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 based in NSW, WA and even overseas! All our students are enrolled through the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne. For more info on undertaking a PhD at UoM pleases visit the website.
What are the research support services that the NCIC assist with?
There are many research support services for PhD students including clinical trials, laboratory, data management and health services research support. Salary support is also available and you should discuss your options with your potential supervisor.
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. For more information on where an NCIC PhD can take you you can view the profiles of past NCIC PhDs here.
Our Current PhD Projects
Email for more information: Michelle.Yong@petermac.org or Monica.Slavin@petermac.org
Clinical Context: Clinical suspicion of infection is a major factor driving hospital admissions, but with the advent of venetoclax-based treatments for acute myeloid leukemia, infection risk management must be re-evaluated through a comprehensive approach that includes infection screening, antibiotic allergy delabelling, early infection management, biomarker assessment, and a febrile neutropenia pathway supporting home-based care.
Key Study Components:
- National RCT of ambulatory neutropenic monitoring vs standard of care
- Novel care pathways for new Ven Aza patients/HiDAC ambulatory care patients
- Optimise pre-chemo ID screening, MDR screening and antibiotic allergy assessment
- Antifungal prophylaxis in venetoclax azacitadine patients
- Understand frailty 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 specialists, Ambulatory care specialists, haem nursing, Interest in clinical trials, pharmacists, nurse clinicians, nurse practitioner candidates, health services researchers, allied health professionals, or others.
Contact for more information: Michelle.Yong@petermac.org
Brief Synopsis: Evaluate and understand new technological diagnostic assays and biomarkers in immunocompromised hosts (ICH).
Areas of Research:
- Develop a master protocol for collection of specimens (blood, urine, CSF) for high-risk ICH patients.
- Assess a range of novel commercially available point-of-care and/or rapid diagnostic tests in the ICH setting.
Contact for more information: Monica.Slavin@petermac.org or Michelle.Yong@petermac.org
Brief Synopsis: The WHO's first report on fungal pathogens highlights the critical health threat posed by infections, emphasizing the need for improved early diagnosis. Current challenges include limited access to molecular testing, lack of rapid tests for drug resistance, and difficulties in confirming diagnoses through conventional microscopy and culture.
Areas of Research:
- Develop a multi-centre protocol for collection of serial whole blood, serum, BAL, 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 and other molecular-based assays for invasive aspergillus, rare mould infections, and resistance in a range of sample types.
Contact for more information: Michelle.Yong@petermac.org
Brief Synopsis: Viral infections are common after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (alloHSCT) due to immune system deficits, particularly in T-cell immunity. A comprehensive viral platform assay could enhance understanding of viral burden, epidemiology, resistance, and clinical impact in transplant and cancer patients.
Areas of Research:
- Apply a comprehensive viral genomics panel on cohorts of ICH populations, including CMV and viral burden in alloHSCT and respiratory viral burden in cancer patients.
- Develop and validate a quantitative viral load assay and evaluate the assay to detect resistant and wildtype CMV.
- Explore the cost and feasibility of an assay to enable monitoring of remote/regional patients.
Contact for more information: Michelle.Yong@petermac.org
Brief Synopsis: Viral infections are common after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (alloHSCT) due to immune system deficits, particularly in T-cell immunity. A comprehensive viral platform assay could enhance understanding of viral burden, epidemiology, resistance, and clinical impact in transplant and cancer patients.
Areas of Research:
- Apply a comprehensive viral genomics panel on cohorts of ICH populations, including CMV and viral burden in alloHSCT and respiratory viral burden in cancer patients.
- Develop and validate a quantitative viral load assay and evaluate the assay to detect resistant and wildtype CMV.
- Explore the cost and feasibility of an assay to enable monitoring of remote/regional patients.
Contact for more information: Zoe.Neoh@petermac.org or Monica.Slavin@petermac.org
Brief Synopsis: Invasive fungal infections pose a significant threat to highly vulnerable groups such as those with cancer, stem cell and solid organ transplantation, critically ill patients, and the immunosuppressed.
Areas of Research:
- Developing multicentre studies on the real-world use of isavuconazole in adult and paediatric patients.
- Develop a national approach to optimising antifungals, including assessment of combination antifungal therapy.
- Coordinating multicentre BAL collection studies.
- Clinical trial of infusion of fungal-specific T cells.
Contact for more information: Gabrielle.Haeusler@petermac.org or Karin.Thursky@petermac.org
Brief Synopsis: Optimizing Risk Prediction and Discharge Strategies in Oncology.
Areas of Research:
- 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 a program for direct discharge from emergency post-observation in low-risk patients.
Contact for more information: Abby.Douglas@petermac.org
Brief Synopsis: Beyond the PIPPIN study: evaluation of novel diagnostics in Invasive Fungal Infections (IFI).
Areas of Research:
- SPECIFIC: Siderophore-radiolabelled PET/CT for diagnosing invasive aspergillosis (pilot study).
- Implementation study: Evaluating barriers and enablers of widespread routine access and use of FDG-PET/CT for investigation of persistent/recurrent neutropenic fever.
- FDG-PET/CT in IFI: Randomized controlled trial (RCT) of interval FDG-PET/CT for assessing response to therapy.
- FDG-PET/CT in non-tuberculous mycobacteria.
Contact for more information: Michelle.Yong@petermac.org or Monica.Slavin@petermac.org
Brief Synopsis: Respiratory infections significantly impact immune-compromised cancer patients, leading to worse outcomes such as progression to severe disease, increased hospitalizations, and higher mortality. While preventive measures like vaccination and monoclonal antibodies have improved prognosis, recent findings suggest that intranasal IFN-α nasal spray effectively reduces COVID-19 incidence in adult cancer patients.
Areas of Research:
- Developing a novel cytokine intranasal spray which exhibits high stability at room temperature in collaboration with Monash Medicines Manufacturing Department.
- Conducting multi-centre clinical trials to assess efficacy in preventing community respiratory viral infections.
- Conducting clinical trials to assess early treatment of community respiratory viral infections.
- Assessing the economic cost analysis of the intervention in respiratory infections.