July 2025

Primary Supervisor: A/Prof Sokcheon Pak
Location: Bathurst/Orange
Keywords: Orthostatic Intolerance; Long COVID; HSOP; Dysautonomia; Tachycardia; Brain Fog.
Project availability: Available currently

Synopsis:

This observational study aims to assess the effects of plasmalogens on the cognitive function in children and adolescents with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

POTS is a form of orthostatic intolerance and a chronic disorder of the autonomic nervous system. Patients with POTS frequently experience sinus tachycardia with a sustained increase in heart rate (HR) of more than 30 beats per minute (bpm) upon standing (≥ 40 bpm in individuals under 19 years old), while maintaining normal blood pressure (Vernino et al., 2021). Such sinus tachycardia is also not caused by any other underlying medical conditions, such as anaemia, hyperthyroidism, dehydration, pain, fever, or infections.

Participants (N = 12, aged 8–18 years) will consume a scallop oil plasmalogens supplement (HSOP) at a dose of 0.5 or 1 mg daily for 90 days. Serum plasmalogens level, cognitive function, heart rates, and quality of life will be assessed before and after the intervention. This pilot trial will provide preliminary findings to inform the potential use of plasmalogens supplementation in managing POTS.

Proposal Document

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting A/Prof Sokcheon Pak

Primary Supervisor: Dr Boris Budiono & A/Prof Abishek Santhakumar
Location: Wagga Wagga
Keywords: cardiovascular disease, ischaemia reperfusion injury, mitochondrial dynamics, antioxidants, polyphenols
Research Group: Food as Medicine (FAM) Research Group

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of global mortality, largely driven by modifiable factors such as diet and exercise. Integrating bioactive-rich cereal grains into the diet is an emerging strategy to support cardiovascular health.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a climate-resilient staple in Africa and Asia that promotes food security. While its general health benefits are well documented, its role in reducing CVD risk—especially in protecting against ischemia-reperfusion injury, preserving cardiac mitochondrial function, and maintaining endothelial integrity—remains underexplored. Moreover, the influence of sorghum on neutrophil extracellular traps, key mediators in CVD progression, is not yet fully understood.

This study will fill these gaps by examining how sorghum-derived phenolic compounds impact CVD risk factors. Polyphenols will be extracted from whole grain sorghum and identified using UHPLC-Online ABTS and LC-MS/QTOF. In vitro models will assess their effects on molecular pathways linked to cardiovascular health using transcriptomic and proteomic techniques.

Findings will support the therapeutic potential of sorghum, expand its agricultural value, and drive innovation in heart-protective functional foods.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Boris Budiono

Month: July 2025

Plasmalogens supplementation and cognitive function in children and adolescents with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: An observational study

The impact of sorghum phenolic compounds on risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD)