Postgraduate Research Opportunities at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research: Student project booklet 2013 docx

Postgraduate Research Opportunies
at the Telethon Instute for Child Health Research
Student project booklet 2013
Welcome to the
Telethon Instute for Child Health Research
Established in 1990, the Telethon Instute for Child Health Research
exists to improve the health of children, adolescents and their families.
We are unique in Australia. We adopt a muldisciplinary approach to
major childhood illnesses such as cerebral palsy, childhood cancers and
leukaemia, asthma and spina bida. This muldisciplinary approach is a
key strength of our research programs. It also allows the Instute to oer
a wide variety of research opportunies for postgraduate students.
The Instute is closely associated with Princess Margaret Hospital for
Children and the School of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University
of Western Australia. We are also aliated with UWA through the Centre
for Child Health Research and with the state’s other four universies.
You can nd out more about areas of research and opportunies for
students at the Instute by:
• Reading the Postgraduate Student Project Booklet. This gives a
range of suggested projects and should be considered a guide to the
opportunies available, not a denive list.
• Referring to the Instute website - www.childhealthresearch.org.au
• Contacng individual researchers for further informaon about
research projects.
• Contacng Kathy Vial for general queries on (08) 9489 7799 or email

• Aending the Prospecve Students Evening at the Instute on
Wednesday August 15th, 2012 at 4:00pm.
Stan and Jean Perron Awards (for research conducted principally at TICHR)
With the support of the Stan Perron Charitable Foundaon, since 2005 the Telethon Instute for Child Health Research
(TICHR) has established several presgious awards aimed at supporng exceponal postgraduate research students who

are undertaking their research at the Instute.
Stan and Jean Perron Scholarships
These Scholarships accompany PhD scholarships which commence in 2013 and are won by the recipients through their
enrolling Universies in a separate applicaon process. The amount will be $5000 per year each for the duraon of the
scholarship, paid in conjuncon with that scholarship.
To be eligible for consideraon, a student has to enrol full-me for a research higher degree (PhD or equivalent) at
the University, and conduct the research principally within the Instute under the supervision of one or more of the
Instute’s researchers. This Scholarship is supplementary to a scholarship awarded to the student through the University.
Successful applicants must have First Class Honours (or equivalent) and have been awarded an APA. At least three
awards will be given in 2013 and applicaons will be judged on merit.
For more informaon or a copy of the applicaon form please contact:
Kathy Vial, Academic Services Manager, Telethon Instute for Child Health Research By mail: PO Box 855 West Perth WA
6872, or by email (), or by fax (08 9489 7700). (For telephone enquiries: 08 9489 7799).
Applicaon due date: Friday 2nd November 2012.
Reminder: Requirement for Concurrent Scholarship. Applicants are also required to have submied an applicaon form
for the Australian Postgraduate Awards/University Postgraduate Awards directly to the relevant University Scholarships
Oce (or equivalent) by the specied closing date (Wednesday 31st October 2012, for UWA).
Stan and Jean Perron Award for Excellence
Students intending to enrol in a PhD at the Instute may be
interested to know of the Stan and Jean Perron Award for
Excellence. The Award is designed to recognise outstanding
research performance whilst a student is undertaking
research at the Instute. The Award has the value of $5000
for one year, and will be awarded to the research higher
degree student whose performance is deemed the best in
the preceding 12 months. More than one award may be
made in any year.

If you’d like further informaon, please contact:
Kathy Vial

Academic Services Manager

Aboriginal health
Our Aboriginal researchers work
with Aboriginal communies to help
children overcome the many hurdles
they face - higher rates of pre-term
birth, lower birth weight, SIDS,
infecous diseases and emoonal
and behavioural problems.
Bioinformacs and data services
Bioinformacs is an excing and
relavely new eld of science,
encompassing the branch of life
science that applies informaon
technology to the eld of biology
to help understand various
biological processes. The primary
goal of bioinformacs is to increase the
understanding of biological processes.
Child development and wellbeing
There is a broad range of interacng
factors that aect children’s
development and wellbeing.
Thousands of families are helping
us as we invesgate language
dicules, school readiness, and
pathways to health and wellbeing.
Diabetes, obesity and related
disorders

Our researchers are conducng
research which aims to improve the
lives of children and adolescents
living with diabetes, obesity and
other endocrine condions. Children
with Type I diabetes require insulin
injecons every day for the rest of
their lives. Related to the increasing rates of
childhood obesity is type 2 diabetes in children.
Asthma, allergy & respiratory
disease
We are looking at the environmental
and biological factors that could
be linked to asthma, as well as the
eects of UV light and vitamin D on
the immune system. Our researchers
are also working on improved
treatments for children with cysc
brosis and working towards prevenng
this disease.
Children’s cancer and
leukaemia
Leukaemia is the most common
cancer in children and our research
focus is on why some children don’t
respond to therapy and relapse. We
are invesgang paediatric brain
tumours and ways to reduce their
devastang impact. We are also
looking at the genec, dietary and environmental risk

factors for childhood cancer.
Datasets and cohort studies
The Telethon Instute has a range
of long-term studies to expand our
knowledge on all aspects of child
health. A number of databases
underpin our populaon-based
research and these can now be linked
to other datasets to provide a more
complete picture of child health.
Disability and developmental
disorders
From concepon through
childhood, our research into
disabilies and developmental
disorders encompasses any
condion that disrupts ‘typical’
child development. We are looking
are Down Syndrome, Re syndrome,
Ausm Spectrum Disorders, birth
anomalies, cerebral palsy and Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder.
Research areas
Drug discovery
Our Drug Discovery Technology
Group is focused on developing new
therapies to target disease-causing
interacons between proteins; both
inside and outside of cells, as well
as the development of ‘mimec’

