by conducting a systematic review.\nMethods: \nThe systematic review will be conducted in adherence with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 reporting guideline. The systematic literature search is to be performed in electronic databases. Relevant studies will be selected as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Title and abstract screening followed by full text review will be conducted. Qualitative and quantitative synthesis will be undertaken independently by two researchers. \nEthics and dissemination:\n This study will collate and analyse anonymised data from published research and therefore, ethical approval is not necessary. Study results will be disseminated via publication in academic journals.\n\n"},{"project_title":"Bridging Educational Divides: A Qualitative Study of International Nursing Students from Different Education Systems Adapting to Higher Education in Australia","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Ruby Walter,\nRebecca Millar","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"99257429, ruby.walter@rmit.edu.au\n99250535rebecca.millar@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora campus & off-campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This qualitative project would examine the experiences of international nursing students from countries with education systems markedly different from Australia\u2019s, focusing on how they adapt to and navigate the Australian higher education environment. \n1.\tHow do international nursing students from education systems significantly different from Australia\u2019s experience adapting to Australian higher education?\n2.\tWhat specific challenges do these students encounter due to the differences in educational approaches, practices, and expectations?\n3.\tWhat strategies and resources do these students utilize to overcome the challenges associated with these differences?\n\n"},{"project_title":"Using quantitative sensory tests to evaluate the preventive effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy ","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Zhen Zheng ,\nDr George Lenon","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"9925 7167, Zhen.zheng@rmit.edu.au\n99256587George.lenon@rmit.edu.au","campus":"It will be at the NH Cancer service. The external supervisor Prof Wanda Stelmach and Dr Frances Barnett will supervise the conduct of the study at NH ","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This honours project will be embedded in a PhD project, which is a randomised wait-list controlled clinical trial and will assess the protective effect and safety profile of tailored acupuncture treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a condition occurring in 50 \u2013 70% of cancer patients. CIPN impairs the quality of life of patients and causes a reduction of chemo-therapy dose or suspension of the therapy. Previous studies have shown that acupuncture alleviates existing CIPN, but few studies have examined its protective effect. \nThe PhD project will focus on the clinical outcomes, whereas this honours project will focus on objective measures obtained from using quantitative sensory tests (QST). The QST tests will include measuring sensitivity to vibration, tactile, cool and warm sensations. Sixty cancer patients who plan to undergo chemo-therapy at Norther Health Cancer Service will be recruited in 2025 to take part in the acupuncture trial. Acupuncture will be delivered before the commencement of and during the chemotherapy for 30 weeks. \nThe aims of the project are 1) to assess if participants in the acupuncture group will experience no or less sensory deterioration compared with the wait-list control group; 2) to assess if the protective effect as assessed with QST is maintained 4 weeks after the cession of acupuncture. \n"},{"project_title":"Effects of natural bioactives on pancreatic cancer cells","leader":"","supervisor":"Vasso Apostolopoulos,\nJack Feehan","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"99252000, Vasso.Apostolopoulos@rmit.edu.au\n99252000Jack.Feehan@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of only 5-7%. The treatment options are severely limited, primarily due to the late stage at diagnosis, the tumour's resistance to chemotherapy, and the poor suitability for surgical resection. Current treatment strategies are inadequate, and there is a pressing need for novel therapeutic approaches to address these challenges. Our research into natural bioactives represents a significant and innovative step in cancer therapy, particularly for PDAC In this project you will work on determining the effects of natural bioactives on different pancreatic cancer cell lines with different genetic mutations. You will lean techniques such as, WST-8, EdU, (proliferation assays) apopotosis assays, cytokine assays, western blots, mRNA extractions, gene analysis, mitochondrial assays. "},{"project_title":"Force-time characteristics of a simulated spinal manipulation technique: a comparative study of students and professionals","leader":"","supervisor":"Azharuddin Fazalbhoy,\nDanielle Baxter","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"9925 7655, azharuddin.fazalbhoy@rmit.edu.au\n9925 7647danielle.baxter@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Pre-professional training for chiropractic and osteopathy students requires them to learn the safe and effective delivery of manual therapy skills. This includes the skillful, effective, and safe delivery of spinal manipulation technique. Current practices involve students primarily acquiring the skills through demonstration from clinical educators and practice through peer-to-peer learning. Appreciation of safe and effective optimal force has not been standardised in the literature making it significantly challenging for clinical learning and teaching approaches.   \n\nWe have recently shown that forces generated by chiropractic and osteopathy students applying spinal manipulation technique in a standardised approach using a Human Analogue Mannequin (HAM) and an instrumented practitioner table that has embedded force sensors demonstrates a loss of pre-thrust force prior to delivery of peak thrust force, thus impacting the delivery of safe and effective technique. The proposed project will compare force-time characteristics of pre-professional students to professional practitioners applying spinal manipulation to determine whether experience in professional practice improves these characteristics. "}],"discipline":{"1":""}},{"status":1,"result":[{"project_title":"Understanding how the microbiome impacts gut motility in autism","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Elisa Hill,\nProf Ashley Franks","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0434052127, elisa.hill@rmit.edu.au\n0477169590a.franks@latrobe.edu.au","campus":"RMIT Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Gastrointestinal problems including inflammation are commonly experienced by people with autism although the cause is unknown. Many gene mutations affecting the nervous system, including a missense mutation in the Neuroligin-3 gene, are associated with autism (1). It is now well established that the gut microbiome impacts the immune system and gastrointestinal function. \n\nWe hypothesise that Neuroligin-3 mutant mice show altered gut motility which is rescued by treatment with the microbiome-altering drug, AB-2004.\n\nThis project will assess the effect of a microbiome-altering drug (AB-2004) on gut motility in Neuroligin-3 mutant mice and inflammation. Mice will be treated with Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) to cause colitis (inflammation of the colon) and the microbiome will be modified using AB-2004. We will use our published video imaging technique (2, 3) to record gut contractile patterns in an organ bath and detect changes in gut function.\n\nThis project will identify the effects of modifying the microbiome on gut motility in a mouse model of autism and contribute to designing new therapies for clinical applications. \n\n\n1.\tHosie, S., Ellis, M., Swaminathan, M., Ramalhosa, F., Seger, G. O., Balasuriya, G. K., ... & Hill\u2010Yardin, E. L. (2019). Gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients and mice expressing the autism\u2010associated R451C mutation in neuroligin\u20103. Autism Research, 12(7), 1043-1056. \n\n2.\tSwaminathan, M., Hill-Yardin, E., Ellis, M., Zygorodimos, M., Johnston, L. A., Gwynne, R. M., & Bornstein, J. C. (2016). Video imaging and spatiotemporal maps to analyze gastrointestinal motility in mice. JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments), (108), e53828.\n\n3.