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Muscle mass is important for maintaining strength, function, and quality of life during and after cancer treatment. However, muscle loss occurs in up to 70% of cancer patients, and it increases the risk of cancer treatment toxicities and poorer treatment outcomes. Consequently, cancer patients have compromised muscle mass and are highly susceptible to ongoing side effects that reduce quality of life.

Several cancer care guidelines emphasise the importance of nutrition and exercise strategies in counteracting muscle loss, but the equations used to date do not consider muscle mass and potentially over predict actual energy requirements.

This PhD project will aim to evaluate the influence of muscle mass, and proxies for predicting muscle mass, in estimated energy requirements for clinical practice. This project would suit applications with a background in nutrition and dietetics and oncology. Applicants will be required to undertake training in measuring body composition and based in Melbourne (or greater suburbs).

Applicants should have a minimum of upper second class honours or the equivalent as outlined on the research degrees and master’s entry pathways page.

Interested students must be based in Australia, eligible for enrolment in a PhD program at Deakin University and eligible to apply for an Australian Postgraduate Award or equivalent. Please refer to the entry pathways to higher degrees by research for further information. We will work with suitably qualified applicants to apply for scholarship funding. 

For more information, please contact:

Dr Brenton Baguley

Victoria Cancer Agency Early Career Research Fellow

b.baguley@deakin.edu.au