2011 Annual Research Report, Princess Alexandra Hospital T1

126 Pages·2012·9.55 MB·English

Centres for
Health Research
2011 ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT
'translating science into better health'
Translating science
into better health
T1 – Translation to first in humans
Findings from basic research are tested for clinical effect and/or
applicability. T1 research yields knowledge about human physiology
and the potential for intervention.
T2 – Translation to patients (refer page 14)
T3 – Translation to clinical practice (refer page 21)
T4 – Translation to population health (refer page 125)
© Centres for Health Research Annual Research Report 2011.
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the
Princess Alexandra Hospital Centres for Health Research. Enquiries should be directed to the Director, Research Development & Ethics, Centres for Health Research, Princess Alexandra Hospital.
ISSN 1833-6574
Message from the District CEO 2 Gastroenterology and Hepatology 67
and PAH Executive Director
Haematology 69
Message from the Chair and 4
Infection Management Services 72
the Director, Centres for
Health Research Intensive Care Unit 73
Translating research into practice 6 Internal Medicine and Clinical 75
Epidemiology
The University of Queensland 8
at the Princess Alexandra Hospital Lung and Allergy Research Centre 77
Queensland University of 10 Medical Oncology 78
Technology at the Princess
Mental Health 80
Alexandra Hospital
Microbiology 84
Postgraduate Research 12
Neurosurgery 85
Nursing Practice Development Unit 86
Committee Reports 14
Nutrition and Dietetics 88
Human Research Ethics Committee 15
Occupational Therapy 91
Health Practitioner Research 17
Older Persons Mental Health 94
Collaborative
Pathology Queensland 95
Research Committee 19
Pharmacy 96
The PA Research Foundation 20
Physiotherapy 99
Plastics and Burns 102
Group Reports 21
Queensland Clinical Trials 103
Contents Acquired Brain Injury 22 and Biostatistics Centre
Outreach Service
Queensland Liver Transplant Service 105
Alcohol and Drug Research 24
Queensland Melanoma Project 106
Anaesthetic 25
Queensland Spinal Cord 108
Australian Prostate Cancer 26 Injuries Service
Research Centre - Queensland
Radiation Oncology (Mater) 111
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit 29
Radiation Oncology (PAH) 112
Breast and Endocrine Surgery Unit 30
Radiology 115
Cancer Nursing Research Group 31
Rheumatology 117
Cardiology 32
Speech Pathology 118
Cardiothoracic Surgery 34
Therapeutics Research Centre 120
Cardiovascular Imaging 35
Trauma Service 122
Research Centre
Upper Gastrointestinal and 123
Centre for Functioning and 36
Soft Tissue
Health Research
Centre for IntegCrativoe Clninicatl aand ct 39U s
Molecular Medicine Publications, Major Grants 125
Centre for Kidney Disease Research 40 & People
Centre for Liver DiMseaasiel iRnesge a rchP rinc4e6ss AleJoxuarnnadl rAart iHcloess pital 126
Centre for ResearcAh dind Greeriastsric Cent4re8s for BHooekasl tahn dR Beosoek aCrhcahp ters 149
Medicine 2nd floor, Building 35
Abstracts and Conference 150
Ipswich Road
Clinical Governance 51 Proceedings
Woolloongabba, Qld 4102
Clinical Pharmacology 52 Accepted for Publication (In Press) 156
Dermatology ReseParhch Centre 53 Summary of Publications and 158
[phone]
Postgraduate Students
Diabetes and Endocrinology 57
Fax Major Grants 159
Diamantina Institute [phone]
Committees 164
Ear Nose Throat 62
Email
CHR-CommReusneiacrachti oStnasff@ - hbye daeltpha.rqtmlden.gt ov.au165
Emergency 64
Postgraduate Students 171
Endocrine HyperteWnsieonb 65
www.health.qld.gov.au/pahospital/research/default.asp
Research Centre
2
Message from the District CEO
and the PAH Executive Director
The diverse nature of our research results from the successful
Welcome to Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) Centres
collaboration between our clinicians, our partnering universities,
for Health Research Annual Research Report 2011. The
national and international academic centres and industries.