\tAbo-Shaban, T., Lee, C. Y., Hosie, S., Balasuriya, G. K., Mohsenipour, M., Johnston, L. A., & Hill-Yardin, E. L. (2023). GutMap: A New Interface for Analysing Regional Motility Patterns in ex vivo Mouse Gastrointestinal Preparations. Bio-protocol, 13(19)."},{"project_title":"Investigating sex differences in gut function in autism","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Elisa Hill,\nDr Gayathri Balasuriya","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0434052127, elisa.hill@rmit.edu.au\n0430071515gayathri.balasuriya@rmit.edu.au","campus":"RMIT Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Gastrointestinal problems are commonly experienced by people with autism although the cause is unknown. Many gene mutations affecting the nervous system are associated with autism. We have previously shown that a mutation in the Neuroligin-3 gene alters the enteric nervous system and causes gut dysfunction in male mice (1, 2). The vast majority of autism research has been undertaken in male mice and very little is known about how females are affected. \n\nIn this project, we will assess for changes in gut anatomy and gastrointestinal contractile patterns. To assess anatomical changes, we will measure small intestinal and colon length, as well as caecum weight in wild type and mutant female mice. To determine if gut contractions are altered, we will use our video imaging technique (3, 4) to compare gut motility patterns in wild type and mutant female mice. \n\nThis research will increase our understanding of gastrointestinal dysfunction in females with autism and contribute to designing new therapies.\n\n\n1.\tHosie, S., Ellis, M., Swaminathan, M., Ramalhosa, F., Seger, G. O., Balasuriya, G. K., ... & Hill\u2010Yardin, E. L. (2019). Gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients and mice expressing the autism\u2010associated R451C mutation in neuroligin\u20103. Autism Research, 12(7), 1043-1056.\n\n2.\tSharna, S. S., Balasuriya, G. K., Hosie, S., Nithianantharajah, J., Franks, A. E., & Hill-Yardin, E. L. (2020). Altered caecal neuroimmune interactions in the neuroligin-3R451C mouse model of autism. Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 14, 85.\n\n3.\tSwaminathan, M., Hill-Yardin, E., Ellis, M., Zygorodimos, M., Johnston, L. A., Gwynne, R. M., & Bornstein, J. C. (2016). Video imaging and spatiotemporal maps to analyze gastrointestinal motility in mice. JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments), (108), e53828.\n\n4.\tAbo-Shaban, T., Lee, C. Y., Hosie, S., Balasuriya, G. K., Mohsenipour, M., Johnston, L. A., & Hill-Yardin, E. L. (2023). GutMap: A New Interface for Analysing Regional Motility Patterns in ex vivo Mouse Gastrointestinal Preparations. Bio-protocol, 13(19).\n"},{"project_title":"Epigenetics in immunosenescence: implications to cancer and infections","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nApril Kartikasari","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61 (3) 99257648april.kartikasari@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: Vaccine efficacy is decreased in the elderly, who also experience increased susceptibility to infections and cancers. While age-related immune dysfunction has been extensively studied, underpinning the molecular changes that drive the age-related functional decline of immune cells has proven difficult. Many studies including ours have shown that epigenetic marks including DNA methylation and histone modifications play a fundamental role in determining cell function and identity. These marks are actively modulated by different conditions including stress, lifestyle, sex and age or vaccination. This project will systematically map epigenetic changes that promote age-related immune dysfunction, in the context of human clinical trials. Specifically, this study will underpin molecular epigenetic mechanisms of immunosenescence that are involved in cancer and suboptimal responses to vaccination in the elderly, and may provide leads for novel therapeutic strategies. \nAims: This project is designed to understand cellular and molecular epigenetic mechanisms involved in both innate and adaptive immunosenescence that cause the decline of immune function. \nHypotheses:\n\u2022 Epigenetic mark alterations due to ageing promote dysregulation of immune cell function and may contribute to the increased incidence of cancer and infections in old people\n\u2022 Identification of the changes of epigenetic marks that contribute to the decline of immune function will provide new means of disease prevention and treatment.\nMethods:\nThis study will uncover age-dependent alterations in epigenetic marks that cause increased incidence of cancer and infections as a consequence of age, utilizing in vitro models, animal models and human clinical trials available in the lab. The laboratory uses world-class big-data omics analysis of immune cells, including RNAseq, genome-wide epigenetics, multicolour flowcytometry, cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis, as well as classical immunological techniques, e.g. ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology, proliferation and functional immune-cell assays. "},{"project_title":"Inflammation, immune dysfunction, and molecular changes in cancer","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nApril Kartikasari","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61 (3) 99257648april.kartikasari@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction are significant drivers of cancer development and progression. These factors are also influenced by metabolic and nutritional status, previous infections, and the patient's age. Additionally, molecular changes such as mutations and epigenetic reprogramming of the cancer cells support cancer cell escape from immune surveillance. This project is designed to unravel the complex chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction pathways influenced by such factors, that are significant to cause cancer progression or conversely a positive response to cancer treatment. We will also investigate epigenetic and transcriptomic changes related to cancer and the immune system, to understand the molecular pathways as well as to pinpoint possibilities of using the identified changes as biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic markers or targets of treatment, as well as to optimize treatment. Our projects focus on ovarian cancer, the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Students will have opportunities to learn advanced cellular and molecular immunology techniques, including cutting-edge technologies such as multi-parameter flow cytometry, epigenetic profiling, and blood factor multiplex profiling as well as fundamental skills in cell culture, and human clinical trial sample processing and biobanking from diverse tissues."},{"project_title":"Understanding COVID-19 and improving our immune response to the vaccines. ","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nJennifer Boer","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61 (3) 99257138jennifer.boer@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The Cancer, Ageing and Vaccines Laboratory is currently working to better understand the effects and long-term complications of COVID-19 on the immune system. This project investigates boosting immunity to COVID-19 with different vaccines to promote broad immune responses that recognize viral escape variants. It involves a multi-institutional large scale human trial to address these vital questions. "},{"project_title":"Understanding COVID-19 and and the development of autoimmunity. ","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nKirsty Wilson","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61399258279kirsty.wilson2@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The Cancer, Ageing and Vaccines Laboratory is currently working to better understand the effects and long-term complications of COVID-19 on the immune system. This project compares acute and mild COVID-19 patients over a time course to understand how the virus may be breaking tolerance and causing new autoimmune pathologies."},{"project_title":"Effect of recommended vaccines in elderly populations","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nKirsty Wilson","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61399258279kirsty.wilson2@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Vaccination is an ideal tool to protect against infections in vulnerable populations such as the elderly; however, vaccine efficacy declines with advancing age. Recent studies, including ours, show that there are age- and sex-specific responses to vaccines. On the basis of our large-scale human vaccine trial (DTP and influenza; n=600) in Tasmania we will map how innate immunity differs in humans based on age and sex, and how this affects responses to vaccines. Importantly, DTP and influenza vaccines, given to the elderly together or sequentially, may prevent each other form working optimally. Thus, this study policy implications for vaccine use in the elderly. Understanding the immune system of the elderly, will also underpin in-house development of more effective new generation synthetic vaccines based on nanoparticles.