vaccines against disconnuous
epitopes.
Genec impacts on health
Our researchers are world leaders
in the applicaon of genec and
metabolomic approaches to idenfy
biological markers of complex disease,
helping us to nd beer treatments
and ways of prevenng disease.
Modern research tools allow us to
look at all of our genes, to idenfy genec
and metabolic biomarkers of complex
diseases like infecons and diabetes.
Infecous disease
Worldwide, 10 million children
under the age of ve die from
infecon each year. Our infecous
disease researchers are involved in
understanding the inner workings
of disease, including the pathway
from immunity to infecon; disease
surveillance; risk factors in the development
of disease; vaccine development and trials.
Pregnancy and maternal health
Emerging research is focusing on
pregnancy as a crucial me in
determining of the future health and
wellbeing of the child. We are looking
at mulple factors during pregnancy
that can inuence the way in which

the unborn child is programmed
for future life outside the womb
including maternal lifestyle factors such as stress,
hypertension, substance use, nutrion and obstetric risk.
Environmental impacts on
health
The physical environment, which
includes diet, housing and polluon,
can have a large impact on child
health and disease. These can aect
health at all stages of childhood
development. Our researchers use
spaal epidemiology, data linkage
and polluon monitoring to beer understand
environmental inuences on childhood health.

Impacts on policy and
pracce
One of the aims of the Telethon
Instute is to improve the health
of all children by translang
research outcomes to inuence
public health policy. Our impact on
health policy and pracce in the last
decade has been signicant including
mandatory forcaon of breadmaking our with
folate to prevent neural tube defects and the Western
Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey.
Mental health
Around one in ve Australian

children will develop some form
of behavioural problem by the
me they reach adulthood. Poor
mental health in childhood is a
signicant predictor of mental health
problems later in life and also impacts
negavely on physical health and
school achievement. Much of our work is dedicated to
understanding how mental health problems develop and
working towards mental illness prevenon.
For more informaon about our research areas, visit
www.childhealthresearch.org.au
1
TableofContents
ABORIGINALHEALTH 4
WhatleadstogoodoutcomesinhealthandwellbeingforAboriginalchildrenandyouth? 5
Connectingculture,curriculumandcommunitiesinearlyyear’sAboriginaleducation. 6
CulturalSecurityinAboriginalhealthservicedelivery:AnauditofNMHS 7
StrengtheningsocialandemotionalwellbeingofAustralianAboriginalpeople
:Howdoes
racialidentityandrelatedself‐esteemmediatethementalwellbeingofAboriginalpeople?.8
PerinatalmentalhealthforAboriginalFamilies:Acommunityinitiative 9
Indicatorsofsuccessandwellbeingof'moorditj'urbanIndigenousWestAustralians 10
ASTHMA,ALLERGYANDRESPIRATORYDISORDERS 11
Rhinovirusi
mpairsphysiologicallungdevelopment 12
Predictingthesafetyofairtravelinex‐prematureinfants 13
Dendriticcellsandtheinductionofallergicairwaysinflammation 14
TypeIInterferonimmunomodulationofallergicasthma 15
VitaminDdeficiencyalterslungdevelopment 16

Understandinglungdevelopmentdu
ringpuberty 17
Optimisedexpressionandcharacterisationofrecombinanthumanrhinoviruscapsid
proteins 18
Immunecharacterisationofnovelcatallergens 19
HumanrhinovirustypeC(HRV‐C) immuneresponsesinasthma 20
Theaerobiologyofnovelcatallergens 21
RoleofIRF7genenetworksinasthma 22
BIOINFORMATICSANDDATASERVICES 23
Evaluationsofvirtualmachineperform
anceforNextGenerationSequencingplatforms 24
Investigatingchildhoodbraintumoursbyintegratingof'omicsplatformsusing
Bioinformatics 25
Developingadvancedbioinformaticstechniquesforstoringandanalysingnext‐generation
sequencingdata 26
CHILDREN’SCANCERANDLE
UKAEMIA 27
Paediatricbraintumourmodeldevelopmentandpreclinicalassessmentofnovel
therapies 28
Immunitytomelanoma 29
CHILDDEVELOPMENTANDWELLBEING 30
Pathwaystopreventableandunexplaineddeathsinchildhoodandyoungadulthoodin
WesternAustralia 31
TheBuiltEnvironmentandChild HealthandDevelopment 32
PhysicalActiv
ityintheEarlyYears 33
Schoolreadiness:Theimpactofbirth,parentalandcommunitycharacteristics 34
Pathways,PoliciesandPrevention:BetterEducationalOutcomesforWestern
AustralianChildren 35
Long‐terminfluenceofearlynutritiononmetabolichealthORAnalysisofmetabolicprofiles

