Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine

Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours Program

Information Booklet

2015

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Introduction

The Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours program is a 90CP supervised, one-year program of

independent research and study culminating in the production of a research thesis and

presentation of a research seminar. Students undertake a program of course-work and

research in which they conceptualise, plan, organise, undertake and report on an

independent research project, whilst being supervised by a member of academic staff.

The Honours Program is offered as an add-on to the following degree programs:

• Bachelor of Biomedical Science

• Bachelor of Exercise Science

• Bachelor of Forensic Science

• Bachelor of Health Sciences

• Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science

• Bachelor of Sports Management

• Bachelor of Sports Science

The program is a three-semester course of study which commences ONLY in January semester

and concludes in December each year.

Aims of the Honours Degree

The Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours program is designed primarily to provide

graduates with the skills necessary to pursue in career in research. An Honours degree is an

essential prerequisite for entry into postgraduate research Masters and PhD programs.

Completion of an Honours year will also help graduates gain employment in their discipline.

Honours graduates are highly valued by employers as they have demonstrated skills in written

and oral communication, critical thinking and interpretation, and project management. Most

research assistant positions require applicants to have successfully completed an Honours

year.

The Honours program within the Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine aims to help

graduates develop skills in:

• planning and conducting research

• written and oral professional / scientific communication

• writing grant applications

• information retrieval and organisation

• project management

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Structure of the Program

The Honours program consists of 90 credit points comprising both coursework and research

components scheduled as follows:

Jan (151)

HLSC41-141: Research Preparation & Design (15CP) HLSC44-137: Honours Thesis A (15CP)

May (152)

HLSC41-140: Research Analysis & Communication (15CP) HLSC44-138: Honours Thesis B (15CP)

Sept (153)

HLSC44-XXX: Honours Thesis C (30CP)

COURSEWORK COMPONENTS

HLSC41-141: Research Preparation and Design (15CP) January semester

This subject is designed to provide the framework and skills necessary for Honours students

to successfully commence a research project in the Health Sciences. Students will work

closely with the Honours convenor and individual project supervisors to develop their

research topic, formulate their aims and hypotheses and consider the significance of the

project. Workshops will enable students to search for and retrieve, interpret and begin to

critically evaluate the relevant literature in their field. Research ethics processes will be

discussed and debated, and students will be assisted to complete ethics applications where

appropriate for their study. Students will also review various research design strategies and

identify appropriate methods for conducting their project and analysing their expected data.

Finally, students will be supported to prepare and present a detailed research proposal to the

Faculty.

HLSC41-140: Research Analysis and Communication (15CP) May Semester

The successful conduct of research requires advanced abilities in analysis and interpretation

of data, critical thinking and written and oral presentation. This subject will build on skills

developed in the subject "Research Preparation & Design" to support Health Sciences

Honours students as they progress into the second semester of their program. A thorough

coverage of mathematical and statistical procedures required to support both the project

design and data analysis will be provided. Parametric and non-parametric statistical methods

will be examined including t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation and regression.

Workshops will actively develop students' skills in a variety of communication formats

including the writing of discipline-specific journal articles, short abstracts and funding

proposals. Students will also participate in regular "journal club" sessions where the findings

of key research papers are critically reviewed and debated.

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RESEARCH / DISSERTATION COMPONENT

HLSC44-137: Honours Thesis A (15CP) – January semester

HLSC44-138: Honours Thesis B (15CP) - May semester

HLSC44-XXX: Honours Thesis C (30CP) – September semester

These subjects constitute the major assessable component of the Honours candidature. It will

be assessed according to the detailed assessment criteria provided on the basis of an

evaluation of the thoroughness of the literature review, the validity and reliability of the data

collected, as well as the subsequent analysis, interpretation, presentation and discussion of

the results. As part of the assessment procedures, candidates will be required to prepare a

full dissertation (80% of the assessment weighting) and a final seminar (20%) in which the

research project and associated results will be presented and defended.

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Application for admission

The program is available to students who have completed a relevant Bachelor’s degree. An

application for admission to the Honours program and all relevant supporting documentation

must be submitted online to Bond University at https://apply.bond.edu.au/.

