|
The Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences was formally established in January of 2001. It was formed from a merger of several clinical departments including The Department of Medicine, Surgery and Psychiatry. Professor Geoff Nicholson is the Head of the Department and has a wide research background covering epidemiology and biostatistics, laboratory based research, ‘in-house’ clinical research and clinical trials.
Contact us:
Bree Sarah, Manager
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
Phone: 03 5260 3107
Fax: 03 5222 2420
Email: brees@barwonhealth.org.au
Clinical Trials
Professor Nicholson and Associate Professor Mark Kotowicz have been conducting clinical trials for approximately 17 years. The unit has extensive experience with diabetes and osteoporosis trials, however more recently has been collaborating with other hospital departments to conduct their clinical trials. At present there are ten ongoing clinical trials with an additional three to commence in the first half of 2009.
Contact us:
Alana Sarah
Phone: 03 5226 7621
Email: alanas@barwonhealth.org.au
Clinical Research
The largest clinical study initiated at Barwon Health is the Vital D Study. This 6-year study recruited 2300 women over 70 years to investigate the effect of an annual large dose of vitamin D on reducing falls and fractures. The CRU designs and conducts intervention trials and is currently involved in trials investigating anti-oxidants and bone loss, health economics and mental well-being.
Contact us:
A/Prof Kerrie Sanders
Phone: 03 5226 7834
Email: kerrie@barwonhealth.org.au
Geelong Osteoporosis Study
The Geelong Osteoporosis study is a major epidemiological study of 1600 females and 1600 males. The results of this study have formed the basis of the Australian National Bone Density Range, defined age and gender specific fracture rates and identified risk factors for osteoporosis and fracture.
Contact us:
A/Prof Julie Pasco
Phone: 03 5226 7393
Email: juliep@barwonhealth.org.au
Barwon Biomedical Research
Barwon Biomedical Research (BBR) is a department of Barwon Health that incorporates all the laboratory-based research within the Geelong Hospital. It is managed by a committee headed by Professor Geoff Nicholson and Associate Professor Mark Kirkland; two researchers with Melbourne University appointments and 40 years combined experience in bone cell and hematopoietic stem cell research respectively. The research performed by the staff at BBR is focused on the use of white cells from donated umbilical cord blood to investigate:
- the expansion of sub-populations of stem cells for clinical use in treatment of disorders such as leukemia
- a novel signaling gene in a population of T-cells that are critical in maintaining the immune system
- differentiation of the cord blood stem cells into bone resorbing cells (osteoclasts), and the factors that control this process.
In addition, cells are extracted from the actual cord tissue and placental membranes and used to produce bone forming cells (osteoblasts). With such a variety of uses, the donation of the umbilical cord blood and tissues is a valuable gift. In conjunction with the projects described above, BBR also investigates the use of biomaterials to support cell growth of stem cells or for integration into skin and tissues.
The research at BBR is supported primarily by Barwon Health in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, Deakin University and a biotechnology company, Cytomatrix. As well as the research being carried out, BBR also operates a Bone Bank licensed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to provide fresh frozen bone for local orthopaedic surgery. Bone is donated by patients having total hip replacement surgery and then utilized for bone graft procedures.
Contact us:
Research Manager, Dr Fiona Collier
Phone: 03 5226 7027
Email: fionac@barwonhealth.org.au
Clinical research into rheumatology
Contact us:
Dr Hedley Griffiths 03 52224491
The Geelong Cardiology Research Unit has been involved in the conduct of clinical trials since 2000 and is recognised both nationally and internationally for conducting high quality clinical research and exceeding expected recruitment targets. The research unit is located on Level 3 of Kardinia House, Geelong Hospital. On an ongoing basis, the unit participates in large-scale global clinical trials in cardiovascular disease, as well as trials conducted at the local level. The unit operates to the standards required by the International Conference on Harmonisation Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice (CPMP/ICH/135/95), as adopted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Dr John Amerena (Director of Cardiology Research) has been involved in clinical trials for more than 15 years, both in Australia and in the United States, and holds joint appointments as Senior Lecturer (Cardiology) at both Melbourne and Monash Universities. Both Dr Amerena and Donna Campbell (Research Manager) currently hold positions on International Steering Committees overseeing the conduct of various clinical trials. In addition, Dr Amerena fulfils the role of Australian National Co-ordinator for a number of ongoing global clinical trials. Making up the research team are an additional 7 research co-ordinators (casual and part time), all registered nurses who hold at least one post-graduate qualification in either Coronary Care or Intensive Care nursing, one medical research fellow, and an administrative Clinical Trials assistant. The team is also supported by a number of experienced Cardiologists who perform the role of sub-investigators.