inadolescentsbymassspectrometry‐basedme
tabolomics:biomarkersformetabolic
consequencesofearlyprogramming(scientifictitle) 36
DATASETSANDCOHORTSTUDIES(Noprojectsin2013) 37
DIABETES,OBESITYANDRELATEDDISORDERS 38
ExploringperinatalcomplicationsseeninacontemporaryType1Diabetescohort 39
Psychologicalprofileofobeseadolescentsu
ndertakinglifestylechange 40
Attitudestowardsbariatricsurgeryamongparentsofchildrenaccessingalifestyle
interventionprogramforobesity 41
2
ExploringperinatalcomplicationsseeninacontemporaryType1Diabetescohort 42
Analysisofhypoglycaemiaunawarenessinadolescents duringthefirst18months
afterdiagnosisoftype1diabetes 43
Transitionofpatientswithendocrinediseasefrompaediatricandadolescentinto
adultcare 44
TheimpactoftheBioente
ricsIntragastricballoononpsychologicalwell‐beingofobese
adolescents 45
Astudyofsleepdisturbances,highbloodpressureandmetabolicabnormalitiesin
youngadults:the‘FinapresSleepStudy’ 46
DISABILITYANDDEVELOPMENTALDISORDERS 47
AccommodationforyoungadultswithDownsyndrome  48
Combiningalarg
esamplewithapopulationdatabase–AussieRettandIn terRett 49
ContinenceandRettsyndrome 50
HowarefamiliesofgirlswithRettsyndromerespondingtoresearchsuggestingthatthe
symptomsofRettsyndromemightbepreventedorhaltedwithadvancesinmedical
knowledge? 51
Onlinesurveyofgastro‐intestinalissuesandmana

gementinRettsyndrome 52
MECP2duplications:anewcauseofintellectualdisability 53
Comparisonofparent‐reportandMedicaredatainalongitudinalstudy 54
LongitudinalmodellingofRettsyndromeseverityusingquestionnaireandvideodata 55
Socio‐economicdifferencesandparentalsatisfactionwithservicesinRet
tsyndrome
andDownsyndrome 56
TrendsinprevalenceofintellectualdisabilityintheAboriginalpopulationinWA 57
Thecostofchildhoodintellectualdisabilityandautismspectrumdisorderwithout
intellectualdisabilityinWesternAustralia:Acost‐of‐illnessstudy 58
DRUGDISCO
VERY(Noprojectsin2013) 59
ENVIRONMENTALIMPACTSONHEALTH 60
Spatialanalysisofmalereproductivecongenitalanomalies 61
Sunlight,vitaminD andinflammatorydisease 62
PeelChildhealthstudy 63
Theexacerbationofrespiratoryvirusesbygeogenicdust 64
Theroleofepigeneticsinarsenicinducedlungdisea
se 65
TheMentalHealthofAdultswhowereExposedtoAsbestosinChildhood 66
GENETICIMPACTSONHEALTH 67
Mechanismsofparasiticmodulationofthehumanepigenome 68
Characterisingtheroleofepigeneticsinhypospadias 69
IMPACTONPOLICYANDPRACTICE(Nopro
jectsin2013) 70
INFECTIOUSDISEASE 71
Functionalcharacterisationofgenesassociatedwithotitismediasusceptibility
inchildhood 72
Maternalprenatalstressexposureandpoorhealthandwellbeingforoffspringin
childhoodandearlyadolescence 73

IdentifyingRiskFactorsforSevereOtitis MediainWesternAus
tralianChildren 74
Immunitytorhinovirusinotitis‐pronechildren 75
AntecedentsandconsequencesofinvasivepneumococcaldiseaseinWesternAustralia 76
Identifyingopportunitiesforpreventingrespiratoryinfectionsinchildren
throughintegratingpopulation‐basedhealthandlaboratorydata 77
Metabolomicstocharacterizehost‐pathogeninteractionsinba
cterialinfections. 78
MENTALHEALTH(Noprojectsin2013) 79
PREGNANCYANDMATERNALHEALTH(Noprojectsin2013) 80
3
PRINCESSMARGARETHOSPITALFORCHILDREN 81
AssessmentofrespiratoryfunctioninchildrenwithNeuromusculardisease 82
EvaluationofapilotgroupprogramforpaediatricChronicpainpatients 83
SCHOOLOFPAEDIATRICSANDCHILDHEALTH 84
RecurrenceofhumanrhinovirusgroupCinchildrenthatsuffermultipleasthmaattacks 85
Contributionofgenevariationstoasthmaatta
ckseverity 86





ABORIGINAL HEALTH
5

TitleofProject WhatleadstogoodoutcomesinhealthandwellbeingforAboriginal
childrenandyouth?
KeyResearchArea Aboriginalhealth
ResearchGroup DevelopmentalPathwaysProject

StartDate August2012
ChiefSupervisor ProfessorSteveZubrick(TICHR)
OtherSupervisors DrRebeccaGlauert,DrErikaHagemann(TICHR)
ProjectOutline The aim of this study is to examine protective factors and resilience that
contributetogoodeducationaloutcomes,lowermortalityandmorbidityand
lesscontactwiththejuvenilejusticesysteminAboriginalchildrenandyouth
in Western Australia.The present study is part of the Developmental
PathwaysinWAChildrenProject(DPP)ledbytheTelethonInstituteforChil d
HealthResearch.Thestudywillbuilduponthefindingsofpreviousresearch
conductedattheInstituteandwithintheDPPonAboriginalhealth.Aspartof
the DPP it will be able to access and link population level data related to
health,education,disabilityservices,mentalhealthandjuvenilejustice.
Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications ForPhDcandidates:aminimumof2AHonoursdegreeoraMastersdegreein
arelatedfield.
EssentialSkills Backgroundknowledgeinrelevantareas,suchasAboriginalhealth,
developmentalhealth,psychology,disability,medical
sociology/anthropology,socialepidemiologyandpopulationhealth.
Knowledgeofquantitativedataanalyses.
AdditionalSkills Experienceintheanalysesoflinkeddatasetswouldbeadvantageousbutnot
essential.
Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
NameDrRebeccaGlauert
Email 
Telephone94897754
6


