QUT offers a diverse range of student topics for Honours, Masters and PhD study. Search to find a topic that interests you or propose your own research topic to a prospective QUT supervisor. You may also ask a prospective supervisor to help you identify or refine a research topic.

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Found 20 matching student topics

Displaying 13–20 of 20 results

Therapeutic opportunities targeting epigenetic-metabolism crosswalks in cancer

Epigenetic and metabolic pathways in cancer cells are highly interconnected. Epigenetic landscape in cancer cells is modified by oncogene-driven metabolic changes. Metabolites modulate the activities of epigenetic modifying enzymes to regulate the expression of specific genes. Conversely, epigenetic deregulation that occurs in cancer affect the expression of metabolic genes, thereby altering the metabolome. These changes all coordinately enhance cancer cell proliferation, metastasis and therapy resistance.The overall aim of the project is to understand the link between the activity of epigenetic …

Study level
Master of Philosophy, Honours
Faculty
Faculty of Health
School
School of Biomedical Sciences

Developing in vitro 3D models to understand liver disease

Several studies have demonstrated the appropriateness of 3D organoid cultures over the conventional 2D cultures, the advantages of 3D models include replicating the complex attributes of the liver beyond liver-specific metabolism, such as increased cell density, organization, and cell–cell signalling, O2 zonation.In this project we will establish a novel in vitro 3D model to study hepatocyte biology in the context of liver disease. A more comprehensive approach to investigating the intercellular mechanisms of NAFLD will include co-culture of organoids with …

Study level
PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
Faculty
Faculty of Health
School
School of Biomedical Sciences

Genetics of cardiovascular disease

This research project involves investigating the genetic basis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The project will focus on the genetically unique population of Norfolk Island. The Norfolk Island Health Study has been running for 20 yrs. Over this time the cardiovascular health of the Islanders has been tracked via the collection of relevant clinical data. In addition whole genome sequence data from the study group has been collected, which will facilitate the discovery of genetic variants that influence CVD phenotypes - …

Study level
PhD
Faculty
Faculty of Health
School
School of Biomedical Sciences
Research centre(s)
Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health

The impact of neuroretinal disease on circadian behavior and sleep

Chronic sleep disruption impacts on quality of life and can lead to cardiovascular disease and cancer (Cable et al, Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021). Importantly in people with underlying chronic health conditions, circadian disruption can exacerbate symptoms, disease severity and cause disease progression.Light signalled by photoreceptors in the retina is the most important cue for setting sleep/wake cycles. The impairment of this light signalling in eye and neurodegenerative disease leads to circadian and sleep disruption (Feigl & Zele, Optom …

Study level
Master of Philosophy
Faculty
Faculty of Health
School
School of Biomedical Sciences
Research centre(s)

Centre for Vision and Eye Research

Nutrition interventions to improve outcomes in people with kidney dIsease

Dietary interventions are cornerstone treatment in chronic kidney disease. Our research focuses on the shift away from nutrient monitoring, and towards a whole food approach to improving diet quality and reduce disease progression. We have expertise in nutritional epidemiology and dietary intervention trials, and work directly with clinicians in patient care.We currently have projects investigating:Plant based diets to reduce resistant proteinuriaIntensive weight loss to slow progression of kidney diseaseThe impact of dietary patterns on cardiovascular disease risk in chronic kidney …

Study level
PhD, Master of Philosophy
Faculty
Faculty of Health
School
School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences

Strain-level characterisation and visualisation of microbial communities associated with inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorder driven by complex interactions between environmental, microbial and immune-mediated factors. An unfavourable shift in gut microbiome composition, known as dysbiosis, is now considered a key feature of IBD, however it is unclear how specific microorganisms and their interactions with host cells contribute to disease onset and progression. Previous IBD studies have been largely limited to older sequencing methods with low resolution. Furthermore, these studies have predominantly focused on bacterial populations, …

Study level
PhD
Faculty
Faculty of Health
School
School of Biomedical Sciences
Research centre(s)

Centre for Microbiome Research

Computational drug repurposing for neuropsychiatric disease

While hundreds of robust genetic associations have been found for neuropsychiatric disease (such as schizophrenia, major depression, and anxiety) understanding the exact molecular mechanisms leading to disease onset and progression remains challenging. Inherited (i.e. genetic) risk factors for many neuropsychiatric diseases converge on genes that are co-ordinately expressed (co-expressed) in a disease-relevant tissue (e.g. brain). The study of how genetic risk factors affect co-expressed genes (i.e. gene co-expression analysis) has the potential to uncover new biological processes underlying disease onset. …

Study level
Honours
Faculty
Faculty of Health
School
School of Biomedical Sciences

Early prevention of inflammation-related diseases: characterization and use of milk and infant formula

Our belief in the importance of the 'first thousand days' and the critical part that nutrition plays has led my group to studies evaluating the composition and actions of milk and infant formula.Our studies of exosomes in biological fluids have led us to consider their presence and potential roles in milk and thus nutrition. To date, we have mainly determined proteomic contents (cargo) of exosomes but have been increasingly swayed by the literature suggesting important roles for microRNAs in general …

Study level
PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
Faculty
Faculty of Health
School
School of Biomedical Sciences

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