
Associate Professor Sarah Vreugde
Grant-Funded Researcher (E)
Adelaide Medical School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Professor Sarah Vreugde
Director of Research: ENT Surgery
The Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is committed to excellence in translational research and education. Research in our department is focused mainly on understanding the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), using a multidisciplinary approach, aimed at identifying new diagnostic/prognostic markers and treatment strategies to the benefit of our patients. Research projects cover all aspects of rhinological research from pathophysiological aspects of CRS to the identification and validation of new treatment strategies in vitro and in vivo, bringing research from bench to bedside.
Our Department of ENT has an excellent track record of Honours and Higher degree supervision with a 100% completion rate. Professor PJ Wormald was recognized for “Excellence in Research Supervision” by The University of Adelaide in 2013. We are always interested in students that have exceptional motivation and are passionate about research and in return we provide them with full support in terms of research supervision direction.
Projects in my laboratory are focused on diseases of the ear, nose and throat. In particular, my research is focused on pathophysiological aspects of chronic rhinosinusitis, aimed at the identification and validation of new diagnostic and treatment strategies in vitro and in vivo. Projects range from defining molecular mechanisms and microbial determinants of chronic inflammation to the validation of anti-bacterial and wound-healing compounds in vitro and in vivo.
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Journals
Year Citation 2015 Cantero, D., Cooksley, C., Bassiouni, A., Tran, H., Roscioli, E., Wormald, P., & Vreugde, S. (2015). Staphylococcus aureus biofilms induce apoptosis and expression of interferon-γ, interleukin-10, and interleukin-17A on human sinonasal explants. American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy, 29(1), 23-28.
Scopus19 WoS14 Europe PMC92015 Rajiv, S., Drilling, A., Bassiouni, A., James, C., Vreugde, S., & Wormald, P. (2015). Topical colloidal silver as an anti-biofilm agent in a Staphylococcus aureus chronic rhinosinusitis sheep model. International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, 5(4), 283-288.
Scopus23 WoS19 Europe PMC132014 Tan, N., Cooksley, C., Roscioli, E., Drilling, A., Douglas, R., Wormald, P., & Vreugde, S. (2014). Small-colony variants and phenotype switching of intracellular Staphylococcus aureus in chronic rhinosinusitis. Allergy, 69(10), 1364-1371.
Scopus37 WoS36 Europe PMC282014 Miljkovic, D., Bassiouni, A., Cooksley, C., Ou, J., Hauben, E., Wormald, P., & Vreugde, S. (2014). Association between group 2 innate lymphoid cells enrichment, nasal polyps and allergy in chronic rhinosinusitis. Allergy, 69(9), 1154-1161.
Scopus150 WoS126 Europe PMC1142014 Padhye, V., Valentine, R., Paramasivan, S., Jardeleza, C., Bassiouni, A., Vreugde, S., & Wormald, P. (2014). Early and late complications of endoscopic hemostatic techniques following different carotid artery injury characteristics. International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, 4(8), 651-657.
Scopus35 WoS29 Europe PMC262014 Cleland, E., Drilling, A., Bassiouni, A., James, C., Vreugde, S., & Wormald, P. (2014). Probiotic manipulation of the chronic rhinosinusitis microbiome. International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, 4(4), 309-314.
Scopus44 WoS38 Europe PMC362014 Cleland, E., Bassioni, A., Boase, S., Dowd, S., Vreugde, S., & Wormald, P. (2014). The fungal microbiome in chronic rhinosinusitis: richness, diversity, postoperative changes and patient outcomes. International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, 4(4), 259-265.
Scopus67 WoS52 Europe PMC502014 Drilling, A., Morales, S., Jardeleza, C., Vreugde, S., Speck, P., & Wormald, P. (2014). Bacteriophage reduces biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus ex vivo isolates from chronic rhinosinusitis patients. American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy, 28(1), 3-11.