TitleofProject Connectingculture,curriculumandcommunitiesinearlyyear’sAboriginal
education.
KeyResearchArea Aboriginalhealth
ResearchGroup PindiPindi&Murdoch
StartDate August2013
ChiefSupervisor A/ProfessorLibbyLeeHammond(Murdoch)
OtherSupervisors A/ProfessorCherylKickett‐Tucker(Pindi/Murdoch)
A/ProfessorLibbyMatthews(Murdoch)
ProjectOutline The project will enable Aboriginal children from four urban school
communities to participate in an outdoor learning program that supports
their wellbeing, cultural identity and connection to country whilst enabling
educators to make mean ingful links with children’s community, the Early
YearsLearningFrameworkandtheNationalCurriculum.Outdoorlearningin
earlychildhoodisaconceptthatisgainingmomentuminEurope,theUKand 
the USA. Few Western Australian schools adopt a rigorous program of
learninginoutdoorenvironments.Thisprojectwillinvestigatetheimpactof
extended outdoorlearning opportunities on Aboriginalchildren’s  wellbeing,
culturalidentity,curriculumoutcomesandattendance.
AIMS:
1/Improved attendance, well‐being, cultural identity and curriculum
outcomesforAboriginalchildren.
2/Developmentofasuccessfulmodelforculturalsecurityineducation.
3/StrongrelationshipsbetweenschoolsandlocalAboriginalcommunity.
4/Improvedculturalcompetenceofearlychildhoodeducators.
Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications

EssentialSkills


AdditionalSkills

Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
NameLibbyLeeHammond
Email
Telephone93602627



7
TitleofProject CulturalSecurityinAboriginalhealthservicedelivery:AnauditofNMHS
KeyResearchArea Aboriginalhealth
ResearchGroup PindiPindi
StartDate egMarch2013
ChiefSupervisor A/ProfessorJuliCoffin(Pindi)
OtherSupervisors A/ProfessorCherylKickett‐Tucker(Pindi)
ProjectOutline The project aims to explore the concept of “cultural security” within the
PublicHealthDirectorateoftheNorthMetropolitanHealthServiceofPerth,
WesternAustralia.UsingCoffin’s(2007)culturalsecurityscaleasa guide,itis
theintention of thisresearch tomap theexisting PublicHealth Directorate.
Usingthisinformation,itisthepurposeofthisprojecttodevelopacultural
security framework that can be implemented and with which an audit tool
can be developed and evaluated.Thisproject proposesto assistthe North
MetropolitanHealthServicetomovealongthecontinuumofCoffin’s(2007)
scale that may result in strengthening the cultural security of public health
servicestoAboriginalWesternAustralians.

UsingCoffin’s(2007)scaleofculturalsecurity,thisprojectwillundertakea
mapping exercise of the Public Health Directorate as well as qualitative
interviews.Forthequalitativephaseoftheproject,aninterviewguidewillbe
developed to explore the concept of “cultural security” as it applies in a
health care setting and with an emphasis on the access to services at the
NorthMetropolitanHealthServices.
Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications ResearchHigherDegreeinhealth,education,SocialSciencesorarelated
degree
CurrentCclassdriver’slicense
CurrentNationalPoliceClearance
EssentialSkills KnowledgeofAboriginalcultureandexperienceworkingwithAboriginal
people.
KnowledgeofandexperiencewithcurrentissuesandtrendsfacingAboriginal
people.
Experienceworkinginaresearchenviro nment 
Demonstratedresearchexperienceinqualitativedataanalysis(e.gNVIVO)
AdditionalSkills

Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
NameCherylKickett‐Tucker
EmailC.Kickett‐ 
Telephone0427778086


8

TitleofProject StrengtheningsocialandemotionalwellbeingofAustralianAboriginal
people:Howdoesracialidentityandrelatedself‐esteemmediatethe
mentalwellbeingofAboriginalpeople?
KeyResearchArea Aboriginalhealth
ResearchGroup PindiPindi
StartDate 30July2012
ChiefSupervisor A/ProfessorCherylKickett‐Tucker(PindiPindi/TICHR/Murdoch)
OtherSupervisors

ProjectOutline The studyaims to explorethe developmentof racialidentity and related
self‐esteemofAboriginalchildren,youthandadultsacrossthelifespan.Itis
the intention of this research to describe the mediating factors of racial
identity and related self‐esteem that influence Aboriginal people’s mental
wellbeing. This project proposes to strengthen the social, cultural and
emotionalwell‐beingofAboriginalchildrenaged4‐12years,youthaged13‐
17andadultsfrom18yearsonwards.
This study will pilot a  suite of 4 psychosocial instruments called I‐RISE
(IndigenousRacialIdentityandSelf‐Esteem)andtrialIRISE_Cfor8‐12yearold
Aboriginalchildren. Thisstudy willemploy both quantitativeandqualitative
methods.
Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications
 ResearchHigherDegreeinhealth,education,SocialSciencesora
relateddegree
 NationalPoliceClearance
 CurrentWADriversLicence
 CurrentWorkingWithChildrenCheck
EssentialSkills

