Qi Sun

Qi Sun

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

PhD Candidate, MDS, BDS

Qi Sun is a PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide. After obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Oral Medicine in 2014, he pursued advanced studies at Shandong University, where he earned his medical license and completed a three-year residency program alongside earning a Master’s degree in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in 2017. Following his academic training, he became an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and practised for five years in China. He specializes in the clinical treatment and research of oral and maxillofacial diseases, particularly temporomandibular joint disorder and osteoarthritis, oral and maxillofacial tumours, and alveolar surgical diseases. As a PhD candidate, Qi Sun focuses on bone infection, with a special interest in the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of periprosthetic joint infections.

Qi Sun is dedicated to investigating the mechanisms of osteocyte-mediated bone destruction in bone infectious diseases. Leveraging advanced methodologies such as histopathological analysis, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), and Oxford Nanopore sequencing, Qi focuses on precisely identifying and quantifying pathogenic microorganisms within infected bone specimens. Building upon foundational research from Professor Gerald Atkins' group on osteocyte-driven bone resorption, Qi has utilized in vitro co-cultural models and mouse periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) models. By integrating these models with cutting-edge analytical techniques, Qi conducts comprehensive assessments of pathogen load and identification, offering novel insights into the etiology of bone infections. This work also extends to clinical PJI samples, contributing to translational advancements in understanding and managing these infections. A portion of this research has been published in the prestigious journal eLife.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2025 - ongoing University Representatives Australia China Scholar Network
    2024 - 2025 Lab Assistant University of Adelaide
    2020 - 2022 Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Jinan Stomatological Hospital
    2017 - 2020 Registrar/ Senior Registrar Jinan Stomatological Hospital
    2014 - 2017 Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Qilu Hospital of Shandong University

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2025 Award 2025 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences HDR Travel Awards Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide Australia 1800 AUD
    2024 Nomination Nomination of ANZBMS Roger Melick Young Investigator Award ANZBMS Australia -
    2023 Scholarship University of Adelaide Research Scholarship University of Adelaide Australia -
    2019 Award The Annual Outstanding Doctor Jinan Stomatologicall Hospital China -
    2019 Award The Outstanding Clinical Teaching Lecturer Binzhou Medical University China -
    2017 Award The outstanding paper of young researcher in the 2017th Annual Conference of Shandong Stomatological Association Shandong Stomatological Association China -
    2017 Award The Outstanding Postgraduate Student Shandong University China -
    2014 Scholarship Postgraduate Scholarship Shandong University China -
    2014 Award The Outstanding Graduate Student Jining Medical University China -

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    Chinese (Mandarin) Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2022 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    2014 - 2017 Shandong University China Master in Oral Medicine ( Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)
    2009 - 2014 Jining Medical University China Bachelor in Oral Medicine

  • Postgraduate Training
    Date Title Institution Country
    2014 - 2017 National Residency Training Qilu Hospital of Shandong University China

  • Certifications
    Date Title Institution name Country
    2020 Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China China
    — Registered Medical Practitioner National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China China

  • Research Interests
    Bone and Bones Infectious Diseases Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Orthopaedics Musculoskeletal Health

2024-2024, Medical Science 3rd Year Research Placement Course.
 

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2025 - ongoing Advisory Board Member Australia China Scholar Network Australia
    2024 - 2025 Member ANZBMS Australia
    2022 - ongoing Member Chinese Stomatological Association China

  • Presentation
    Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
    2025 - 2025 A novel molecular approach: rapid identification and quantification of bacterial load from bone of periprosthetic joint infection Beijing, China Chinese Orthopedic Research Society (ORS-China) China
    2024 - 2024 Rapid Molecular Detection and Quantification of Bacterial Load in Periprosthetic Joint Infection Adelaide, SA, Austalia ANZBMS Australia
    2023 - 2023 Absolute copy number quantification by digital droplet PCR (dd-PCR) to monitor bone infection Adelaide, SA, Australia Bio-Rad Laboratories Australia
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