Applications close on Friday 21 November 2014 (end of Week 11 of semester 143).

Selection

The candidate’s application for admission to the Honours program is considered by the Honours

Program Convenor in consultation with proposed/potential supervisors and the Head of

Programs. In evaluating an application for admission to the Honours program, the following will

be considered:

1. The undergraduate record of the applicant in a relevant Bachelor-level degree. Admission

into the Honours Program requires an overall GPA of 2.0 (Credit). Eligibility for Faculty

Scholarships if available (see ‘Fees & Scholarships’) requires applicant GPA of 2.5 (on 4-

point scale) or 5.5 (on 7-point scale).

2. A candidate whose GPA is below required for admission into the Honours program may

apply to the Dean of the Faculty for special consideration, but the candidate is unlikely to

be offered a scholarship.

3. Candidates must have completed at least 60 credit points of study related to the general

area of the proposed Honours research project in the last three semesters of their

Bachelors’ degree.

4. Candidates must have been awarded a Bachelors’ degree that is related to the proposed

Honours research project within the previous three years.

Approval of dissertation topic and supervision

All Honours dissertation topics and Supervisor(s) are approved by the Faculty prior to being

offered to students.

It is essential that students discuss advertised projects with potential supervisors prior to the

application deadline.

A student/supervisor agreement must be signed by both parties and submitted by e-mail to

the Honours Convenor by the application deadline. Applicants who do not have the

agreement of the project supervisors will NOT be considered.

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Fees & Scholarships

A limited number of partial tuition-waiver scholarships may be available. The scholarship

percentage a student receives is the decision of the faculty and not all students will

necessarily receive equal scholarship amounts. Students receiving less than 100% Scholarship

will be charged the standard tuition fee minus their percentage of Scholarship awarded. Note

that applications received after the closing date may not be considered for a

scholarship.

Fees for the School of Health Sciences Honours Program 2015: $32,490

Honours Convenor Asst. Prof. Catherine McDermott Office: BLD05_04_12 E-mail: camcderm@bond.edu.au

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FEE-HELP

Fee-help may be used to off-set the costs of fees associated with the Honours program. FEE-

HELP is an interest-free loan scheme administered by the Australian Taxation Office and

available to Australian citizens and those holding a permanent humanitarian visa to help pay

tuition fees. For more details of the loans available, visit: www.goingtouni.gov.au.

Grades Awarded

The degree with Honours is awarded in the following classes: Honours Class I (85-100%),

Honours Class IIA (75-84%), Honours Class IIB (65-74%), Honours Class III (50-64%).

Study Load & enrolment status

The HSM Honours program comprises 90CP over three semesters. Each semester has an

enrolment of 30CP.

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HONOURS RESEARCH PROJECTS AVAILABLE 2015

Discipline: Exercise and Sports Science

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Project Title THE EFFECT OF HABITUAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND EXERCISE ON THE EFFECTIVE MEASUREMENT OF RESTING METABOLIC RATE IN ATHLETES AND NON- ATHLETES.

Supervisors Asst. Prof. Kristen MacKenzie and Prof. Nuala Byrne

Project Summary Background: Indirect calorimetry it is an effective method of measuring resting metabolic rate (RMR) as long as standardised protocols are followed and the test is undertaken in tightly controlled laboratory conditions [1]. It is important that research participants refrain from structured physical activity prior to the measurement of RMR both due to elevations of exercise postoxygen consumption (EPOC) and metabolic activity. A minimum of 10 hours has been recommended after exercise for the RMR measurement in line with evidence of 2 hours of abstention from moderate aerobic exercise (Grade II - fair) and 14 hours for vigorous exercise (Grade III - limited) [1]. However, as elevations of RMR have been demonstrated for more than 24 hours after vigorous resistance exercise in non-athletes [2] and may remain 72 hours after resistance exercise [3, 4], some researchers ensure abstinence from structured physical activity for 24 - 72 hours prior to RMR measurement. While the effective measurement of RMR is important to estimate athlete energy requirements and thus dietary energy intake, there are currently no specific recommendations on the timing of the RMR measurement relative to training in athlete populations. For many professional and elite athletes abstinence from physical activity for long periods of time may not be practical due to professional program training requirements. This approach may also be contraindicative and unnecessary, as interrupting habitual training may also substantially influence RMR in trained individuals [5] and as trained individuals have been shown to have a more rapid return to baseline RMR than untrained individuals for the same work rate [6].