2011 Research Report highlights another year of fantastic
PAH researchers had a productive year in 2011, with continued
achievements and significant progress in our mission
investigations in a large number of clinical areas of national
to translate advances in research into real benefits for
importance including: cancer, diabetes, heart disease, respiratory,
patients locally and around the world.
trauma and ageing. The high standard of research conducted on the
campus was evidenced by NHMRC and ARC project grants being
The PA Hospital is committed to a philosophy of
awarded funding in 2011 over $13 millions.
supporting research endeavours in all areas of the health
care continuum from the investigation into the causes of Hospital and Health Services
disease prevention to treatment and implementation of
As part of the National Health Reforms, 17 new hospital and health
better health care practices. This research is integral in
services (HHSs) will be introduced by July 1, 2012. Metro South will
maintaining and improving
become the statutory body responsible for providing public health
the health status of all
services to the area incorporating Brisbane's south side, Logan
Australians.
and Redland. Metro South will be overseen by a local Hospital and
Health board that will be responsible for making its own operational
In recent years, the strong
decisions to meet the specific aims of our community. Mr Terry White
link between laboratory
AO was recently appointed as the Chair of the new Metro South
and clinical practice at the
Hospital and Health Board. The reforms are primarily concerned with
Hospital has been rewarded
hospital and health service management while the clinical services
by a number of ‘world
we provide will remain unchanged.
firsts’ in the diagnosis and
treatment of disease. Our Launch of the Diamantina Health Partners
successes are supported by
Diamantina Health Partners (DHP) launched in July 2011, is
close collaborations with
Queensland’s first academic health science centre that unites eight
our key university partners
of the state’s leading hospitals and universities to improve care for
the University of Queensland
patients in our community.
Diamantina Institute, the
QUT Institute of Health and DHP aims to position itself to take advantage of future funding
Biomedical Innovation and opportunities through the demonstration of innovative thinking and
Griffith University. productive collaborative arrangements which deliver on the tripartite
mission of excellence in patient care, training and research.
DHP’s vision is to be recognised internationally as a premier
academic health science centre achieving innovative healthcare
through academic leadership.
research - key to health
3
Translational Research Institute Awards:
The $350 million The Translational Research Institute (TRI) will o Professor Ian Frazer – Companion of the Order of Australia
house 650 researches from Queensland’s leading medical research during the Queen’s Birthday Jubilee for eminent service to
enterprises. It will be one of the few places in the world that medical research
treatments and biopharmaceuticals can be researched, clinically o Professor David Johnson received the Public Service Medial for
tested and manufactured in one facility. The TRI’s construction is outstanding public service, particularly research into the early
on schedule and we expect researchers to begin relocating in late detection and management of kidney disease
2012. The institute will enhance the translation of the next medical o Professor Len Gray was presented with Queensland Health
research breakthroughs into better patient care and will assist in Australia Day Achievement for his outstanding leadership and
promoting the PAH campus and a major medical research centre in contribution to Telehealth and Telehealth aged care services
Australia. o SPARQ-ed received a Peter Doherty Award for Excellence
in Science and Science Education in the Science Education
New appointments – building a strong and
Partnership and Community Science Awards category.
