Summer Research Scholarships 2011/2012 - Projects arranged by School or Institute

Applications closed Sept 2011


Below is a list of the 2011/2012 projects listed by the host School or Institute.

• Asbestos Disease Research Institute
• ANZAC Research Institute
• Central Clinical School
• Children’s Hospital at Westmead
• George Institute for Global Research
• Nepean Clinical School
• Northern Clinical School
• School of Medical Science
• School of Public Health
• Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School
• Western Clinical School

All linked files below are PDF.

Alternatively, return to the list of available projects arranged by subject

Asbestos Disease Research Institute

• Preclinical evaluation of small molecule drugs that block cell cycle progression in malignant mesothelioma cells
  Supervisor: Dr Lyn Schedlich
• Biological effects of mesothelioma cell-derived exosomes on immune and non-immune cells
  Supervisor: Dr Lyn Schedlich
• Is the expression of Dicer and Drosha of prognostic value in mesothelioma?
  Supervisors: Dr Glen Reid and Professor Nico van Zandwijk
• MicroRNAs as circulating biomarkers for mesothelioma: The release of microRNAs by mesothelioma xenografts
  Supervisors: Dr Glen Reid, Dr Michaela Kirschner and Professor Nico van Zandwijk
• Tumour spheroids as models of drug resistance in mesothelioma
  Supervisors: Dr Glen Reid, Dr Yuen Yee Cheng and Professor Nico van Zandwijk
• FBP1 as potential tumour suppressor of malignant mesothelioma
  Supervisors: Dr Yuen Yee Cheng and Dr Glen Reid
• mRNA expression and DNA methylation of Zic1, SFRP2 and SFRP5 in a three dimensional (3D) spheroids model of malignant mesothelioma
  Supervisors: Dr Yuen Yee Cheng and Dr Glen Reid
• Characterisation of miR-625* function in malignant mesothelioma
  Supervisor: Michaela Kirschner
• Functional significance of miRNA deregulation following YBX-1 silencing in malignant mesothelioma
  Supervisor: Michaela Kirschner

ANZAC Research Institute

• The effects of 7 ketocholesterol on fenestrations in a Werner model of premature ageing
  Supervisor: Professor David Le Couteur
• Dendritic Cells in Cancer
  Supervisors: Dr. Phillip Fromm and Professor Derek Hart
• Studies on dendritic cells from AHCYL1 knock out mice
  Supervisors: Dr. Nirupama Verma and Dr. Georgina Clark
• Molecular and cell biology studies to understand the cause of motor neuron disease (MND)
  Supervisors: Dr Ian Blair and Dr Shu Yang
• Investigating the upregulation of EMMPRIN (CD147) in monocytes and granulocytes
  Supervisors: Dr Gabrielle Pennings and Professor Len Kritharides and Dr Caroline Reddel
• The Role of RANK in Breast Cancer Cell Growth
  Supervisors: Dr. Yu Zheng and Associate Professor Hong Zhou
• What genes cause the premature death of motor and sensory neurons?
  Supervisors: Associate Professor Marina Kennerson and Professor Garth Nicholson
• Nutrition, TOR and the prevention of ageing
  Supervisors: Professor David Le Couteur and Dr Aisling McMahon
• 3D living skin equivalent-Investigation of skin cell responses on collagen/PCL electrospun scaffolds
  Supervisors: Dr Yiwei Wang, Professor Peter Maitz and Dr Zhe Li
• Investigation of androgen receptor targeting compound (ASC-J9) on wound healing
  Supervisors: Dr Yiwei Wang, Dr Ulla Simanainen and Dr Zhe Li
• Effect of Tea Tree Oil on keratinocytes and skin wound healing
  Supervisors: Dr. Zhe Li and Dr Yiwei Wang
• Biofilm and Infection of Burn Wounds
  Supervisors: Dr. Peter Kennedy, Dr Yiwei Wang, and Dr Zhe Li
• Effect of diet on female fertility
  Supervisors: Dr Kirsty Walters and Dr Aisling McMahon
• Androgen effects on skin formation
  Supervisors: Dr Ulla Simanainen and Dr Yiwei Wang
• Mammary gland as an androgen target organ
  Supervisors: Reena Desai and Dr Ulla Simanainen
• What is the effect of warfarin on a new global assay of haemostasis?
  Supervisors: Dr Caroline Reddel and Dr Jennifer Curnow