Aims and Methods: This project will explore the time course of the return to baseline RMR as measured by indirect calorimetry after several structured physical activity sessions in highly trained and non-trained individuals. Habitual activity will be measured by accelerometry and a physical activity diary.

Significance: It is anticipated that this research will guide the effective measurement of RMR relative to training in athlete and non-athlete populations. References: 1. Compher, C, et al., Best Practice Methods to Apply to Measurement of

Resting Metabolic Rate in Adults: A Systematic Review. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2006.106

2. Williamson, D.L. and J.P. Kirwan, A single bout of concentric resistance exercise increases basal metabolic rate 48 hours after exercise in healthy 59- 77-yeor-old men. The Journal of Gerontology, 1997 52A(6):M352-5.

3. Speakman, J.R. and C. Selman, Physical activity and restin metabolic rate. The Proceedings of the Nutritional Society, 2003. 62(3): p. 621-34.

4. Drummond, M.J., et al., Aerobic and Resistance exercise sequence affects excess postexercise oxygen consumption. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2005 19(2) p. 332-7.

5. Tremblay, A., et al., Effect of a three-day interruption of exercise-training on resting metabolic rote and glucose-induced thermogenesis in training individuals. International Journal of Obesity, 1988.12(2): p. 163-168.

6. Short, K.R. and D.A. Sedlock, Excess postexercise oxygen consumption and recovery rate in trained and untrained subjects. Journal of Applied Physiology (1985), 1997. 83(1): p. 153-9.

E-mail contact Asst. Prof. Kristen MacKenzie kmackenz@bond.edu.au

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Discipline: Biomedical Science

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Project Title DEVELOPMENT OF A ASSAY FOR LIVER FIBROSIS SPECIFIC miRNA

Supervisors Assoc. Prof. Tony Badrick & Assoc. Prof. Kevin Ashton

Project Summary

Liver fibrosis is a significant problem associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as there is a greater risk of patients developing cirrhosis. Current biochemical liver function tests are insensitive to this liver damage in these patients. The aim of the project is to implement an assay for a potential liver fibrosis marker (miR-29) and apply this to a group of known patients with proven liver fibrosis. Other biochemical and haematological markers will also be measured and compared in this group and other patients with the view of developing an algorithm to identify patients at risk.

E-mail contact

Project Title PREDICTING HUMAN AGE FROM BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS AND DEGRADED SAMPLES BY SJTREC QUANTIFICATION

Supervisors Assoc. Kevin Ashton & Asst. Prof. Sarah Gardner

Project Summary

The development of molecular methods for age estimation using samples that possess no morphological information (e. g. bloodstains, saliva) would be extremely valuable as this type of sample commonly occurs at the crime scene. Such evidence may provide useful information about both victims and other persons related to criminal activities. Signal joint T-cell receptor excision circle (sjTREC) DNA levels in peripheral blood are known to decline with age. This study aims to quantitate sjTREC DNA rearrangements by qPCR in biological fluids (e.g. blood, saliva, semen) of ten young (18-25 years old) and ten older (40-50 years old) male volunteers. In addition the effect of DNA degradation on age estimation will be assessed. This data will demonstrate whether there is a significant age-related decline in sjTREC DNA rearrangements between the two age groups. The study will also determine whether this relationship is detectable and maintained in the small T-cell populations found in saliva and semen.

E-mail contact Assoc. Kevin Ashton keashton@bond.edu.au

Project Title THE INFLUENCE OF HAEMOLYSIS ON THE DETECTION OF PLASMA miRNA BIOMARKERS

Supervisors Assoc. Prof. Kevin Ashton & Assoc. Prof. Tony Badrick

Project Summary

Cell-free plasma microRNAs (miRNA) are a promising source of disease biomarkers for cancer, ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and most recently chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). However, during normal blood collection a low-level of red blood cell (RBC) lysis, termed haemolysis often occurs. MicroRNA released from these RBCs can therefore contribute to and influence the levels of specific miRNA present in the plasma, potentially compromising the clinical utility of miRNA as biomarkers.

