Sarah Vreugde

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. 

  • 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.
    DOI Scopus19 WoS14 Europe PMC9
    2015 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.
    DOI Scopus23 WoS19 Europe PMC13
    2014 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.
    DOI Scopus37 WoS36 Europe PMC28
    2014 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.
    DOI Scopus150 WoS126 Europe PMC114
    2014 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.
    DOI Scopus35 WoS29 Europe PMC26
    2014 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.
    DOI Scopus44 WoS38 Europe PMC36
    2014 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.
    DOI Scopus67 WoS52 Europe PMC50
    2014 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.
    DOI Scopus57 WoS49 Europe PMC40
    2014 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.
    DOI Scopus24 WoS19 Europe PMC20
    2014 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.
    DOI Scopus43 WoS32 Europe PMC21
    2014 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.
    DOI Scopus55 WoS49 Europe PMC37
    2014 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.
    DOI Scopus58 WoS46 Europe PMC34
    2014 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.
    DOI Scopus31 WoS26 Europe PMC19
    2014 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.
    DOI Scopus25 WoS21 Europe PMC18
    2013 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.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC11
    2013 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.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS10 Europe PMC9
    2013 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.
    DOI Scopus14 WoS14 Europe PMC12
    2013 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.
    DOI Scopus57 WoS51 Europe PMC42
    2013 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.
    DOI Scopus16 WoS14 Europe PMC12
    2012 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.
    DOI Scopus17 WoS16 Europe PMC12
    2012 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.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC7
    2006 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.
    DOI Scopus118 WoS104 Europe PMC98
    2006 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.
    DOI

  • 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

  • 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 - -
  • Position: Grant-Funded Researcher (E)
  • Phone: 0882226928
  • Email: sarah.vreugde@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: TQEH - Basil Hetzel Institute, floor 1E
  • Org Unit: Surgical Specialities
Connect With Me
External Profiles