Developing Prebiotic Companion Therapies for Improving IBD Treatment Outcomes

About the project

Develop new therapies to treat Irritable Bowel Disease

If you are keen to start your career in the pharmaceutical industry and motivated to find more effective treatment methods for those living with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, the University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – is offering a hands-on project-based PhD within the Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation (CPI), in partnership with Crohn’s & Colitis Australia, Dr. Falk Pharma Australia and Ferring Pharmaceuticals.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) are chronic, incurable, and lifelong autoinflammatory diseases. Existing pharmacotherapies inadequately control inflammation, leading to more than 50% of patients losing response after one year.

This has led to a clear unmet healthcare need for new IBD therapies that more effectively achieve and maintain remission, either when used as a standalone or companion therapy.

Recent research has shown that poor diet and an abnormal gut microbiome are predictors for IBD treatment response. We hypothesise that the levels of intestinal microbial metabolites (e.g. short chain fatty acids, hydrogen sulphide) dictate the pharmacokinetics and treatment response of orally administered IBD drugs, known as 5-ASAs. They do this by regulating gut transit time, lumen pH, and the degree of intestinal inflammation.

Our project aims to identify the key microbial metabolites that influence 5-ASA drug efficacy. Our goal is to create companion prebiotic therapies that control microbial metabolite production for optimal pharmacological response. This represents a novel, cost-effective, and clinically translatable treatment paradigm to address the unmet clinical need.

You will be based within CPI but also work closely with colleagues in the IBD clinic at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. You will receive mentorship from leading academics and worldclass practitioners. Working closely with other industry partners, you will have the opportunity to develop valuable skills and knowledge that will hold you in good stead in the jobs market.

What you’ll do

In this project-based research degree, you will play an active role in carrying out this three-stage project.

First, you will help quantify microbial metabolites within archival specimens from clinical diet and microbial intervention studies conducted at CALHN using mass spectrometry and correlated with treatment response.

Next, you will help design a new prebiotic to modulate the gut microbiome for controlling metabolite production and thus 5-ASA pharmacokinetics. An in vitro fermentation model using human stool samples will be employed to validate and optimise prebiotic composition.

Then, you will assist with a pilot clinical study that will investigate the impact of the newly developed prebiotic companion therapy in controlling microbial metabolite production and the pharmacokinetics of 5-ASA in a small cohort of IBD patients.

There are many opportunities for you to engage with interdisciplinary research environments to investigate research questions of clear clinical importance. On completion, you will have a well-developed suite of knowledge, skills and abilities that will ideally position you for a career in academia, industry or government.

Where you’ll be based

You will be based in the CPI. We are known for innovation, impact, and exceptional education and we have a clear vision to become an internationally recognised pharmaceutical research enterprise. We want to deliver better medicines and prepare future pharmaceutical leaders to expertly respond to real-world needs.

It is our mission to transform medical possibilities into clinical realities. This is achieved through high quality education and efficacious industry collaboration. We partner with Australian and international organisations, research groups, government agencies and professional associations to deliver next-generation pharmaceutical solutions. Financial Support 

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $35,200 per annum is available to Australian and New Zealand citizens, and permanent residents of Australia, including permanent humanitarian visa holders. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $52,352 per annum (2025 rate). 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. International applicants are not invited to apply at this time.

Eligibility and Selection

This project is open to applications from Australian or New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents or permanent humanitarian visa holders. International applicants are not invited to apply at this time.

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a PhD. 

Additionally, applicants must meet the project selection criteria: 

• A relevant undergraduate degree in Laboratory Medicine, Pharmaceutical Science, Pharmacy, Biomedical Science, or similar. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

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.

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 Wednesday, 21 May, 2025.