This study aims to profile miRNA content in haemolysed (partial and complete) and non-haemolysed plasma collected from normal healthy individuals (12 participants in total). Spectrophotometry and RT-qPCR will be used to assess the presence of haemoglobin and RBC enriched miRNAs respectively. In addition a number of proposed miRNA biomarkers (IHD and CFS related) will be examined to assess the influence of haemolysis on their expression levels.

E-mail contact Assoc. Kevin Ashton keashton@bond.edu.au

Assoc. Prof. Tony Badrick tbadrick@bond.edu.au

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Project Title INVESTIGATING RED CELL DISTRIBUTION WIDTH (RDW) IN INTENSIVE CARE PATIENTS AS A PREDICTOR OF OUTCOME.

Supervisors Assoc. Prof. Tony Badrick & Asst. Prof. Anna Lohning

Project Summary

The RDW is a commonly derived parameter which describes the standard deviation of the red cell volumes in blood. The mean of the population is the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and these two parameters are used to classify the anaemias. The RDW is also a predictor of mortality in many situations, chronic disease, geriatric populations and acute diseases. Perhaps the RDW is a measure of immunological or haematopoietic stress. Patients in ICU typically have a score calculated which assesses risk and survivability based on physiological and disease parameters. This project will examine the efficacy of modifying some of the currently available predictor scores (APACHE II and APACHE III) by adding RDW and perhaps some other commonly measured biochemical and haematological parameters. It is hoped that better predictors will be found for ICU and inpatient outcomes.

E-mail contact Assoc. Prof. Tony Badrick tbadrick@bond.edu.au

Project Title ALPHA1-ADRENOCEPTOR ANTAGONISTS: A POTENTIAL BLADDER CANCER TREATMENT

Supervisors Asst. Prof. Catherine McDermott & Prof. Russ Chess-Williams

Project Summary

Background: Bladder cancer is an important disease in Australia with 2459 new cases diagnosed in 2010. Treatment often involves instillation of cytotoxic or immunological agents directly into the bladder. However, tumour recurrence occurs in up to 80% of patients and local side-effects are common which greatly affects quality of life and ability to tolerate and continue treatment. Thus, there is a desperate need for more effective and tolerable therapies for bladder cancer. Some α1-adrenoceptor antagonists exert anti-tumour actions at high concentrations. Their potential use for other cancer types is limited due to the side effects that would occur with systemic treatment at high doses. However, for bladder cancer local administration of the antagonist would allow higher doses to be administered without the systemic adverse effects.

Aims: To investigate the effects of alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists on bladder cancer cells and normal bladder function (non-cancer urothelial cells and porcine tissue).

Significance: assessment of efficacy and tolerability of alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists in the treatment of bladder cancer.

Methods:

Cell culture – bladder cancer (RT4 and T24) and non-cancer (UROtsa) urothelial cell lines

Porcine tissue contraction studies

Cell proliferation and apoptosis assays. Measurement of urothelial ATP release

Outcomes: Presentation of data at a scientific meeting, publication of at least one full research article.

E-mail contact Asst. Prof. Catherine McDermott camcderm@bond.edu.au

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Project Title EFFECTS OF HYPOXIA ON PROSTATE CANCER CELL PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY

Supervisors Asst. Prof. Catherine McDermott & Prof. Russ Chess-Williams

Project Summary

Background: As a tumour grows a large number of the cancer cells lack a good blood flow and become hypoxic. The cells adapt to this environment and undergo many changes in cell physiology which can make them resistant to cytotoxic drugs and thus more difficult to kill. They also become more resistant to radiotherapy. This project will investigate the effects of hypoxia on prostate cancer cells grown in culture to see which receptors may be altered resulting in abnormal cell function. Cancer cell physiology may also change during the progression of the disease, early in the disease tumour cell growth being dependent on androgens (androgen-dependent cells) and in later disease tumour growth being androgen-insensitive.

