Dr Virginie Gaget

Grant-Funded Research Fellow

School of Medicine

College of Health

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


Dr Gaget is a senior researcher within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Adelaide with over 15 years of experience in microbial ecology. Her main research interest is to develop new microbial interventions to improve health outcomes of patients with chronic or severe diseases, by unveiling the role of the human microbiome in disease onset.

BACKGROUND: 

Dr Gaget has an expertise of over 15 years in microbiology and microbial ecology. After graduating from a PhD in Microbiology and Virology from Universite Paris VII and the Pasteur Institute, she moved to Adelaide to work on toxic microalgae in collaboration with local water utilities and government agencies. Over the course of 12 years, her method development and pioneer work on benthic cyanobacteria made her a recognised expert in the field both nationally and internationally. During this time, she led large collaborative research projects (n>10 partners by projects at times), in Australia, South-East Asia and North America, one of which led to the development of the first monitoring guidelines for drinking water that include benthic cyanobacteria as a toxic risk.

After over a decade working on water-associated public health issues, Dr Gaget is now applying her skills to medical sciences. She transitioned to health and medical sciences by working in Health Technology assessment for three years at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (ASERNIP-S), reviewing new interventions for the Australian and Swiss Governments. This appointment provided her skills and knowledge in research translation, trial design and critical study and medical data assessment. Silmutaneously, she coordinated an MRFF project looking at the medical and social impact of mobile radiology for patients living in residential aged care facilities. This project led to recommendations for the deployment and funding of mobile X-ray services to residential aged care facilities in Australia.

 

CURRENT RESEARCH:

Dr Gaget is currently coordinating a world-first clinical trial (project MRFF2024316) aiming to improve symptoms and health outcomes in patients with non-resectable pancreatic cancer by using faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a co-treatment to chemotherapy. Lack of symptoms, means that pancreatic cancer often presents at an advanced stage, reducing opportunities to treat it efficiently. As a result, the survival rate still remains low (25% will survive 1 year after diagnosis and 12% will survive >5 years after diagnosis), while incidence is steadily increasing in the population including in individuals younger than 50 years old. A recent animal study demonstrated that FMT from a healthy control or a long-term survivor of pancreatic cancer significantly decreases the size of tumours. This clinical trial aims to test the safety of FMT for patients with pancreatic cancers. If the results from the animal study can be replicated during this trial, this new microbial intervention could bring new hope to a growing cohort of vulnerable patients. 

https://www.adelaide.edu.au/newsroom/news/list/2025/05/21/participants-needed-for-world-first-pancreatic-cancer-study

Dr Gaget is also currently applying for funding to look at microbial interventions or manipulations for other diseases including oral cancers, endometriosis and cystic fibrosis.

Date Position Institution name
2020 - ongoing Senior researcher University of Adelaide
2019 - 2020 Research officer Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
2017 - 2019 Post-Doctoral Fellow University of Adelaide
2012 - 2017 ARC Post-Doctoral Fellow University of Adelaide
2010 - 2012 Research Post-Doctoral Fellow SA Water
2008 - 2009 Research Post-Doc Fellow Veolia Environment

Language Competency
English Can read, write, speak and peer review
French Can read, write, speak and peer review
German Can understand spoken

Date Institution name Country Title
2004 - 2008 Paris Diderot University France PhD in Microbiology and Virology
2003 - 2004 University Nancy I France Masters degree in Water Chemistry and Microbiology
2002 - 2003 University of La Rochelle France Honours in Marine Ecology
1999 - 2002 Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 / University of La Rochelle France Bachelor degree in Biological Sciences

Date Title Institution Country
2009 - 2009 Cyanobacterial bloom dynamics, production and control of odour metabolites in Chinese and Australian Reservoirs Australian Water Quality Centre Australia
2003 - 2004 High sensitive real-time PCR for the detection of Legionella pneumophila and Legionella spp. In drinking water supplies and conditioned water University of Paris-Sud, Orsay France
2003 - 2003 Impact of Foraminifera populations on benthic bacterial communities of Aiguillon Bay (France) Foraminifera’s impact on benthic bacterial communities of Aiguillon Bay (France) University of La Rochelle, La Rochelle France
2003 - 2003 Enumeration of pelagic and benthic viral populations present in Aiguillon Bay: comparison of abundance and morphology (France) University of La Rochelle, La Rochelle France

Date Title Institution name Country
2011 Quarantine Accredited staff AQIS Australia
Coxswain II AMFA Australia