Scopus57 WoS49 Europe PMC402014 Drilling, A., Coombs, G., Tan, H., Pearson, J., Boase, S., Psaltis, A., . . . Wormald, P. (2014). Cousins, siblings, or copies: the genomics of recurrent Staphylococcus aureus infections in chronic rhinosinusitis. International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, 4(12), 953-960.
Scopus24 WoS19 Europe PMC202014 Jardeleza, C., Rao, S., Thierry, B., Gajjar, P., Vreugde, S., Prestidge, C., & Wormald, P. (2014). Liposome-encapsulated ISMN: a novel nitric oxide-based therapeutic agent against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. PLoS One, 9(3), 1-9.
Scopus43 WoS32 Europe PMC212014 Drilling, A., Morales, S., Boase, S., Jervis-Bardy, J., James, C., Jardeleza, C., . . . Wormald, P. (2014). Safety and efficacy of topical bacteriophage and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infection in a sheep model of sinusitis. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 4(3), 176-186.
Scopus55 WoS49 Europe PMC372014 Paramasivan, S., Drilling, A., Jardeleza, C., Jervis-Bardy, J., Vreugde, S., & Wormald, P. (2014). Methylglyoxal-augmented manuka honey as a topical anti-Staphylococcus aureus biofilm agent: safety and efficacy in an in vivo model. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 4(3), 187-195.
Scopus58 WoS46 Europe PMC342014 Goggin, R., Jardeleza, C., Wormald, P., & Vreugde, S. (2014). Colloidal silver: a novel treatment for Staphylococcus aureus biofilms?. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 4(3), 171-175.
Scopus31 WoS26 Europe PMC192014 Goggin, R., Jardeleza, C., Wormald, P., & Vreugde, S. (2014). Corticosteroids directly reduce Staphylococcus aureus biofilm growth: an in vitro study. The Laryngoscope, 124(3), 602-607.
Scopus25 WoS21 Europe PMC182013 Jardeleza, C., Miljkovic, D., Baker, L., Boase, S., Tan, N., Koblar, S., . . . Vreugde, S. (2013). Inflammasome gene expression alterations in Staphylococcus aureus biofilm-associated chronic rhinosinusitis. Rhinology, 51(4), 315-322.
Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC112013 Cantero Cajas, D., Cooksley, C., Bassiouni, A., Wormald, P., & Vreugde, S. (2013). Staphylococcus aureus biofilm activates the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2 (Nod2) pathway and proinflammatory factors on a human sinonasal explant model. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 3(11), 877-884.
Scopus12 WoS10 Europe PMC92013 Cantero Cajas, D., Cooksley, C., Jardeleza, C., Bassiouni, A., Jones, D., Wormald, P., & Vreugde, S. (2013). A human nasal explant model to study Staphylococcus aureus biofilm in vitro. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 3(7), 556-562.
Scopus14 WoS14 Europe PMC122013 Tan, N., Foreman, A., Jardeleza, C., Douglas, R., Vreugde, S., & Wormald, P. (2013). Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus: the Trojan horse of recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis?. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 3(4), 261-266.
Scopus57 WoS51 Europe PMC422013 Jardeleza, C., Jones, D., Baker, L., Miljkovic, D., Boase, S., Tan, N., . . . Wormald, P. (2013). Gene expression differences in nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species regulation point to an altered innate immune response in chronic rhinosinusitis. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 3(3), 193-198.
Scopus16 WoS14 Europe PMC122012 Tan, N. W., Tran, H., Foreman, A., Jardeleza, C., Vreugde, S., & Wormald, P. J. (2012). Identifying intracellular Staphylococcus aureus in chronic rhinosinusitis: A direct comparison of techniques. American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy, 26(6), 444-449.
Scopus17 WoS16 Europe PMC122012 Tan, N. W., Tran, H., Roscioli, E., Wormald, P. J., & Vreugde, S. (2012). Prevention of false positive binding during immunofluorescence of Staphylococcus aureus infected tissue biopsies. Journal of Immunological Methods, 384(1-2), 111-117.
Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC72006 Vreugde, S., Ferrai, C., Miluzio, A., Hauben, E., Marchisio, P., Crippa, M., . . . Biffo, S. (2006). Nuclear myosin VI enhances RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription. Molecular Cell, 23(5), 749-755.
Scopus118 WoS104 Europe PMC982006 Friedmann, E., Hauben, E., Maylandt, K., Schleeger, S., Vreugde, S., Lichtenthaler, S., . . . Martoglio, B. (2006). SPPL2a and SPPL2b promote intramembrane proteolysis of TNFalpha in activated dendritic cells to trigger IL-12 production. Nature Cell Biology, 8(8), 849-854.
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2025 Principal Supervisor Exploring the Potential of Engineered Phages for Mycobacterium Abscessus Treatment: Innovating Precision Therapy Against Resistant Infections Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Muhammad Imran 2025 Co-Supervisor Engineering a Biocompatible Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) For Nasal Drug Delivery: Insights from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Models Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Nikzad Abbariki 2025 Co-Supervisor Core-Silica Coated Mesoporous Nanoparticles for Enhanced Drug Delivery in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Treatment Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Sara Aghili 2024 Principal Supervisor Developing smart phage cocktails for difficult-to-treat infections Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Connor Jessop 2024 Principal Supervisor Unravelling the underlying mechanisms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) pathogenesis and exploring the potential of bacteriophages as a therapeutic option Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Md Hasib Adnan 2024 Co-Supervisor A comprehensive Study of magnetic drug targeting in human maxillary sinuses for drug delivery applications Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Kavan Zarei 2024 Co-Supervisor A comprehensive numerical and experimental study of transport phenomena in nebulizer drug delivery targeting paranasal sinuses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Alireza Meymivand 2024 Co-Supervisor Precision medicine in bacterial infections; exploring the use of personalised phage therapy and multi-omics technologies to improve the management of chronic rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Isabella Amy Burdon 2024 Co-Supervisor Bacteriophage therapy in CRS patient nasal wound healing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jordan Hall 2024 Principal Supervisor Maximising the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory performance of next generation therapeutics for Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Marzieh Eskandarzadeh 2023 Co-Supervisor Target the tumour microbiome to improve head & neck cancer treatment outcomes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Lee Mai 2023 Principal Supervisor Exploring The Efficacy Of Bacteriophage Therapy In Disrupting Poly-Microbial Biofilms In Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Xiaohan Sun 2023 Principal Supervisor Potential use of essential oils from ethno-medicinal plants in clinical research Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Sumeena Karki 2023 Principal Supervisor Investigating Phage, Microbe and Host Interactions by Integrating Systems Multiomics Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr George Spyro Bouras 2023 Principal Supervisor Studying the Potential of Bacteriophage Loaded Chitosan-Silk Hydrogel as a Novel Formulation for Chronically Infected Wounds Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Zahra Aliakbar Ahovan 2022 Principal Supervisor The role of various Staphylococcus species in eliciting inflammation in Chronic rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Sintayehu Ambachew Wondemagegn 2021 Co-Supervisor Determining the safety and efficacy of novel beta-chitin patch in managing cerebral (low-flow, low-pressure) and carotid (high-flow, high-pressure) bleeding Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Annika Reann Mascarenhas -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2023 - 2024 Co-Supervisor The Microbiome of Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr James Thomas Connell 2023 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Repurposing Mesalazine as a Potential Treatment Option for Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr William Mark Murphy 2021 - 2024 Principal Supervisor Characterising the Microbiome and its Diagnostic and Prognostic Value in Head and Neck Cancer Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Kenny Ker Li Yeo 2021 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Investigating Transcription Factors in the Human Airway Mucosal Immunoepigenetics of Chronic Inflammatory Disease Master of Philosophy (Surgery) Master Full Time Mr Harrison Burchill Bolt 2020 - 2022 Co-Supervisor The Relationship Between S. Aureus Biofilm Properties, Inflammation, and Disease Severity in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Gohar Shaghayegh 2020 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Topical