Suzanne Mashtoub

Suzanne Mashtoub

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

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

Dr Suzanne Mashtoub
BSc (Biomed), Hons, PhD (Med), Grad Cert Ed (Higher Ed), MD

Dr Suzanne Mashtoub is a Grant-Funded Researcher leading a research group at the Gastroenterology Department, Women’s and Children’s Hospital. In 2017, Dr Mashtoub completed a NHMRC Postdoctoral Biomedical (Doherty) Fellowship focussing on the efficacy of nutraceuticals (particularly Emu Oil, first used by Indigenous Australian people) in intestinal diseases, including the inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease), associated colorectal cancer and chemotherapy-induced mucositis. Dr Mashtoub’s team specialises in pre-clinical models of intestinal disorders, as part of the wider Digestive Health Research Group. Extending promising pre-clinical findings, Dr Mashtoub has been funded by the Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation and the Nutricia Research Foundation to conduct the world’s first clinical trial translating the efficacy of Emu Oil (encapsulated) in children with ulcerative colitis.

Active projects available for Honours/Masters/PhD students:

Project 1

Clinical trial of orally-administered Emu Oil in children with ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, relapsing, incurable and debilitating inflammatory bowel disease which commonly has its onset during childhood and adolescent years. Despite attaining remission, children are at risk of clinical recurrence, side-effects from corticosteroids, surgery and poor growth, highlighting the need to identify novel therapeutic approaches. Previously, we highlighted the anti-inflammatory and reparative properties of orally-administered Emu Oil, extracted from Emu fat, in several models of intestinal disorders, including UC. It is important to translate these encouraging preclinical findings in the human setting. This project aims to determine whether orally-administered Emu Oil maintains remission in children with UC, in a prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized, early-phase cross over clinical trial. 

Location: Gastroenterology Department, Women's and Children's Hospital

Available for Masters/PhD student

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - ongoing Adjunct Senior Lecturer Flinders University
    2020 - ongoing Visiting Senior Research Fellow University of South Australia
    2019 - ongoing Grant-Funded Researcher University of Adelaide
    2018 - ongoing Adjunct Senior Research Fellow University of Western Australia
    2017 - ongoing Adjunct Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2014 - 2017 National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Postdoctoral (Peter Doherty) Fellowship University of Western Australia
    2014 - 2017 Research Assistant Professor University of Western Australia
    2014 - 2017 Adjunct Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2009 - 2019 Tutor, Lecturer, Demonstrator, Marker University of Adelaide

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2023 Award Chancellor’s Letter of Commendation 2023 Flinders University Australia -
    2022 Award Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Research Travel Award The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2018 Scholarship Travel Grant Healthy Development Adelaide Australia -
    2017 Award Poster of Merit Award Australian Gastroenterology Week Australia -
    2016 Award New Investigator Award International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids South Africa -
    2016 Achievement Young Investigator Award Finalist Australian Gastroenterology Week Australia -
    2015 Award SA Young Tall Poppy Award Australian Institute of Policy and Science Australia -
    2015 Achievement SA Tall Poppy of the Year Finalist Australian Institute of Policy and Science Australia -
    2015 Award Science and Technology Award Winner Channel 9 Young Achiever Awards Australia -
    2014 Scholarship NHMRC Early Career Postdoctoral (Peter Doherty) Fellowship NHMRC Australia -
    2014 Scholarship Cancer Council WA Postdoctoral Fellowship Cancer Council of WA Australia -
    2013 Scholarship Travel Grant School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2013 Scholarship The 2013 Trevor Prescott Freemasons Memorial Scholarship Freemasons Foundation Australia -
    2013 Award Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2013 Achievement The Governor’s Multicultural Award Finalist Government of SA Australia -
    2012 Achievement SA Young Investigator Award Finalist Women’s and Children’s Hospital Australia -
    2011 Award Best Oral Presentation Joint Annual Scientific Meeting of The Nutrition Society of Australia and the Nutrition Society of New Zealand New Zealand -
    2011 Award Leadership Award Winner Channel 9 Young Achiever Awards Australia -
    2011 Scholarship Travel Grant Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation Australia -
    2010 Scholarship Travel Award Nutrition Society of Australia Australia -
    2010 Scholarship The 2010 Trevor Prescott Freemasons Memorial Scholarship Freemasons Foundation Australia -
    2010 Scholarship Travel Grant Gastroenterological Society of Australia Australia -
    2010 Award Best Poster Presentation Australian Gastroenterology Week Australia -
    2010 Achievement 3 Minute Thesis Competition Finalist The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2009 Scholarship AstraZeneca Junior Travel Award Gastroenterological Society of Australia Australia -
    2009 Scholarship Australian Postgraduate Award Australian Postgraduate Award Australia -
    2009 Scholarship PhD Top-up Scholarship Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation Australia -
    2008 Recognition The Golden Key International Honour Society The Golden Key International Honour Society Australia -
    2008 Scholarship Gastroenterological Society of Australia Travel Grant Gastroenterological Society of Australia Australia -
    2008 Award Best Poster & Oral Presentation Award The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2008 Award Top Honours in Physiology Cohort Award The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2008 Scholarship Travel Grant Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation Australia -
    2008 Scholarship The 2008 Basil Hetzel Institute Honours Research Scholarship Basil Hetzel Institute Australia -
    2007 Scholarship Carpe Diem Travel Award Rotary Club Australia -