Central Clinical School

• A 'Good' Muscle in A 'Bad' Environment?
  Supervisors: Dr David Chapman and Dr Cheryl Salome
• Inhibitory microcircuits in primate retina
  Supervisors: Ulrike Grünert and Professor Paul Martin
• Changes in protein signalling in platelets after cryopreservation
  Supervisors: Dr Lacey Johnson and Dr Denese Marks
• Understanding the platelet storage lesion
  Supervisors: Dr Lacey Johnson and Dr Denese Marks
• Does Lying Down Give you Asthma?
  Supervisors: Dr David Chapman, Dr Cheryl Salome and Dr Sue Downie
• BRAF Mutations in Thyroid Carcinoma
  Supervisors: Professor Susan McLennan, Dr Elizabeth Chua and Dr Catherine Woolnough
• Mental health co-morbidities as risk factors associated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis
  Supervisor: Dr Devanshi Seth
• Genetic risk factors that predispose drinkers to alcoholic liver cirrhosis
  Supervisor: Dr Devanshi Seth
• To investigate SPP1 mediated MAP Kinase and Akt signaling in liver cells in response to alcohol
  Supervisor: Dr Devanshi Seth
• Characterisation of macrophage phenotype in diabetes:- possible role in the development of complications
  Supervisors: Professor Susan McLennan and Dr Danqing MIn
• Charaterize the effect of diabetes on retinal macrophage subsets
  Supervisors: Dr Danqing Min and Professor Susan McLennan
• Growth Factor, cytokine and Chemokine Expression in Human Renal Allograft dysfunction: the biomarkers in predicting the graft function
  Supervisors: Dr Jianlin Yin and Associate Professor Josette Eris
• HMGB1 preconditioning in kidney ischemia reperfusion injury
  Supervisors: Huiling Wu and Professor Steve Chadban
• A Study of Seasoned Antibodies and their Epitopes for Universal Influenza Vaccines & Protection Against Avian H5N1
  Supervisors: Dr Garry Lynch and Dr William-Bret Church
• Investigation of Conserved Epitopes in Niesseria Meningococcus for Antibodies to Protect Against Meningitis
  Supervisors: Dr Garry Lynch and Dr William-Bret Church
• Resolution of Protein Sites Conserved Across Hendra, Nipha and Bahma Viruses & for which Heterotypic Human Antibodies Can be Realized.
  Supervisors: Dr Garry Lynch and Dr William-Bret Church

Children’s Hospital at Westmead Clinical School

• Engaging young people through information and communication technology: managing the risks while harnessing the power of the internet
  Supervisors: Fiona Robards,
• Investigation of intronic variations in CDKL5 and MECP2: determining disease-associated mutations for Rett syndrome
  Supervisor: Professor John Christodoulou and Ms Gladys Ho
• Identifying possible transcriptional/translational regulator(s) for Tumor Protein D52 (TPD52)
  Supervisors: Yuyan Chen and A/Prof. Jennifer A Byrne
• Vector borne infections in childhood
  Supervisors: Professor Cheryl Jones, Professor Robert Booy, Dr. Robert Menzies, Associate Professor Ben Marais
• Investigation of intronic variations in CDKL5 and MECP2: determining disease-associated mutations for Rett syndrome
  Supervisors: Professor John Christodoulou and Ms Gladys Ho
• Exercise and dietary programmes for solid organ transplant recipients
  Supervisors: Dr. Germaine Wong, Professor Jonathan Craig and Dr. Allison Tong
• Donor cancer transmission in transplantation
  Supervisors: Dr. Germaine Wong, Professor Jonathan Craig, Dr. Allison Tong and Dr. Angela Webster
• Economic evaluations in kidney transplantation
  Supervisors: Dr. Germaine Wong, Professor Jonathan Craig, Dr. Allison Tong and Associate Professor Kirsten Howard
• Transmission of HPV from mother to infant: serious implications?
  Supervisors: Robert Booy and Dr Leon Heron
• Evolution of pertussis epidemics and effect of genotypes on infection outcomes and immunisation
  Supervisors: Dr Nicholas Wood and Professor Peter McIntyre
• Describing the clinical profile of children with drug resistant urinary tract infections
  Supervisors: Associate Professor Ben Marais, Professor Cheryl Jones and Dr David Andresen
• Ion Torrent Sequencing of Targeted Genomic Regions
  Supervisors: Dr Peter Houweling and Mr Monkol Lek
• Myostatin inhibition in the α-actinin-3 deficient mouse model
  Supervisors: Dr Peter Houweling and Dr Kate Quinlan
• Global incidence of otitis media: a systematic review
  Supervisors: Dr Hasantha Gunasekera and Professor Jonathan Craig
• SEARCH: Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health
  Supervisors: Dr Hasantha Gunasekera and Professor Jonathan Craig
• Fair and ethical trade in medical supplies
  Supervisor: Dr Hasantha Gunasekera
• Otitis media systematic reviews: are we comparing apples with oranges?
  Supervisor: Dr Hasantha Gunasekera
• Use and efficacy of botulinum toxin A in children with neurological disorders other than cerebral palsy
  Supervisors: Dr Simon Paget, Dr Tamis Pin and Dr Mary-Clare Waugh
• Adverse effects after lower limb serial casting for the management of muscle/soft tissue contracture in children with cerebral palsy
  Supervisors: Ms Jenny Lewis, Dr Simon Paget, Dr Tamis Pin and Dr Mary-Clare Waugh
• Use and efficacy of Botulinum Toxin A in children with severe cerebral palsy
  Supervisors: Dr Tamis Pin, Ms Jenny Lewis and Dr Simon Paget,
• Therapeutic Approaches in Centronuclear Myopathy
  Supervisors: Dr Biljana Ilkovski, Professor Kathryn North and Dr Nigel Clarke
• Development of a maternal vaccination decision aid
  Supervisors: Dr Julie Leask and Ms Kerrie Wiley
• Sleep, adolescence and mental health
  Supervisors: Professor Kate Steinbeck, Dr Chin Moi Chow, Dr Catherine Hawke and Professor Philip Hazell
• Impact of traumatic brain injury on academic outcomes and the mediating effects of working memory and executive functions.
  Supervisors: Suzanne Benson, Dr Ruth Brunsdon, Dr Ellen Northcott and Bronwyn Coward
• Content Analysis of HPV Vaccination Educational Materials for Adolescents
  Supervisors: Spring Cooper and Associate Professor Rachel Skinner
• Media Analysis of Whooping Cough in the News
  Supervisors: Spring Cooper and Associate Professor Rachel Skinner
• MMR Vaccination Communication on Twitter
  Supervisors: Spring Cooper and Dr Julie Leask
• Regulation of telomerase activity in neuroblastoma
  Supervisor: Loretta Lau
• Genetic diagnosis in nemaline myopathy
  Supervisors: Dr Nigel Clarke, Leigh Waddell and Professor Kathryn North

