PhD Project Opportunities
See below the variety of PhD opportunties that the what the NCIC offers
The National Centre for Infections in Cancer has been continuously funded as a centre of research excellence by NHMRC since 2016. It is the leading research centre dedicated to improving patient outcomes in the area of infections in immune-compromised patients including haematological malignancy, solid tumours and haematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplantation with many national and international collaborations. As new targeted therapies are being used in these patients (eg. CART, T cell therapies) and survival improves, the epidemiology of infections in this group continues to evolve and better diagnostics and treatments are needed.
FAQ’s about the NCIC PhD Projects
Do I need to be based in Melbourne, Australia to be eligible for PhD project oppotuntity wih the NCIC?
No, you do not! The NCIC is based in Melbourne at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre but we have successfully supervised students from NSW, Western Australia, Seattle, Toronto and North Carolina.
What are the research support services that the NCIC assist with?
There are many research support services for PhD students including stipends, clinical trials, laboratory, data management and conference grant opportunities.
How many PhD students does the NCIC supervise currently?
We currently supervise 10 PhD candidates.
What are the career opportunities that result from a NCIC PhD Project?
Many of our previous PhD students have developed into holding high leadership positions as hospital department heads, on national and international advisory committees, lead clinical Australian and international guidelines and hold leadership positions on ID specialist societies.
Supervisors: Gab Haeusler, Abby Douglas, Monica Slavin, Sponsorship: Kas Thursky
Brief Synopsis: Novel electronic medical record (EMR) embedded randomised clinical trial – on early vs late stopping of empirical antibiotics
• Conducting a first in its kind adult randomised controlled trial using novel EMR embedded trial and data structure using EPIC
• Assesses neutropenic and non-neutropenic patients
• Asks the question of empiric antibiotic management of fever in high risk haematology malignancy patients
Clinical suspicion of infection remains a driver and big contributor of patients admitted to hospital for inpatient care. However, acute myeloid leukemia therapies have evolved and for those who are not suited to traditional chemotherapy, venetoclax based treatment is a recommended option. With the introduction of venetoclax based regimens, infection risk needs to be re-evaluated using a multi-modal clinical approach aimed at infection risk screening, delabelling of antibiotic allergies, early infection management, biomarker evaluation and a febrile neutropenia pathway aimed at home based care.
Conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of ambulatory neutropenic monitoring versus standard of care in a national study of newly diagnosed AML patients on venetoclax azacitadine
• ADAPT-ID study: – national RCT of ambulatory neutropenic monitoring vs standard of care
• New Ven Aza patients/ HiDAC ambulatory care patients at RMH/PMCC: novel care pathways
• Optimising pre-chemo ID screening, MDR screening and antibiotic allergy assessment
• Antifungal prophylaxis in venetoclax azacitadine patients
• Understand fraility measurements in high-risk patients and infectious outcomes
• Health economics on ambulatory models of care for acute leukemia
• Explore role of remote ambulatory monitoring; options, needs and readiness assessment
Suits: Medical ID specialist, Ambulatory care specialist, haem nursing, Interest in clinical trials, pharmacist, nurse clinician – nurse practitioner candidate, health services researcher-allied health or other
Evaluate and understand new technological diagnostic assays and biomarkers in immunocompromised hosts.
• Develop Precinct Master Protocol for collection of specimens (blood, urine, CSF) for high risk ICH patients presenting with fever to risk stratify• Assays for assessment:
1. Microbio: comprehensive molecular testing of blood to identify microbiological pathogens as compared to standard blood culture
2. SeptiCyte RAPID – blood RNA samples in febrile neutropenic and immunocompromised patients, TGA approved
3. CRISPR-based diagnostic testing
4. Blood biomarkers
The World Health Organisation (WHO) released the first ever report on fungal pathogens as a priority area for research as they represent a critical threat to health. Delayed IFI diagnosis was identified as a key area of improvement. Early diagnosis is essential for initiating appropriate antifungal therapy. Currently, rapid detection is impeded by the lack of and limited access to molecular testing that specific to these fungi. No rapid fungal test exists which can concurrently assess drug resistance. There are difficulties in confirming diagnosis using standard of care conventional microscopy and culture; often subject to interpretation.
