Research in the Department of Rural Clinical Sciences
The Department of Rural Clinical Sciences partners with communities to promote equitable health outcomes for rural populations.
Our academic staff make key contributions to the Holsworth Research Initiative, the John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research and the Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research.
Our contribution aligns with La Trobe University’s research themes: Understanding and preventing disease, and Healthy people, families and communities.
Research Areas
Our researchers investigate the molecular and genetic basis of disease, and how to improve oral health outcomes in rural communities. We have experts in biomedical and pharmaceutical science working in the laboratory, through to public health experts that work directly with our rural communities.
Our research is grouped into five key areas:
Bacteriophage are viruses that specifically attack bacteria. They are harmless to humans and the environment.
Our researchers are investigating the use of bacteriophage as alternatives to antibiotics. They are also investigating pharmacogenomics or personalised medicine, and how people manage their medications in the treatment of chronic conditions.
Our researchers are using microscopic and spectroscopic methods to visualise the compositions and ultrastructures of individual cells and their subcomponents.
These experiments offer a unique approach to probing crucial cellular pathways, the disease mechanisms that perturb them, and potential future treatments.
Single molecule fluorescence techniques, including super-resolution imaging and Forster resonance energy transfer, are used in tandem with infrared spectroscopic approaches to probe DNA damage response, DNA double strand break repair, viral perturbation of host cell structures, and the role of DNA damage in neurodegenerative disorders.
Our researchers are investigating the functional role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer development and progression. Human cellular systems with genomics, genome editing, biochemistry and super resolution microscopy are used to examine and uncover lncRNA functions in normal cell development and cancer.
Projects include identifying lncRNAs specifically expressed in both immunce and cancer cells, determining the subcellular localisation of candidate lncRNAs, and genetic manipulation of candidate lncRNAs.
Our researchers support policy change and improvement in service access, treatment, prevention and promotion to reduce disparities in oral public health measures for rural communities.
Projects include improving oral health and wellbeing of children from Karen community in rural Victoria, attitudes and perceptions of Australian dental practitioners towards saliva testing as part of the caries risk assessment, and substance use association with maxillo-facial trauma in Victoria.
Our researchers are working to improve health outcomes for people with chronic inflammatory and related conditions.
Chronic systemic inflammation increases with age and accounts for initiation and progression of many diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune and neurogenerative disorders.
Projects include intracellular studies, preventing unwarranted inflammation when applying phage therapies or upregulating brown adipose tissue, and holistic engagement with improving skeletomuscular therapy in combination with pharmacotherapies.
Graduate research
The Rural Health School is educating the next generation of health and human service providers, offering high-quality training for graduate researchers. Our programs include opportunities for masters, professional doctorate and PhD candidates to undertake impactful projects under expert guidance.
Some of our PhD candidates are working with industry organisations including government, private or not-for-profit health services in industry-sponsored PhDs. Graduate researchers benefit from robust support, with dedicated teams of at least two supervisors, progress committees and a carefully tailored milestone program.
Immersed in a vibrant research culture, our graduate researchers participate in research seminars, writing workshops, skills-based workshops, an annual 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and an annual Higher Degree by Research conference. Many also contribute to School teaching, preparing them for future careers in academia.
As part of La Trobe University’s Graduate Research School, our researchers join a thriving community and access skill-building opportunities through the Research Education and Development (RED) team. Workshops cover topics from preparing systematic literature reviews to data manipulation and visualisation; and initiatives like Shut Up and Write! and 3MT further enhance their research skills.
Learn more about our graduate research opportunities at La Trobe University or connect with the Rural Health School’s Director of Graduate Research, Dr Corina Modderman.
Research Centres, Institutes and Initiatives
Our staff make key contributions to La Trobe University’s research centres and initiatives.
The Care Economy Research Institute was established in 2023 by La Trobe University in recognition of the crisis facing our care sectors, and our conviction that together researchers and industry partners can make a positive difference.
Find out more about the Institute.
The Holsworth Research Initiative conducts translational research with an exercise and physical activity focus that reduces inequalities by improving the health and wellbeing for individuals and communities in regional and rural locations.
Find out more about the Initiative.
The John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research leads research and innovation related to rural aged care workforce and health delivery initiatives; promotes interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration in developing, testing and implementing evidence-based healthcare delivery solutions for older people in rural areas; and serves as a rural centre for honours and postgraduate research training in rural aged care workforce and health delivery initiatives.
Find out more about the Centre.
Researchers at the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science are solving some of the world’s more critical problems at the interface of health and science. Co-located in world-class facilities at La Trobe’s Bundoora campus, scientists specialise in four areas of research strength: Cancer, infection and immunity, molecular design and nanoscience. A dedicated fellowship program ensures the Institute supports early career researchers with outstanding potential.
Find out more about the Institute.
The Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research focuses on transforming rural health outcomes through research, collaboration and community engagement. The Centre was established in 2019 following a $3M investment from the VV Marshman Charitable Trust and has launched Australia’s first Rural Health Consumer Panel.
Find out more about the Centre.