Investigating causes of congenital heart and vascular defects

About this project

Improve outcomes for babies born with heart defects 

If you are seeking to build a career in biology and keen to progress research into congenital heart defects, the University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – is offering a hands-on project-based PhD with real-world outcomes within the Centre for Cancer Biology (CCB). 

Congenital heart defects are the most common birth abnormality, affecting 1 in 100 births. In Australia, eight babies are born every day with a heart defect, with congenital heart defects being the leading cause of death in Australian babies. While some cases of congenital heart defects can be attributed to a known genetic cause, in most cases (80%), the cause is unknown. 

It’s critical for us to understand the causes of heart defects during embryonic development. By understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms, we may in future develop targeted interventional therapies to reduce the severity or even prevent disease developing in utero.  

Our project will use novel genetic mouse models of embryonic development and congenital birth defects. Our extensive data indicate a crucial role for an embryonic cell population, neural crest cells, in signalling to other cardiac progenitor cells to orchestrate correct heart and cardiovascular development. The molecular mechanisms by which neural crest cells impact heart and vascular development are currently unknown and will be investigated in this project. 

You will be based at the CCB within the Angioscience and Cardiovascular Development Group. Our laboratory is a friendly and supportive working environment with passionate researchers skilled in multiple animal models, cell culture, molecular biology and genomics analyses, with laboratory spaces that are equipped with state-of-the-art technologies.  

Collaboration between CCB members is also highly encouraged and facilitated through weekly institute seminars and regular social events. 

What you’ll do 

In this project-based research degree, you will undertake laboratory-based work under the guidance of the supervisory team. You will use several novel mouse genetic lines to examine embryonic development, using a variety of mouse embryo analysis procedures such as high-end confocal microscopy and microCT scanning to develop 3D models, tissue sectioning, cell culturing, molecular biology techniques, as well as analysis and in vivo validation of single cell RNAseq data sets generated from our embryonic tissue samples. 

There is also potential to undertake computational aspects of scRNAseq data analysis, depending on prior experience of the candidate, using programming pipelines with assistance from in-house bioinformaticians.

Ultimately, this project will drive new knowledge in the complex area of embryonic heart, neural crest and vascular development, to inform new mechanisms of fetal development, and how these processes can go wrong to underpin congenital disease.

Where you’ll be based

You will be based at the CCB, which is a Medical Research Institute which carries out a world-class program of innovative research, making breakthrough discoveries in the fundamental causes of cancer, and translating these discoveries into new ways to prevent and treat this group of diseases. 

The CCB is an alliance between SA Pathology and the University of South Australia and boasts the largest concentration of cancer research in South Australia, currently hosting 22 full-time research group leaders and their teams. 

CCB laboratories carry out research in many cancers, as well as fundamental cell biology, focussing in the specialised areas of gene regulation, molecular signalling, translational oncology and genomics. In addition to these laboratories, our ACRF cancer Genomics Facility is providing access to state-of-the-art genomics research equipment, computing technology and bioinformatics expertise to Adelaide BioMed Precinct and the wider research community. 

Translation of new discoveries into clinical practice is strengthened by the co-localisation of the laboratories within a single Institute, as well as its proximity and close collaboration with the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the University of South Australia, the University of Adelaide and SAHMRI. 

The CCB also has alliances with leading pharmaceutical companies to rapidly exploit new discoveries. The Institute aims to be a hub of internationally recognized cancer research excellence, achieving tangible outcomes for cancer patients. 

The CCB is a member of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI). Financial Support 

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $35,200 (2025 rate) per annum is available to eligible applicants. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $52,352 (20225 rate) per annum. A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information for domestic students or international students.

Eligibility and Selection 

This project is open to applications from both Domestic and International applicants. Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a Master of Research or a PhD. 

Additionally applicants must meet the project selection criteria: 

• The candidate has an honours degree or equivalent research lab experience in molecular/cellular biology or a related discipline. The candidate is willing to work with animal models. The candidate has a keen interest in developmental biology.

All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project. A merit selection process will be used to determine the successful candidate.

The successful applicant is expected to study full-time and to be based at our City West Campus in the heart of Adelaide. Note that international students on a student visa will need to study full-time.

Essential Dates 

Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer. Extended deferral periods are not available. Applications close on Tuesday 26 November 2024.