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2019 - 2022 Flinders University Australia Doctor of Medicine
    2017 - 2017 Flinders University Australia Grad Cert Education (Higher Education)
    2009 - 2013 University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine)
    2008 - 2008 University of Adelaide Australia Honours (First Class)
    2005 - 2007 University of Adelaide Australia BSc (Biomedical Science)

  • Research Interests
    Cancer Therapy Complementary & Alternative Medicine Gastroenterology and Hepatology Immunology Medical and Health Sciences Medical Biochemistry: Lipids Medical Physiology Nutrition and Dietetics Physiology Preventive Medicine Cancer Biology and Clinical Oncology Immunology and Infection Nutrition and Metabolic Health

Project grants (last 5 years only)

  1. Nutricia Research Foundation Grant (2020); 30,000 euro [approx $50,000] (Chief Investigator)

    Project entitled: Clinical trial of orally-administered Emu Oil in children with ulcerative colitis
  2. Collaboration Grant, The University of Adelaide (2019); $3,500 (Co-Investigator)

    Project entitled: Influence of Emu Oil on gut microbiome in Crohn’s disease following faecal transplant
  3. Research Themes Investment Scheme 2018 Seed Funding, University of South Australia; $40,000 (Partner Investigator 1)

    Project entitled: Developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions including colon cancer
  4. Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation (2018); $75,000 (Chief Investigator)

    Project entitled: Clinical trial of orally-administered Emu Oil to protect against ulcerative colitis in children
  5. Collaboration Grant, The University of Adelaide (2018); $4000 (Chief Investigator)

    Project entitled: Immunomodulatory effects of Emu Oil in a mouse model of colitis-associated colorectal cancer.
  6. Australian Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Grant (2018); $10,000 (Co-Principal investigator)

    Project entitled: Pain as assessed by facial grimace in the mouse (strain- C57BL/6)

 

Industry grants (last 5 years only)

  1. Oncology Research International Limited (ORIL; 2016); $150,000 (Co-Principal Investigator)

    Project entitled: Assessment of ORIL formulation in a mouse model of inflammation-associated colorectal cancer
  2. Story Pharmaceutics Pty Ltd (2015); $37,714 (Co-Principal Investigator)

    Project entitled: Emu Oil in combination with a test compound in a rat model of ulcerative colitis

Dr Mashtoub's dedication to education extends beyond her supervision of PhD, Honours, DVM, undergraduate and MD Advanced Studies students. Since 2009, Dr Mashtoub has adopted several teaching roles within the Adelaide Medical School (AMS) for MBBS Case Based Learning, Human Biology I, Principles of Human Health & Disease I, Physiology II and Investigative Cell Biology III and the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences (SAVS) for Animal Form & Function III. Additionally, Dr Mashtoub provides guest lectures for Fundamentals in Human Nutrition (AMS) and Statistics (SAVS).

Dr Mashtoub's passion for teaching was further defined during her Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education), completed at Flinders University in 2017. Dr Mashtoub explored various traditional and contemporary undergraduate pedagogical strategies that aim to encourage and foster self-regulated learning; concepts Dr Mashtoub extend towards her students in all teaching environments.

 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Principal Supervisor Clinical trial of orally-administered Emu Oil in children with ulcerative colitis. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Sisanda Nomcebo Mhlanga

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2017 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Emu Oil in Combination with Herbal Preparations Provides a Novel Adjunctive Approach to Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer Prevention Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Lauren Claire Chartier

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Novel approaches for treatment of infected wounds UniSA - Doctorate Full Time Miss Tahlia Kennewell

  • Board Memberships
    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2018 - ongoing Director STEM Centre Australia STEM Centre Australia Australia

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2023 - ongoing Member SALHN Medical Education & Training Committee SALHN Australia
    2023 - ongoing Member SALHN Junior Medical Advisory Committee SALHN Australia
    2023 - ongoing Member SALHN Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultural Events Working Group SALHN Australia
    2019 - ongoing Member MBBS Admissions Committee The University of Adelaide Australia
    2019 - ongoing Member Organising Committee (New Investigator subgroup) World Congress on Paediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility Australia
    2019 - ongoing Member NHMRC Ideas Grant Peer Review Panel NHMRC Australia
    2018 - 2018 Member MD Year 4 (Research Enquiry Project) Development Working Group The University of Adelaide Australia
    2017 - ongoing Member Animal Ethics (Medical) Committee (Category B Committee Member) The University of Adelaide Australia
    2017 - ongoing Member Animal Ethics Committee (Category B Committee Member) Women's and Children's Hospital Australia
    2015 - 2020 Member Nutrition Society of Australia (SA Branch) Nutrition Society of Australia Australia
    2012 - 2013 Member Australian Society for Medical Research (SA Branch) Australian Society for Medical Research Australia
    2010 - 2013 Member Consumer Reference Group General Practice Network South Australia

  • Community Engagement
    Date Title Engagement Type Institution Country
    2019 - ongoing Health & Human Rights Group Public Community Engagement Flinders University Australia
    2018 - 2020 'Talking with Aussies' program Public Community Engagement The University of Adelaide Australia
    2008 - 2013 Healthy Development Adelaide Education Program Public Community Engagement Healthy Development Adelaide Australia
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