Aims: To identify the receptors (muscarinic, alpha and beta-adrenergic) present in the androgen-dependent prostate PC3 cancer cell line and the androgen- insensitive LNCap cell line and investigate the effects of hypoxia.

Significance: These studies will enhance our understanding of the cellular mechanisms regulating prostatic epithelial cells and identifying the effects of hypoxia on these cells, possibly leading to the development of new treatments for prostate cancer.

Methods :

Cell culture of human prostatic cancer (PC3 and LNCap) epithelial cell lines under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

Radioligand binding assays to determine receptor densities.

Assays of cell proliferation (resazurin reduction kit).

Outcomes: Identification of the effects of hyupoxia on prostate cancer cell physiology and pharmacology, presentation of data at ASCEPT and ICS meetings, publication of at least one full paper.

E-mail contact Asst. Prof. Catherine McDermott camcderm@bond.edu.au

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Project Title THE ROLE OF MUSCARINIC RECEPTOR SUBTYPES IN PROSTATIC CANCER GROWTH

Supervisors Prof. Russ Chess-Williams & Asst. Prof. Catherine McDermott

Project Summary

Background: Cancer of the prostate most often involves the epithelial component of the tissue, the activity of which is regulated predominantly by the autonomic nervous system involving muscarinic receptors. There is evidence from other tissues that abnormalities in this receptor system may result in altered tissue growth and apoptosis (programmed cell death). There are 5 subtypes of muscarinic receptor and their involvement in the development of prostatic cancer is unknown. The presence of M3 receptors in human prostate has been demonstrated and their expression (protein and mRNA) is increased in prostate cancer. However the functional significance of these receptor changes has not been investigated and the influence of the other receptor subtypes is also unknown.

Aims: To identify the muscarinic receptor subtypes present in human prostatic epithelium, investigate their role in regulating growth and examine possible changes in cancer.

Significance: These studies will enhance our understanding of the cellular mechanisms regulating prostatic epithelial cell growth and by identifying the receptor mechanisms involved, possibly lead to the development of new treatments for prostate cancer.

Methods

Tissue culture of human prostatic cancer (PC3 and LNCap) and non- cancer (PNT2) epithelial cell lines.

Radioligand binding assays with [3H]QNB to determine receptor densities for each receptor subtype.

Assays of cell proliferation (resazurin reduction kit) and apoptosis (caspase 3 kit).

Outcomes: Identification of the muscarinic receptor subtypes, their relative densities and functions in prostatic cancer and non-cancer epithelium, presentation of data at ASCEPT and ICS meetings, publication of at least one full paper.

E-mail contact Prof. Russ Chess-Williams rchesswi@bond.edu.au

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Project Title WHAT ARE THE PATHOGENIC MECHANISMS LINKING BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA (BPH) AND ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (ED)?

Supervisors Assoc. Prof. Donna Sellers & Prof. Russ Chess Williams

Project Summary

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common and distressing condition affecting approximately 50% of men aged between 40 and 70 years. Although it is associated with ageing, chronic disease such as diabetes mellitus, and prostatic surgery, there is also a wealth of evidence showing a very strong link between enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)) and erectile dysfunction. In spite of this the pathogenic mechanisms linking BPH and erectile dysfunction are still not clear. Viagra, and other type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors, are the main therapy for ED, and act via the nitric oxide-cGMP signalling pathway to relax the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum and it’s arterioles. However, up to 40% of patients with ED do not respond to these agents. Therefore there is a need to further our understanding of alternative signalling pathways in this tissue, and also the mechanisms underlying the pathology of ED, in order to inform the development of alternative therapies. The RhoA-Rho kinase signalling pathway is one such pathway which is important in this tissue and has also been linked with ED and BPH.

Aims of the project: The aim is to investigate the RhoA-Rho kinase signalling pathway in the corpus cavernosum, and to determine any pathological changes that may link BPH and ED, which may ultimately lead to novel targets for development of novel therapies.

