Project Topic: Nutrition approaches for preventing post prandial falls in older adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Older adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes living in aged care experience high rates of disability, functional decline, and falls, reflecting complex interactions between ageing, nutrition, glycaemic control, and blood pressure regulation. Postprandial hypotension (PPH), a meal-related drop in blood pressure that is more common in people living with diabetes, is a major and under-recognised contributor to falls, syncope, and adverse health outcomes in this population and may account for up to 50% of falls in aged care settings. Nutritional strategies that slow and shift the digestive curve offer a promising, non-pharmacological approach to mitigating postprandial risk while supporting quality of life.

This PhD scholarship will support research trialling OMNI-D, a scientifically formulated pre-meal intervention to improve postprandial responses and reduce falls risk in older adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Potential PhD project areas include, but are not limited to the following:

• Clinical evaluation of OMNI-D in aged care residents, assessing effects on postprandial hypotension, falls incidence, and functional independence.
• Physiological studies examining how OMNI-D influences gastric emptying, glycaemic variability, and post-meal blood pressure regulation in older adults.
• Sarcopenia and muscle health studies assessing the effects of OMNI-D on muscle mass, strength, and physical function in older adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
• Feasibility research exploring acceptability, adherence, and integration of OMNI-D into routine aged care nutrition and diabetes management.
• Comparative dietary intervention studies assessing OMNI-D alongside standard meal-based strategies to reduce postprandial glycaemic and blood pressure fluctuations.
• Translational research using trial findings to inform evidence-based guidelines for managing postprandial risk and preventing disability in older adults with diabetes.

What will be provided:

• Funding to support a PhD stipend of $50,000 (AUD) per annum and a $10,000 Training and development package per annum for up to 3 years
• Additional funding to support any clinical research requirements as part of the PhD studies
• Supervision support from Diabetes Australia and Myopharm as part of the PhD student supervisory panel for up to 3 years.
• Supervise the student to undertake an industry engagement component and access to industry facilities and infrastructure where required to complete the project.

What the University will be required to provide:

• Allocation of a university researcher to supervise the PhD student for to 3 years
• Advertise, recruit and enrol the PhD student
• Provide access to required facilities and infrastructure
• Provide a domestic fee offset for the PhD student
• Monitor and assess the student in accordance with the university’s Higher Degree by Research policies
• Fund university supervisor travel, accommodation and ancillary expenses if required for the project
• Pay the student their scholarship from the commencement of their project.

How to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI):

Prepare and submit an EOI with the following details:

1. Proposed Project Title
2. University Name, ABN and Address
3. Graduate Research School Name where research will be conducted
4. Proposed University Supervisor/s and contract details
5. Statement of confirmation of approval from the Head of School or Authorising Delegate
6. 500 word summary of proposed project, including:
   • scope and direction of the project and proposed experiment
   • main activities and outputs of the student and their expected timeline
   • any additional resources (infrastructure) required to deliver the activities and outputs listed above.

Submit your EOI in MS Word format via email to: [email protected], with a subject title “Nutrition approaches for preventing post prandial falls in older adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes”.