\nAims: The innovative human clinical trial in this project will define the innate immunological imprint following DTP vaccination, and its effect on the induction of subsequent innate and adaptive responses to the seasonal human influenza vaccine. It is designed to specifically study innate immunity and its modulation in the context of an aging immune system, and the effect of sex on vaccination outcomes. \nHypotheses:\n\u2022 DTP vaccination modulates immunity to other stimuli, such as the influenza vaccine.\n\u2022 Baseline immunity and immune imprinting effects will differ between younger adults and the elderly, and females compared to males.\nMethods:\nThe laboratory uses world-class big-data omics analysis of blood immune cells, including RNAseq, epigenetics, multicolour flowcytometry (up to 20 simultaneous markers on cells), cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis (up to 48 analytes at once) as well as classical immunological techniques, e.g. ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology, proliferation and functional T cell assays.\n"},{"project_title":"Enhancing the immune response using nanoparticles and assessing their vaccine potential in animal models of cancer and malaria ","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nKirsty Wilson","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n+61399258279kirsty.wilson2@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective medical interventions for the prevention of disease. Whilst vaccines are readily available for many diseases, there is a need for vaccines to complex diseases such as malaria and cancer. Vaccines to complex diseases are more difficult to design and manufacture due to the complicated lifecycle of the pathogens that cause the disease, or the multifactorial nature of disease pathology and the resulting immune response. Designing vaccines for complex diseases requires careful consideration of the candidate antigen and generally requires an adjuvant or alternative delivery system to enhance the immune response to the vaccine, particularly regarding inducing a T cell response. Our lab focusses on viral-sized nanoparticles as adjuvanting vaccine delivery systems to improve both the antibody-mediated and cellular immune response. These nanoparticles can either have the vaccine antigen attached to their surface, or be simply mixed with the antigen with a combination of other adjuvants to increase the vaccine response. We are interested in nanoparticles of different materials and compositions to compare to our standard biocompatible and non-inflammatory polystyrene nanoparticles in animal vaccine models, as well as their mechanism of action and how they interact with different cells of the immune system (i.e. with antigen presenting cells). \nAims: This study aims to examine the immune response to vaccines using various nanoparticle formulations and adjuvant combinations and examining how they interact with cells of the immune system to generate a strong immune response, capable of protecting against complex diseases. Hypotheses: Nanoparticles in the viral size range will target antigen presenting cells in the local lymph nodes to elicit a strong vaccine induced immune response dependent on the size and composition of the nanoparticle. We will be able to develop vaccines that effectively prevent an treat severe diseases for which currently there are no effective vaccines.\nMethods: Our laboratory uses new and standard cell biology\/immunology techniques to assess the phenotype and function of immune cells from animal models, including; multicolour flowcytometry (up to 20 simultaneous markers on cells), cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis (Luminex), IVIS imaging, as well as ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology\/immunofluorescence, proliferation and functional T cell assays. There is also potential scope to use RNAseq and epigenetic analysis of immune cell populations, and animal models of cancer and malaria.\n"},{"project_title":"Investigating the anticancer activity of novel drugs","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nSrinivasa Reddy Telukutla","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\n61 (3) 99253976srinivasareddy.telukutla@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Synopsis:  This project offers honours students an opportunity to work in Cancer Ageing and Vaccines Lab (CAVA) to explore the anticancer effects of newly developed drugs. Metal-based drugs have been a cornerstone of cancer chemotherapy, with cisplatin being one of the most widely used. However, the effectiveness of such platinum drugs is often limited by their serious side effects and the development of resistance in cancer cells. Therefore, there is a constant need to develop new drugs that can overcome these limitations while retaining or improved anticancer activities. This project aims to investigate the anticancer activity of novel drugs in human cancer cell lines, specifically assessing their cytotoxicity, mode of action, and potential to overcome resistance compared to traditional chemotherapeutics like cisplatin. By employing colorimetric cytotoxicity assays, flowcytometry techniques, students will investigate potential anticancer activity of new drugs, providing valuable insights into their potential therapeutic efficacy profiles.\n\nProject Components:\n1.\tCell Culture:  Culture and maintain human cancer cell lines under standard conditions. Seed cells in appropriate culture vessels for cytotoxicity assays.\n2.\tCytotoxicity assays: Treat cells with varying concentrations of novel drugs. Evaluate cell viability using MTT or Trypan Blue assays and calculate IC50 values using dose-response curves.\n3.\tMechanistic Studies. Analyze cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry after propidium iodide staining and assess apoptosis by detecting DNA damage.\n4.\tDrug Resistance Studies: Establish cisplatin-resistant sublines of cancer cells by continuous exposure to increasing concentrations of cisplatin. Compare the cytotoxic effects of novel drugs in these resistant cells to those in non-resistant counterparts.\n5.\tData Analysis: Perform statistical analysis of data using GraphPad Prism. Interpret the results in the context of the potential therapeutic application of the novel drugs.\n\nExpected Outcomes: Identification of novel drugs with significant anticancer activity and lower IC50 values compared to cisplatin. Investigation into the mechanism of anticancer activity of these compounds, including their ability to induce a DNA damage and apoptosis. The potential of these drugs to overcome cisplatin resistance, offers a basis for future therapeutic development.\n"},{"project_title":"Autoreactive immune responses as biomarkers in cancer","leader":"","supervisor":"Magdalena Plebanski,\nRhiane Moody","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 39925 7263, magdalena.plebanski@rmit.edu.au\nN\/Arhiane.moody@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Understanding the immune system in various cancers has been critical in designing and improving therapies or in improving prognostic and diagnostic tools. Cells of the adaptive immune system, T and B cells, target cancer cells for elimination by recognition of broad targets. Amongst these targets include self-proteins. While the presence of self-reactive immune cells has been reported, their roles particularly during treatment remain unclear. This project aims to investigate self-reactive immune responses in cancers, using techniques such as ELISA and ELISPOT, to identify novel targets as diagnostic and prognostic markers."},{"project_title":"Analysis of Composite Aerogels fabricated from short sequence peptides.","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Celine Valery,\nMr Brody McDonald","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61399257482, celine.valery@rmit.edu.au\n0467338882brody.mcdonald@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West Campus, Building 223, Module E","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"An aerogel is a solid material which is highly porous, extremely light-weight, low density and have diverse material properties due to the underlying micro and nanoscale structures within the aerogel. This work predominantly focuses on Tachykinin peptides such as Substance P and the ultrashort rationally designed derivatives of these peptides for the purpose of fabricating aerogels; length of 5 to 15 amino acids. The rationally designed peptides have the ability to self-assemble in a pure ethanol environment which makes them perfect candidates for aerogel production as they can be instantly turned into aerogels following self-assembly. Over the last few decades, the importance of peptide self-assembled nanostructures has been highlighted due to their range of potential applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering and as biomolecule sensors. Aerogels have also been translated for use in similar applications, therefore the conjunction of peptide self-assembled systems and aerogels offers significant potential for novel biomedical applications.