Associate Professor Robyn Marsh
Principal Research Fellow, Child and Maternal Health Division
Qualifications:
PhD, Charles Darwin University, 2012; MSc, Northern Territory University, 2001; BAppSc(MLS), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, 1994.
Approved level of HDR supervision at Charles Darwin University:
Primary Supervisor
Location:
Darwin - Royal Darwin Hospital
Biography:
Associate Professor Robyn Marsh’s research aims to improve understanding of microbial factors that contribute to the onset, progression and persistence of chronic lung and middle ear infections affecting children. She is specifically interested in understanding how bacteria in complex polymicrobial communities contribute to the onset and progression of chronic mucosal infections.
Her research draws together bacterial, viral and biofilm studies to achieve better understanding of the microbial ecology of chronic respiratory and ear infections. This includes application of OMICs technologies to characterize the structure and function of upper and lower airway bacterial communities. The long-term aim of this research is to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and manage chronic lung and ear infections.
Research Themes
- Child and Maternal Health
- Paediatric Respiratory Microbiome
- PBB Breath: Novel diagnostic tools for management of chronic wet cough in children
- Marsh RL, Binks MJ, Smith-Vaughan HC, Janka M, Clark S, Richmond P, Chang AB, Thornton RB. Prevalence and subtyping of biofilms present in bronchoalveolar lavage from children with protracted bacterial bronchitis or non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: a cross-sectional study. The Lancet Microbe. 2022; 3:e215-e223.
- Coleman A, Bialasiewicz S, Marsh RL, Grahn Håkansson EG, Cottrell K, Wood A, Jayasundara N, Ware RS, Zaugg J, Sidjabat HE, Adamas J, Ferguson J, Brown M, Roos K, Cervin A. Upper respiratory microbiota in relation to ear and nose health among Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. J Ped Infect Dis Soc. 2021; 10:468-476.
- Broderick DTJ, Waite DW, Marsh RL, Camargo Jr CA, Cardenas P, Chang AB, Cookson WOC, Cuthbertson L, Dai W, Everard ML, Gervaix A, Kirk-Harris J, Hasegawa K, Hoffman LR, Hong SJ, Josset L, Kelly MS, Kim BS, Kong Y, Li SC, Mansbach JM, Mejias A, O’Toole GA, Paalanen L, Pérez-Losada M, Pettigrew MM, Pichon M, Ramilo O, Ruokolainen L, Sakwinska O, Seed PC, van der Gast CJ, Wagner BD, Yi H, Zemanick ET, Zheng Y, Pillarisetti N, Taylor MW. Bacterial signatures of paediatric respiratory disease: a 16S rRNA meta-analysis based on individual participant data. Front Microbiol. 2021;12:711134.
- Marsh RL, Aho C, Beissbarth J, Bialasiewicz S, Binks M, Cervin A, Kirkham LS, Lemon KP, Slack MPE, Smith-Vaughan HC. Panel 4: Recent advances in understanding the natural history of the otitis media microbiome and its response to environmental pressures. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2020;130 Suppl 1:109836.
- Lawrence KA, Harris TM, Salter SJ, Hall RW, Smith-Vaughan HC, Chang AB, Marsh RL. Method for culturing Candidatus Ornithobacterium hominis. J Microbiol Methods. 2019;159:157-60.
- Marsh RL, Smith-Vaughan HC, Chen ACH, Marchant JM, Yerkovich ST, Gibson PG, Pizzutto SJ, Hodge S, Upham JW, Chang AB. Multiple respiratory microbiota profiles are associated with lower airway inflammation in children with protracted bacterial bronchitis. Chest. 2019;155(4):778-86.
- Nelson MT, Pope CE, Marsh RL, Wolter DJ, Weiss EJ, Hager KR, Vo AT, Brittnacher MJ, Radey MC, Hayden HS, Eng A, Miller SI, Borenstein E, Hoffman LR. Human and extracellular DNA depletion for metagenomic analysis of complex clinical infection samples yields optimized viable microbiome profiles. Cell reports. 2019;26(8):2227-40 e5.
- Marsh RL, Nelson MT, Pope CE, Leach AJ, Hoffman LR, Chang AB, Smith-Vaughan HC. How low can we go? The implications of low bacterial load in respiratory microbiota studies. Pneumonia. 2018;10:7.
- Coleman A, Wood A, Bialasiewicz S, Ware RS, Marsh RL, Cervin A. The unsolved problem of otitis media in indigenous populations: a systematic review of upper respiratory and middle ear microbiology in indigenous children with otitis media. Microbiome. 2018;6(1):199.
- Marsh RL, Kaestli M, Chang AB, Binks MJ, Pope CE, Hoffman LR, Smith-Vaughan HC. The microbiota in bronchoalveolar lavage from young children with chronic lung disease includes taxa present in both the oropharynx and nasopharynx. Microbiome. 2016;4(1):37.
Click here to view more Robyn Marsh publications in PubMed and google scholar page.
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Bacterial biofilms hold back effective treatment in kids’ lung infections
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Study finds biofilm link to persistent wet cough in children
According to those involved in the collaboration between Menzies School of Health Research, the Telethon Kids Institute and the University of Western Australia (UWA), there had previously been ‘scant data’ to support the theory.
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Media release | Bacterial slime causing persistent wet coughs for children
New research has led to a breakthrough in understanding an important driver of recurrent chest infections in children.
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The West Australian | New research sheds light on kids' coughs
Children who experience a nasty and persistent wet cough may be affected by an antibiotic-resistant slime, new research suggests.
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Preventing infant wheeze and childhood asthma
A new $1.6 million Australian-UK world-first project aimed at preventing wheeze in preschool children and potentially asthma in later childhood by using an orally administered bacteria lysate to boost immune systems has been announced.
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Media Release | Opportunities for the next generation of local scientists
A new training centre aimed at developing a sustainable, local biomedical and health sciences workforce has been launched at Menzies School of Health Research.
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NT News | $300k raised to assist in bridging gap
SMALL acts of charity and an AFL legend from the Territory have played a crucial role in raising $300,000 for five new traineeships at a cutting-edge research centre in Darwin.
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CDU Origins Edition 1 2020 | Award secures future of NT biomedical services
Associate Professor Heidi Smith-Vaughan and her Menzies team are using the 2019 biennial Ramaciotti Biomedical Research Award to establish a sustainable centre for excellence focussing on biomedical career entry and progression for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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2019 Ramaciotti AWARD WINNER
View a short film of the 2019 Ramaciotti BioMedical Research Award recipients.
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Ramaciotti Biomedical Award worth $1 million granted to Northern Territory research team
The biennial Ramaciotti Biomedical Research Award, worth $1 million, has been granted to a biomedical research team at the Menzies School of Health Research, based in Darwin.
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Ramaciotti Foundations recognise strides in Australian-based research
Professor Heidi Smith-Vaughan and her team at Menzies have been awarded the biennial Ramaciotti Biomedical Research Award, worth $1 million.
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Large donation for vital research
The generous staff at Darwin Airport have donated $13,000 to Menzies School of Health Research to go towards the purchase of Anaerobic Chamber.
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Anaerobic Chamber to help improve lives of Indigenous Children.
The Chamber is a crucial piece of equipment for growing anaerobic bacteria that can be found in children under the age of 5 with middle ear infections and chronic lung disease.
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NHMRC features Menzies' researcher Robyn Marsh
NHMRC Frank Fenner early career fellowship winner Robyn Marsh talks about her research experience.
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Territory researchers win national awards
Two researchers from Menzies School of Health Research were recognised for their contribution to the science community at the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Gala Dinner held at Parliament House in Canberra last night.