Miss Olivia Carroll
Post Doctoral Researcher
School of Medicine and Public Health
- Email:olivia.carroll@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:0240420206
Career Summary
Biography
Olivia completed her Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) in 2019, and PhD (Immunology and Microbiology) in 2024, at the University of Newcastle. During her PhD, under the supervision of Prof Jay Horvat, Dr Alexandra Brown and Prof Lisa Wood, Olivia investigated the role of female sex hormones on the development and severity of asthma. Using preclinical models of experimental asthma, Olivia explored how hormones influence intricate cellular metabolic pathways that underpin key inflammatory responses in asthma.
Olivia is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Newcastle and a member of the Muku ‘Ear’ Health research team. Her research centres on improving understanding of the mechanisms driving middle ear infection (otitis media), contributing to the Muku Health team's broader efforts to enhance ear health outcomes through collaborative and community‑focused research. Under the supervision of Dr Guy Cameron, with senior oversight from Professor Kelvin Kong, Olivia is committed to translating research findings into meaningful clinical and community outcomes.
Understanding the role of iron in otitis media (OM) development and severity
Otitis media (OM), middle ear infection, remains one of the most common infectious diseases of childhood and a leading cause of antibiotic use and preventable hearing loss globally. In Australia, the burden of OM falls disproportionately on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, with earlier onset, increased severity, and longer duration of disease. Supported by a successful NHMRC Ideas grant led by CIA Dr Guy Cameron, members of the Muku Health team alongside national and international collaborators, are investigating the role of iron levels during pregnancy and early life on the development and severity of otitis media (OM).
Growing evidence indicates that iron deficiency during pregnancy and early life is a modifiable risk factor influencing susceptibility to respiratory infections and immune dysfunction in infants. Despite this, the role of iron deficiency in the development and severity of otitis media (OM) has not been systematically investigated. Iron is essential for effective innate immune function, antimicrobial defence, and maintenance of mucosal barrier integrity, all of which are central to OM pathogenesis.
Using complementary clinical and pre‑clinical approaches, the Muku Health team is investigating how altered iron levels may promote an environment within the middle ear and upper respiratory tract that is permissive to viral and bacterial pathogens. The team hypothesise that iron deficiency weakens epithelial barrier defences and blunts immune responses, thereby increasing pathogen colonisation, impairing infection clearance, and amplifying inflammatory responses within the middle ear.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Newcastle
Keywords
- asthma
- ear infection
- host-pathogen interactions
- iron
- otitis media
- respiratory immunology
- sex hormones
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 320203 | Clinical microbiology | 35 |
| 450499 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing not elsewhere classified | 30 |
| 320217 | Otorhinolaryngology | 35 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
| Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|
| Casual Academic | University of Newcastle School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy Australia |
| Post Doctoral Researcher | University of Newcastle School of Medicine and Public Health Australia |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (6 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
Donovan C, Thorpe AE, Gomez HM, Carroll OR, Feng M, Bai X, Chen H, Horvat JC, Oliver BGG, Kim RY, 'The GPR84 Antagonist GLPG1205 Reduces Features of Disease in Experimental Severe Asthma', AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, 70, 424-427 (2024)
|
||||||||||
| 2024 |
Gomez HM, Haw TJ, Ilic D, Robinson P, Donovan C, Croft AJ, Vanka KS, Small E, Carroll OR, Kim RY, Mayall JR, Beyene T, Palanisami T, Ngo DTM, Zosky GR, Holliday EG, Jensen ME, McDonald VM, Murphy VE, Gibson PG, Horvat JC, 'Landscape fire smoke airway exposure impairs respiratory and cardiac function and worsens experimental asthma', JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, 154 (2024) [C1]
|
Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2023 |
Carroll OR, Pillar AL, Brown AC, Feng M, Chen H, Donovan C, 'Advances in respiratory physiology in mouse models of experimental asthma', FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY, 14 (2023) [C1]
|
Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2023 |
Scott HA, Ng SHM, McLoughlin RF, Valkenborghs SR, Nair P, Brown AC, Carroll OR, Horvat JC, Wood LG, 'Effect of obesity on airway and systemic inflammation in adults with asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis', THORAX, 78, 957-965 (2023) [C1]
|
Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2022 |