George Institute for Global Research

• In vehicle monitoring of vehicles driven by older drivers
  Supervisor: Dr Lisa Keay

Nepean Clinical School

• Fat and Bone: an odd couple.
  Supervisors: Associate Professor Gustavo Duque and Dr. Christopher Vidal
• The Nepean Osteoporosis and Frailty (NOF) Study
  Supervisors: Associate Professor Gustavo Duque and Dr. Christopher Vidal`
• Determining the causes of heterogeneity in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and the relationship with the Complement Factor H (CFH) polymorphism.
  Supervisors: Associate Professor Guy D. Eslick and Professor Michael Cox
• The role of alcohol (wine, beer, spirits) in the development of esophageal cancer: A meta-analysis.
  Supervisors: Associate Professor Guy D. Eslick and Professor Michael Cox
• Is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) associated with the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC): A meta-analysis.
  Supervisors: Associate Professor Guy D. Eslick and Professor Michael Cox
• The assessment of risk factors associated with occupation and the development of esophageal cancer: A meta-analysis.
  Supervisors: Associate Professor Guy D. Eslick and Professor Michael Cox

Northern Clinical School

• The role of lymphocyte to neutrophil ratio in pancreatic cancer
  Supervisor: Associate Professor JS Samra
• Examining maternal weight measurements in early pregnancy used for Down syndrome screening.
  Supervisor: Dr Amina Khambalia
• Using biostatistics to analyse health data: pregnancy outcomes
  Supervisors: Associate Professor Christine Roberts, Dr Amina Khambalia and Dr Jane Ford
• Variability of thermal quantitative sensory testing, and it’s applicability to the prediction of iatrogenic neuropathy
  Supervisors: Dr Karl Ng and Elizabeth Barnes
• Tendon degeneration and injury biomechanics
  Supervisors: Associate Professor Chris Little and Dr Elizabeth Clarke
• Spine growth and predictors of paediatric spinal injury
  Supervisors: Dr Elizabeth Clarke and Associate Professor Chris Little
• The Reliability of Quality Assessment Tools for Studies for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout Epidemiology.
  Supervisors: Professor Lyn March, Dr Marita Cross, Dr Emma Smith, and Dr Jian Sheng Chen
• Development of methods to assess seat belt fit and comfort among vehicle occupants aged 65+ years
  Supervisors: Dr Elizabeth Clarke and Dr Julie Brown
• Human risk factors in falls from buildings in children
  Supervisors: Dr Elizabeth Clarke and Dr Julie Brown
• Investigation of the Feasibility for a Next-Generation Design for a Compton Camera for SPECT imaging
  Supervisors: Professor Dale Bailey and Associate Professor Zdenka Kuncic,
• Enrichment of serum proteome to discover biomarkers for breast cancer using ProteinClip technology
  Supervisors: Dr Liping Chung and Professor Robert Baxter
• Redox-dependent action of cortisol in cardiomyocytes
  Supervisors: Dr Anastasia Susie Mihailidou, Ms Thi Yen Loan Le & Dr Anthony Ashton
• Blood pressure and biomarkers in aged men : from population back to bench
  Supervisors: Dr Anastasia Susie Mihailidou and Professor Robert Cumming
• Bioinformatic analysis of the human beta globin genes
  Supervisor: Professor Leslie Burnett
• Aldosterone and hypertension in Pregnancy
  Supervisors: Dr Veronica Stevens, Dr Anastasia Susie Mihailidou & Dr Anthony Ashton

