Rachel Gibson

Professor Rachel Gibson

Head of School

School of Allied Health Science and Practice

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Professor Rachel Gibson is the Head of the School of Allied Health Science and Practice at the University of Adelaide. In addition, she is Co-Head of the Cancer Treatment Toxicities Group at the Adelaide Medical School, along with Professor Joanne Bowen and Dr Janet Coller. Prior to this role, Rachel was the inaugural Professor and Dean: Academic in the Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia.

Rachel's main research interest is supportive care in cancer. Rachel works with a team of researchers from the fields of pathology, molecular biology, microbiology, and immunology, among others, in the study of toxic effects of chemotherapy on the gut microbiome of cancer patients and the development of clinically diagnosed diarrhea, a manifestation of intestinal mucositis. She is a prolific researcher in this field, and has authored or co-authored over 120 journal articles (including 15 in Supportive Care in Cancer), six book chapters, and 75 abstracts presented at the MASCC Annual Meetings. She has also been a leader in MASCC Study Group initiatives (Mucositis and Oral Care) in developing clinical practice guidelines for the management of mucositis secondary to cancer therapy, including gastrointestinal mucositis. These efforts demonstrate her dedication to promoting supportive care knowledge and practice on a global scale. Rachel is recognized as a skilled communicator among peers, students, business collaborators, and partners, and has been an enthusiastic advocate for Supportive Care in Cancer.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2019 - ongoing Inaugural Professor and Director, Allied Health University of Adelaide
    2016 - 2019 Professor (Level E) University of South Australia
    2016 - ongoing Head of Group University of Adelaide
    2014 - 2015 Associate Professor (Level D) University of Adelaide
    2010 - 2013 Senior Lecturer (Level C) University of Adelaide
    2007 - 2009 Lecturer (Level B) University of Adelaide
    2004 - 2009 Research Fellow Royal Adelaide Hospital
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2020 Award University of Adelaide Exceptional Leadership for an Academic University of Adelaide Australia -
    2019 Award Distinguished Service Award Recipient Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer United States -
    2013 Scholarship South Australian Professional Development Scholarship Department for Science and Training, South Australian Government Australia -
    2013 Award Dean's Excellence in Teaching University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health Sciences Australia -
    2011 Recognition Best of the Best- Translational Research-Finalist Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting Australia -
    2010 Recognition South Australian Marie Claire Young Business Woman of the Year-Finalist Telstra Business Women's Awards Australia -
    2004 Fellowship Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship Cancer Council of South Australia Australia -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2004 University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy
    University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours)
  • Research Interests

Date Project/ No. Investigators Funding Body Amount
2019-2020 Nutritional interventions for chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction in rats with cancer Bowen JM, Gibson RJ PanTheryx Pharmaceticals $190,000.00
2016-2017 Mucositis therapy with AstraZeneca’s AZD1236 Gibson RJ, Bowen JM Commercial Accelerator Scheme / Open Innovation Scheme $80,000.00
2015-2019 Improved oral delivery of encapsulated biological agents by targeting epithelial M cells
 
Prestidge C, Thierry B, Gibson RJ, Khartri A, Barbe C ARC Linkage Grant $396,547
2015-2018 A combined pre-clinical and clinical investigation of the role of TLR4 in chemotherapy-induced gut toxicity Gibson RJ, Bowen JM, Coller JK, Keefe DM Ray and Shirl Norman Cancer Research Trust $450,000
2015-2016 Translating concept into practice: enabling first-year health sciences teachers to blueprint effective flipped learning approaches Karanicolas S, Ricci M Snelling C, Chittleborough C, Chapman J, Douglas T, Williams A, Gamble N, Williams P, Peirce E, Gibson R, Winning T, Milazzo A, Peterson R, Willison J, Office of Learning and Teaching Australia $225,000
2015 Abrogating inflammation and bone loss in a mouse model of inflammatory arthritis Crotti TN, A Dharmapatni, Gibson RJ, Perilli E Arthritis Australia $25,000
2014-2015 Determining the underlying mechanisms of gastrointestinal toxicity induced by Oprozomib (invitro) Gibson RJ Onyx Pharmaceuticals/Amgen $112,454
2014-2016 Determining the underlying mechanisms of gastrointestinal toxicity induced by Oprozomib (invivo) Gibson RJ Onyx Pharmaceuticals/Amgen $235,742
2014-2015 Essential Human Biology: Cells and Tissues MOOC (Massive, Open, Online, Course) Ricci M, Karanicolas S, Buismen-Piljman F, Gibson RJ University of Adelaide/ AdelaideX $50,000
2014 Chemotherapy-induced alimentary mucositis: do tight junction disruptions translate from the gut to the oral cavity Wardill HR, Logan RM, Gibson RJ Australian Dental Research Foundation $5200
2013-2014 Novel non-surgical skin cancer therapy using non-themal atmospheric pressure plasma Kim MK, Gibson R ECMR Adelaide $18,655