Pinkerton JW, Kim RY, Brown AC, Rae BE, Donovan C, Mayall JR, Carroll OR, Ali MK, Scott HA, Berthon BS, Baines KJ, Starkey MR, Kermani NZ, Guo Y-K, Robertson AAB, O'Neill LAJ, Adcock IM, Cooper MA, Gibson PG, Wood LG, Hansbro PM, Horvat JC, 'Relationship between type 2 cytokine and inflammasome responses in obesity-associated asthma', JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, 149, 1270-1280 (2022) [C1]
|
Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2020 |
Ali MK, Kim RY, Brown AC, Mayall JR, Karim R, Pinkerton JW, Liu G, Martin KL, Starkey MR, Pillar AL, Donovan C, Pathinayake PS, Carroll OR, Trinder D, Tay HL, Badi YE, Kermani NZ, Guo Y-K, Aryal R, Mumby S, Pavlidis S, Adcock IM, Weaver J, Xenaki D, Oliver BG, Holliday EG, Foster PS, Wark PA, Johnstone DM, Milward EA, Hansbro PM, Horvat JC, 'Crucial role for lung iron level and regulation in the pathogenesis and severity of asthma', EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL, 55 (2020) [C1]
|
Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| Show 3 more journal articles | |||||||||||
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 5 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $1,628,519 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
Highlighted grants and funding
Modulating iron, a new avenue for upper respiratory infection and otitis media in children$1,402,633
Funding body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Funding body | NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council) |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Guy Cameron, Miss Olivia Carroll, Prof Kelvin Kong, Ms Toni Manton, Mr Trumaine Rankmore |
| Scheme | Ideas Grants |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2025 |
| Funding Finish | 2027 |
| GNo | G2500476 |
| Type Of Funding | C1100 - Aust Competitive - NHMRC |
| Category | 1100 |
| UON | Y |
20253 grants / $1,580,089
Modulating iron, a new avenue for upper respiratory infection and otitis media in children$1,402,633
Funding body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Funding body | NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council) |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Guy Cameron, Miss Olivia Carroll, Prof Kelvin Kong, Ms Toni Manton, Mr Trumaine Rankmore |
| Scheme | Ideas Grants |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2025 |
| Funding Finish | 2027 |
| GNo | G2500476 |
| Type Of Funding | C1100 - Aust Competitive - NHMRC |
| Category | 1100 |
| UON | Y |
Lung disease treatments$161,230
Funding body: AstraZeneca
| Funding body | AstraZeneca |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Prof Jay Horvat, Dr Alexandra Brown, Miss Olivia Carroll |
| Scheme | Research Grant |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2025 |
| Funding Finish | 2025 |
| GNo | G2500324 |
| Type Of Funding | C3400 – International For Profit |
| Category | 3400 |
| UON | Y |
Investigating the effect of feminsing, gender affirming hormone therapies on respiratory outcomes$16,226
Funding body: Hunter New England Local Health District
| Funding body | Hunter New England Local Health District |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Miss Olivia Carroll, Dr Alexandra Brown, Prof Jay Horvat, Doctor Geoffrey Tyler |
| Scheme | John Hunter Hospital Charitable Trust Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2025 |
| Funding Finish | 2025 |
| GNo | G2500596 |
| Type Of Funding | C2300 – Aust StateTerritoryLocal – Own Purpose |
| Category | 2300 |
| UON | Y |
20242 grants / $48,430
Developing a model of human middle ear epithelium: a platform for transforming children’s ear disease research$30,000
Funding body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Funding body | Hunter Medical Research Institute |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Guy Cameron, Miss Olivia Carroll, Prof Jay Horvat, Assoc Prof Gerard Kaiko, Prof Kelvin Kong |
| Scheme | Research Grant |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2024 |
| Funding Finish | 2026 |
| GNo | G2401788 |
| Type Of Funding | C3300 – Aust Philanthropy |
| Category | 3300 |
| UON | Y |
Investigating the effect of feminizing, gender affirming hormone therapies on respiratory outcomes$18,430
Funding body: Hunter New England Local Health District
| Funding body | Hunter New England Local Health District |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Alexandra Brown, Miss Olivia Carroll, Prof Jay Horvat, Prof Katie Wynne |
| Scheme | John Hunter Hospital Charitable Trust Grant |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2024 |
| Funding Finish | 2025 |
| GNo | G2400685 |
| Type Of Funding | C2300 – Aust StateTerritoryLocal – Own Purpose |
| Category | 2300 |
| UON | Y |
News
News • 4 May 2021
Scholarships to boost academic careers for 132 PhD students
The University of Newcastle today recognised the recipients of the prestigious Vice-Chancellor’s Training Priority Scheme, aimed at providing a pathway for Honours students to undertake a PhD and gain teaching skills to enhance their academic career prospects.
Miss Olivia Carroll
Positions
Post Doctoral Researcher
Immune Health Research Program
School of Medicine and Public Health
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Casual Academic
Immune Health Research Program
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Contact Details
| olivia.carroll@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Phone | 0240420206 |