• Develop a multi-centre protocol for collection of serial whole blood, serum BAL, body fluids (CSF, vitreous fluid), stool and urine for evaluating non-culture based fungal diagnostics and immune profiling in high risk haematology patients
• Develop and evaluate CRISPR based assay for invasive aspergillus and resistance to azoles in a single test
• Assess feasibility of point of care testing
• Evaluate molecular assays for rare mould infections eg. Mucorales to assess performance and predictive performance
• Assess Aspergillus galactomannon Ag VirClia monotest
• Assess urine-based fungal assays
• Develop novel mould molecular assay development (Zoe)
Viral infections following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant are frequently observed as a consequence of profound deficits on the immune system, in particular inadequate T-cell specific immunity. A comprehensive viral platform assay (Twist Bioscience) to understand viral burden in allogeneic, solid organ transplant patients and cancer patients – a more comprehensive understanding in epidemiology, resistance and clinical impact.
• Apply Twist comprehensive viral research panel genomics on cohorts of ICH populations• CMV and viral burden in alloHSCT – CRESCT samples
• Respiratory viral burden in cancer patients – CSMART samples
• Respiratory samples – CRISP BAL
• Develop and validate an assay which could also measure/ quantitate viral loads
• Evaluate the assay to detect CMV resistant to wildtype virus
• Explore cost and feasibility of an assay to enable monitoring of remote / regional patients
• New cohorts to develop up a protocol and collection – primary immunodeficiencies, CSF, kidney Tx, paeds
• Develop and build capacity for assay to be performed
• Advancing vaccination care and delivery in high-risk haematology patients
• Identifying the burden of vaccine-preventable infections and real-world uptake of vaccination through national data-linkage• Understanding retention of immunity and response to vaccination in the setting of new generation haematological therapies (prospective study, immune analysis)
• Evaluating new vaccination strategies in a platform randomised trial of autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy patients
• Survey of vaccination practices across transplant centres and co-designing optimal vaccination delivery program
Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are rare and often progress to disseminated and fatal outcomes in 30-60% of patients. They pose significant threat to highly vulnerable groups such as those with cancer, stem cell and solid organ transplantation, critically ill and immunosuppressed. This project will address significant critical evidence gaps in fungal infection epidemiology and optimising treatment.
• Multicentre real world use of isavuconazole in adult and paediatric patients• Optimising antifungals national approach
• Co-ordinating multicentre CRISP BAL recruitment
• Assist in conducting clinical trial of infusion of fungal specific T cells
• Assess combination antifungal therapy
Supervisors: Gab Haeusler, Abby Douglas Possibly ED supervisor Mentors: Karin Thursky, Monica Slavin
• Using big data/large datasets to re-validate MASCC score in the current era of novel therapies• Re-calibrate/develop novel or simpler risk prediction scores
• Develop and evaluate program of direct discharge from emergency post observation in low risk patients
Suitable for: Medical ID, Ambulatory care medical, nurse clinician, haem nurse
Evaluate and understand new technological diagnostic assays and biomarkers in immunocompromised hosts.
• Develop Precinct Master Protocol for collection of specimens (blood, urine, CSF) for high risk ICH patients presenting with fever to risk stratify• Assays for assessment:
1. Microbio: comprehensive molecular testing of blood to identify microbiological pathogens as compared to standard blood culture
2. SeptiCyte RAPID – blood RNA samples in febrile neutropenic and immunocompromised patients, TGA approved
3. CRISPR-based diagnostic testing
4. Blood biomarkers
Supervisors: Abby Douglas, Michael Hofman, Monica Possibly Lisa Guccione or other implementation scientist for PIPPIN extension Mentors: Karin Thursky
• Assays for assessment:1. Microbio: comprehensive molecular testing of blood to identify microbiological pathogens as compared to standard blood culture
2. SeptiCyte RAPID – blood RNA samples in febrile neutropenic and immunocompromised patients, TGA approved
3. CRISPR-based diagnostic testing
4. Blood biomarkers