Dr Hannah Wardill
NHMRC CJ Martin Biomedical Research Fellow
Adelaide Medical School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Dr Hannah Wardill is a dynamic early career researcher with a simple mission: prevent the long-term physical, emotional and economic disadvantages of cancer and its treatment by developing innovative supportive care solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of the patient.
After completing her PhD at the University of Adelaide and receiving Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Research Excellence, Hannah secured an NHMRC CJ Martin Biomedical training fellowship allowing her to relocate to the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Here she led a program of research dedicated to understanding how the microbiota contributes to chemotherapy-induced diarrhea, great versos host disease and blood stream infection in both paediatric and adult cancers.
Hannah has recently returned back to Australia and teamed up with the country’s leading stool bank to develop innovative methods of exploiting the microbiota to predict and prevent some of the most serious side effects of cancer therapy. In recognition of her contribution to the field of supportive cancer care, Hannah has been awarded the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer International Young Investigator Award, was named the South Australian Young Achiever and the Qiagen Microbiome Award winner.
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
Overview: Dr Wardill completed her PhD at the University of Adelaide, under the guidance of A/Prof Joanne Bowen, Prof Rachel Gibson and Prof Richard Logan, completing her doctoral thesis in 2016. During her PhD she developed and validated the first TLR4 knockout mouse model of irinotecan induced mucositis, and in doing so, clearly demonstrated the impact of innate immune signaling and microbial dysbiosis on mucosal barrier injury and clinical toxicity. She was subsequently recognised for her contribution to the field of supportive oncology, named the 2016 MASCC Young Investigator of the Year and awarded the University Medal for Doctoral Research Excellence. After a short postdoctoral position at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Hannah established a highly interdisciplinary research team within Adelaide aiming to establish an autologous faecal transplantation service for people with blood cancer. This project has received funding support from two major hospitals across South Australia and has lead to numerous international collaborations across the Netherlands, Germany and the US. Hannah then took up a position in the Netherlands developing a predictive algorithm of treatment outcomes in childhood cancer. In addition to this work, Hannah has lead numerous preclinical trials in collaboration with clinical and industry partners investigating various anti-mucositis agents. In 2020, Hannah returned to Adelaide to establish her own program of research at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.
International standing: Hannah has been a member of the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer and the Mucositis Research Group from 2013-present. She has presented at 7 consecutive meetings, with her work highlighted by plenary speakers. In 2017, Hannah was invited to act as section co-head for the update of the clinical practice guidelines for mucositis management and risk prediction. This involves leading a group of international scientists and clinicians to conduct a through review of the literature and the preparation of clinical practice guidelines. Hannah also acts as the Chair of the Mucositis Study Group Social Media Committee and a member of the Information and Communication committee. In line with her leadership roles within this organisation, Hannah is also recognised as a key trailblazer in her field, with her opinion sought on various topics relating to supportive oncology, microbiology and faecal transplantation.
Community engagement: Hannah has a strong commitment to engaging the general community with scientific discovery. She has received significant media training through outlets such as Fresh Science and Thinkwell, which enable her to effectively communicate complex scientific research with lay audiences of many ages. This has been demonstrated through her involvement with Science Alive, an interactive event for children held yearly, and her volunteer work with Lynch Syndrome Australia. Hannah also founded and maintains a blog pooisnottaboo.com which aims to provide scientifically accurate, yet exciting content about the advances in our understanding of the gut microbiome. Hannah has a genuine interest in engaging and exciting people about science and the potential power that can be exploited from our own poo!
Contribution to field of research: Dr Wardill has an impressive publication track record for someone of her career stage, with numerous peer-reviewed research publications in top-tier oncology (e.g. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics) and gastroenterology journals (e.g. Gut). These publication include invited reviews, opinion pieces, mechanistic hypotheses, primary research (preclinical and clinical) and clinical practice guidelines. Hannah has also been invited to contribute to publicly available platforms such as eHospice, The Conversation and Future Oncology, as well as being invited to contribute to a book chapter.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6613-3661
Active projects for prospective collaborators and students:
Project 1
Title: Establshing a faecal microbiome transplantation protocol for the prevention of GvHD in allo-SCT recipients.
Description: Graft versus host disease (GvHD) is the largest cause of treatment-related mortality in people with blood cancer. Damage to the intestinal barrier and associated disruption of the microbiome are key risk factors for GvHD severity and associated mortality. This project involves 1) a pilot study to assess the feasibility of delivering autologous faecal microbiome translation to stem cell transplantation recipients, and 2) development of a preclinical murine model of GvHD to evaluate autologous and donor faecal transplant efficacy.
Location: SAHMRI / Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Available for: Honours / PhD
Project 2
Title: Personalised risk evaluation during cancer therapy (PREDiCT)
Description: The outcomes of cancer therapy are highly heterogenous, with little understanding of the targetable factors that determine both efficacy and toxicity outcomes. This project aims to develop a comprehensive risk evaluation tool to predict an individual's response to treatment based on their own unique microbial composition, immune function, genetics and demographic variables (diet, medication, age, sex, etc). We recruit patients undergoing systemic anticancer therapy, for any cancer diagnosis, across three major sites across South Australia.