School of Medical Science

• Embryonic stem cells and embryo development
  Supervisor: Michael Morris
• Regulation of lens cell behaviour leading to the prevention of cataract development and progression.
  Supervisor: Associate Professor Frank J. Lovicu
• Red blood cell production
  Supervisor: Dr Stuart Fraser
• Ageing in the balance system
  Supervisor: Dr. Aaron Camp
• What does the eye tell the brain?
  Supervisors: Dr. Jin Huang and Dr Dario Protti
• Characterizing model snore vibration damage to cultured endothelial cells
  Supervisors: Dr Paul Witting and Associate Professor Terry Amis
• Modulation of light-signal by neurotransmitters
  Supervisors: Dr Dario Protti, Terry Middleton and Dr. Jin Huang
• Expression of Nebulin-related-anchoring protein (NRAP) in failing and non failing human hearts
  Supervisor: Professor Cris Dos Remedios
• Development of visual orientation selectivity
  Supervisors: Dr Alan Freeman and Dr Leon Heron
• The actin cytoskeleton: mechanisms in development and disease
  Supervisor: Dr Claire Goldsbury
• Behavioral correlates of Ageing in Mice
  Supervisor: Dr. Aaron Camp

School of Public Health

• Standardised outcomes in paediatric surgery randomised controlled trials
  Supervisors: Dr Angela Webster and Richard McGee
• Risk of bias in paediatric surgery randomised controlled trials
  Supervisors: Dr Angela Webster and Richard McGee
• The experiences and perspectives of adults living with dialysis: systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies
  Supervisors: Dr Allison Tong and Professor Jonathon Craig
• Clinical Practice guidelines on the assessment and acceptance of potential kidney transplant recipients: a systematic review
  Supervisors: Dr Allison Tong and Professor Jonathon Craig
• Keeping up with the evidence: updating systematic reviews in kidney disease
  Supervisors: Narelle Willis and Dr Angela Webster
• Cost-effectiveness of tests for latent tuberculosis in end stage kidney disease patients
  Supervisors: Dr Angela Webster and Dr Germaine Wong
• How accurate are Cerebrospinal Fluid biomarkers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease?
  Supervisor: Clement Loy
• Improving communication about radiotherapy for patients with low literacy.
  Supervisors: Dr Sian Smith and Dr Haryana Dhillon

Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School

• Incidence and clinical significance of postoperative residual blockade
  Supervisors: Dr Stephanie Phillips and Dr Paul Stewart

Western Clinical School

• Quantifying pharyngeal wall folding
  Supervisors: Dr Kristina Kairaitis, Associate Professor Terence Amis and Professor John Wheatley
• Role of Notch signalling on the regulation of hepatic stellate cells
  Supervisors: Dr Liang Qiao and Professor Jacob George
• Role of liver cancer stem cells in experimental hepatic carcinogenesis
  Supervisors: Dr Liang Qiao and Professor Jacob George
• Construction of over-expression plasmid vectors for three genes
  Supervisors: Dr Liang Qiao and Professor Jacob George
• The Role of Liver-Adipose Tissue Cross Talk in Liver Disease
  Supervisor: Dr Lionel Hebbard
• Genetic Screening of a Low Copy Genomic Library for Potential Miltefosine Targets in Yeast
  Supervisor: Dr. Xiaoming Zuo
• Does liver sinusoidal endothelial cell senescence contribute to liver fibrosis?
  Supervisors: Jianhua Wang and Professor Jacob George
• Using video microscopy to explore a role of adiponectin in the regulation of hepatic stellate cell contraction
  Supervisors: Jianhua Wang and Professor Jacob George
• Cloning and characterisation of hexose transporter genes associated with multidrug resistance in yeast
  Supervisors: Dr. Xiaoming Zuo and Associate Professor Sharon Chen
• Investigating the role of phospholipases in fungal cell signalling
  Supervisors: Dr Julie Djordjevic and Dr Sophie Lev
• Nanoparticles and Islets: Improving isolation and function of islets for better transplant outcomes
  Supervisors: Dr Peta M Phillips and Professor Phil O'Connell
• How Immunosuppressive drugs affect Islet transplantation?
  Supervisors: Dr Helena Hurst and Professor Phil O'Connell