Higher Degree Research Opportunities
Select a research stream below to view the current higher degree research opportunities and projects on offer at NICM Health Research Institute.
To register your interest in a project, please contact the lead supervisor. For information about applying for higher degree research and scholarships, please contact the Graduate Research School.(opens in a new window)
Healthy Women
The women's health program at NICM HRI covers menstrual health of young women, pregnancy, infertility, menopause and gynaecological disorders.
Project Title | Aim/s | Supervisor/s | Course/s |
---|---|---|---|
Developing, implementing and evaluating a model of care for integrative women's health in an academic clinic |
|
PhD MPhil MRes | |
Development of an integrative healthy women program in the areas of menopause, menstrual disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), weight, fertility, pregnancy |
|
PhD MPhil MRes | |
Optimising translation of evidence to practice: the international PCOS guidelines |
| PhD MPhil MRes | |
Acupuncture for pelvic pain in pregnancy: variety of projects including group acupuncture programs |
|
PhD MPhil MRes | |
Mind-body therapies for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) |
|
PhD MPhil MRes | |
Mindfulness for weight gain prevention in pregnancy |
|
PhD MPhil MRes | |
Collaborative models of integrative healthcare in pregnancy (with midwifery) |
|
PhD MPhil MRes | |
Mindfulness-based interventions for women’s reproductive health |
|
PhD MPhil MRes |
Healthy Minds
The neurological and mental health program at NICM HRI focuses on the prevention and treatment of dementia and neurocognitive decline and improvement of mental health in response to integrative medicine treatment.
Project Title | Aim/s | Supervisor/s | Course/s |
---|---|---|---|
Does Tai Chi reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in higher education students: A randomised controlled trial |
| Professor Dennis Chang | PhD MPhil MRes |
Effects and safety of Tai Chi on stress, anxiety, and depression in higher education students: A systematic review |
| Professor Dennis Chang | PhD MPhil MRes |
Co-design a Tai Chi stress-reduction program for higher education students: A qualitative study |
| Professor Dennis Chang | PhD MPhil MRes |
Australian bush medicines as a source of anti-inflammatory compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease |
| Professor Gerald Muench Dr Ritesh Raju |
PhD MPhil MRes |
Electrophysiological biomarkers of early-stage Alzheimer's disease |
Applicants with a background in neuroscience, anatomy and physiology, medical science, or computer science would have a distinct advantage. | Associate Professor Genevieve Steiner-Lim |
PhD MPhil MRes |
How does neuroplasticity change with age? |
| Associate Professor Genevieve Steiner-Lim | PhD MPhil MRes |
Electrophysiological correlates of decision-making strategies in older adults |
| Associate Professor Genevieve Steiner-Lim Associate Professor Phoebe Bailey | PhD MPhil MRes |
Does natural therapy help with insomnia and sleep issues? A mechanistic study of a multi-compound formulation for insomnia by regulating related neurotransmitters |
|
PhD MPhil MRes | |
Replacement of fish oil iby sustainably farmed algal oils in complementary medicine supplements |
| Dr Xian (Phoebe) Zhou | PhD MPhil MRes |
Discovery of Novel Nrf2 Activators from Australian Indigenous Plants |
| Dr Xian (Phoebe) Zhou Professor Gerald Muench Dr Ritesh Raju | PhD MPhil MRes |
High-order synergy prediction of multi-compound combinations against acute inflammation |
| PhD MPhil MRes |
Healthy Lives Through The Cancer Journey
The cancer care program at NICM HRI focuses on understanding how integrative medicine may assist with cancer management and side effects of conventional cancer treatment.