Methods to be used The study will take place within the Bond Urology Group. Functional tissue bath studies will be used to pharmacologically investigate the RhoA-Rho kinase pathway in the contractility of human corpus cavernosum tissues. Tissues will be obtained from patients undergoing penile prosthetic surgery, and used alongside porcine tissues obtained from a local abattoir. Tissues from several patient groups will be compared, including patients with ED due to nerve damage following prostatectomy, ED associated with diabetes and ED associated with BPH, along with control tissue from patients with Peyronies disease. Functional pharmacological studies will be complemented by histology, immunohistochemistry and western blotting in cavernosum tissues, to investigate structural changes and expression of key molecules of the RhoA-Rho kinase pathway. The skills developed during this study will include in vitro pharmacological tissue bath preparations, use of a microtome and tissue sectioning, histology, immunohistochemistry and western blotting.

Significance and Expected Outcomes The findings of this research will help us to understand the link between ED and BPH and may ultimately lead to novel targets for alternative treatments for patients with this common and distressing condition, who do not respond to the currently available therapies.

E-mail contact Assoc. Prof. Donna Sellers dsellers@bond.edu.au

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Project Title THE ROLE OF 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE (SEROTONIN) IN MODULATING CONTRACTILE ACTIVITY OF THE BLADDER UROTHELIUM AND LAMINA PROPRIA.

Supervisors Asst. Prof. Christian Moro & Prof. Russ Chess-Williams

Project Summary

Although selective antimuscarinics are the first-line pharmacotherapy for overactive bladder, a large proportion of patients discontinue this treatment regime due to side-effects and lower-than-expected treatment benefits. Promisingly, recent studies have suggested the possibility of combination therapy, where a number of pharmacological treatments are administered to patients. This combination therapy has the potential to increase the benefits to sufferers of bladder dysfunction by acting on a variety of regions and receptors within the bladder while also decreasing the concentration of antimuscarinics required, potentially decreasing side-effects. Recently, a number of novel drugs have been suggested, such as 5-Hydroxytryptamine, that may be included as part of this combination therapy. Of great interest is the finding in our laboratories that 5-Hydroxytryptamine can enhance contractile activity in the urinary bladder urothelium and lamina propria. This project will examine the extent of this contractile activity, while identifying and isolating the specific receptors involved. This exciting and novel project will provide a student with a solid grounding in physiological and pharmacological research, while assisting in the development of new skills that will directly relate to future research at a Master’s or PhD level.

E-mail contact Asst. Prof. Christian Moro cmoro@bond.edu.au

Project Title MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF BONE DEVELOPMENT IN X-RAY FILMS OF DEVELOPING JUVENILES FROM ISOLATED AND NON-ISOLATED POPULATIONS

Supervisors Asst. Prof. Christian Moro & Asst. Prof. Athanasios Raikos

Project Summary

Background: Skeletal maturation and growth rate registration is part of routine paediatric growth assessments. Genetics, nutrition, gender, and disease are among factors influencing skeletal growth. Moreover, forensic pathologists and anthropologists have used skeletal development as a method to determine the age, stature, and gender in the remains of unknown adult subjects. However, this becomes more difficult during childhood development where the bone structure is continually evolving. As such, there would be benefit in improving current methods for accurate determination of a child’s age, stature, developmental status based exclusively on skeletal measurements. Aims: This study aims to measure morphometric parameters, including ossification, of metacarpal, metatarsal, patella, humerus, radius, and ulna bones. Also, we aim to compare the bone growth rate between children growing in isolated and non-isolated communities. Methods: The student undertaking this study will scan and measure series of X- rays taken of developing juveniles in Papua New Guinea and Australia. Correlations will be made between different indigenous populations and compared with the morphometrics of their bone structures as they grow. Factors such as ethnicity, gender, and nutritional habits will also be evaluated for the purpose of this study. Expected outcomes: This study is expected to produce a detailed analysis of skeletal maturity in growing skeletons. The growth rate tables and diagrams that expected to be generated from the study might aid radiologists and forensic scientists in the evaluation of child growth patterns. Scientists studying the differences between groups of people living in isolated and those living in a typical mixed community setup would also find the results of the study useful.

