Dr Deep Jyoti Bhuyan
PhD, MSc, BSc
Senior Research Fellow - Healthy Ageing: Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products
NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University
Dr Bhuyan is a Senior Research Fellow, Higher Degree Research (HDR) Coordinator, and International Engagement Coordinator at the NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University (WSU). He joined the institute in 2018 as an ARC Postdoctoral Research Fellow. In 2021, he established The GutBiotics Lab after receiving the WSU Research Support Program Fellowship. Dr Bhuyan's GutBiotics Lab explores the therapeutic potential of gut microbial metabolites (postbiotics). Understanding the effect of Bush foods and Australian traditional medicine on the gut microbiome and vice versa is another key focus of his lab. Furthermore, the GutBiotics Lab is developing natural product-based therapies for bacterial and viral diseases.
In 2023, he was appointed as the International Engagement Coordinator for NICM HRI to help strengthen the institute's partnership with India through research collaboration, engagement, policy development, and scholar exchange programs. Later, he served as the Acting HDR Director of NICM HRI, and in January 2024, he was appointed as the HDR Coordinator of the institute. In this role, he oversees a group of over 40 PhD, MRes and MPhil candidates along with the HDR Director of the institute.
Dr Bhuyan completed his PhD research at the University of Newcastle, where he explored the anticancer (against pancreatic adenocarcinoma) and antimicrobial properties of phenolic compounds and antioxidants in Australian Eucalyptus species. Currently, his research at NICM HRI is supported by grants from several government, industry, and university organizations, including the Australian Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia, and WSU. He has established collaborations with more than 40 international organizations worldwide.
Before coming to Australia, he worked as a Senior Research Fellow in probiotic food development at Assam Agricultural University on a National Agricultural Innovation Project funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. His contributions extend to several peer-reviewed journal articles, invited book chapters and national and international conference presentations. He has also written for The Conversation on postbiotics, appeared in TV interviews and received wide media coverage. Currently, he provides supervision and guidance to 12 PhD and MRes students, two undergraduate students, and four Research Assistants while actively promoting science communication and STEM education.
Education
2008 Bachelor of Science Biotechnology, Bangalore University, India
2010 Master of Science Applied Microbiology, VIT University, India
2018 PhD in Food Science, The University of Newcastle, Australia
Research Focus
01
Gut Microbiota
How does gut microbiota affect the availability of nutrients? What is the role of gut microbiota-based strategies, such as prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome?
Implementation of gut microbiota-derived postbiotics in cancer therapy and healthy ageing and understanding their molecular mechanisms of action using state-of-the-art techniques.
02
Postbiotics
Impact of phytochemicals and antioxidants, especially from Bush tucker on human health. Can fermentation improve the bioavailability of these phytochemicals and antioxidants?
03
Phytochemicals and Antioxidants
Understanding how postbiotics and phytochemicals interact with standard drugs using advanced mathematical models and molecular assays.
04
Synergistic Mechanisms
05
Combination Therapy
Can we combine existing therapies for infectious diseases and cancer to improve efficacy (i.e., 1+1=3)?
Isolation and molecular characterisation of anticancer agents from sources such as Australian native plants and gut microbial communities.
06
Anticancer agents
Antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties of bioactive compounds and their interactions with standard antimicrobial agents.
07
Antimicrobial Agents
Affiliations
2023 Joint Academic Microbiology Seminars Society
2023 Universal Scientific Education and Research Network
2023 Polyphenols Applications
2023 Committee Member, Joint Academic Microbiology Seminars Society
2022 Committee Member, NHMRC – Ideas Grants Peer Review Working Committee 2022
2022 International Society for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Research
2020 NSW Cardiovascular Research Network, National Heart Foundation
2019 The Good Practice In Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Association
2017 Pharmacological Society of Singapore
2016 Institute of Food Technologists, Chicago, USA
2015 Australian Society of Medical Research
2014 Hunter Medical Research Institute
2014 Pancreatic Cancer Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Australia
2010 Defence Research and Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence, India
Invited Scientific Expert, Hort Innovation and FOODiQ Global
Global Advisory Board Member, ViGA
Guest Editor, Frontiers in Nutrition
Guest Editor, Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine
Review Board Member, Cancers, MDPI
Review Board Member, Microorganisms, MDPI
Committee Member, Western Sydney University Microbiology Interest Society
Committee Member, Western Sydney University Microbiome Interest Group
Committee Member, National Science Centre Poland, European Commission