AdditionalSkills

 KnowledgeofAboriginalcultureandexperienceworkingwith
Aboriginalpeople.
 Knowledgeofandexperiencewithcurrentissuesandtrendsfacing
Aboriginalpeople.
 Demonstratedresearchexperiencein:
‐quantitativedataanalysis(egusingSPSS orSAS)and
‐qualitativedataanalysis(e.gNVIVO)
Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
NameCherylKickett‐Tucker
EmailC.Kickett‐ 
Telephone0427778086


9
TitleofProject PerinatalmentalhealthforAboriginalFamilies:Acommunityinitiative
KeyResearchArea Aboriginalhealth
ResearchGroup PindiPindi
StartDate August2012
ChiefSupervisor A/ProfessorCherylKickett‐Tucker(PindiPindi/Murdoch)
OtherSupervisors ProfessorRhondaMarriott(TICHR/UWA)
ProjectOutline The study isa participatoryaction research designand willhave 4  discrete
phases‐(1)consultation and recruitment; (2) construct development and 
culturalvalidation;(3)programdevelopmentandpiloting;and(4)Evaluation.
The study will include a strong emphasis on prevention, promotion and
education. A major aim of the study is to build the capacity of Aboriginal
families and communities to deal effectively with a range of mental health

andotherissuesassociatedwithnewparenthood.Althoughacorethemeof
theprojectisperinataldepression,theprimefocuswillbeoncontributorsto
positiveexperiencesofnewparenthood.
Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications
 ResearchHigherDegreeinhealth,education,SocialSciencesora
relateddegree
 CurrentCclassdriver’slicense
 CurrentNationalPoliceClearance
EssentialSkills KnowledgeofAboriginalcultureandexperienceworkingwithAboriginal
people.
KnowledgeofandexperiencewithcurrentissuesandtrendsfacingAboriginal
people.
Experienceworkinginaresearchenviro nment 
Demonstratedresearchexperiencein:
•quantitativedataanalysis(egusingSPSSorSAS)and
•qualitativedataanalysis(e.gNVIVO)
AdditionalSkills

Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
NameCherylKickett‐Tucker
EmailC.Kickett‐ 
Telephone0427778086


10

TitleofProject Indicatorsofsuccessandwellbeingof'moorditj'urbanIndigenousWest
Australians
KeyResearchArea Aboriginalhealth
ResearchGroup PindiPindi
StartDate 30July2012
ChiefSupervisor A/ProfessorCherylKickett‐Tucker(PindiPindi)
OtherSupervisors

ProjectOutline The principal purpose of the project is to discover the meaning of success,
resilience and wellbeing from the perspective of 'accomplished' urban
Indigenous West Australians.From this information, the secondary project
aim is to highlight the factors that contribute to wellbeing, resilience and
success,includingthedifferencesandsimilaritiesbetweentheconstructs.
Qualitative inquiry combined with an interpretive paradigm will be used to
explore the meanings and indicators of success and wellbeing of
'accomplished' urban Indigenous West Australians.To ensure we 'capture
theessenceofmeanings",theprojectwillutiliseasemi‐structuredinterview
schedulewhichwillbeemployedinapersonalandconversationalmanner.
Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications ResearchHigherDegreeinhealth,education,SocialSciencesorarelated
degree
CurrentCclassdriver’slicense
CurrentNationalPoliceClearance
EssentialSkills KnowledgeofAboriginalcultureandexperienceworkingwithAboriginal
people.
KnowledgeofandexperiencewithcurrentissuesandtrendsfacingAboriginal
people.
Experienceworkinginaresearchenviro nment 
Demonstratedresearchexperienceinqualitativedataanalysis(e.gNVIVO)
AdditionalSkills


Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
NameCherylKickett‐Tucker
EmailC.Kickett‐ 
Telephone0427778086


ASTHMA, ALLERGY AND
RESPIRATORY DISEASE
12
TitleofProject
Rhinovirusimpairsphysiologicallungdevelopment
KeyResearchArea
Asthma,allergyandrespiratorydisorders
ResearchGroup
Lunggrowthandrespiratoryenvironme ntalhealth
StartDate
Early2013
ChiefSupervisor
DrAlexanderLarcombe(TICHR)
OtherSupervisors 
A/ProfessorGraemeZosky(TICHR)
MrLukeBerry(TICHR)
ProjectOutline
Ourviewofhumanrhinovirus (HRV)haschanged;oncethoughttobeamere
harmless pathogen, responsible only for the “common cold”, HRV is now

knowntoaccountforalmostallexacerbationsofasthmainbothchildrenand
adultsaswellasexacerbationsofotherrespiratoryconditions.EarlylifeHRV
infectionmaybeespeciallyharmful,particularlywhencombined withallergic
sensitization, providing a causal link to persistent asthma. The recent
development of a mouse model of HRV infection has opened the door for
research into the physiological and immunological consequences of HRV
infection.