2013

 

Flipping the classroom to enhance the first year student experience through the use of interactive learning technologies for student centric learningFlipping the classroom to enhance the first year student experience through the use of interactive learning technologies for student centric learningDVCR – University of Adelaide Karanicolas S, Snelling C, Ricci M. Peirce E, Gibson R, Winning T, Milazzo A, Peterson R, Willison J DVC Student Experience – University of Adelaide $15,000
2012-2013 Automated Immunohistochemistry Machine and PT Link for research Gibson RJ, Bowen JM, Leigh CM, Roberts C and Butler LM DVCR – University of Adelaide $68,500
2012 Are the matrix metalloproteinases and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases upregulated in the oral mucosa following chemotherapy Al-Azri, A, Gibson RJ, Keefe DMK, Logan RM Australian Dental Research Foundation $4000
2011-2012 Validation of a model of colon inflammation (colitis) using ex vivo human colonic mucosal explant tissue as a viable alternative to animal models of colitis Smid S, Gibson RJ Medical Advances without Animals $28,122
2011-2012 South Australian Professional Development Scholarship Gibson RJ Department for Science and Technology (South Australian Government) $15,000
2010-2011 Functional Expression of the Endocannabinoid System in Inflammatory Bowel
Disease
Smid S, Gibson RJ, Cummins AG Broad Medical Research Program $US128,694
2010-2011 Matrix Metalloproteinases: Key regulators in the pathogenesis of chemotherapy-induced mucositis Al-Dasooqi N, Gibson RJ, Bowen JM, Keefe, DMK GlaxoSmithKline $25,000
2009 Faecal microflora and circulating proinflammatory cytokines: key elements to chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea Gibson RJ, Bowen JM, Stringer AM, Logan RM Cancer Australia/Cure Cancer Australia $75,000
2009 Intestinal Stem Cells Cummins AG, Roberts-Thomson I, Hardingham J, Gibson RJ Cancer Council South Australia $101,000
2009 Faecal microflora and circulating proinflammatory cytokines: key elements to chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea Gibson RJ The University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health Sciences Seed Funding $10,000
2009 Development of the Wistar Rat model for mucositis Bowen JM and Gibson RJ The University of Adelaide, ARI seed funding $26,200
2006 Oral mucositis: clinical presentation, histological features and proinflammatory cytokine expression Logan RM, Gibson RJ, Keefe DMK and Sonis ST Australian Dental Research Foundation Inc $3000
2006 Chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea: Characterisation of Mechanism Keefe DMK, Gibson RJ, Bowen JM, Stringer AM and Logan RM Cancer Council South Australia $70,500
2005 Oral mucositis: relationship between transcription factor expression changes, cytokine expression, apoptosis and subsequent damage Gibson RJ, Logan RM and Keefe DMK RAH Research Fund $19,610
2004-2005 CG53135-05 and chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis Keefe DMK, and Gibson RJ CuraGen Inc $US 300,000

