Medicine at Royal Melbourne Hospital
@AgeMelbourne
@AgeMelbourne conducts innovative, translational and multi-disciplinary research in Gerontology, Geriatrics and Biogerontology.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor Andrea B Maier
- EMPOWER-GR: Enhancing Muscle POWER in Geriatric Rehabilitation
- Student Opportunities
- The CGA Study: Development of an evidence based Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment
- The CGA-Oncology Study: Comprehensive geriatric assessment and intervention in older lung cancer patients
- The SHAPE Study: Nutritional Needs, Physical Function and Sarcopenia in Geriatric Outpatient
ACRF Translational Research Laboratory
The ACRF Translational Research Laboratory is focused on translational and biomarker research in cancer.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital/ Victorian Cancer Comprehensive Centre
Group Leader: Professor David S Ritchie
- Analysis of circulating microRNAs in patient serum as a non-invasive biomarker platform
- Harnessing novel immunotherapies to restore immunity in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
- Identification of biomarkers to novel therapies in Myelodysplasia
- Regulators of allogeneic stem cell engraftment, graft versus host disease and graft-versus leukaemia
Acute Spinal Therapeutics
The acute spinal therapeutics research group has a primary focus on acute care for spinal cord injured patients. Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) generally affects young people, many of whom have severe paralysis and functional deficits with ongoing complex social, psychological, and medical needs.
Academic Site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Dr Peter Batchelor
Bone and Mineral Research Group
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group leader: Professor John D Wark
- Bone strength in young healthy females, older patients with low-trauma fracture and older healthy adults: peripheral quantitative computed tomography based finite element analysis
- Improving Vitamin D status and related health in young women: The Safe-D study – Part B
- Improving Vitamin D status and related health in young women; the Safe-D study – (part A)
Boussioutas Laboratory: Gastrointestinal Cancer
My research team investigates translational aspects of gastrointestinal oncology. My research disciplines span population health and epidemiology of gastric and colorectal cancer, integrative genomic analysis of gastric and oesophageal cancer, cell biology of invasion and metastasis with respect to the tumour microenvironment, early detection and biomarkers of gastric cancer and genetic aspects of gastrointestinal malignancies.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Associate Professor Alex Boussioutas
Epilepsy and Neuropharmacology
The Research of the Epilepsy and Neuropharmacology Research Group is broad based, covering both basic and clinical studies relevant to epilepsy and related areas, including traumatic brain injury and dementing disorders.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor Terence O'Brien
Epilepsy and Precision Medicine
The philosophy of our group is IMAGINE, INNOVATE, and IMPLEMENT (I-Cubed). The research theme is Precision Medicine, ranging from basic discovery to clinical implementation and health economic analysis.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor Patrick Kwan
- Acquired epilepsy in Alzheimer’s disease
- Developing highly sensitive point-of-care molecular diagnostic devices malaria eradication
- Development of a low cost, point-of-care diagnostic test to prevent abacavir hypersensitivity
- Express ambulatory point-of-care molecular diagnosis
- Genomics of adverse response to antiepileptic drugs
- Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and its association with skin rashes and drug induced hepatitis: The role of pharmacogenetics to predict anti-epileptic drug side-effect
- Immune self-reactivity triggered by carbamazepine-modified HLA-peptide repertoire
- Long-term outcome of newly diagnosed epilepsy
- Mechanisms of epileptogenesis and drug resistance
- Medical devices development
- Student Opportunities
Hamilton Laboratory
Research in the Hamilton Laboratory has a major focus on inflammation. Inflammation is increasingly being seen to have a significant impact on many chronic diseases such as arthritis, atherosclerosis and cancer.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor John Hamilton
- A new host-pathogen interaction in arthritis
- Elucidating molecular signalling pathways controlled by anti-inflammatory steroids
- GM-CSF-mediated molecular signalling pathways contributing to inflammation
- Molecular signaling pathways controlling gene expression during chronic disease progression
- Student Opportunities
- The role of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in arthritis and inflammation
Healthy Ageing Program
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor Cassandra Szoeke
International and Immigrant Health
This group focuses on infectious diseases, maternal and child health, and immigrant health.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor Beverley-Ann Biggs
Jones Laboratory: Epilepsy and Behaviour
Our research utilises basic science approaches to explore animal behaviour in the context of health and disease. The primary goal of the lab is to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms which cause neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly epilepsy, cognitive disorders and mental health conditions.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Associate Professor Nigel Jones
Melbourne EpiCentre
Melbourne EpiCentre focuses on the planning, design, data management, statistical and clinical reporting of clinical trials, conforming to FDA requirements and industry standards.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor Sanjoy Paul
- Clinical Trials
- Development of early warning systems for hypoglycaemia
- Evaluation of cardio-metabolic effects of Incretin-based therapies in type 2 diabetes
- Evaluation of the obesity paradox in diabetes: A longitudinal case-control study of half a million patients
- Hypoglycaemia and its consequences
- Pathophysiology of glycaemic and cardiovascular risk factors in diabetes
- Student Opportunities
- The Dementia Care Pathway for use in acute care
- Therapeutic Inertia & Risk Burden in Type 2 Diabetes
Molecular Epilepsy
The overriding aim of the Molecular Epilepsy Group is to identify potential molecular targets that could be the basis of much more specific and effective treatments for patients who have epilepsy, and the prevention of epilepsy in those at risk.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Dr Kim Powell
Motor Control and Rehabilitation
Research in the Galea lab encompasses basic neuroscience research in both animals and humans, and clinical research on the control of movement in healthy and impaired populations, including those with spinal cord injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor Mary Galea
MS and Comorbidities Team
This team is interested in researching interventions for disabling symptoms of MS. Current projects include the development of novel treatments for arm shaking (tremor) in MS and the implementation of a computerized monitoring tool to detect cognitive (memory) changes in MS.
