PhD project: Economic burden of cardiometabolic diseases and evaluations of novel preventive strategies for their complications

The Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations (ACADI) in collaboration with the Health Economics Unit at the University of Melbourne and the Health Economics Research Centre at the University of Oxford invites applications for a PhD scholar to contribute to a collaborative research project funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). The aim of the project is to systematically assess the distribution of health expenditure across cardiometabolic diseases and their complications, and health and economic impact of emerging interventions for disease-related complications.

The PhD research project will have a special focus on the economic burden of diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease from an Australian health system perspective, in comparison with other countries such as the UK and New Zealand, where nationally linked health data are available. The economic evaluations will involve the use of patient-level models to simulate effects of novel interventions on disease progression and occurrence of disease-specific complications, with a special focus on diabetic kidney disease.

Funding is available to provide the PhD student with a scholarship of $31,000 per annum, potentially over 3 to 3.5 years. Additional financial support is available through research and teaching assistance along with opportunities for funded travels. Scholarship applicants must be eligible for acceptance by the University of Melbourne into a PhD programme. The PhD eligibility process must have commenced at the time of submitting the scholarship application. The scholarship will be offered to the successful applicant, conditional upon acceptance into the PhD programme at the University of Melbourne in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health. Applicants must have qualifications considered to be equivalent to a master’s degree or a four-year bachelor degree in Health Economics or a health-related discipline which includes a substantial research component equivalent to at least 25% of one year of full-time study and have achieved a minimum weighted average of 80% or equivalent taking into account work experience and publications. Further information on entry requirements is provided here.

The successful candidate will be based at the Health Economics Unit and supervised by Dr An Duy Tran (Health Economics Unit, University of Melbourne), Prof Elif Ekinci (Director of ACADI, University of Melbourne) and Prof Philip Clarke (Director of Health Economics Research Centre, University of Oxford). The advisory committee will comprise leading experts in health economics and non-communicable diseases.

How to apply: Applications will be considered upon the provision of the following information:

·         Your CV (2 pages maximum);

·         Certified copies of your academic transcripts;

·         A cover letter outlining your relevant qualifications and experience along with a summary of your motivations for and goals in undertaking a PhD project;

·         Evidence of English language proficiency if applicable;

·         An example of research writing if available.

Applications should also be forwarded via email to Dr An Duy Tran at an.tran@unimelb.edu.au.

If you are not a current student at the University of Melbourne and would like to have information about how to apply to become a PhD candidate at the University, please visit the Graduate Research website.

Further enquiries: If you have any questions about the PhD program or the application process please email An Duy Tran at an.tran@unimelb.edu.au. If you have questions about the scholarship please contact Ms Lindsay Boardman-Bradley at lindsay.boardmanbradley@unimelb.edu.au.

Closing date: 25 September 2023 11:55 PM AUS Eastern Standard Time