\n\nIn this project you will learn how to produce and analyse peptide-based hydrogels and aerogels in a PC2 laboratory. We will try and control the morphology of the produced gels using extrusion-based 3D printing. The techniques used will be Rheology, Infrared spectroscopy and 3D bioprinting."},{"project_title":"Examination of Undergraduate Nuclear Medicine students' usage and interactions with LMS (Canvas)","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Clare Smith,\nDr Alicia Corlett","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 3 9925 7414 , clare.smith@rmit.edu.au\n+61 3 9925 7414 alicia.corlett@rmit.edu.au","campus":"201.08 but much of this work can be done online\/ remotely","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This research aims to understand the study habits of undergraduate students enrolled in the Nuclear Medicine stream of the Medical Radiations program, by analysing the time spent engaging with the Learning Management System (LMS), Canvas. The study will compare the time spent by students in Canvas, and their final results, with the aim to better understand student behaviours, and if an optimal time widow for engagement and maximised learning is evident. As well, this study will help current lecturers within the Nuclear Medicine team to better tailor their own online content based off this work and ongoing studies. "},{"project_title":"Clinical History Based Imaging","leader":"","supervisor":"Andrew Kilgour,\nRenee French","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"03 9925 0254, andrew.kilgour2@rmit.edu.au\nNArenee.french@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Can be done remotely","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This is a medical imaging based project will look at the differences between clinical history based imaging and protocol based imaging, and use case studies to determine which philosophy produces the best diagnostic results for patients."},{"project_title":"Antiviral approaches for the treatment of dengue virus infection","leader":"","supervisor":"Natalie Borg,\nSamie Elmazi","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":" 9925 3743, natalie.borg@rmit.edu.au\nsamie.elmazi@rmit.edu.au 9925 3743","campus":"Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease in the world, and due to a lack of FDA-approved treatments or efficacious vaccines, represents an ongoing threat to global health. Prior to 1970 only 9 countries had experienced severe dengue epidemics, but the disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries and 3.9 million people are at risk of infection. Dengue virus uses several host cofactors for its replication, and targeting these host proteins offers a way to block viral replication and circumvent the issue of microbial drug resistance. Our experience in the host-virus interface and protein chemistry provides a unique opportunity to identify critical novel host co-factors that interact with dengue virus proteins. In this project we will characterise a new anti-dengue virus host drug target utilising several approaches including RNA interference (RNAi), coimmunoprecipitation, enzymatic assays, analytical ultracentrifugation, and X-ray crystallography."},{"project_title":"Simulated Y-site compatibility of drugs commonly used in Neonatal Intensive care unit (NICU) ","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Ayman Allahham,\nDr Vivek Nooney and Dr Thilini Thrimawithana","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 3 9925 7998, ayman.allahham@rmit.edu.au\n+61399257125vivek.nooney@rmit.edu.au and Thilini.thrimawithana@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Building 201.09.20","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Introduction\nNeonates and Children in younger years in some instances require intensive care support depending on the level of illness. Often patients in this category are unable to use their oral route for medicines and food, due to dependency on respiratory supports requiring intubation, poorly functioning intestines, and regular corrective surgeries requiring continued nil by mouth status.\nFluid balance taking into account input and output of fluids is critical to minimise fluid accumulation. Fluid output is dependent on the kidney function which may also be impacted during times of acute illness such as Septic shock. Sepsis secondary to infection is one of the most common reasons for NICU, along with short-bowel syndrome, bowel perforations and atresia of the oesophagus requiring surgical interventions, meningitis, hydrocephalus, and persistent pulmonary hypertension.\nTo maintain fluid intake and nutrition, intra venous fluids containing higher concentrations of Glucose and electrolytes are often used to minimise the fluid volume. However, patients in NICU often require other IV medicines. Some of the commonly used medicines are calcium gluconate, metronidazole, benzyl penicillin sodium, noradrenaline, adrenaline, milrinone, sildenafil, octreotide, vasopressin and so forth. This creates a need for Y site infusions whereby the medicines being infused come into contact with continuous IV fluids that contain combination of Glucose 10%, Sodium Chloride 0.225% and Potassium 20mmol\/L (GSP). There is a lack of evidence on the physical and chemical compatibility of medicines when they mix at Y -site despite this being practiced in NICU1,2.\nObjectives:\n\u2022\tTo validate the HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) methods or any other relevant methods used to determine the concentration of various medicines commonly used in NICU.\n\u2022\tTo test the physical and chemical compatibility of commonly used medicines in varying concentrations and conditions in combination with key IV fluids like GSP in a simulated Y-site.\nNote: Students working on the project will develop many skills including characterisation, analysis, problem solving, risk assessments as well as research skills and working in a team.\n"},{"project_title":"Study human placental development using stem cells ","leader":"","supervisor":"Professor Guiying Nie,\nDr Yao Wang","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"03 9925 7274 , guiying.nie@rmit.edu.au\n03 9925 7274 yao.wang2@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The placenta is a transient yet critical organ that develops during pregnancy to nourish and protect the conceptus. It functions as the gut, lung and kidney of the growing fetus while these crucial organs are still developing, hence optimal development and function of the placenta is critical to fetal growth and well-being. In addition, the placenta produces hormones and other factors to influence the physiology of the mother to support pregnancy. Unfortunately, if the placenta doesn\u2019t develop or function properly, the fetus will be inevitably affected, and pregnancy complications arise. However, we don\u2019t know a lot about human placental development. Recently we have discovered a very special protein that is produced only by the human placenta, and abnormal regulation of this protein is associated with certain pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. In this study, we will leverage placental stem cells (isolated from first trimester placentas) to investigate the role of protein of our interest in placental cell differentiation and function. The study will utilize techniques such as mammalian cell culture, immunofluorescence, ELISA, real-time RT-PCR, CRISPR-CAS9 technology, RNAseq and proteomics. The results will provide important insights into placental development in the human."