Laura Dowling is a PhD candidate and Clinical Research Officer at the University of Newcastle, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, where her research focuses on how gut microbiota-derived metabolites influence immune responses in chronic respiratory disease, particularly Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Laura’s work combines clinical research with advanced molecular, cellular, and biochemical techniques, and has been recognised through competitive fellowships and awards, including the Australian Graduate Women Barbara Hale Fellowship (2024) and the Edith Ethel Ward Perpetual PhD Supplementation Scholarship (2024-2026). Laura has authored first-author papers in high-impact Q1 journals (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9747-2631) and presented her research at national and international conferences including the European Respiratory Society, the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) and the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA). Laura has also given an invited presentation at the University of Oxford Centre for Microbiome Studies (September 2026).
Laura utilises human cell culture models and clinical trial biological specimens to investigate the biochemical and molecular mechanisms by which nutrients modulate inflammation in COPD. Laura coordinates and performs both clinical and laboratory-based research activities. Her clinical experience includes recruitment for clinical trials, eligibility assessment, management of patient visits, conducting research assessments (e.g. informed consent, anthropometry, smoking history and pack year calculation, spirometry, exercise assessment including VO2max testing, venepuncture, questionnaires), data entry, data cleaning and monitoring activities. Her laboratory experience includes, but is not limited to, human primary and immortalised cell culture (including cell isolation from whole blood and tissue samples), 3D cell culture (spheroid isolation and culture), molecular (e.g. gel electrophoresis, nucleic acid extraction, RT-PCR, protein extraction, Western blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence), immunoassay (e.g. ELISA) and plasma metabolomics analyses.
Laura was awarded the prestigious Australian Graduate Women ‘Barbara Hale Fellowship’ in 2024 to analyse plasma metabolomic profiles in patients with and without COPD.
Laura serves as the elected postgraduate student member of the University of Newcastle Council (2025-2026) and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