vibrant research culture
o Professor Professor Holtmann, Director of Gastroenterology and
Hepatology
o Appointment of Associate Professor Maher Gandhi, Chair of the
MSHSD
o Associate Professor Leigh Atkinson retires from PAH, Dr Franck Professor David Theile
Thomas appointed CEO, Metro South Health Service District
AO, HonDPhil(Qld), MBBS (Hons)(Qld), MS, FRACS, FRCS (Eng), FRCS (Ed)(Hon), FANZCA(Hon)
‘PAH researchers had a productive
2011, with continued investigations
in a large number of clinical areas
of National importance including;
Dr Richard Ashby
cancer, diabetes, heart disease,
Executive Director, Princess Alexandra Hospital
respiratory, trauma and ageing.’ AM, MBBS (Qld), BHA (NSW), FRACGP, FRACMA, FACEM, FIFEM
Centres for Health Research 2011 Annual Research Report
4
Message from the Chair and the Director,
Centres for Health Research
Diamantina Health Partners (DHP), launched in 2011, is positioned to
It gives me great pleasure to deliver this joint message
deliver on the academic health sciences centre model of excellence
since taking up the position of Chair in 2011.
in patient care, training and research. We are poised to leverage the
opportunities that will flow from both the TRI and DHP.
2011 has been an outstanding and noteworthy year of
building on and strengthening the record of achievements
The PAH campus has a long history of commitment to research
on the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) campus. It is
that translates discoveries to improved clinical practice and policy
an exciting time of academic growth and health care
implementation. Our research strengths are directly aligned with
development which will auger well for the PAH campus in
the key National Health priorities: arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart
its role of shaping the future of health care and aspiration
disease, intensive care, liver and renal disease, mental health and
to be at the forefront of
trauma. This report highlights the commitment of the researchers
Queensland, nationally and
on the PAH campus to investigate innovative solutions to real world
internationally. The new
clinical issues.
Translational Research
Institute (TRI) building is Research Performance and Support
scheduled for occupancy in The research groups at the hospital have had a solid record in
late 2012. The TRI will bring obtaining competitive peer review grant funding as set out in the
together the Diamantina Group Reports section. There continues to be an increase in the
Institute (UQ), the Mater number of publications on a background of strong productivity.
Medical Research Institute, Publications are vital for research to be translated into improved
the Institute of Health and health outcomes for our community.
Biomedical Innovation
(QUT), Princess Alexandra
‘This report highlights the
Hospital and the University
of Queensland School of commitment of the researchers
Medicine in a partnership
on the PAH campus to investigate
to accelerate and translate
medical research into innovative solutions to real world
improved patient outcomes.
clinical issues.’
research - key to health
5
Postgraduate student numbers have also increased significantly with Research. The Centres for Health Research fosters an environment
over 170 postgraduate students on campus from our affiliated and that facilitates research and will continue to add services to support
other collaborating universities. This has also been a successful year our research community and we look forward to working with our
for competitive grants awarded to PAH-based researchers which will academic, research and health care partners in 2012.
ensure that opportunities for quality research are maintained.
It gives us great pleasure to present this fourteenth Annual Research
Funding was boosted by the formation of a new PA Research Report, which is a summary of what has been achieved in 2011
Support Scheme which allocated $1.4 Million of joint support from through a wealth of partnerships and collaborations.
the PA Research Foundation and Private Practice Trust Fund. The
Scheme awarded 17 grants across categories supporting projects,
people and excellence. The latter initiation rewards research
excellence by supporting the indirect cost of research of successful
NHMRC grant recipients. We congratulate all our researchers and
wish them every success with their research.
Ms Areti Gavrilidis
Partnerships
MBA, Grad Dip Bus Admin, BSc, BAppSc, Churchill Fellow
We have a growing list of industry sponsors and collaborative
research groups who continue to work closely with our researchers
by developing new treatment or prevention of disease pathways
for our patients. We would like to thank all the sponsors for their
support and encourage them to continue this partnership in 2012

and beyond.

Facilitating Research Professor Ken Ho
We thank the Metro South Health Service District Human Research Chair, Centres for Health Research, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Ethics Committee (HREC) for their tireless efforts in reviewing many FRACP, FRCP (UK), MD
research applications. We congratulate Associate Professor Maher
Gandhi on his appointment to the Chair of the HREC.