},{"project_title":"Bachelor of nursing responses to generative AI in designing teaching, learning & assessment: An integrative review","leader":"","supervisor":"Rebecca Millar,\nTBA","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0399250535, rebecca.millar@rmit.edu.au\nTBATBA","campus":"Off campus\/Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The use of generative artificial intelligence ('AI') is creating a new challenge for nursing academics. It is crucial that students graduate from a nursing degree with the required competencies to practice safely. Arguably, students who use AI may pass a degree and become registered without having gained those competencies, despite having completed the degree. The aim of this study is to investigate the nursing academic response to this challenge\\and identify how student learning and assessment has changed as a result. "},{"project_title":"The changing delivery of a Bachelor of Nursing: Implications for soft skills and workplace competencies","leader":"","supervisor":"Rebecca Millar,\nTBA","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0399250535, Rebecca.millar@rmit.edu.au\nTBATBA","campus":"Bundoora\/City\/Off campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The past five years have seen a push to increase the number of employment ready nurses in Australia and worldwide. As a result, student enrollments are at an all-time high. At the same time, Higher Education is increasingly becoming more customer focused and has been criticized as risking authentic pedagogy for customer ratings and marketability. These issues become significant when determining policy around assessment submission extensions and the use of traditional assessment methods such as exams which have been found to have direct relationships with student experience satisfaction. Arguably, exams can help to prepare students to perform well under pressure. Hard line submission dates provide practice in working to due dates and planning time. These issues are further complication by the omnipresent issue of generative artificial intelligence. With so much technology inbuilt into our everyday lives, is knowing where to capitalize and where to place a comma a relevant academic skill? Little is known about how academics perceive the changing landscape of teaching and learning in Higher Education and the implications for teaching and learning soft skills in a Bachelor of Nursing. This study will use a survey method to explore nursing academics perspectives about teaching and learning soft skills in a Bachelor of Nursing. "},{"project_title":"Comparison of digital vs conventional microscopy.","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr. Jane Moon,\nDr. Rosie Zakaria","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0412609232, jane.moon@rmit.edu.au\n99257668Rosita Zakaria <rosita.zakaria@rmit.edu.au>","campus":"223,2,24","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"You will be comparing Cellavision and manual microscopy: two methods used in the laboratory setting to analyze blood samples. They both serve the purpose of identifying and counting blood cells and other cellular features."},{"project_title":"Development of a Digital Educational Intervention to Enhance Safe Use of Complementary Medicines","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr. Wejdan Shahin,\nDr. Thilini Thrimawithana","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"03 9925 7125, wejdan.shahin@rmit.edu.au\n03 9925 7125thilini.thrimawithana@rmit.edu.au","campus":"RMIT Bundoora","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The use of complementary medicines (CMs) such as herbal remedies, vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements has become increasingly prevalent in healthcare practices. However, many consumers lack sufficient knowledge about the safety, efficacy, and potential adverse effects of these products. This project aims to address these gaps through the development of an educational intervention.\nThe project will focus on developing a digital intervention specifically designed to improve health literacy and promote the safe use of CMs. Tailored to meet the needs of a high-risk group, the intervention may take the form of an interactive multimedia platform or a mobile application, ensuring that the education provided is both engaging and accessible. \nThe importance of this project lies in its potential to significantly impact public health. By providing consumers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about CMs, the intervention aims to reduce the risks associated with their use and promote safer practices. \n"},{"project_title":"Defining the impact of abortive HIV RNA in the brain on neuropathology","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Melissa Churchill,\nDr Thomas Angelovich","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61399256657, melissa.churchill@rmit.edu.au\n99256066thomas.angelovich@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Despite successful viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain a major clinical problem affecting ~40% people with HIV. These syndromes lead to cognitive impairment and are significant health, economic and social problems for those affected. The mechanisms causing neurocognitive disorders in people with HIV are unclear, but likely involve both viral persistence in the brain and ongoing immune activation and inflammation which persists despite ART treatment. \n\nOur laboratory recently demonstrated that short abortive HIV RNA transcripts are present in the brain of people with HIV, including in those treated with ART. However, the location and impact of these short HIV RNA transcripts on cellular function in the brain is unclear. Whether these HIV RNA transcripts can be therapeutically targeted is also unknown.\n\nIn this project students will utilise a large cohort of human brain tissue samples from people who died with HIV to identify and characterise HIV RNA transcripts in brain cells using highly sensitive multiplex imaging and molecular techniques. The subcellular location and ability of these transcripts to be exported from HIV containing cells and activate the local cellular environment will be measured in vitro. Finally, inhibitors of RNA transport will be assessed.\n\nFindings from this study will provide insight in the ability of short abortive HIV RNA to activate and damage the local cellular environment in the brain. \n"},{"project_title":"Defining the impact of HIV persistence in the brain on neuronal activity","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Melissa Churchill,\nDr Thomas Angelovich","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61399256657, melissa.churchill@rmit.edu.au\n99256066thomas.angelovich@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"HIV is a global health burden affecting >37M people and to date no cure exists. Despite treatment strategies with anti-HIV drugs improving health outcomes in patients, ~20% of people living with HIV develop a form of cognitive disorder that can contribute to memory loss and reduced ability to live and function independently. However, to date the mechanisms driving cognitive disorders in people living with HIV are unclear. \n\nNeurons play a key role in the brain acting to transmit messages throughout the brain and body that control executive thought, function and movement. While HIV does not directly infect neurons, our laboratory has demonstrated that HIV integrates and persists in resident microglia cells of the brain which may have a follow-on effect on neurons of the brain. However, the impact of HIV persistence on neuronal activation is unclear. \n\nIn this project students will employ a range of laboratory techniques such as immunohistochemistry, qPCR and ELISA on human clinical samples from people living with HIV to assess neuronal activation and integrity. Ex vivo models of brain tissue will also be used to understand basic principles of neuronal dysfunction in the presence of HIV.\n\nFindings from this study will aid our understanding as to whether HIV persistence in the brain contributes to brain disorders in people living with HIV.\n"},{"project_title":"Investigating lipid release in epithelial cell injury models of lung fibrosis","leader":"","supervisor":"Steven Bozinovski,\nChristian Aloe, Jonathan McQualter, Elizabeth Verghese","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"9925 6674, steven.bozinovski@rmit.edu.au\ntbachristian.aloe@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Building 223, Module D","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This honours project will explore the release of various lipid classes from epithelial cells subjected to different injuries. These models are designed to simulate different pathological conditions contributing to lung fibrosis. The study will focus on three primary inducers of epithelial cell injury: silica (an occupational hazard), oxidative stress induced by cigarette smoke and\/or iron, and polyinosinic acid (PolyIC) as a viral mimetic. \n\nThe project will utilize a combination of cell culture, cell viability assays, ELISA, and PCR techniques to evaluate cell damage, lipid release, and the cellular responses associated with fibrosis. Conducted in the Airways Inflammation Research Laboratory, led by Professor Steven Bozinovski, this research aims to enhance our understanding of the consequences associated with epithelial cell injury, and to elucidate a fundamental driver of lung fibrosis.