Pathology research
Alfred Health Pathology Services incorporates Laboratory Haematology, Microbiology and Clinical Biochemistry (also known as Chemical Pathology) and Anatomical Pathology.
This year’s report focuses on Haematology. Anatomical Pathology, headed by Professor Catriona McLean, is also reported.
Laboratory Haematology is primarily a diagnostic and consultative service providing expertise in blood banking, laboratory-based general haematology, including morphology, coagulation and flow cytometry, immunology tests and diagnostic bone marrow biopsies. The unit incorporates a specialist multidisciplinary transfusion medicine team which audits transfusion safety and practice.
Research collaborations involve identifying and supplying material for various registries of the Transfusion Outcomes Research Collaborative; Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society’s TRANSFUSE trial; Clinical Haematology and Trauma Unit clinical trials; Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD), Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group and Nucleus Network.
Current research includes:
- Development of highly sensitive flow cytometric techniques for detection of small volume minimal residual disease after potentially curative therapy, particularly in multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
- Coagulopathy associated with mechanical circulatory assist devices and heart valve dysfunction (ACBD collaboration)
- PTP1B expression in myeloproliferative disorders as a marker of JAK-STAT pathway dysregulation
- Haematological and biochemical complications of dapsone therapy
- Predicting outcome in AML: molecular testing for founder mutations
- Blood product use in bone marrow transplant and cardiac surgery patients
- Pre-operative optimisation of hemoglobin in orthopedic patients to limit need for transfusion
Achievements
- Dr Victoria Ling, Haematology RACP /RCPA Advanced Trainee, won the 2014 Victorian RACP Trainee Research Award for Excellence in Adult Medicine
- Dr Kay Htun, Haematology RACP /RCPA Advanced Trainee, won the 2014 Alfred Hospital prize for Best Advanced Physician Trainee Project
- Dr Mandy Davis, Haematologist and Transfusion Specialist, was awarded the WTMS (Whole Time Medical Specialist) grant of $56,000 for expansion of the BloodTrack program to improve safety of blood administration.
Current research
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia: predicting outcome
Disease aggressiveness and treatment responses in AML patients vary widely, despite cytogenetic prognostic categories at diagnosis broadly defining patient outcome.
Find out moreInappropriate pre-operative testing
Studies in the UK have determined that up to 25% of pathology testing is inappropriate or unnecessary.
Find out moreSide effects of Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs)
Patients on ventricular assist devices or with some cardiac valve disorders develop bleeding complications due to the mechanical effect of shear stress on blood components.
Find out morePublications
Overwhelming post-splenectomy sepsis in patients with asplenia and hyposplenia: a retrospective cohort study
Chong J, Jones P, Spelman D, Leder K, Cheng AC
(2017), Epidemiol Infect, 145(2), 397-400
Donor-Derived Mycoplasma hominis and an Apparent Cluster of M. hominis Cases in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Smibert OC, Wilson HL, Sohail A, Narayanasamy S, Schultz MB, Ballard SA, Kwong JC, de Boer J, Morrissey CO, Peleg AY, Snell GI, Paraskeva MA, Jenney AWJ
(2017), Clin Infect Dis, 65(9), 1504-8
DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix601
Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases: low value interventions
Spelman D, Jenney AW, Burgner DP
(2017), Med J Aust, 206(7), 282-3
DOI: 10.5694/mja16.01427