Our Research
Unlocking the translational potential of the microbiome
Our research is highly collaborative and explores the role of the microbiome in several globally significant diseases. Our researchers combine their clinical and basic science expertise to answer pertinent questions and uncover the full potential of the microbiome in view of delivering novel patient-centric therapies and reducing the overall burden of disease.
We are studying several diseases that fall under the following five themes: cancer, women and children’s health, infection, immunity and inflammation, critical care and mental health and neuroscience.
We are particularly interested in gastrointestinal cancers including gastric, oesophageal and colorectal, liver cancer and skin cancer. We are also studying the role of the microbiome in inflammatory bowel disease, Helicobacter pylori infection and its associated diseases, fatty liver disease, Alzheimer’s disease, pregnancy and pregnancy-related diseases, urogynecological diseases, thrombosis, schizophrenia and various autoimmune diseases.
Our research themes
The MRC is a comprehensive world-class microbiome-focused research centre committed to tackling diseases that affect the Australian population. Our researchers integrate basic science, translational medicine and harness powerful multi-omic approaches such as genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and microbiomics as well as bioinformatics to answer pertinent questions on the microbiome. We aim to build on our strengths and take advantage of emerging opportunities to expand our repertoire of microbiome related research. We are immensely proud to have strong core research in the following five themes
Cancer
Women and Children's Health
Infection, Immunity and Inflammation
Mental Health and Neuroscience
Critical Care
Research Programs
Cancer Program
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program
Liver Program
Rheumatology Program
Our Expertise
Bioinformatics
In-house team of Expert-in- Field Bioinformaticians who can design, implement and design bespoke data science pipelines for microbiome analysis or use our curated MRC pipelines for expedited analysis.
Clinical Trials
Expertise in clinical trials design, startup, and implementation to ensure high-quality sample collection and participant compliance to facilitate high quality microbiome data.
Supplement design and testing
In-house production, characterisation and validation of pro- and prebiotics.
Full suite of microbiology, in vivo, in vitro, molecular and cellular biology testing facilities.
Contract Research Facilities
As experts in the microbiome field we are able to provide contract research services. These include
- Study design
- Ethics/governance services
- Sample collection protocols
- Sample handling and analysis
- Bioinformatics analysis
Projects seeking participants
Copy of Chrono_Meal
Researchers at the University of Sydney are investigating whether early birds and night owls...
Chrono_Meal
Does the timing of meals affect the health and sleep of night owls and early birds...
HOAM-Dementia Group
Dementia is a complex neurodegenerative disorder which leads to a decline in mental health.Living...
INHABIT
Exploring the role of anthocyanins and probiotics on quality-of-life, inflammation and the gut...
Mothersbabies
Are you interested in finding out how our microbiome (the DNA of all the ‘bugs’ that live on us...
AIM
Researchers within the Sydney+ IBD Research Consortia and the Microbiome Research Centre, UNSW...
HOAM
What does the ultimate healthy microbiome look like? Researchers at UNSW Microbiome Research...