\n"},{"project_title":"Investigating novel molecular mechanisms for lung sarcoidosis","leader":"","supervisor":"Steven Bozinovski,\nHao Wang, Elizabeth Verghese","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"99256674, steven.bozinovski@rmit.edu.au\ntbahao.wang@rmit.edu.au","campus":"B223, Module D","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition of unknown origin that primarily affects the lungs, leading to the formation of granulomas. This can result in symptoms such as reduced lung function, pulmonary hypertension, and, in severe cases, pulmonary fibrosis. Although corticosteroids are commonly used to treat sarcoidosis, some patients do not respond to these therapies. This underscores the need for new treatment options, a challenge compounded by our limited understanding of the disease mechanisms.\n\nRecent studies have highlighted the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway as a crucial factor in sarcoidosis, as evidenced by mouse model research. Additionally, neutrophils have been implicated in the disease\u2019s resistance to treatment. Our lab has developed a preclinical mouse model of lung sarcoidosis through systemic exposure to vimentin and has tested a novel biological therapy within this model. In this project, you will investigate archived lung specimens from these studies to explore the roles of mTOR signaling and neutrophil infiltration using techniques such as immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blotting (WB), and RT-qPCR. This research aims to deepen our understanding and contribute to the development of more effective treatments for lung sarcoidosis.\n"},{"project_title":"Using autofluorescence (AFL) to assess concussion-related brain damage","leader":"","supervisor":"Sarah Spencer,\nTBD","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"9925 7745, sarah.spencer@rmit.edu.au\nTBDTBD","campus":"Bundoora campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"The diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is challenging because it often relies on mild, transient, non-specific, and subjective symptoms that do not accurately portray the extent of brain damage. \n\nCurrent TBI diagnostics involve on-site questionnaires and clinical assessments of behavior that are non-specific, time-dependent, and unable to reliably detect mild TBI4. Later assessments involve scans such as MRI or positron emission tomography (PET) that are expensive, cumbersome, time consuming, and not appropriate for field deployment. Conventional imaging can also fail to detect subtle damage. Blood biomarkers for TBI diagnosis and prognosis are emerging, but also face significant hurdles before implementation, including that they are technologically demanding and not specific to TBI4. \n\nCurrent understanding of TBI is also lacking. It is based largely on models where rodents are given an isolated experimental brain injury and are then subsequently culled for brain damage assessment. To examine the time course of neurological damage in any detail, and the success or otherwise of any treatments, vast numbers of animals are needed for this approach. Advances in transgenic tools allow for fluorescently tagging proteins of interest so that cells expressing fluorescent markers can be visualized through a cranial window. However, these tools are limited to the one or handful of cells and proteins directly expressing the fluorescent tag(s) and do not provide information on brain health as a whole. \n\nClearly, new technologies are needed to diagnose TBI and prognose recovery, as well as to visualize the brain in real time to understand how TBI develops in various contexts and to assess the success of any treatment interventions. Our project will provide this new technology by exploiting the fact that the eye\u2019s retina behaves in the same way as the rest of the brain in response to injury, together with our finding that central nervous system (CNS) immune cells are highly autofluorescent (naturally bright) and that this brightness can reflect brain damage. \n"},{"project_title":"Navigating the Digital Frontier: Newly Graduated Nurses' Experiences with Digital Health Technologies in Clinical Practice","leader":"","supervisor":"Ruby Walter,\nProfessor Karen Livesay","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"99257429, ruby.walter@rmit.edu.au\n99257070karen.livesay@rmit.edu.au","campus":"On or off campus - project would involve interviews and is not lab based. ","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"How do newly graduated nurses experience and adapt to the use of digital health technologies in their clinical practice, and what challenges and benefits do they encounter?\n\nObjectives:\n\nTo explore the experiences of newly graduated nurses with digital health technologies in their initial practice settings.\n\nTo identify the challenges and benefits associated with the use of these technologies from the perspective of novice nurses."},{"project_title":"Biological Properties of Melanoidins and their anti-viral activity","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof. Vasso Apostolopoulos,\nJack Feehan","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0421 374 037, vasso.apostolopoulos@rmit.edu.au\n0438 273 902jack.feehan@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Melanoidins are dark, brown-coloured nitrogen containing, high molecular weight polymers, found in a wide variety of foods and beverages consumed by humans.  They are formed in the end-stages of the Maillard Reaction (MR), when reducing sugars and amino acids chemically interact during heat processing.\n\nSuch foods and beverages originating from plants also contain micronutrient phytochemicals, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids. These can become incorporated into melanoidin structures during the MR process, modifying their biological properties.  \n\nBoth melanoidins and polyphenols co-exist in many foods\/diets, and jointly share some key in vitro and in vivo biological attributes such as antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory, enzyme inhibition, antimicrobial, cell signalling and immunomodulatory properties. These similarities are offset by their significant differences in their origins, size, structure, digestive pathways, and in vivo metabolism.\n\nIn this project, you will synthesise melanoidins from common sugars, and validate the resulting compounds through analytical chemistry. Following synthesis and validation, you will evaluate the effect of the melanoidins on immune cells, and microbial cultures, to examine their use in the treatment of infectious disease. \n"},{"project_title":"The effect of carnosine on insulin production in vitro","leader":"","supervisor":"Jack Feehan,\nProf. Vasso Apostolopoulos","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0438 273 902, jack.feehan@rmit.edu.au\n0421374037vasso.apostolopoulos@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Carnosine is a naturally occurring dietary dipeptide, which has a range of anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-glycating properties in humans and animals. In our previous work, we have also shown that carnosine imparts a glucose lowering effect in both animal models, and humans with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It has been suggested that his occurs through and insulinogenic action, with carnosine acting to increase insulin secretion, therefore lowering glucose levels in the blood - however this has never been shown, and any mechanisms are unclear. \n\nIn this study, you will evaluate the effect of carnosine on the EndoC-\u03b2H1 pancreatic cell line - a validated, insulin secreting model of pancreatic function. Cells will be expanded in culture, both in a monolayer as well as in pseudo islets, mimicking in vivo conditions, and then treat them with carnosine in vitro. You will then analyse the effects on insulin secretion, as well as potential mechanisms underpinning the effects shown in vitro."