Location: Helen Mayo Building and SAHMRI.
Available for: Honours / PhD
Project 3
Title: Neuroinflammation and its contribution to neurological disease in survivors of childhood cancer
Description: Survivors of childhood cancer are at risk of long-term neurological disease including psychosocial changes, cognitive impairment, accelerated/premature neurodegeneration and cancer. This project aims to understand the molecular determinants of chronic neurological disease and develop translational prognostic methods.
Location: Helen Mayo Building and SAHMRI.
Available for: Honours / PhD
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2020 - 2020 Postdoctoral Researcher The University of Groningen (University Medical Centre Groningen) 2018 - 2022 NHMRC CJ Martin Biomedical Research Fellow The University of Adelaide and The University of Groningen 2017 UniSA Online Tutor The University of South Australia 2016 - 2017 Postdoctoral Researcher South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2020 Award MedTech's Got Talent 2020 Winner MedTech Actuator Australia $10,000 2019 Award Women's Research Excellence Award Winner The University of Adelaide Australia 5000 2018 Award Qiagen International Microbiome Award Winner 2019 Qiagen Germany 79,116 USD 2018 Award Future Science Group ECR Award Future Science Group United Kingdom — 2018 Award L'Oreal Women in Science (Finalist) L'Oreal Australia — 2017 Award SAHMRI Early Career Research Prize — — — 2017 Award SAHMRI Shark Tank Prize — — — 2017 Award South Australia Science Excellence Awards (PhD Excellence) Finalist South Australian Department of Industry and Skills Australia — 2017 Award SA Science Excellence Awards Finalist (PhD Excellence) — — — 2017 Award You Can Innovate Award Finalist — — — 2017 Award University Medal for Doctoral Research Excellence University of Adelaide Australia — 2016 Award Dean's Commendation for Research Thesis Excellence — — — 2016 Award Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology ‘Best Oral Presentation’ — — — 2016 Award MASCC/ISOO Young Investigator of the Year — — — 2016 Award Channel 9 Young Achiever Award; Science and Technology — — — 2016 Award Fresh Science SA Winner — — — 2015 Award Australian Society for Medical Research Campion-Ma-Playoust Memorial Award — — — 2015 Award Florey Medical Research Foundation Prize; Best Poster — — — 2015 Achievement Channel 9 Young Achiever Award; Science and Technology Runner Up — — — 2015 Scholarship Florey Medical Research Foundation Doctor Chun Chung and Madam So Sau Lam Memorial Postgraduate Award — — — 2014 Award Florey Medical Research Foundation Prize; Best Poster — — — 2014 Achievement Channel 9 Young Achiever Award; Science and Technology Finalist — — — 2013 Scholarship Australian Postgraduate Award — — — 2012 Award Highest Honours Grade; School of Medicine — — — 2012 Award Bachelor of Health Sciences, Executive Dean's Certificate of Merit — — — 2012 Award Best Honours Poster Presentation — — — 2012 Recognition Mace Bearer — — — 2011 Award Highest Aggregate Grade in Major: Physiology (School of Medicine) — — — 2011 Award Highest Aggregate Grade in Major: Anatomical Sciences (School of Medicine) — — — 2011 Award Highest Aggregate Grade in Major: Reproductive Biology (School of Medicine) — — — -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2013 - 2016 University of Adelaide Australia PhD, Medicine 2012 - 2012 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) 2009 - 2011 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Health Sciences -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2018 Secombe, K., Bowen, J., Coller, J., Gibson, R., Stringer, A., Al-Dasooqi, N., . . . Wardill, H. R. (2018). Pre-treatment Blautia abundance regulates chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity risk: a pilot study. In ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY Vol. 14 (pp. 59). WILEY.
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Conference Items
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Theses
Year Citation 2016 Wardill, H. (2016). Toll-like receptor 4-dependent barrier dysfunction and its impact on irinotecan-induced gut toxicity and pain. (PhD Thesis).
