News from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health
The Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health is celebrating a number of significant achievements and initiatives in research and education.
Pictured: Professor Sue Walker, Head of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health
Recently, the Department hosted the 2025 MD4 Research and Clinical Scholar oral presentations, with Women’s Health Academic Coordinator Dr Naomi Holbeach noting the exceptional quality of the students’ work.
This year, approximately 36 MD3 students have enrolled in the new Discovery subject, Law and Ethics in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, which aims to broaden students understanding of legal and ethical issues in the field.
Professor of Neonatal Medicine Brett Manley and his team were awarded the prestigious Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA) Trial of the Year for their PLUSS trial. This large-scale trial included 1,000 babies across 21 international hospitals. This recognition highlights the potential impact of their research on improving care for extremely preterm infants.
Pictured: ACTA’s Prof David John Beard, Prof Brett Manley & ACTA’s Prof Christopher Reid Photo credit ACTA
Earlier this month, the Department co-sponsored a Congenital CMV Symposium, featuring Professor Lisa Hui's presentation on CMV infection screening in pregnancy and implementation challenges in Australia. CMV is a common viral infection, which can have devastating consequences for pregnant women.
The Department’s educational resources continue to expand, including the podcast series MOGCAST, which explores key topics on Women's Health and Neonatology. You can find transcripts of previous episodes at mogcast. Additionally, an Honorary Welcome Video is currently in production and it will be available to watch soon.
The Department continues to achieve research success, with Honorary Principal Fellow Christiane Theda and colleagues at Navi Medical Technologies recently receiving a research commercialisation award for their transformative medical innovation in paediatric care - a collaborative effort across the University with industry and hospital partners.
Pictured: The Navi Medical Technologies team (L-R): Associate Professor Christiane Theda, Brad Bergmann, Shing Yue Sheung, Mubin Yousuf, Wei Sue, and Alex Newton.
The Department is also excited by the opportunities presented by the recent MRFF outcomes (still under embargo), which promise to support ongoing departmental research initiatives.
These accomplishments reflect the Department's commitment to advancing women's health through research, education and clinical innovation.