The general aim of this project is to investigate the links between HRV
infection and impairedphysiological lung growth and development.We will
employ mouse models and an array of sophisticated techniques to identify
relationshipsbetweenearlylifeHRVinfectionandaltereddevelopmentofthe
respiratorysystem.By thisapproachwewill provide animportantfirststep
towards the ultimate, long‐term goal of our research which is to develop
strategiestopreventorameliorateHRVexacerbatedrespiratoryillness.
TechniquesUsed:
MousemodelsofHRVinfection;
Lungfunctionanalysis;
Lungstructureassessment/stereology;
Assessmentofcellularinflammation.
Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications BScorequivalent
EssentialSkills Aboveaveragewrittenandoralcommunicationskills;
Motivation;
Abletoworkaspartofateam.
AdditionalSkills Someknowledgeorrespiratoryphysiology;
Someknowledgeofstatistics.
Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable

Contactforfurther
information
Name–DrAlexanderLarcombe
Email–
Telephone–(08)94897814


13
TitleofProject Predictingthesafetyofairtravelinex‐prematureinfants
KeyResearchArea Asthma,allergyandrespiratorydisorders
ResearchGroup PaediatricRespiratoryPhysiology
StartDate Immediate
ChiefSupervisor ProfGrahamHall(TICHR)
OtherSupervisors MaureenVerheggen(PMH)
ProjectOutline Infants with a history of premature birth may develop respiratory distress
duringairtravel.Ahypoxiatestisusedtoassessanindividual’stolerancetoa
low oxygen environment, such as that encountered during commercial air
travel.Thosefailingthehypoxiatesteitherdelaytravel,orareprovidedwith
supplementaloxygenduringtheflight.Thehypoxiatesthasbeenvalidatedin
olderchildrenandadults;converselyworkfromourgroupsuggeststhetestis
notsuitable in veryyoung  infants.This project aimsto validate thehypoxia
test in older infants by performing hypoxia tests and monitoring in‐flight
oxygensaturationininfantswithahistoryofprematurebirth .
Theobjectivesoftheprojectaretoinvestigatetheabilityofthehypoxiatest
topredicttheresponseofinfantstoairtravel.
Wehypothesisethat:
1. The accuracy of the hypoxia test to predict in‐flight hypoxia in ex‐
prematureinfantswillimprovewithincreasingage.
2.Severityofneonatallungdiseaseintheperinatalperiodisariskfactorfor
in‐flighthypoxia.

Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications BScorMBBS;medicalundergraduateswishingtoundertakeaBMedScialso
suitable.
EssentialSkills Abilitytoworkwithinfants andfamilies
AdditionalSkills

Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
ProfGrahamHall–



14
TitleofProject Dendriticcellsandtheinductionofallergicairwaysinflammation
KeyResearchArea Asthma,allergyandrespiratorydisorders
ResearchGroup CellBiologyandImmunology
StartDate February2013
CoSupervisors DrVanessaFear(TICHR)
OtherSupervisors DrDeborahStrickland(TICHR)
ProjectOutline Initial development of atopic asthma is strongly linked with viral infection
early in life, and more recently delayed development of innate immunity,
includingtheantiviralcytokineTypeIInterferon.
The normal adaptive immune response to inhal ed antigen is initiated by
airway dendritic cells (DC) and leads to the generation of immunologic
tolerance. During asthma  the dendritic cell response to usually innocuous
antigens/allergensresultsinairwaysinflammationanddevelopmentofaTh2
memory cell response. This Th2 memory cell response is the underlying

mechanismresponsibleforasthma.Thisprojectwillinvestigatetheimpactto
type I IFNs on the deve lopment  of bone‐marrow derived dendritic cell
culturesandtheirabilitytoinduceanimmuneresponseinvivo.Dendriticcells
will be characterised with regard to maturation, phenotype, tissue homing
capacity,andinductionofinflammatoryresponses.

Techniquesused:
Animalmodelsofdisease;Tissuepreparation;Tissueculture;Flowcytometry;
Cellsorting;Histology;ELISA;Immunexassay;Proliferationassays;
Fluorescentlabellingofcellsandcelltransfer.
Thisprojectissuitable
for
Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications BSc
EssentialSkills

AdditionalSkills

Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
Name–DrVanessaFear
Email–
Telephone–94897836


15
TitleofProject TypeIInterferonimmunomodulationofallergicasthma

KeyResearchArea Asthma,allergyandrespiratorydisorders
ResearchGroup CellBiologyandImmunology
StartDate February2013
Supervisor DrVanessaFear(TICHR)
OtherSupervisors DrDeborahStrickland(TICHR)
ProjectOutline Asthmaisachronicdiseaseeffectingover12%oftheAustralianpopulation.
Recent data strongly indicates that asthmatics experiencing severe viral
exacerbationofdisease,requiringhospi talization,aredeficientintheirtypeI
Interferonresponse.ThetypeIInterferons(IFNs)areexpressedearly in the
innate immune response to viral challenge, induce antiviral responses and
alertsurroundingcellstothepresenceofpathogen.
Current scientific evidence determining the reduced type I Interferon 
expressionin asthmatics hasbeenlimited totwotypeI Interferonsubtypes
viz.IFNa2and IFNb. Inhumans, however,there are over14type Interferon
subtypes,including13IFNasubtypesandtwoisoformsoftheIFNb.
This laboratory has a panel of Type I IFN subtypes for investigation of
immunomodulation of asthmatic diseasein amurine modelof asthma.The
efficacyandunderlyingmechanismsoftheIFNsubtypeswillbeinvestigated.