},{"project_title":"Defining the molecular impacts of cigarette smoke exposure on skeletal muscle stem cell function.","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Stanley Chan,\nProf Ross Vlahos","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"613 9925 7353, stanley.chan@rmit.edu.au\n613 9925 7362ross.vlahos@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Level 2, Module D, Level 2, Building 223\nBundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating disease characterised by progressive airflow limitation. Cigarette smoking is the major cause of COPD. Patients with COPD often suffer from severe skeletal muscle wasting, which increases their risk of death and reduces quality of life. The causative mechanism linking cigarette smoking to skeletal muscle health is unclear. Satellite cells are muscle stem cells that are responsible for muscle growth and repair, hence the maintenance of muscle mass. At rest, these cells reside in a quiescent state; but are rapidly activated and recruited to the site of injury. Recent data from our laboratory demonstrated that cigarette smoking may impact on the activation of muscle stem cells leading to exacerbated skeletal muscle injury in mice. However, the exact action of cigarette smoke exposure on muscle stem cell function remains poorly understood. The present project will explore the effects of cigarette smoke exposure on skeletal muscle stem cell viability and function. \n\nThe student will learn about isolation of skeletal muscle stem cell, cell culture, cell viability assay, real-time cell metabolic analysis using the Seahorse AnalyserTM, immunostaining and microscopy. This project will provide proof-of-concept data on stem cell targeting therapies for treating muscle wasting in people with chronic lung disease.\n"},{"project_title":"Machine Learning for Predicting Muscle Wasting in COPD Patients (Using -Omics Data)","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Stanley Chan,\nDr Azadeh Alavi","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"613 9925 7353, stanley.chan@rmit.edu.au\n613 9925 7353azadeh.alavi@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West or City Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease characterized by chronic inflammation and airflow limitation, often exacerbated by muscle wasting, which severely impacts patient outcomes(1). While lung proteomics offers a detailed view of the molecular changes in COPD, the complexity and high dimensionality of this data present challenges in identifying relevant biomarkers. Recent advancements in machine learning provide powerful tools for analysing large datasets, enabling the discovery of key features that correlate with clinical outcomes. This project aims to develop and apply machine learning algorithms for feature selection based on lung proteomics data and correlate these findings with lung inflammation and muscle wasting parameters in a preclinical model of COPD.\n\nAims:\n1.\tIntegrate lung proteomics data from a well-established preclinical model of COPD, including data related to lung inflammation and muscle wasting.\n2.\tDevelop and apply machine learning algorithms to identify key proteomic features that correlate with lung inflammation and muscle wasting parameters. \n3.\tExplore the use of unsupervised learning methods, such as clustering and principal component analysis (PCA), to identify patterns and reduce data dimensionality while preserving biologically relevant information.\n\nExpected outcomes: Development of robust machine learning algorithms capable of efficiently selecting key proteomic features that are predictive of lung inflammation and muscle wasting in a preclinical model of COPD. These algorithms will enhance the ability to uncover critical biomarkers, leading to a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and potentially informing the development of more targeted therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, the methodologies and tools developed in this project can be adapted for broader applications in other complex diseases, demonstrating the utility of machine learning in advancing biomedical research.\n\nThe student will gain hands-on experience in data science, particularly in the application of machine learning to biomedical data. They will develop skills in data pre-processing, algorithm development, and feature selection, all of which are critical for analysing complex omics data. Additionally, the student will learn how to interpret and validate machine learning findings in a biological context, preparing them for further research in computational biology, bioinformatics, or translational medicine.\n"},{"project_title":"Understanding the impacts of transthyretin on brain development","leader":"","supervisor":"Bobbi Fleiss,\nJess Holien","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"bobbi.fleiss@rmit.edu.au, bobbi.fleiss@rmit.edu.au\nJess.Holien@rmit.edu.auJess.Holien@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora.","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"In vertebrates, thyroid hormones are crucial in promoting myelination, the wrapping of neuronal axons with lipid insulation created by oligodendrocytes that ensures the optimal transduction of electrical signals 1. Thus, genetic deletion of the brain\u2019s primary distributor of the thyroid hormone, transthyretin (TTR), would be expected to decrease myelination. Remarkably, we found the opposite effect in TTR null mice 2,3 \u2013 TTR KO mice displayed a hypermyelination, and we have new data preliminary data supporting this finding in an oligodendrocyte cell line. This finding exposes a gap in our fundamental understanding of the role of this evolutionarily conserved protein in brain development.  Further gaps exist because we only studied animals in the late neonatal stage and didn\u2019t explore the impacts of sex on the role of TTR. \nThis project will use tissues collected from male and female TTR KO mice to explore basic brain development in detail from the earliest stages of life through adulthood. It will use immunohistological techniques that are routinely applied in our lab, providing opportunities to learn and collaborate with multiple team members.  The data from this project will be published as part of a larger study of the TTR mice. No collection of tissues from live animals is required, but experience in this can be provided if desired. The student will receive in-depth, hands-on training and work as part of a large team. However, this project is best suited to a student with the drive to optimise the established analysis approaches for this project and delve into the literature to comprehend the impact of TTR in brain development with independence. "},{"project_title":"Understanding lung cell responses to respiratory viral infection. ","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Mark Miles,\nProf Stavros Selemidis","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 3 9925 0743, mark.miles@rmit.edu.au\n+613 9925 7182stavros.selemidis@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Building 223 Level 2, Module D. Bundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: Respiratory viruses such as influenza A virus (IAV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infect millions of people globally each year causing significant morbidity and mortality particularly in high-risk individuals such as the young, elderly, immunocompromised and those with pre-existing respiratory illness. Host inflammatory responses to infection are critical for controlling viral replication and establishing immunity, and these processes are mediated by an intricate network of various cell types at various stages of infection. The type of cellular response can therefore influence the severity of the disease, including any subsequent sequalae that can give rise to chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma. The lung is made up of a plethora of cell types including epithelial, endothelial, and immune cells each with distinct functions that respond directly or indirectly to viral infection. Our laboratory has demonstrated immunostimulatory properties of important families of pattern recognition receptors in driving antiviral and\/or proinflammatory signalling pathways, and it is unclear the degree to which certain cell types engage these receptors and contribute to inflammatory responses to viral infection. This project will utilize cell-based models to interrogate inflammatory responses in various cell types to live viral infection. \nAims: This project aims to compare the antiviral and inflammatory responses in lung cell types to respiratory viral infection.\nOutcomes: Conclusions from this project will help in unravelling novel therapeutic targets that may aid in reducing disease-related morbidity. \nStudent learning: You will learn a range of techniques including cell culture, RNA\/protein extractions, qPCR analysis, western blotting, ELISA, multiplex immunoassays, and flow cytometry.