 Teaching and Training Innovations and Curricula Development

Date Course 
2019-current Led all curricula development for the launch of three new undergraduate programs at the University of Adelaide: Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Hons); Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons); Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Hons)
2016-2019 Variety of curricula development as Dean: Academic; Division of Health Sciences; University of South Australia. This included Online Bachelor Degree programs; international offshore delivery programs and postgraduate programs
2015-2017 Office of Learning and Teaching Grant: Translating concept into practice: enabling teachers to blueprint flipped learning approaches in first-year health sciences.
2014-2015 MOOC (Mass Online Open Course): Essential Human Biology: Cells and Tissues; Academic Presenter
2013-2014 Flipped Classroom Approach: 1st Year Nursing, University of Adelaide
2009-2011 Year 1 MBBS Convenor, Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, University of Adelaide
2010-2011 Course Development for Fundamentals of Biomedical Science A and B: 1st Year MBBS, University of Adelaide
  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 Principal Supervisor What impact could greenspace exposure have on lower respiratory outcomes? Master of Philosophy (Clinical Science) Master Part Time Mrs Amanda Maddern
    2021 Principal Supervisor Tailoring Chronic Pain Assessment to Children and Young People with Cerebral Palsy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Meredith Smith
    2021 Principal Supervisor Chronic abdominal pain in Australian adolescents and nature-based intervention Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Part Time Mrs Trish Serocki
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2017 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Exploration of the gut microbiome as a predictive factor for cancer treatment-induced gastrointestinal toxicity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Kate Rebecca Secombe
    2016 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Identifying potential genetic, phenotypic and epigenetic predictive markers in the Toll-like receptor/Interleukin-1 domain innate immune signalling pathway for severe gastrointestinal toxicity risk following 5-Fluorouracil-based therapy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Samantha Kaitlyn Korver
    2015 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Clinical and Microbiological Effects of Probiotics in Experimental Induced Periodontitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Simona Gatej
    2014 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Characterisation and Treatment of Pan-Human Epidermal Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Induced Gastrointestinal Toxicity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ysabella Van Sebille
    2014 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Intestinal Microvascular Changes and Matrix Metalloproteinases in Radiotherapy-Induced Gastrointestinal Toxicity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Romany Laura Stansborough
    2013 - 2016 Principal Supervisor Toll-Like Receptor 4-Dependent Barrier Dysfunction and its Impact on Irinotecan-Induced Gut Toxicity and Pain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Hannah Rose Wardill
    2012 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Does Transgenic Feed Cause Histopathological Changes in Rats? Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Irena Zdziarski
    2010 - 2013 Co-Supervisor The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases and their Inhibitors in Irinotecan-Induced Oral Mucositis: An Animal Model Doctor of Clinical Dentistry Doctorate Full Time APrf Abdul Rahman Al 'Azri
    2008 - 2012 Principal Supervisor Chemotherapy-Induced Mucositis: The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases and the Extracellular Matrix Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Noor Al-Dasooqi
    2006 - 2009 Co-Supervisor Chemotherapy-Induced Mucositis: The Role of Gastrointestinal Microflora and Mucins in the Luminal Environment Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Andrea Marie Stringer
  • Board Memberships

    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2022 - 2024 Member Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Board of Directors Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer United States
    2021 - 2016 Board Member Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Board MASCC United States
    2018 - 2020 Treasurer Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer United States
    2016 - 2021 Secretary Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer MASCC United States
    2014 - 2016 Board Member Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer United States
  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2021 - 2021 Board Member National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant Panel National Health and Medical Research Council Australia
    2020 - 2016 Chair Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer Awards Committee Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer United States
    2020 - 2020 Member California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Discovery Stage Program California Institute for Regenerative Medicine United States
    2020 - 2020 Member National Health and Medical Research Council Ideas Panel National Health and Medical Research Council Australia
    2020 - 2020 Member National Health and Medical Research Council GACD Cancer Prevention Panel National Health and Medical Research Council Australia
    2019 - 2020 Member National Health and Medical Research Council Investigtor Panel National Health and Medical Research Council Australia
    2018 - 2020 Member California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Discovery Stage Program California Institute for Regenerative Medicine United States
    2017 - 2017 Member California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Discovery Stage Program California Institute for Regenerative Medicine United States
    2016 - ongoing Member Project Grants Panel 2C: Endocrinology, Diabetes, Gastroenterology, Musculoskeletal & Obesity NHMRC Australia
    2016 - ongoing Advisory Board Member Therapeutic Goods Assessment and Advisory Services Panel - Australia
    2016 - ongoing Secretary MASCC Board of Directors Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer -
    2016 - ongoing Chair MASCC Annual Scientific Meeting Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer -
    2014 - 2015 Chair MASCC Awards Committee Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer -
    2014 - 2015 Member MASCC Board of Directors Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer -
    2014 - 2015 Member Onyx Pharmaceuticals Oprozomib GI Tolerability Advisory Board Onyx Pharmaceuticals United States
    2014 - 2015 Member Project Grants Panel 3A: Endocrinology, Diabetes, Gastroenterology, Musculoskeletal & Obesity - Australia
    2008 - ongoing Member Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) - Australia
    2004 - ongoing Member Member of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) - -
    2004 - ongoing Member International Mucositis Study Group - -
    2004 - ongoing Member International Oral Care Study Group - -
    2003 - ongoing Member Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) - Australia
  • Consulting/Advisories

    Date Institution Department Organisation Type Country
    2019 - 2020 PanTheryx Pharmaceuticals RSD Scientific research United States
    2017 - 2020 Kaleido Biosciences RSD Scientific research United States
  • Editorial Boards

    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2016 - ongoing Editor Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care Gastrointestinal Symptoms United Kingdom
  • Position: Head of School
  • Phone: 83130245
  • Email: rachel.gibson@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Engineering & Maths Sciences, floor 4
  • Org Unit: Allied Health Administration

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