CFI - Manipulating the Gut Lung Axis to treat experimental Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

This project will investigate maximally effective microbiome and dietary interventions in experimental and human COPD to treat clinical trial human patients. Experiments will involve Faecal Microbial Transfer (FMT), and specific bacterial taxa/probiotic and dietary manipulation. Dietary interventions will be designed at the molecular level to outgrow specific microbial populations and the production of specific metabolite profiles. This will enable rapid profiling of the most effective interventions not possible in human studies.

Experiments will utilize our unique experimental mouse models to elucidate changes in the Gut Lung Axis (GLA), immunity and experimental or human Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in response to interventions. Samples will be analysed for their effects on airway inflammation and lung function. Successful experiments will be fully characterised and the GLA deeply characterised on a selection of the most informative.

We have established (FMT) models that show substantial prophylactic and therapeutic protection against all features of experimental COPD. This project will profile protective changes in metabolites and immunity and perform correlation analysis and then define their roles in isolation in experimental COPD and in germ-free (GF) mice

We will also investigate the effects of altering the dietary intake at the molecular level by treating with a number of common probiotics and prebiotics, as well as manipulating the diet content for example, fibre, starch, carbohydrates, fats and sugars.

This project will define the microbiome-based interventions that are most effective in the prevention and treatment of experimental COPD and in influenza and COVID-19 exacerbations and infections, and in human cells.

• Applicants must be either permanent Australian or New Zealand citizens/residents.
• Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in a biomedical or biological science
• Have a strong academic record and prior laboratory experience
• Completion of Honours degree with First Class, or Second Class Division 1; or MSc Research; or MSc Coursework with a research thesis of at least 6 months. 

Applicants must:

• be highly motivated and capable of independent work
• have a strong team focus
• possess excellent communication skills and the ability to work with a diverse range of people and within established collaborative teams
• have knowledge of a research/laboratory environment and requirements
• be computer literate in standard research software
• be able to maintain thorough laboratory records
• have experience with standard lab techniques such as ELISA, RNA extraction, reverse transcription, qPCR, western blotting, cell culture, aseptic technique, histological analysis, Immunohistochemistry, Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and primer design.
• Be able to conduct in vivo mouse models

1st November 2023

Please contact Professor Phil Hansbro for further information.

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is Australia’s Top Young University and ranked within the Top 200 universities worldwide. Its vibrant campus is located in the center of Sydney, with easy access to all amenities and transport that is ideally suited for PhD student living.

The Centre for Inflammation (The Centre) is the first initiative joint programme between the University of UTS and Centenary Institute (CI).

The Centre, led by Professor Phil Hansbro, is a large, internationally renowned and world-leading research centre in chronic respiratory diseases, and is recognised by Australian industry and government agencies as a leading source of knowledge and expertise in this space. The Centre carries out fundamental, discovery and translational research. We investigate the mechanisms of disease induction and progression, research and develop new and novel therapies and preventatives, as well as translational human and clinical studies.

The Centre is located in the Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine And Cell Biology is a world-leading independent medical research institute, closely affiliated to the University of Sydney and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Our research focuses on three key areas: cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Our strength lies in uncovering disease mechanisms and applying this knowledge to improve diagnostics and treatments for patients. Centenary Institute is located at Camperdown.