\n\n\n"},{"project_title":"The consequences of respiratory viral infections on neurodevelopment","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Stella Liong,\nProf Stavros Selemidis","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"+61 3 9925 7183, stella.liong@rmit.edu.au\n613 9925 7182stavros.selemidis@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Building 223, Level 2, Module D, Bundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: Viral infections during pregnancy or early life are associated with neurodevelopmental defects and cognitive impairments in the offspring. It is postulated that viral infections can trigger schizophrenia by disrupting developing inhibitory circuits during early life development, however the precise aetiology remains unknown. Moreover, current antipsychotic drugs can only manage psychosis of already diagnosed individuals. There are no available therapeutics that can prevent psychosis development in at-risk individuals. Animal models play an important role in exploring how viruses can cause latent psychosis and unveil mechanisms of schizophrenia pathogenesis for therapeutic targeting. In this project, using a mouse model, students will examine the effects of influenza A virus infection during pregnancy and respiratory syncytial virus infection during early life on neuroinflammation in the adult offspring. \n\nAims: To understand the effects of respiratory viral infections during pregnancy or in early life on offspring neurodevelopment.\n\nOutcomes: This project will allow us to develop better pharmacological strategies that target viral-induced neuroinflammation in early life to prevent the onset of neurological disorders in adulthood.\n\nStudent learning: You will learn a range of techniques including RNA extractions, RNA-seq and qPCR analysis, western blotting, ELISA, multiplex immunoassays, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry.\n\n\n\n\n"},{"project_title":"Internet of Things smart home system to support the elderly aging in place-A systematic review","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr. Jianxia Zhai,\nProf. Kristine Martin-McDonald","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"0451995388, jianxia.zhai@rmit.edu.au\n0438331417kris.martin-mcdonald@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora Campus, hybrid","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Background: \nDespite the remarkable development in smart home monitoring technology, a systematic literature review on Internet of Things smart home system implementation in particular barriers and enablers is lacking.  \nAim: \nTo explore current evidence of smart home technologies for elderly care by conducting a systematic review.\nMethods: \nThe systematic review will be conducted in adherence with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 reporting guideline. The systematic literature search is to be performed in electronic databases. Relevant studies will be selected as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Title and abstract screening followed by full text review will be conducted. Qualitative and quantitative synthesis will be undertaken independently by two researchers. \nEthics and dissemination:\n This study will collate and analyse anonymised data from published research and therefore, ethical approval is not necessary. Study results will be disseminated via publication in academic journals.\n\n"},{"project_title":"Bridging Educational Divides: A Qualitative Study of International Nursing Students from Different Education Systems Adapting to Higher Education in Australia","leader":"","supervisor":"Dr Ruby Walter,\nRebecca Millar","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"99257429, ruby.walter@rmit.edu.au\n99250535rebecca.millar@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora campus & off-campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This qualitative project would examine the experiences of international nursing students from countries with education systems markedly different from Australia\u2019s, focusing on how they adapt to and navigate the Australian higher education environment. \n1.\tHow do international nursing students from education systems significantly different from Australia\u2019s experience adapting to Australian higher education?\n2.\tWhat specific challenges do these students encounter due to the differences in educational approaches, practices, and expectations?\n3.\tWhat strategies and resources do these students utilize to overcome the challenges associated with these differences?\n\n"},{"project_title":"Using quantitative sensory tests to evaluate the preventive effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy ","leader":"","supervisor":"Prof Zhen Zheng ,\nDr George Lenon","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"9925 7167, Zhen.zheng@rmit.edu.au\n99256587George.lenon@rmit.edu.au","campus":"It will be at the NH Cancer service. The external supervisor Prof Wanda Stelmach and Dr Frances Barnett will supervise the conduct of the study at NH ","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"This honours project will be embedded in a PhD project, which is a randomised wait-list controlled clinical trial and will assess the protective effect and safety profile of tailored acupuncture treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a condition occurring in 50 \u2013 70% of cancer patients. CIPN impairs the quality of life of patients and causes a reduction of chemo-therapy dose or suspension of the therapy. Previous studies have shown that acupuncture alleviates existing CIPN, but few studies have examined its protective effect. \nThe PhD project will focus on the clinical outcomes, whereas this honours project will focus on objective measures obtained from using quantitative sensory tests (QST). The QST tests will include measuring sensitivity to vibration, tactile, cool and warm sensations. Sixty cancer patients who plan to undergo chemo-therapy at Norther Health Cancer Service will be recruited in 2025 to take part in the acupuncture trial. Acupuncture will be delivered before the commencement of and during the chemotherapy for 30 weeks. \nThe aims of the project are 1) to assess if participants in the acupuncture group will experience no or less sensory deterioration compared with the wait-list control group; 2) to assess if the protective effect as assessed with QST is maintained 4 weeks after the cession of acupuncture. \n"},{"project_title":"Effects of natural bioactives on pancreatic cancer cells","leader":"","supervisor":"Vasso Apostolopoulos,\nJack Feehan","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"99252000, Vasso.Apostolopoulos@rmit.edu.au\n99252000Jack.Feehan@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of only 5-7%. The treatment options are severely limited, primarily due to the late stage at diagnosis, the tumour's resistance to chemotherapy, and the poor suitability for surgical resection. Current treatment strategies are inadequate, and there is a pressing need for novel therapeutic approaches to address these challenges. Our research into natural bioactives represents a significant and innovative step in cancer therapy, particularly for PDAC In this project you will work on determining the effects of natural bioactives on different pancreatic cancer cell lines with different genetic mutations. You will lean techniques such as, WST-8, EdU, (proliferation assays) apopotosis assays, cytokine assays, western blots, mRNA extractions, gene analysis, mitochondrial assays. "},{"project_title":"Force-time characteristics of a simulated spinal manipulation technique: a comparative study of students and professionals","leader":"","supervisor":"Azharuddin Fazalbhoy,\nDanielle Baxter","contact_details":"","discipline":"","group":"9925 7655, azharuddin.fazalbhoy@rmit.edu.au\n9925 7647danielle.baxter@rmit.edu.au","campus":"Bundoora West Campus","program_code":"BH058","positions":"","description":"Pre-professional training for chiropractic and osteopathy students requires them to learn the safe and effective delivery of manual therapy skills. This includes the skillful, effective, and safe delivery of spinal manipulation technique. Current practices involve students primarily acquiring the skills through demonstration from clinical educators and practice through peer-to-peer learning. Appreciation of safe and effective optimal force has not been standardised in the literature making it significantly challenging for clinical learning and teaching approaches.   \n\nWe have recently shown that forces generated by chiropractic and osteopathy students applying spinal manipulation technique in a standardised approach using a Human Analogue Mannequin (HAM) and an instrumented practitioner table that has embedded force sensors demonstrates a loss of pre-thrust force prior to delivery of peak thrust force, thus impacting the delivery of safe and effective technique. The proposed project will compare force-time characteristics of pre-professional students to professional practitioners applying spinal manipulation to determine whether experience in professional practice improves these characteristics. "}],"discipline":{"1":""}});