Honours Project - 2016

Harnessing stem cells for repair of the tympanic membrane

Short project description & main objectives: / Tissue engineering with stem cells from the tympanic membrane
Principal supervisor: / Assoc Professor Rodney Dilley
Other supervisors:
Contact details for furtherinformation: /
Closing date for applications:
Start & finish date of project:
Available part-time?
Research centre/group: / Molecular and Cellular Otolaryngology Group,
Ear Science Institute Australia / Ear Sciences Centre, UWA

Interested students should contact Andrew Currie the Honours Chair for Biomedical Science Honours to discuss supervision arrangements with Murdoch University.

Short project description & main objectives: / functionalising scaffolds with novel stem cell products
Principal supervisor: / Assoc Professor Rodney Dilley
Other supervisors:
Contact details for furtherinformation: /
Closing date for applications:
Start & finish date of project:
Available part-time?
Research centre/group: / Molecular and Cellular Otolaryngology Group,
Ear Science Institute Australia / Ear Sciences Centre, UWA

Honours Project - 2016

Stem cell-derived growth activity for regenerative medicine: regulation and delivery by scaffold materials

Interested students should contact Andrew Currie the Honours Chair for Biomedical Science Honours to discuss supervision arrangements with Murdoch University.

Short project description & main objectives: / Identification of stem cells in the inner ear
Principal supervisor: / Assoc Professor Rodney Dilley
Other supervisors:
Contact details for furtherinformation: /
Closing date for applications:
Start & finish date of project:
Available part-time?
Research centre/group: / Molecular and Cellular Otolaryngology Group, Ear Science Institute Australia / Ear Sciences Centre, UWA

Honours Project - 2016

Induced pluripotent stem cells for tissue engineering of balance sensing structures in the inner ear

Interested students should contact Andrew Currie the Honours Chair for Biomedical Science Honours to discuss supervision arrangements with Murdoch University.

Short project description & main objectives: / How do biofilm components influence cell behaviour?
Principal supervisor: / Assoc Professor Rodney Dilley
Other supervisors:
Contact details for furtherinformation: /
Closing date for applications:
Start & finish date of project:
Available part-time?
Research centre/group: / Molecular and Cellular Otolaryngology Group,
Ear Science Institute Australia / Ear Sciences Centre, UWA

Honours Project - 2016

The role of biofilms in the development of chronic tympanic membrane perforations

Interested students should contact Andrew Currie the Honours Chair for Biomedical Science Honours to discuss supervision arrangements with Murdoch University.

Short project description & main objectives: / 3D printing and templating with silk and other materials
Principal supervisor: / Assoc Professor Rodney Dilley
Other supervisors:
Contact details for furtherinformation: /
Closing date for applications:
Start & finish date of project:
Available part-time?
Research centre/group: / Molecular and Cellular Otolaryngology Group, Ear Science Institute Australia / Ear Sciences Centre, UWA

Honours Project - 2016

Novel silk devices for reconstructive surgery and repair of chronic tympanic membrane perforations

Interested students should contact Andrew Currie the Honours Chair for Biomedical Science Honours to discuss supervision arrangements with Murdoch University.

Short project description & main objectives: / A child’s ability to hear well has significant impacts on the development of their language, communication and socialization skills. Children with a hearing impairment can have more difficulties making friends and are more socially isolated than their peers with typical hearing levels. Previous studies have examined the mental health and behavioural development of children with hearing loss, and showed that hearing loss in children is associated with an increased risk of mental health problems, including both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. However, the relationship between hearing loss and behavioural problems in childhood has been equivocal.
The aim of this study (funded by Healthway) is to develop and test by randomised-trial a novel intervention to improve mental health and well-being. The project runs for a 3-year period. Depending on the postgraduate degree being sought, there are a range on projects including two honours-level epidemiological studies examining the influence of ear disease and hearing loss on mental health outcomes and a systematic review and primary data collection from the randomised-trial that could form multiple honours projects or a masters/PhD thesis.
Principal supervisor: / Chris Brennan-Jones
Other supervisors: / Robert Eikelboom
Contact details for furtherinformation: / Chris Brennan-Jones Ph. (08) 6380 4900

Closing date for applications:
Start & finish date of project: / Honours: November 2016 to November 2017
Masters and PhD: From August 2016 to approx. August 2019
Available part-time? / Yes
Research centre/group: / Ear Science Institute Australia / Telethon Kids Institute
Desired background of applicants: / Basic knowledge of statistical analyses
Additional funding/scholarship provided: / None
Other benefits: / Access to top-level experts in audiology, psychology and education across a number of WA research institutes.