Year Citation
2026 Gaget, V., Hobson, P., Keneally, C. C., Monis, P., Tan, X., Humpage, A. R., . . . Brookes, J. D. (2026). Linking the benthic and planktonic realms: A year survey with implications for the routine monitoring of cyanobacteria.. Journal of applied microbiology, lxag026.
DOI
2025 Keneally, C., Chilton, D., Dornan, T. N., Kidd, S. P., Gaget, V., Toomes, A., . . . Brookes, J. D. (2025). Multi-omics reveal microbial succession and metabolomic adaptations to flood in a hypersaline coastal lagoon.. Water Research, 280, 123511-1-123511-11.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC2
2025 Inacio, M. C., Jorissen, R. N., Gaget, V., Tivey, D. R., Dollard, J., Visvanathan, R., & Maddern, G. J. (2025). Utilisation of mobile X-ray services by residents of long-term care facilities. Internal Medicine Journal, 55(6), 951-958.
DOI
2025 Keneally, C., Gaget, V., Chilton, D., Kidd, S. P., Mosley, L., Welsh, D. T., . . . Brookes, J. (2025). Microbial ecology in hypersaline coastal lagoons: A model for climate-induced coastal salinisation and eutrophication. Earth-Science Reviews, 266, 105150-1-105150-14.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2024 Keneally, C., Southgate, M., Chilton, D., Gaget, V., Welsh, D. T., Mosley, L., . . . Brookes, J. (2024). Organic matter accumulation drives methylotrophic methanogenesis and microbial ecology in a hypersaline coastal lagoon. Limnology and Oceanography, 69(9), 1970-1983.
DOI Scopus12 WoS12
2024 Keneally, C., Gaget, V., Kidd, S. P., & Brookes, J. (2024). Sample Preservation Solution Increases Nucleic Acid Yield and Environmental RNA Quality in Sediments Across an Estuarine Salinity Gradient. Environmental DNA, 6(5), e70016-1-e70016-11.
DOI Scopus5 WoS3
2023 Dollard, J., Edwards, J., Yadav, L., Gaget, V., Tivey, D., Maddern, G. J., & Visvanathan, R. (2023). Mobile X-ray services in nursing homes as an enabler to healthcare-in-place for residents: informal carers' views. BMC Geriatrics, 23(1), 458-1-458-11.
DOI Scopus6 WoS7 Europe PMC8
2023 Dollard, J., Edwards, J., Yadav, L., Gaget, V., Tivey, D., Inacio, M. C., . . . Visvanathan, R. (2023). Economic and cost considerations of delivering and using mobile X-ray services in residential aged care facilities: A qualitative study. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 42(4), 710-719.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC2
2023 Gaget, V., Inacio, M. C., Tivey, D. R., Jorissen, R. N., Babidge, W. J., Visvanathan, R., & Maddern, G. J. (2023). Trends in utilisation of ultrasound by older Australians (2010-2019). BMC Geriatrics, 23(1), 1-9.
DOI
2022 Gaget, V., Almuhtaram, H., Kibuye, F., Hobson, P., Zamyadi, A., Wert, E., & Brookes, J. D. (2022). Benthic cyanobacteria: A utility-centred field study. Harmful Algae, 113, 11 pages.
DOI Scopus23 WoS22 Europe PMC11
2022 Gaget, V., Inacio, M. C., Tivey, D. R., Jorissen, R. N., Babidge, W., Visvanathan, R., & Maddern, G. J. (2022). Trends in utilisation of plain X-rays by older Australians (2010-2019). BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 100-1-100-9.
DOI Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC7
2022 Inacio, M. C., Jorissen, R. N., Gaget, V., Tivey, D. R., Visvanathan, R., & Maddern, G. J. (2022). The Utilization and National Variation of Plain X-Ray Services by Australian Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities.. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 23(9), 1564-1572.
DOI Scopus5 WoS3 Europe PMC5
2022 Dollard, J., Edwards, J., Yadav, L., Gaget, V., Tivey, D., Inacio, M., . . . Visvanathan, R. (2022). Residents' perspectives of mobile X-ray services in support of healthcare-in-place in residential aged care facilities: a qualitative study. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 525-1-525-9.
DOI Scopus9 WoS8 Europe PMC8
2022 Dollard, J., Edwards, J., Yadav, L., Gaget, V., Tivey, D., Inacio, M., . . . Visvanathan, R. (2022). Stakeholders' perspectives of mobile x-ray services in support of healthcare-in-place in residential aged care facilities: a qualitative study. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1, article no. 700), 700-1-700-7.
DOI Scopus6 WoS5 Europe PMC5
2021 Almuhtaram, H., Kibuye, F. A., Ajjampur, S., Glover, C. M., Hofmann, R., Gaget, V., . . . Zamyadi, A. (2021). State of knowledge on early warning tools for cyanobacteria detection. Ecological Indicators, 133, 108442-1-108442-16.
DOI Scopus59 WoS53
2021 Kibuye, F. A., Almuhtaram, H., Zamyadi, A., Gaget, V., Owen, C., Hofmann, R., & Wert, E. C. (2021). Utility practices and perspectives on monitoring and source control of cyanobacterial blooms. AWWA Water Science, 3(6), 26 pages.
DOI Scopus10 WoS8
2021 Inacio, M. C., Jorissen, R. N., Gaget, V., Tivey, D. R., Visvanathan, R., Karnon, J., & Maddern, G. J. (2021). National spending and uptake of mobile radiology services in aged care facilities: an opportunity to improve access remains. Internal Medicine Journal, 51(12), 2157-2159.