A new Research Committee was constituted and its terms of
reference updated in 2011. We express our appreciation to all
those who have helped to enhance the research performance
on the campus but particularly the staff of the Centres for Health
Centres for Health Research 2011 Annual Research Report
6
Translating research into practice
‘Success cannot be achieved single-
Trauma Research
handedly and is always dependent
Professor Michael Schuetz, an orthopaedic surgeon on others.’
specialising in trauma management was recruited in 2004
as Chair in Trauma through the Queensland University of
Technology and Queensland Health from Berlin, Germany. It was essential early on to assemble a team that could begin
Remit of the role was broad, chiefly to embed clinical bringing ideas to life, and to grow those ideas to fully functional
research in the hospital environment, facilitate further realisation. These teams formed the early PAH Trauma Service and
collaboration between the institutions, address the QUT’s Trauma Research Group; the same members of which have
needs of trauma management in the State, promote both provided continuity across many years to ensure success.
Institutions nationally and abroad, and introduce potential
The creation of a 4 bed Trauma High Dependency Unit lead the way
research partners.
to formally establishing the PAH Trauma Service in 2007. Today the
Early efforts to establish clinician-driven research were management of severe trauma is truly multidisciplinary at Princess
restrained by historical ideas of clinician roles and the Alexandra Hospital Trauma Service with integration and support from
then-unrealised efforts to embed clinical research in medical, nursing and allied health staff from various fields.
hospital environments.
The positive profile and strong collaborations at PAH has led to
Professor Michael Schuetz verification by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons as the first
maintains international level 1 Trauma Centre in Queensland.
collaborations and contacts,
Professor Schuetz is committed to stimulate a research culture in
in particular he was
trauma ensuring changes in clinical management are thoroughly
appointed in 2011 as Chair
researched, validated and reinforced before new clinical practice or
of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft
surgical interventions are implemented. The high clinical throughput
für Osteosynthesefragen (AO)
of maximum complexity in trauma including: spinal trauma and
Exploratory Research Board
severe soft tissue trauma; offers an ideal environment for hands-on
– a Swiss worldwide funding
clinicians to undertake basic and clinical research in this field.
body for orthopaedic trauma-
related research. Into the future it’s clear we must engage students and training doctors
in a strong research culture. It is important in this respect that they
are not only encouraged to be actively involved in research but that
In 2006, following many months of broad and exhaustive they demonstrate proactive behaviour in seeking research projects
consultation, A Trauma Plan for Queensland was published that will align ortho/trauma research to advance their careers.
translating combined expert knowledge of Trauma care into clinical
management of severely injured patients in Queensland. Supported The Queensland Health Office of Health and Medical Research
in its early stages by Gerry FitzGerald, Chief Health Officer at that Mentor Program has already provided a training Public Health Officer
time, and with the continuing support of Professor Andrew Wilson candidate undertaking a Masters with the Trauma Research Group.
– Director for Planning and Resources in Queensland Health, and Two other PAH training doctors have commenced or are completing
an imperative for change and fortuitous timing, this document was a Masters degree with the Trauma Research Group.
brought to fruition.
The QUT Trauma Research Group is now a well established team
A Trauma Plan for Queensland brought together for the first time a of researchers with international collaborations securing us a high
wide-ranging collective of trauma care providers from across the impulsion for students to seek us out, and attractive to international
State and transformed the treatment and management of trauma researchers and students from areas such as North America and
patients across Queensland, established three major trauma centres Europe. The Group has completed 5 PhD students to date and
and initiated new retrieval and transfer protocols and secured on secured close to $4million in funding.
going funding.