Honours / Masters / PhD Project - 2016

Interventions to improve mental health and well-being in children
with hearing loss

Interested students should contact Andrew Currie the Honours Chair for Biomedical Science Honours to discuss supervision arrangements with Murdoch University.

Short project description & main objectives: / When a client does not attend a scheduled appointment, there is a cost to the health care system in terms of personnel time, extended waiting lists, and the loss of potentially beneficial services to the client. In some clinical fields non-attendance at appointments is predictive of non-compliance to the greater treatment plan.
This study will investigate factors affecting attendance and non-attendance at annual review appointments for adult hearing aid users. Potential participants will be grouped into two cohorts: 1) those that attended their annual review appointment, and 2) those that do not attend their annual review appointment recommended by their hearing health care provider. Each cohort will receive a survey gathering information on why they did or did not attend their annual review appointment, as well as information relating to their hearing aid use, benefit and satisfaction.
Understanding reasons for appointment non-attendance and its association with hearing aid outcomes will allow clinic managers and policy makers to make informed decisions about whether to take steps towards mitigating the contributing factors and adopting strategies to improve appointment attendance.
Principal supervisor: / Bec Bennett
Other supervisors: / Robert Eikelboom
Contact details for furtherinformation: / Bec Bennett Ph. (08) 6380 4900

Closing date for applications:
Start & finish date of project: / November 2016 to November 2017
Available part-time? / Yes (very flexible hours)
Research centre/group: / Ear Science Institute Australia
Desired background of applicants: / Basic knowledge of statistical analyses
Additional funding/scholarship provided: / None

Honours 2016

Investigating reasons for audiology appointment attendance
and non-attendance

Interested students should contact Andrew Currie the Honours Chair for Biomedical Science Honours to discuss supervision arrangements with Murdoch University.

Short project description & main objectives: / When a client does not attend a scheduled appointment, there is a cost to the health care system in terms of personnel time, extended waiting lists, and the loss of potentially beneficial services to the client. In some clinical fields non-attendance at appointments is predictive of non-compliance to the greater treatment plan.
This study will investigate whether audiology appointment attendance rates can be improved with the use of client survey. We will first establish a baseline for the average attendance rates for participating clinics. Potential participants will be randomly allocated to one of four groups: 1) inclusion of a survey evaluating hearing aid handling skills in the appointment attendance letter, 2) inclusion of a survey outlining common hearing aid problems in the appointment attendance letter, 3) inclusion of a survey outlining evaluating hearing aid benefit and satisfaction in the appointment attendance letter, and 4) control group receiving no additional materials in the appointment attendance letter.
Principal supervisor: / Bec Bennett
Other supervisors: / Robert Eikelboom
Contact details for furtherinformation: / Bec Bennett Ph. (08) 6380 4900

Closing date for applications:
Start & finish date of project: / November 2016 to November 2017
Available part-time? / Yes (very flexible hours)
Research centre/group: / Ear Science Institute Australia
Desired background of applicants: / Basic knowledge of statistical analyses
Additional funding/scholarship provided: / None

Honours 2016

Can audiology appointment attendance rates be improved with client survey?

Interested students should contact Andrew Currie the Honours Chair for Biomedical Science Honours to discuss supervision arrangements with Murdoch University.

Short project description & main objectives: / Cell biology of new silk devices – regulation of keratinocyte migration
Principal supervisor: / Assoc Professor Rodney Dilley
Other supervisors:
Contact details for furtherinformation: /
Closing date for applications:
Start & finish date of project:
Available part-time?
Research centre/group: / Molecular and Cellular Otolaryngology Group,
Ear Science Institute Australia / Ear Sciences Centre, UWA

Honours Project - 2016

Engineering a silk fibroin-based ear drum

Interested students should contact Andrew Currie the Honours Chair for Biomedical Science Honours to discuss supervision arrangements with Murdoch University.

Honours Project - 2016

Wnt pathways and regulation of stem cells in tympanic membrane healing

Interested students should contact Andrew Currie the Honours Chair for Biomedical Science Honours to discuss supervision arrangements with Murdoch University.

Short project description & main objectives: / Assessment of Wnt pathway activity and components in the tympanic membrane
Principal supervisor: / Assoc Professor Rodney Dilley
Other supervisors:
Contact details for furtherinformation: /
Closing date for applications:
Start & finish date of project:
Available part-time?
Research centre/group: / Molecular and Cellular Otolaryngology Group,
Ear Science Institute Australia / Ear Sciences Centre, UWA

School of VLS12 May 2016