DOI Scopus5 WoS4 Europe PMC5
2020 Gaget, V., Hobson, P., Keulen, A., Newton, K., Monis, P., Humpage, A. R., . . . Brookes, J. D. (2020). Toolbox for the sampling and monitoring of benthic cyanobacteria. Water Research, 169(115222), 115222-1-115222-13.
DOI Scopus27 WoS28 Europe PMC13
2019 Breed, M. F., Harrison, P., Blyth, C., Byrne, M., Gaget, V., Gellie, N., . . . Mohr, J. (2019). The potential of genomics for restoring ecosystems and biodiversity. Nature Reviews Genetics, 20(10), 615-628.
DOI Scopus204 WoS186 Europe PMC105
2017 Gaget, V., Chiu, Y., Lau, M., & Humpage, A. (2017). From an environmental sample to a long-lasting culture: the steps to better isolate and preserve cyanobacterial strains. Journal of Applied Phycology, 29(1), 309-321.
DOI Scopus14 WoS11
2017 Gaget, V., Keulen, A., Lau, M., Monis, P., & Brookes, J. (2017). DNA extraction from benthic Cyanobacteria: comparative assessment and optimization. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 122(1), 294-304.
DOI Scopus22 WoS17 Europe PMC15
2017 Gaget, V., Lau, M., Sendall, B., Froscio, S., & Humpage, A. (2017). Cyanotoxins: which detection technique for an optimum risk assessment?. Water Research, 118, 227-238.
DOI Scopus64 WoS61 Europe PMC36
2017 Gaget, V., Humpage, A., Huang, Q., Monis, P., & Brookes, J. (2017). Benthic cyanobacteria: a source of cylindrospermopsin and microcystin in Australian drinking water reservoirs. Water Research, 124, 454-464.
DOI Scopus96 WoS88 Europe PMC52
2016 Pestana, C., Reeve, P., Sawade, E., Voldoire, C., Newton, K., Praptiwi, R., . . . Newcombe, G. (2016). Fate of cyanobacteria in drinking water treatment plant lagoon supernatant and sludge. Science of the Total Environment, 565, 1192-1200.
DOI Scopus41 WoS38 Europe PMC24
2015 Gaget, V., Welker, M., Rippka, R., & Tandeau de Marsac, N. (2015). Response to: “Comments on: “A polyphasic approach leading to the revision of the genus Planktothrix (Cyanobacteria) and its type species, P. agardhii, and proposal for integrating the emended valid botanical taxa, as well as three new species, Planktothrix paucivesiculata sp. nov.ICNP, Planktothrix tepida sp. nov.ICNP, and Planktothrix serta sp. nov.ICNP, as genus and species names with nomenclature standing under the ICNP,” by V. Gaget, M. Welker, R. Rippka, and N. Tandeau de Marsac, Syst. Appl. Microbiol. (2015),. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 38(5), 368-370.
DOI Scopus3 WoS4 Europe PMC3
2015 Gaget, V., Welker, M., Rippka, R., & de Marsac, N. (2015). A polyphasic approach leading to the revision of the genus Planktothrix (Cyanobacteria) and its type species, P. agardhii, and proposal for integrating the emended valid botanical taxa, as well as three new species, Planktothrix paucivesiculata sp. nov.ICNP, Planktothrix tepida sp. nov.ICNP, and Planktothrix serta sp. nov.ICNP, as genus and species names with nomenclatural standing under the ICNP. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 38(3), 141-158.
DOI Scopus38
2015 Gaget, V., Welker, M., Rippka, R., & Tandeau de Marsac, N. (2015). A polyphasic approach leading to the revision of the genus Planktothrix (Cyanobacteria) and its type species, P. agardhii, and proposal for integrating the emended valid botanical taxa, as well as three new species, Planktothrix paucivesiculata sp. nov.<sup>ICNP</sup>, Planktothrix tepida sp. nov.<sup>ICNP</sup>, and Planktothrix serta sp. nov.<sup>ICNP</sup>, as genus and species names with nomenclature standing under the ICNP. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 38(5), 368-370.
DOI
2013 Su, M., Gaget, V., Giglio, S., Burch, M., An, W., & Yang, M. (2013). Establishment of quantitative PCR methods for the quantification of geosmin-producing potential and Anabaena sp. in freshwater systems. Water Research, 47(10), 3444-3454.
DOI Scopus48 WoS44 Europe PMC17
2013 Gaget, V., Welker, M., Rippka, R., & de Marsac, N. T. (2013). A polyphasic approach leading to the revision of the genus Planktothrix (Cyanobacteria) and its type species, P. agardhii, and proposal for integrating the emended valid botanical taxa, as well as three new species, Planktothrix paucivesiculata sp. nov.ICNP, Planktothrix tepida sp. nov.ICNP, and Planktothrix serta sp. nov.ICNP, as genus and species names with nomen. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 38(3), 141-158.
DOI WoS33 Europe PMC22
2011 Gaget, V., Gribaldo, S., & De Marsac, N. (2011). An rpoB signature sequence provides unique resolution for the molecular typing of cyanobacteria. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 61(1), 170-183.
DOI Scopus27 WoS21 Europe PMC11
2006 Lenes, D., Gaget, V., Delabre, K., De Marsac, N. T., & Roche, P. (2006). Toxic cyanobacteria problems in water consumption. Techniques - Sciences - Methodes, (7-8), 67-79.

