Hydrogel delivery systems for vaccine delivery in production animals

About the project

The vaccination of production animals is essential to ensuring a secure food chain, and providing improved animal health, welfare and productivity. As currently observed in the USA (and Australia in 2024), viral outbreaks (e.g., bird flu) lead to animal culls that can cause major disruption to food availability and cost (e.g., eggs). However, the current administration of vaccines for production animals has poor efficacy. For example, layer hens receive multiple types of vaccines (e.g., killed, fixed or attenuated microbes and viruses) for immunisation against different diseases, with each vaccine requiring multiple doses. These vaccines may be administered as a coarse spray, in drinking water or feed, as well as through direct injection.

Vaccine administration requires multiple handling events that stress the animals, leading to lost productivity and presenting potential biosecurity risks. Additionally, current vaccination regimes often fail to provide long-lasting immunity, leading to reduced production lifespans. Therefore, the poultry industry is looking for solutions that allow multiple vaccines to be administered once in a single injection that results in a robust, life-long immune response. Reduced animal handling and improved immunity will also have a positive impact on animal welfare. 

A potential solution involves the formulation of vaccines within an injectable hydrogel that provides sustained release of multiple different vaccines and adjuvants over a period of several weeks, ensuring a strong immune response that provides long-lasting immunity. Importantly, sustained release allows vaccines to be administered in a single injection without overwhelming the immune system. 

To address this challenge we have partnered with Australian Eggs, Marinova, the CRC for Marine Bioproducts and several vaccine manufacturers (Tréidlia Biovet and Bioproperties). The objective is to develop a hydrogel delivery system that boosts the efficacy of vaccines in layer hens. 

What you’ll do

The anticipated outcome is a novel hydrogel formulation that can be used to deliver multiple vaccines in a single administration and provide a robust, life-long immune response. The project will generate a deep knowledge of how the formulation can be tuned to optimise vaccine delivery. While this initial project focuses on layer hens, this technology would also be widely applicable to other production animals. 

To ensure real world impact and a pathway to translation we have engaged with major companies and consortiums. Australian Eggs is Australia's largest producer owned corporation and is provided resources for in vivo and field trials. Tréidlia Biovet and Bioproperties are vaccine producers; as well as providing vaccines for the project, they offer a route to translation and will be providing advice. Marinova will provide access to vaccine adjuvants. 

Together, Marinova and the CRC for Marine Bioproducts are funding the research. Given the significant involvement of end-users, we expect the student to have opportunities to conduct industry placements. This project will establish a strong relationship with these partners and provide the foundation for future research funding and product development. Given the significant commercial potential of this work, it is anticipated that this project will result in patents. In addition, it is expected that the project will result in high impact publications and opportunities for the student to present their research at conferences. 

Where you’ll be based

At the local level, this project complements and will advance the Applied Chemistry and Translational Biomaterials (ACTB) Group's agenda to develop innovative therapeutic delivery systems. This is an area in which the group has been active for many years and built strong reputations with the research community and end-users. e.g., we have previously developed hydrogel for the delivery of immunotherapies in collaboration with the Cell Therapy Manufacturing CRC and Carina Biotechnology. The ACTB group is part of the Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, which provides a supporting and inclusive environment for PhD students to collaborate and learn. 

The project aligns closely with UniSA's Enterprise25 plan, strategic priorities 1, 3 and 4, and Adelaide University Signature Research Themes, 'Food, Agriculture and Wine', 'Sustainable Green Transition' and 'Personal and Societal Health'. 

At the federal level, this project aligns with the $22M `Australia's National AMR Strategy 2020 and Beyond' (https://www.amr.gov.au/resources/australiasnationalantimicrobialresistancestrategy2020andbeyond). 

The objectives and scope of the project also address the findings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture report on food security (Australian Food Story: Feeding the Nation and Beyond, A national food security strategy, 2023). 

The project is aligned with priorities of our end users. Specifically, the CRC for Marine Bioproducts and Marinova, who want to accelerate and expand the use of Australian marine bioproducts in commercial products, providing benefits to the Australian economy. The project will contribute significantly to the priorities of Australian Eggs, who want to provide greater animal productivity and welfare while ensuring the security of food supply chains. The project will also build sovereign capacity and develop new products that support Australian vaccine manufacturers. Financial Support 

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $35,200 per annum is available to Australian and New Zealand citizens, and permanent residents of Australia, including permanent humanitarian visa holders. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $52,352 per annum (2025 rate). A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information. International applicants are not invited to apply at this time.

Eligibility and Selection

This project is open to applications from Australian or New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents or permanent humanitarian visa holders. International applicants are not invited to apply at this time.

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a Master of Research. 

Additionally, applicants must meet the project selection criteria: 

• Science degree with a major in chemistry or pharmaceutical Sciences

All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project. A merit selection process will be used to determine the successful candidate.

The successful applicant is expected to study full-time and to be based at our City East campus in the heart of Adelaide. 

Essential Dates 

Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer. Extended deferral periods are not available. Applications close on Monday 11 August 2025.