Project Title | Aim/s | Supervisor/s | Course/s |
---|---|---|---|
Helping women manage weight gain after breast cancer through innovative therapies |
| PhD | |
Evaluating shared care models in cancer survivorship |
| PhD | |
Optimising prevention and management of cardiometabolic disease in primary care for cancer survivors |
| PhD | |
Evaluation of an innovative community-based supportive care centre |
| PhD | |
Building capacity for cancer survivorship care in primary care |
| PhD | |
Improving outcomes for cancer survivors from CALD (Culturally and linguistically diverse) backgrounds | This program of research is broad and may include interviews/ethnographic research in CALD communities exploring barriers and enablers of accessing culturally responsive survivorship care, piloting interventions such as patient navigators, etc. | PhD | |
Complementary therapies for weight management |
| PhD | |
Mind body therapies for managing cardiovascular risk factors (weight, diabetes, hypertension) |
| PhD | |
Development of a healthy hearts program incorporating complementary/integrative therapies and preventive/lifestyle |
| PhD |
Healthy Hearts
The cardiovascular and metabolic health program at NICM HRI focuses on understanding how integrative medicine can assist with the prevention and treatment of various cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Project Title | Aim/s | Supervisor/s | Course/s |
---|---|---|---|
A pilot randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial to evaluate the effects of Nao Xin Qing (NXQ) for ischemic stroke |
| PhD | |
Association between vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids with cognition assessed by a computerised battery |
| Professor Dennis Chang Associate Professor Genevieve Steiner-Lim Dr Anjalee Amarasekera | PhD |
Community-based cardiac rehabilitation for Chinese migrants in Australia: A randomised controlled trial |
| Professor Dennis Chang | PhD |
Health literacy and cardiovascular health among Chinese migrants in Australia |
| Professor Dennis Chang | PhD |
Tai Chi for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: A systematic review |
| Professor Dennis Chang | PhD |
Co-design a Tai Chi-based primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases: A qualitative study |
| Professor Dennis Chang | PhD |
Community-based primary prevention program of cardiovascular diseases: A pilot randomised controlled trial |
| Professor Dennis Chang | PhD |
Effects and mechanism of action of natural products in vascular calcification |
| PhD | |
Effects and mechanism of actions of herbal medicines in neurovascular unit (NVU) |
| PhD | |
Effects and mechanism of actions of herbal medicines in vascular reactivity |
| PhD | |
Effects of prebiotics on gut microbiota in metabolic syndrome |
| Professor Dennis Chang Dr Srinivas Nammi Adjunct Professor Mohammad Tariq | PhD |
Leaf extract versus olive oil supplementation on biomarkers associated with cardiometabolic risk and glycaemic control and serum antioxidant levels |
| Professor Dennis Chang | PhD |
Neuroprotective and angiogenic effects of herbal medicine in zebrafish |
| PhD | |
Nutrient supplementation and complementary medicine use in people with type 2 diabetes |
| PhD | |
Complementary therapies for weight management |
| PhD | |
Mind body therapies for managing cardiovascular risk factors (weight, diabetes, hypertension) |
| PhD | |
Development of a healthy hearts program incorporating complementary/integrative therapies and preventive/lifestyle |
| PhD |
Policy and Evidence Translation
Project Title | Aim/s | Supervisor/s | Course/s |
---|---|---|---|
“What’s next?” Translation of an effective co-designed cardiac rehabilitation intervention into a community-based cardiac rehabilitation program |
| Professor Dennis Chang | PhD |
Co-design a Tai Chi training program for medical doctors: A qualitative study |
| Professor Dennis Chang | PhD |
Translation of an effective co-designed intervention into a community-based program for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases |
| Professor Dennis Chang | PhD |
Evaluation of the NICM Health Research Institute Western Sydney Integrative Health (WSIH) model of care: Patient Reported Outcome Measures |
| PhD | |
Evaluation of the NICM Health Research Institute Western Sydney Integrative Health (WSIH) model of care: Stakeholder perspectives |
| PhD | |
NICM Health Research Institute Western Sydney Integrative Health (WSIH) patient engagement strategies |
| PhD | |
Evaluation of patient-centredness in the NICM Health Research Institute Western Sydney Integrative Health (WSIH) |
| PhD | |
Evaluation of teamwork in the NICM Health Research Institute Western Sydney Integrative Health (WSIH) model of care |
| PhD | |
Evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of integrative therapies in the NICM Health Research Institute Western Sydney Integrative Health (WSIH) |
| PhD | |
Implementing active surveillance of adverse events from natural supplements / Chinese herbal medicine (collaboration with SONAR) |
| PhD | |
Evaluation of NICM Health Research Institute Western Sydney Integrative Health (WSIH) model of care and safety |
| PhD | |
Improvement of health literacy |
| PhD | |
Integrative medicine for the underserved |
| PhD | |
Evidence-based practice: Creating and Using evidence summaries in integrative healthcare |
| PhD | |
Shared medical appointments (SMAs) and complementary therapies: scoping and program development |
| PhD | |
The patient experience at NICM Health Research Institute Western Sydney Integrative Health (WSIH): Who comes, who stays, who goes and why? |
| PhD | |
Why do medical doctors train as yoga teachers? A qualitative study |
| PhD |
Other emerging areas of complementary medicine research
Project Title | Aim/s | Supervisor/s | Course/s |
---|---|---|---|
Shared medical appointment (SMAs) model of care for chronic pain |
| PhD | |
Complementary and integrative therapies for chronic pain amongst Veterans |
| PhD |