Year Citation
2025 Keneally, C. (2025). Salinity-Dependent Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemical Dynamics in a Degraded Hypersaline Coastal Lagoon. (PhD Thesis, The University of Adelaide).
2020 Keneally, C. (2020). Towards Recovery of the Coorong: A Framework for Investigating Denitrification, Diversity & Other Functional Roles of Microbial Communities in Hypersaline Sediments. (Undergraduate Dissertation).

Year Citation
- Keneally, C., Gaget, V., Kidd, S., & Brookes, J. (n.d.). <b>Publication Raw Data - </b><b>Sample preservation solution increases nucleic acid yield and environmental RNA quality in sediments across an estuarine salinity gradient</b>.
DOI

1) Funded category one projects:

  • Maddern G., Price T., Bryant R., Costello S., Gaget V., Kuan, L-L., Hugh, T., Afzali H. 2022. Faecal Microbiota Transplantation to improve pain, symptom management and treatment efficacy in patients with pancreatic cancer. 2022 MRFF Pancreatic Cancer Research Stream 1. Experimental design, team building, partner engagement, proposal writing. ($1.5M)
  • Brookes J., Humpage A. , Burch M., Monis P. , Lin T-F. 2012. Bad tastes, odours and toxins in our drinking water reservoirs: are benthic cyanobacteria the culprits? ARC-Linkage grant. Experimental design, proposal writing. Preferred candidate. ($1.2M including partner contributions)

2) Other external sources of funding:

  • Wert E., Zamyadi A., Gaget V., Owen C., Hofmann R. 2018. Developing guidance for assessment and evaluation of algal blooms, and implementation of control strategies in source water. Experimental design, proposal writing. (US$200K)
  • Gaget V., Brookes J., Van der Linden L. and Monis P. 2016. Benthic algae: a toxic risk to be evaluated. Research for 13 program, Water Research Australia initiative – funding by the industry and governmental agencies including the Water Research Foundation (USA). Experimental design, team building, partner engagement, proposal writing. ($347K)
  • Humpage A. CyanoSurvey project. 2009. Water Research Australia grant - experimental design and participation in proposal writing. ($1.4M)

I am qualified to supervise HDR students. Currently co-supervising one PhD student and a fifth year medical school student.

I taught lectures in microbial ecology and microbiology in the School of Biological Sciences (2013-2019).

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2023 - 2025 Co-Supervisor Salinity-Dependant Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemical Dynamics in a Degraded Hypersaline Coastal Lagoon Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Christopher Clement Keneally

Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
2023 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Systematic reviews (surgery) University of Adelaidfe Adelaide Medical School (5th year) Other - Na Yeon Kim
2018 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Freshwater Microbial Ecology University of Adelaide Summer Scholarship Other Part Time Christopher Keneally

Date Engagement Type Partner Name
2017 - ongoing Consultant SeqWater
2017 - ongoing Consultant Melbourne Water
2017 - ongoing Consultant Barwon Water
2017 - ongoing Consultant Tasmania Water
2017 - ongoing Consultant Hunter Water
2017 - ongoing Consultant PUB, Singapore
2017 - ongoing Consultant Water Research Foundation (USA)
2012 - ongoing Consultant Water New South Wales
2010 - ongoing Consultant Water Research Australia
2008 - ongoing Consultant South Australia Water Corporation

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