Therapies for The Management of Recalcitrant Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Anna Katharina Megow 2019 - 2023 Principal Supervisor The Adaption and Inflammation-Inducing Capacity of Staphylococcus Aureus in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Ghais Houtak 2019 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Role of Prophages in Staphylococcus aureus Virulence and Pathogenicity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Roshan Nepal 2018 - 2020 Principal Supervisor The Host-Microbe Interface in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Sathish Paramasivan 2018 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Modifying Post-Surgical Wound Healing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Rajan Vediappan 2018 - 2020 Principal Supervisor The role of viruses in chronic rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Rachel Katherine Goggin 2018 - 2022 Principal Supervisor The Role of Colloidal Silver Synthesized from Corymbia Maculata in Eradicating Infection in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Sholeh Feizi 2018 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Investigating Microbiome - Targeted Treatments for Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A novel approach to combat dysbiosis in the nasal microbiome Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Martha Menberu 2017 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Staphylococcus aureus Exoproteins on Nasal Epithelial Barrier in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Beula Subashini Panchatcharam 2017 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Bacteriophage Therapy for Chronic Rhinosinusitis: Targeting Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilms Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Stephanie Anne Fong 2017 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Novel Topical Anti-biofilm Agents in the Treatment of Recalcitrant Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Mian Li Ooi 2016 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Corticosteroids and the Sinonasal Microbiome Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Lisa Mary Cherian 2016 - 2017 Co-Supervisor The microbiome of otitis media with effusion and the influence of Alloicoccus otitidis on Haemophilus influenzae in polymicrobial biofilm Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Chun Chan 2015 - 2018 Principal Supervisor An Immunological Perspective of the Mucosal Inflammation in Chronic Rhinosinusitis – Lymphoid Neo-organogenesis and Humoral Immunity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Aden Lau 2015 - 2018 Co-Supervisor The Mucosal Barrier in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jae Viktor Murphy 2014 - 2017 Co-Supervisor The Role of Immune Cells in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Dijana Miljkovic 2014 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Towards Novel Antibiofilm Strategies Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time APrf Katharina Richter 2013 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Management of Major Vessel Haemorrhage in Endonasal Surgery Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Vikram Padhye 2012 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Nitric Oxide and Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms: Defining their Intricate Relationship in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Camille Jardeleza 2012 - 2014 Co-Supervisor The innate immune response to Staphylococcus aureus biofilms on human sinonasal explants Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Daniel Anibal Cantero Cajas 2012 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus in chronic rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Neil Cheng-Wen Tan 2012 - 2015 Co-Supervisor The Role of Surgery and Disease Load in Refractory Chronic Rhinosinusitis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Ahmed Bassiouni 2012 - 2015 Co-Supervisor The Effect of Chitosan Dextran Gel as a Haemostatic and Anti Adhesion Agent in the Central Nervous System and Evaluation of Haemostatic Mechanism of Skeletal Muscle Tissue Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Sukanya Rajiv 2012 - 2014 Co-Supervisor The Chronic Rhinosinusitis Microbiome Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Edward John Cleland
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2019 - ongoing Chair BHI Strategic Research Directions Committee Basil Hetzel Institute Australia 2016 - ongoing Member TQEH Human Research Ethics Committee - - 2014 - ongoing Member The Basil Hetzel Institute Management Committee The Bsil Hetzel Institute Australia 2011 - ongoing Chair Selection committee for scientist positions - - -
Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2017 - ongoing Member American Society of Microbiology - -
Editorial Boards
Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country 2018 - ongoing Associate Editor Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology Frontiers Journals United Kingdom 2016 - ongoing Associate Editor Sinusitis - -
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