Research Funding
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Year |
Title/Source |
Investigators |
Amount |
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2018 |
Qiagen Microbiome Awards |
Wardill HR |
79,116 USD |
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2018 |
The University of Adelaide, Women’s Research Excellence Award |
Wardill HR |
$5,000 |
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2018 |
The University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Infrastructure Grant (EVOS Live Cell Imager) |
Bowen JM, Wardill HR, Hughes PA, Worthley D, Woods S, Nassar Z, Yool A, Pei VJ, Zannettino Z. |
$90,816 |
|
2018 |
The University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Infrastructure Grant (Anaerobic Chamber) |
Young R, Lynn D, Costello SP, Heilbron L, Wardill HR, Bowen JM, Hughes PA, Andrews J, Page A. |
$43,195 |
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2018 |
NHMRC CJ Martin Biomedical Research Early Career Fellowship |
Wardill HR |
$412,952 |
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2018 |
Royal Adelaide Hospital Clinical Project Grant: "A pilot study to assess the safety and efficacy of autologous faecal microbiota transplantation (aFMT) to improve treatment outcomes of blood cancer” |
Wardill HR, Bowen JM, Keefe DM, Costello SP, Andrews JM, Hahn U. |
$43,092 (+$30,000 co-funding) |
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2018 |
The Hospital Research Foundation Grant: “Establishing an autologous stool bank for the longitudinal analysis of faecal microbiome throughout cancer therapy and restoration of microbiome following conditioning chemotherapy” |
Wardill HR, Bowen JM, Keefe DM, Costello SP. |
$50,000 |
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2017 |
The University of Adelaide FHMS ECR Project Development Mentorship Grant: "Development of an intestinal organoid model for the study of host-microbe interactions and their impact on chemo-efficacy and toxicity" |
Wardill HR, Worthley D |
$15,000 |
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2017 |
The University of Adelaide FHMS Project Development Grant: "Targeting Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) to Improve Colorectal Cancer Treatment Outcomes" |
Bowen JM, Wardill HR |
$24,293 |
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2017 |
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) ON Prime Program: "Development of in-home faecal test for the detection of Clostridium difficile in people undergoing chemotherapy" |
Wardill HR, Bowen JM |
$3,600 |
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2017 |
The University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Infrastructure Grant (Human Ussing Chamber) |
Hughes P, Young R, Page A, Linz D, Wardill HR |
$41,600 (+$30,000 co-funding) |
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2015 -16 |
Florey Medical Research Foundation: "Developing an in vitro model to determine efficient methods of TLR4 deletion" |
Wardill HR |
$10,000 |
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2014 -15 |
Australian Dental Research Foundation: "Chemotherapy-induced alimentary mucositis: do tight junction disruptions translate from the gut to the oral cavity?" |
Wardill HR, Logan RM, Gibson RJ |
$5,200 |
Travel Funding
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Scholarships
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Undergraduate Teaching
Throughout my postgraduate training and postdoctoral research, I have been actively involved in the teaching, supervision and mentoring of undergraduate and honours students. I have delivered lecture modules on Mucositis, gastrointestinal physiology and the oral cavity, have been intimately involved in the re-work of Human Biology 1A/B, been appointed as a MBBS case-based learning tutor, and am a member of the Indigenous Tutor Assistance Scheme. To date, I have been involved in the following courses (in the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences) as a tutor or project supervisor: Human Biology I, Essentials of Pathology III, Cellular and Systems Neurobiology III, Cells Tissues and Development II, Biology of Disease II, Investigative Cell Biology III, Comparative Reproductive Biology of Mammals III, Comparative Neuroanatomy III, Structural Cell Biology III.
My teaching has also been complimented by attendance of the 'BEST' Program: Becoming an Effective Supervisor and Teacher, a one-day Learning and Teaching course for Sessional Teachers, Tutors and Academic Staff of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.
Online Education
In 2015, I was invited to take part in the production, editing and delivery of the University's first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), delivered through EdX and organised by Prof Mario Ricci. In its first year, there were over 5000 students enrolled. I helped with the production of interactive elements of the course, as well as reviewing the course content. I am now involved in moderation of the discussion board. In line with these roles, I also produced a literature review on current e-Assessment strategies that have been implemented in medical/health related tertiary education. This has been identified as a key area for growth by the Vice Chancellor and will be reviewed by the board for e-Assessment within the University of Adelaide. In 2018, I have also been appointed as a UniSA Online Educator (Health Sciences Course) as part of their new UniSA Online Initiative which aims to provide an entire course online, thus targeting a new student demographic.
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2019 Co-Supervisor The Role of TLR4 in Response to Chemotherapy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Elise Ellen Bruning 2019 Co-Supervisor The microbiome-gut-brain axis in chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Courtney Brooke Subramaniam
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Board Memberships
Date Role Board name Institution name Country 2018 - ongoing Member Information and Communication Committee Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer Australia 2017 - ongoing Co-Chair Social Media Working Group The Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer — 2016 - ongoing Co-Chair Mucositis Study Group - Guideline Developemnt Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer Australia -
Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2018 - ongoing Member Information and Communication Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer United States 2017 - ongoing Chair Social Media Engagement (Mucositis Study Group) Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer United States 2017 - ongoing Co-Chair Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer: Update of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Mucositis (Risk Prediction) — — 2016 - ongoing Member Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer; Mucositis Study Group — — 2016 - ongoing Member Future Leaders Group — — 2016 - ongoing Member Australian Society for Medical Research — — 2013 - ongoing Representative School of Medicine Board — — 2013 - ongoing Representative School of Medicine HDR Committee — — 2013 - 2016 Member Health Sciences Postgraduate Association (HESPA) — — 2012 - ongoing Member Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer — — 2012 - ongoing Member Golden Key International Honour Society — —
Connect With Me
External Profiles
