Research Supervisor Connect
This project is seeking a PhD student with a background in exercise physiology or physiotherapy to undertake research on the benefits, role, and implementation of exercise and physical activity in childhood cancer. This research will involve delivering a randomized trial of an exercise intervention for children undergoing cancer treatment and quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate its impact.
This PhD comes with a scholarship valued at $37,207 per annum for up to 3 years.
Research location - Office site: The University of Sydney (Edward Ford Building or Susan Wakil Health Building)
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Ben Smith (The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney)
Co-Supervisor: Dr David Mizrahi (The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney), and a paediatric oncologist (TBC)
Physical activity, including exercise, is increasingly recommended to people with cancer during and following treatment to improve their tolerance of treatment, reduce side-effects, improve quality of life, and improve overall prognosis. Many international organisations are now endorsing delivery of exercise both during and after treatment. However, there are still numerous barriers to implementing exercise into standard cancer care. The evidence-base of ‘exercise oncology’ is more limited among childhood cancer patients compared to adults, due to much smaller sample sizes, heterogeneous cancer types and varied age groups, creating challenges in conducting exercise research. Nonetheless, it is crucial to promote physical activity in children during and following treatment, to ensure that survivors can sufficiently re-integrate their activities and health behaviours back to the level of their peers. This is crucial, as it is common for childhood cancer survivors to experience a life-time of health complications resulting from their treatment, including up to 15 times higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared with their peers. Thus, it is critical to foster health behaviours and support children with individualized programs to ensure the highest chance that children and families can participate in active lifestyles that reduce their risk and maintain the child’s quality of life.
This research has three main projects. These include:
* Study 1: A quantitative analysis of existing data related to childhood cancer survivors and physical function in the US to characterize the proportion of patients with reduced fitness, balance and strength.
* Study 2: A qualitative study of healthcare professionals, parents and childhood cancer survivors’ preferences, barriers and thoughts on implementation of exercise into childhood cancer management
* Study 3: Conduct and deliver a randomised trial of exercise for children undergoing cancer treatment in two Sydney children’s hospitals (Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick and Children’s Hospital at Westmead), and to deliver a hybrid exercise program (face to face then virtual) to children who have completed cancer treatment in community settings via Camp Quality programs.
This research is seeking a local or international PhD student with a background in exercise physiology or physiotherapy, with registration or ability to register with ESSA or AHPRA, with Honours degree or equivalent, and a strong interest and clinical experience working with people with cancer. The prospective student will join the Daffodil Centre (a flagship centre at The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW) a world leading centre in cancer control, and will be supported by a team of supervisors, including Dr David Mizrahi, a Research Fellow and exercise physiologist with experience conducting clinical research in children and adult cancer survivors during and after cancer treatment. A/Prof Ben Smith will support the student’s candidature and development as an early career researcher. A paediatric oncologist or clinical nurse will join the supervisory team (TBC).
The above described studies have been endorsed for funding to proceed by The Kids Cancer Project, however the student will be encouraged to contribute intellectual input to the program of research, including (but not limited to) modifying the study design/outcomes/criteria, adding new/amended studies, and adding/modifying research questions to provide their own input and ownership on the projects. It is expected that the student will be both delivering the intervention and undertaking the evaluation, in conjunction and support with co-supervisor Dr Mizrahi.
By the end of the student’s candidature, they will have developed experience both delivering and evaluating exercise interventions in cancer care, working with clinical teams, learning both quantitative and qualitative research methods, have drafted or already published several first-authored peer-reviewed publications, and experience in disseminating research in the form of conference presentations and other engagements of science communication.
For more information on the project, please contact the lead of the study and co-supervisor on the project, Dr David Mizrahi
The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 3338