research - key to health
7
Commences 3rd Senior Research
Trauma as Chair, Fellow commences
Research Group Statewide with Trauma Translational
established with Trauma Clinical Research Group Research Institute
Princess Alexandra
1st Senior Network completes
Hospital achieves
Research Fellow Trauma
Trauma Verification
Database
established
Commences as Fellow - Royal Fellow – Spinal Trauma
Chair in Trauma Australasian PAH Trauma Australian Research
College of Service Orthopaedic Fellow
Surgeons established Association commences
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Commences Deputy Director Spinal
A Trauma as Director Trauma Service Trauma
Plan for of Trauma Database
Queensland
established
National Critical Care
& Trauma Response
2nd Senior Research Centre established - PAH Acute Surgical Unit is
Fellow commences PAH Primary Partner established with strong
with Trauma Research alliance to Trauma Service
Queensland initiatives such as the TRI are an enormous opportunity
to broaden basic research and expand on strong clinical research for
patient care and will fulfil the vision of the Trauma Research Group in
translating research into clinical practice.
Success cannot be achieved single-handedly and is always
dependent on others. In this respect it has been the unwavering
support of senior surgeons, administration of the Princess Alexandra
Hospital and QUT, as well as the Australian Orthopaedic Association
and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons that have ensured
the success of this collaboration.
Professor Michael Schuetz
Chair Trauma
Centres for Health Research 2011 Annual Research Report
8
The University of Queensland
Faculty of Health School of Medicine
Sciences, UQ
2011, the 75th anniversary of the establishment of
The University of Queensland School of Medicine, saw
The UQ Faculty of Health Sciences consists of seven
us continue with far-reaching strategic reviews. Much
schools (Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Midwifery,
thought was invested into the MBBS Program review, AMC
Pharmacy, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Human
accreditation and the septennial UQ School review, and in
Movement Studies, and Population Health) and a
2011 the many recommendations have been developed
number of University- and Faculty-level research
into a single strategic work plan, structured along UQ’s
centres (including the UQ Centre for Clinical Research,
key themes of Learning, Discovery and Engagement, as
the National Centre for Environmental Toxicology, the
well as Globalisation and Operational Excellence. This
Queensland Children’s Medical Research Centre, the
plan will guide our priorities as Australia’s global
Centre for Military and Veteran’s Health and the Centre
medical school.
for Youth Substance Abuse Research). The major point
of collaboration for the Faculty with the PAH is through Both an advantage and a challenge, our School operates
the Southern Clinical School of the School of Medicine, over many sites to promote and support teaching and
based at PAH, and a separate research, partnering with Queensland Health and private
report on its annual activities health service providers at ten Clinical Schools throughout
is provided to the right. In Brisbane, in rural and remote facilities throughout
addition strong and valued Queensland, and internationally in Brunei and North
collaborations also occur America. Across the School, our research teams are
at PAH via the Schools of embedded in hospital campuses and involve many of the
Pharmacy, Population Health 3000 clinicians who hold joint UQ-Hospital appointments
and Health and Rehabilitation or honorary academic titles with our School. This clinical
Sciences in particular. expertise, across every
clinical specialty, can identify
clinical questions that need
to be addressed, translate
the findings of research
as directly as possible into
The Faculty is an enthusiastic participant within the Diamantina
clinical practice, and engage
Health Partners venture and is excited by the prospects a genuine
our medical students in
academic health science centre presents for synergistic interaction
research thinking, current
between teaching, research and clinical service provision. The
endeavours and outcomes.
Faculty looks forward with great anticipation and expectation to the
opening of the Translational Research Institute in 2012 and sees
this as further opportunity to build on the existing strong University-
Hospital linkages on the PAH campus.
The School of Medicine research activity at PAH has major focus
Professor Nicholas Fisk
in ten school research centres, which in 2011 include the Centre
Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences
for Research in Geriatric Medicine, Dermatology Research Centre,
Centre for Liver Disease Research, and a node of the Liver Research
Centre based at the Greenslopes Private Hospital, the Cardiovascular
Imaging Research Centre, Centre for Kidney Disease Research,
Centre for Integrative Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Lung and
Allergy Research Centre, Therapeutics Research Centre and the
Endocrine Hypertension Research Centre.
research - key to health