Contact us:
Donna Campbell, Cardiology Research Manager
Geelong Cardiology Research Unit
Phone: 03 5246 5148
Email: donnaca@barwonhealth.org.au
2008 was another productive year for the Barwon Psychiatric Research Unit. Productivity has increased sharply, with a total of 42 papers published and 18 in press over the calendar year. In addition, we have had a number of papers in prestigious and high impact journals, including the British Journal of Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry and Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. Highlights include numerous awards - Pathcare Health and Lifestyle Award, the G Force Recruitment Researcher of the Year Award, the Australasian Society of Psychiatric Research Eli Lilly oration and an Orygen Academic Award .
The unit produced a number of novel research findings that are clinically and practically significant.
Felice Jacka - habitual diet influences the likelihood of having depression and anxiety.
Julie Pasco - smokers have a doubled risk of developing depression.
Lana Williams - SSRI antidepressants, the most widely used class of antidepressants, increase the risk of osteoporosis.
ECT is far less useful in Bipolar than Unipolar depression
Sue Lauder developed one of the first Internet based psychotherapies for bipolar disorder.
Felicity Ng produced the International Society of Bipolar Disorder guidelines for safety monitoring of psychotropic agents.
Olivia Dean - glutathione has a key role in spatial memory.
Contact us:
Dr. Seetal Dodd, Senior Research FellowEmail: taniae@barwonhealth.org.au
Phone: 03 5226 7666
Email: seetald@barwonhealth.org.au
Cancer will affect one in three Australian men and one in four Australian women before the age of 75. In Australia, more than 8800 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year. 1700 of these new cases are diagnosed within the Barwon South Western region of Victoria.
The Haematology and Oncology Trials Team (HOTT) was established in 1997 to provide comprehensive management of all aspects of haematology and oncology clinical research conducted in the Barwon South Western region of Victoria. As a result, thousands of cancer patients from this region have been able to access clinical trials of international repute, quality and integrity, ultimately resulting in improved patient care.
Our research portfolio is clinically based, and aimed at providing coverage for a wide range of malignant and haematological conditions. These include cancers of the lung, breast, prostate, gastrointestinal tract and skin as well as lymphoma and leukaemia. Trials are selected if they address an important issue relevant to our patient population and are both scientifically and ethically sound.
Contact us:
Anne Woollett, Clinical Trials Manager
Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Geelong Hospital
Phone: 03 5226 7391
Fax: 03 5246 5168
E-mail: annewo@barwonhealth.org.au
Intensive Care
Barwon Health ICU is a 19 bed tertiary level ICU with an active profile in Clinical research. Admissions include patients from all Medical, Surgical and Specialty units including Cardiac Surgery and number 1400 patients per year.
To promote collaborative clinical research in 1994 the Australian & New Zealand Intensive Care Society formed the Clinical Trials Group (ANZICS-CTG). Research in the Barwon Health ICU has subsequently grown to the point where we now have been involved in 9 ANZICS-CTG clinical trials, several ‘in-house’ initiated projects, have contributed to several national/international practice audits and are supported by a Research Coordinator on a full-time basis. We have also recently embarked on 2 multi-centre pharmaceutical studies. Current ICU studies are related to nutrition, dialysis, thrombo-embolism prophylaxis, and sepsis in critically ill patients.
us:
Dr Neil Orford, ICU Medical Director
Research Coordinators:Tania Elderkin, Melissa Fraser & Anne Kinmonth
Phone: 03 5246 8006
The Department of Peri-operative, Anaesthesia and Pain Management delivers approximately 18,000 anaesthetics per year, including general and regional anaesthesia and sedation. We provide a comprehensive pre-operative medical assessment and post-operative acute pain service, as well as a multi-disciplinary chronic pain service.
The Department is constantly striving to improve patient outcomes via improved anaesthesia and pain management. The Department’s current research reflects this focus and involves local audit projects, as well as participation in national and international multi-centre studies and locally initiated clinical research studies. We have a particular interest in the management of peri-operative anti-thrombotics, the role of regional anaesthesia in the management of post-operative pain, and peri-operative risk assessment and management.
Contact us:
Kate Lynch, Clinical Trial Coordinator
Phone: 03 5226 7333
Fax: 03 5229 9971
Email: kately@barwonhealth.org.au
The Department of Radiation Oncology formed the Radiation Oncology Research Committee (RORC) in 2009 to foster scholarship, research capabilities and excellence. The department aims to increase its research profile by providing support and encouragement for staff involved in research. The group aspires to enhance the quality of research performance. The RORC endeavours to achieve the strategic research objectives of the Andrew Love Cancer Centre.
Currently, the Department of Radiation Oncology are undertaking research in the areas of Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), Cone Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT), RapidARC, detector dosimetry, as well as many quality improvement exercises.
Contact Us:
Charlotte Sale
Research Education Radiation Therapist
Radiation Therapy
Andrew Love Cancer Centre
Phone: 03 5226 7880
Email: csale@barwonhealth.org.au
[TOP]
|