Mr Qi Sun
Higher Degree by Research Candidate
School of Medicine
College of Health
I am a PhD candidate at Adelaide University with a robust background as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. After obtaining my Master’s degree and completing a three-year residency at Shandong University in 2017, I practiced clinically in China for five years.
Clinical Expertise: During my surgical career, I performed over a hundred complex oncological resections (including tongue, lip, and gingival cancers) and subsequent reconstructions using free flaps. My surgical portfolio also includes parotid and submandibular gland tumor excisions, neck dissections, and over a hundred cleft lip and palate repairs within comprehensive sequence treatments.
Research & Technical Proficiency: My research journey began in 2014, focusing on the pathogenesis and treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD). Currently, my doctoral research investigates the differential diagnosis of bone infection pathogens and the mechanisms underlying infection-induced osteolysis.
I possess extensive expertise in a wide range of advanced biotechnologies, including:
1. Molecular & Genomic Analysis: RT-qPCR, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) genome sequencing, and DNA/RNA extraction.
2. Imaging & Pathology: Micro-CT scanning/analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and advanced histological techniques (Immunofluorescence and Immunohistochemistry).
3. Preclinical Models: Specialized in developing complex animal models, cell culture, and the preservation/processing of clinical pathological specimens.
4. Clinical Diagnostics: Proficient in the diagnostic interpretation of clinical X-ray, CT, and MRI imaging.
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.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 - 2026 | University Representatives | Australia China Scholar Network |
| 2024 - ongoing | Lab assistant | Adelaide University |
| 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 |
| 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 | - |
| 2024 | Nomination | Finalist, ANZBMS Roger Melick Young Investigator Award | ANZBMS | Australia | - |
| 2023 | Scholarship | University of Adelaide Research Scholarship | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2019 | Award | Annual Award for Clinical Excellent | Jinan Stomatologicall Hospital | China | - |
| 2019 | Award | Excellent Teaching Award | Binzhou Medical University | China | - |
| 2017 | Award | Best Young Investigator Paper Award | Shandong Stomatological Association | China | - |
| 2017 | Award | Outstanding Postgraduate Award | Shandong University | China | - |
| 2014 | Scholarship | Postgraduate Scholarship | Shandong University | China | - |
| 2014 | Award | Outstanding Undergraduate Award | Jining Medical University | China | - |
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| Chinese (Mandarin) | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Adelaide University | Australia | PhD in Medicine |
| 2014 - 2017 | Shandong University | China | Master in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery |
| 2009 - 2014 | Jining Medical University | China | Bachelor in Oral Medicine |
| Date | Title | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 - 2017 | National Residency Training | Qilu Hospital of Shandong University | China |
| 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 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Sun, Q., Huynh, K., Muratovic, D., Gunn, N. J., Zelmer, A. R., Solomon, L. B., . . . Yang, D. (2024). Rapid bacterial evaluation beyond the colony forming unit in osteomyelitis. eLife, 13, RP93698-1-RP93698-11. WoS1 |
| 2024 | Siverino, C., Sun, Q., Yang, D., Solomon, B., Moriarty, F., & Atkins, G. (2024). Establishing a Human Osteocyte-Staphylococcus Epidermidis Infection Model to Reveal Mechanisms of Chronic Bone and Joint Infections. Orthopaedic Proceedings, 106-B(S18), 40. |
| 2017 | Sun, Q., Wu, G., Chen, H., Chen, L., Chen, H., Zhu, G., & Zhao, H. (2017). Hyperbaric oxygen protects type II collagen in interleukin-1β- induced mandibular condylar chondrocyte via inhibiting the JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway. Oncotarget, 8(36), 60312-60323. Scopus13 WoS10 Europe PMC6 |
| 2016 | Chen, H., Wu, G., Sun, Q., Dong, Y., & Zhao, H. (2016). Hyperbaric oxygen protects mandibular condylar chondrocytes from interleukin-1β-induced apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. American Journal of Translational Research, 8(11), 5108-5117. Scopus19 WoS18 Europe PMC16 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Sun, Q., Huynh, K., Muratovic, D., Gunn, N. J., Zelmer, A. R., Solomon, L. B., . . . Yang, D. (2024). Beyond the Colony-Forming-Unit: Rapid Bacterial Evaluation in Osteomyelitis. DOI Scopus1 Europe PMC4 |
| 2024 | Sun, Q., Huynh, K., Muratovic, D., Gunn, N. J., Zelmer, A. R., Solomon, L. B., . . . Yang, D. (2024). Beyond the Colony-Forming-Unit: Rapid Bacterial Evaluation in Osteomyelitis. DOI |
| 2023 | Sun, Q., Huynh, K., Muratovic, D., Gunn, N., Zelmer, A., Solomon, B., . . . Yang, D. (2023). Beyond the Colony-Forming-Unit: Rapid Bacterial Evaluation in Osteomyelitis. DOI |
2024-2024, Medical Science 3rd Year Research Placement Course.
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Member | Australia & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society (ANZORS) | Australia |
| 2025 - ongoing | Advisory Board Member | Australia China Scholar Network | Australia |
| 2024 - 2025 | Member | Australia and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS) | Australia |
| 2022 - ongoing | Member | Chinese Stomatological Association | China |
| Date | Topic | Presented at | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - 2025 | Culture-independent methods for pathogen quantification and detection in bone infection research | Adelaide | International Combined Orthopaedic Research Societies (ICORS) | Australia |
| 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 |
Connect With Me
External Profiles