Techniquesused:
Animalmodelsofdisease;Tissuepreparation;Tissueculture;Flowcytometry;
Cell sorting; Histology; ELISA; Immunex assay; molecular biology, cell
signalling;andDNAgenetherapy.
Thisprojectissuitable
for
 Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications BSc
EssentialSkills Cellbiology;molecularbiology;immunology
AdditionalSkills


Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
Name–DrVanessaFear
Email–
Telephone–94897836


16
TitleofProject VitaminDdeficiencyalterslungdevelopment
KeyResearchArea Asthma,allergyandrespiratorydisorders
ResearchGroup LungGrowthandRespiratoryEnvironmentalHealth
StartDate March2013
ChiefSupervisor A/ProfessorGraemeZosky(TICHR)
OtherSupervisors MsRachelFoong(TICHR)
ProjectOutline The second half of the 20th century saw a substantial increase in the
prevalence of asthma in western countries. Recent changes in lifestyle
characterisedbyalackofoutdooractivityhaveraisedconcernsregardingthe
prevalenceofvitaminDdeficiencyinmanycountriesincludingAustralia.The
parallelsin these observations, andthe importanceofvitaminD in immune
regulation,haveleadresearcherstosuggestthatvitaminDdeficiencymaybe
to blame for the incr ease in asthma prevalence. This  is supported by
epidemiologicalstudieslinkingcirculatingvitaminDlevelsandlungfunction
and limited animal work suggesting that vitamin D is involved in the
regulation of lung growth. The aim of this project is to investigate the link
betweenvitamin Ddeficie ncyandalterationsin lunggrowth usinga mouse
model. We hypothesise that vitamin D deficiency results in altered lung
development by modulating the transforming growth factorβ(TGF‐β)

pathway.

Specificallywewilldetermine:
1.IfvitaminDdeficiencyalterslungfunctionandstructure,
2.IfvitaminDdeficiencyalterexpression ofthe TGF‐β pathway during lung
development,
3.Whetherthetimingofdeficiencyduringdevelopmentaltersoutcome,

Wewilladdresstheseaims using a physiologically relevant mousemodelof
vitamin D deficiency in conjunction with state of the art techniques for
measuringlungvolume,lungmechanicsandlungstructureinmice.

Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications BSc
EssentialSkills

AdditionalSkills

Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
Name:A/ProfessorGraemeZosky
Email:
Telephone:94897814


17
TitleofProject Understandinglungdevelopmentduringpuberty

KeyResearchArea Asthma,allergyandrespiratorydisorders
ResearchGroup LungGrowthandRespiratoryEnvironmentalHealth
StartDate March2013
ChiefSupervisor A/ProfessorGraemeZosky(TICHR)
OtherSupervisors ResAssistProfPeterNoble,DrAlexanderLarcombe,DrAnthonyBosco
ProjectOutline Thelunggrowsinresponsetoincreasing(absolute)metabolicdemandswith
age. An increase in lung size can occur by simple expansion and/or an
increase in the number of functionallung units (alveoli). Historically,it was
thoughtthatthemammalianlunghadlimitedcapacitytoproduceadditional
alveolipostnatally.However,recentstudieshavesuggestedotherwiseandit
is now clear that additional alveoli may appear into early adulthood. This
observationsuggeststhatpostnatallunggrowthisadynamicprocess.

The relationship between lung size, lung function and age is typically
modelled as a smooth, monotonic and strictly increasing relationship
whereby lung size and function incr ease with age and peak in early
adulthood. However, based on recent data, it is clear that the relationship
betweenlungstructure,function,bodysizeandageismuchmorecomplex.
Studiesinourlaboratorysuggestthattheremaybesubstantialremodellingin
thelungduringpubertywherebylungmechanicschangesignificantlywithout
a corresponding change in lung volume. This previously undescribed
phenomenon has implications for 1) the current dogma that the lung has
limited capacity to respond to significant structural insults and, 2) the
susceptibilityofthelungtoinsultsduringpuberty. 

In this project the student will have the opportunity to characterise and
identify the mechanisms controlling the changes in lung structure and
functionthatoccurduringpubertyusingamouse model.
Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications BScorBSc(Hons)

EssentialSkills

AdditionalSkills

Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
Name:A/ProfessorGraemeZosky
Email:
Telephone:94897814



18
TitleofProject Optimisedexpressionandcharacterisationofrecombinanthuman
rhinoviruscapsidproteins
KeyResearchArea Asthma,allergyandrespiratorydisorders
ResearchGroup MolecularPaediatricsGroup
StartDate Early2013
ChiefSupervisor A/ProfessorBelindaHales(TICHR)
OtherSupervisors DrTatjanaHenrich(TICHR)
ProfessorWayneThomas(TICHR)
ProjectOutline Human rhinoviruses (HRV)are strongly associated with the development of
asthmaandasthmaexacerbationsinsusceptiblechildren.Amajorobstaclein
investigating anti‐HRV immunity is a lack of standardised defined reagents.
Rhinovirus isolates cluster into three main species HRV‐A, B and C and our
studies have shownhigh IgG1antibody titrescanbe detectedwithspecies‐
specific viral capsid  proteins. The capsid proteins VP1 and VP4 of all three

specieshavebeenproducedinourlaboratoryasfusionproteinsinbacterial
(Escherichia coli) and yeast (Pichia pastoris) expression systems, however
eithertheyieldsorthestabilityoftheantigenshavebeenlow.

