Student research project
Supervisors: Dr Thomas Meikle and Professor Peter Meikle
Laboratory: Metabolomics
The Metabolomics laboratory at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute has developed world-class technology that allows us to measure hundreds of different lipids within biological samples through the use of HPLC and tandem mass spectrometry. We are now in the process of translating these research-based protocols for use in a clinical setting, forming the Clinical Lipidomics Platform (CLP). Coupled with statistically derived cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk scores, the CLP translates lipidomic data into clinically actionable risk assessments. This project seeks students to contribute to the ongoing validation, optimisation, and clinical implementation of this platform.
Research objectives
- Validate and refine the CLP’s analytical performance for clinical deployment, including assessment of accuracy, precision, and reproducibility across large patient cohorts.
- Optimise LC-MS/MS methods for high-throughput clinical workflows, including UHPLC column scaling, source parameter tuning, and automated sample processing pipelines.
- Develop and validate internal standard correction and quality control approaches for accurate quantification across hundreds of different lipid species.
- Extend lipid-based CVD risk scores through integration of novel lipid biomarkers and evaluation against clinical outcomes in population and clinical cohorts.
- Investigate the integration of dried blood spot (DBS) sample collection to enable point-of-care and remote patient sampling.
- Contribute to the development of automated data processing and quality control workflows.
Your role and opportunities
You will be embedded within the Metabolomics laboratory and work directly with the CLP development team. Depending on your background and interests, your contributions may span analytical chemistry, bioinformatics, or clinical biomarker research. Day-to-day activities will include hands-on operation of LC-MS/MS instruments, development and troubleshooting of chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods, and processing of lipidomic datasets using R. You will gain experience in clinical method validation workflows, regulatory considerations for translating research assays to clinical diagnostics, and statistical modelling of disease risk from ‘omics data. There are opportunities to contribute to peer-reviewed publications, present at national and international conferences, and collaborate with clinical partners across cardiology and metabolic disease.
Why this project?
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally, and current clinical lipid testing (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides) captures only a fraction of the lipidome’s complexity. The CLP represents a step-change in cardiovascular risk assessment — moving from a handful of conventional markers to a comprehensive profile of hundreds of lipid species with demonstrated associations to disease outcomes. This is a rare opportunity to work at the interface of analytical chemistry, bioinformatics, and clinical medicine on a platform that is actively being translated into clinical practice. The skills you develop — mass spectrometry, data science, and clinical research methodology — are highly transferable across the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and diagnostics sectors.
Ideal candidate
- Background in chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical science, bioinformatics, or a related discipline.
- Interest in analytical chemistry and/or mass spectrometry (prior LC-MS experience is advantageous but not required).
- Familiarity with data analysis in R or Python, or a willingness to develop these skills.
- An interest in translational research and clinical applications of ‘omics technologies.
This project is suitable for PhD, Masters, or Honours students. The scope and objectives will be tailored to the degree level and duration of candidature. PhD candidates will undertake a comprehensive program spanning method development, validation, and clinical evaluation. Masters and Honours students will focus on defined sub-projects within the broader platform development.
Browse all postgraduate research opportunities