E-mail contact Asst. Prof. Christian Moro cmoro@bond.edu.au

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Project Title PHARMACOLOGY OF AMPHETAMINE-LIKE COMPOUNDS IN PRE-WORKOUT SUPPLEMENTS

Supervisors Asst. Prof. Anna Lohning, Asst. Prof. Stephanie Schweiker & Prof. Russ Chess- Williams

Project Summary

The prevalence of pre-workout supplements on the market has led to a concern about the physiological consequences of consumption of amphetamine-like compounds which have structural similarity to both the banned amphetamines and the endogenous catecholamines.

Preliminary studies, undertaken at Bond University, have identified a disparity between the listed ingredients and actual components in a number of supplements.

A number of compounds have been identified for further study. Due to a paucity of validated studies of these compounds, this study aims to investigate the pharmacological action and effects of these drugs.

The student will gain practical experience in sample preparation (liquid extraction), purification of supplements (HPLC), and organ-bath techniques.

E-mail contact Asst. Prof. Anna Lohning alohning@bond.edu.au

Project Title ANALYSING THE PENETRATION OF CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS AND METABOLITES THROUGH THE BLADDER WALL

Supervisors Asst. Prof. Anna Lohning, Asst. Prof. Catherine McDermott & Prof. Russ Chess- Williams

Project Summary

Cyclophosphamide and isofosfamide are two chemotherapy drugs commonly administered to patients with various solid tumours. The metabolites of these two compounds are associated with a number of complications including severe haemorrhagic cystitis, oedema, ulceration neovascularisation and necrosis. Research currently being undertaken in the Centre for Urology Research suggest that the urinary metabolites, acrolein and chloroacetaldehyde, could be responsible for some of these side effects. However, the concentration of these urinary metabolites that penetrates the bladder wall is unknown. In addition, treatment of bladder cancer involves instillation of chemotherapeutic drugs into the bladder lumen and is known to result in urological side effects. The concentration of these drugs that penetrate the urothelium and reach the lamina propria and detrusor muscle is also unknown.

This study aims to quantify chemotherapeutic drugs and metabolites in the porcine bladder following luminal exposure mimicking clinical conditions. This information may correlate with the side-effects reported by patients receiving these treatments.

The student will gain valuable experience in the collection and handling of samples, sample preparation, interpretation of data from HPLC and Mass Spectroscopy, and in vitro processing of bladder tissues.

E-mail contact Asst. Prof. Anna Lohning alohning@bond.edu.au

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Project Title INVESTIGATIONS INTO HOW THE NATURALLY OCCURRING CYCLIC TERPENE, LIMONENE, MIGHT AFFECT ONCOGENESIS AND MALIGNANCY.

Supervisors Asst. Prof. Stephan Levonis & Asst. Prof. Stephanie Schweiker

Project Summary

The human oestrogen receptor has implications in oncogenesis and malignancies in both men and women. Selective Estrogenic Receptor Modulators (SERMs) have for some years been used as an adjunct treatment in cases of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and there is evidence to support their potential application in the prevention of these as well as other cancers. Naturally occurring SERMs present in plants are referred to as phytoserms. Plant-derived chemical compounds have, by way of evolution, been honed to be highly biologically active with high degrees of selectivity and specificity for their receptor targets. In this way, chemicals occurring in plants can make excellent starting points for the design of new drug candidates. In this project the plant product, limonene, is investigated and experiments will be conducted to determine binding affinity to the human oestrogen receptor.

E-mail contact Asst. Prof. Stephan Levonis slevonis@bond.edu.au

Project Title MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS OMICS INVESTIGATION

Supervisors Assoc. Prof Lotti Tajouri & Asst. Prof. Anna Lohning

Project Summary

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system demyelinating disorder resulting from an autoimmune reaction. Paucity of information has been gathered to unravel the etiological artefact responsible for the pathophysiological neuronal damage. Along with additional autoimmune diseases used as controls for the MS condition, an approach using high throughput expression analysis of gene candidates and gene regulators will be undertaken in this study using MS tissue and body fluid specimens. Quantitative high-throughput analysis genetic runs will determine the possible presence of such markers and identify therefore deregulated autoimmune based cellular pathways. In addition, this study will be considered as a pilot study to orientate the student towards a most pertinent research driven hypothesis that could, if the candidate accepts, be turned into a PhD project.

E-mail contact Assoc. Prof Lotti Tajouri ltajouri@bond.edu.au

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