Theaimofthis projectistooptimisetheexpressionofallviralcapsidproteins
(VP1, VP2, VP3 and VP4) of HRV and characterise the type of immune
responses to the viral proteins for each species (A, B and C). The type C
rhinovirusescannotbereadilycultured,soimmunologicalinvestigationswith
HRV‐Cfullyrelyontheuseofrecombinantcapsidproteins.Acompletepanel
of recombinant viral capsid proteins will allow a comprehensive sero‐
epidemiological investigation of rhinovirus infection and hence the
prevalence of infections in healthy people and associations with diseases,
suchas allergyandasthma, otitis mediaand chronicobstructivepulmonary
disease.Thesestudiescouldleadtothedevelopmentofavaccinetoreduce
the immunopathology caused by HRV exacerbating these diseases .The
knowledge could also be applied to study HRV epidemics in different 
locationsandpopulations.
Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications Biochemistry,Biotechnology,Microbiologyorsimilardiscipline
EssentialSkills Backgroundorinterestinbiotechnology
AdditionalSkills Goodorganisationalandcommunicationalskills
Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
A/ProfBelindaHales

94897871



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19
TitleofProject Immunecharacterisationofnovelcatallergens
KeyResearchArea Asthma,allergyandrespiratorydisorders
ResearchGroup MolecularPaediatricsGroup
StartDate Late2012‐early2013
ChiefSupervisor A/ProfessorBelindaHales(TICHR)
OtherSupervisors ProfessorWayneThomas(TICHR)
ProjectOutline Cat‐allergy affects about 15% of the population and is an independent risk
factor for asthma. Cat allergy is  being used as a vanguard for molecularly
definedimmunotherapy(IT)usingasingleallergenFel d1.Howeverseveral
studies show only 50% of the IgE response is due to Fel d 1, including our
investigations with newly defined cat allergens that show over 30% of cat‐
allergicsubjectsproducetheirhighestamountofIgEantibodytonon‐Feld1
allergens.

The project will ascertain the importance of the different cat allergens in
allergybymeasuringtheirabilitytocauseFcεR1‐mediatedmediatorrelease;
the binding of IgE allergen‐complexes to the low affinity CD23 IgE receptor
and the nature and size of the T‐cell responses induced by the allergens.
These are important functions for the causation of allergic disease and are
correlates of allergen‐induced hypersensitivity. The T‐cell responses, which
have been inadequately studied for cat allergy, are expected to identify
differencesthatcouldberesponsible for the markedly different IgE and IgG
antibodyresponsestocatcomparedtoHDMallergens.

AkeydrivingforcefortheinvestigationistoenablethecurrentITtrialswith
the single allergenFel d 1to beevaluated and analysedwith knowledge of
thespectrum ofallergens responsible forthe diseasewithin  eachindividual

patient,andtodeterminehowalteringtheimmuneresponsetooneallergen
affectstheresponsestoothers.Analysisofthiswillnotonlyberelevanttocat
allergybutperhapsevenmoresotootherallergiessuchashousedustmite
(HDM) where, from the reported IgE responses, it is expected that the
spectrumofallergenswillbemorecomplex.
Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications Biochemistry,Biotechnology,Microbiologyorsimilardiscipline
EssentialSkills Backgroundorinterestinimmunology.
AdditionalSkills Goodorganisationalandcommunicationalskills
Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable
Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
A/ProfBelindaHales

94897871



20
TitleofProject HumanrhinovirustypeC(HRV‐C)immuneresponsesinasthma
KeyResearchArea Asthma,allergyandrespiratorydisorders
ResearchGroup MolecularPaediatricsGroup
StartDate Early2013
ChiefSupervisor A/ProfessorBelindaHales(TICHR)
OtherSupervisors ProfessorWayneThomas(TICHR)
ProfessorPatrickHolt(TICHR)
ProfessorPeterLeSouëf(SPACH/PMH)
ProjectOutline Humanrhinoviruses(HRV)arehighlyprevalentrespiratorypathogens,which

besidescausingcommonupperrespiratoryinfections,arestronglyassociated
with exacerbations and the development ofasthma in susceptiblechildren.
Atopy (allergic sensitisation) is associated with susceptibility to HRV and
asthmabutnotallchildrenwithatopywilldevelopdisease.Discoveriesmade
in the last few years have shown that the previously unrecognised species,
HRV‐C,isespeciallyassociatedwithmoresevererespiratorydiseaserequiring
hospitalisationandcouldhavethegreatestpropensitytoexacerbateasthma.
Despite the clinical importance of HRV, few studies have measured HRV‐
specificimmune responsesin either childrenwith disease,or inthe general
population.

Amajorobstacleininvestigatinganti‐HRVimmunityisalackofstandardised
definedreagents.RhinovirusisolatesclusterintothreemainspeciesHRV‐A,B
andCandourstudieshaveshownhighIgG1antibodytitrescanbedetected
with species‐specific VP1 capsid antigens. This project will use the VP1
proteins representative of HRV‐A, B and C to measure species‐specific
antibody and T‐cellresponsesto rhinovirusin well‐definedcohorts thatwill
define the prevalence of infection in children and the association with
asthma.Qualitativeandquantitative differencesin theimmuneresponseto
rhinoviruswillbe evalua ted in healthy  children and inthosewithatopy and
asthma.HRV‐Cisunabletobeeasilyculturedsorecombinanttechnologywill
allow this newly identified species to be investigated. These studies could
leadtothedevelopmentofavaccinetoreducetheimmunopathologycaused
byasthmaexacerbations.
Projectsuitablefor Honours Masters PhD
EssentialQualifications Biochemistry,Biotechnology,Microbiologyorsimilardiscipline
EssentialSkills Backgroundorinterestincellbiologyandimmunology.
AdditionalSkills Goodorganisationalandcommunicationalskills
Funding ApplicantshouldapplyforAPA,UPAorotherscholarship
Top‐upscholarshipavailable

Fullscholarshipavailable
Contactforfurther
information
A/ProfBelindaHales

94897871