This team is part of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Group, headed by Professor Helmut Butzkeuven.
Group Leader: Anneke van der Walt
MS Biology, Genomics and Prognostics Group
The team's research revolves around multiple sclerosis outcomes, including real-world effect of different treatment strategies, definition of disease outcomes and long-term effect of immunomodulatory therapies.
This team is part of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Group, headed by Professor Helmut Butzkeuven.
Group Leader: Dr Vilija Jokubaitis
- Determining predictors of post-partum relapse in women with MS
- Environmental determinants of disability accumulation in Multiple Sclerosis
- Genotype-Phenotype Correlations in Multiple Sclerosis
- Impact of pregnancy on long-term outcomes in women with multiple sclerosis
- Impact of pregnancy on long-term outcomes in women with multiple sclerosis – assessment of mechanism
- Pharmacogenomic studies in Multiple Sclerosis
- Prediction of long-term disease outcomes in people with Multiple Sclerosis or Clinically Isolated Syndromes
Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Clinical Research Group
The Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Group focuses on two key areas: outcomes and prognostics, and multiple sclerosis and comorbidities.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor Helmut Butzkueven
Neural Dynamics Laboratory
The Neural Dynamics Laboratory researches neural systems in action “neural dynamics”– from pathological states of hyperexcitability to how memories are encoded.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Dr Chris French
- Effects of Drugs on Cognition-Related Brain Wave Signals in the Rat
- Electrophysiological Properties of Human Brain Neuronal Tissue
- How do Anti-Epileptic Drugs Work?
- In vitro brain tumour model – studying epileptic seizure development and sensitivity to anti-cancer therapy
- Modelling Epilepsy and Epilepsy Drug Effects–Computational Neuroscience Project
- Student Opportunities
Petrovski Laboratory: Computational Genomics
Research in the Petrovski group explores the use of computational genetic approaches to study human disease.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Dr Slave Petrovski
Rogerson Laboratory: Pathogenesis of malaria and immunity in children and pregnant women
The Rogerson laboratory studies several aspects of the pathogenesis and immunity of malaria infection in the human host.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor Stephen Rogerson
Savige Laboratory
We work on inherited renal disease, and look for new genes in families with interesting but undiagnosed real diseases. In addition we look at ocular features in inherited renal disease, and what they tell us about disease pathogenesis. We also use the retinal photographs to test for uncontrolled hypertension.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor Judy Savige
Semple Laboratory: Developmental Neurotrauma
Our research goal is to better understand how the immature brain responds to injury, with a particular focus on the sub-acute and chronic periods after an injury. Ultimately, this knowledge will allow us to develop novel therapeutic interventions aimed at improving outcomes and quality of life for brain-injured patients.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Dr Bridgette Semple
Stroke Imaging and Treatment
This research group investigates the advanced imaging of ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage to improve diagnosis and identify patients likely to respond to treatments. We apply this imaging to clinical trials of new stroke treatments.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Associate Professor Bruce Campbell
Stroke Research Group
The stroke research group works to improve acute stroke management and secondary stroke prevention through a variety of research projects, as well as improving the rehabilitation and recovery from stroke.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor Stephen Davis
The National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship (NCAS)
The National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship (NCAS) is a multidisciplinary collaborative funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, with a strong track record of innovation and successful translation into clinical practice. The core work of NCAS will be dominated by six streams of research over the next 5 years, four related to antimicrobial prescribing in humans, and two streams dedicated to antimicrobial prescribing in animals.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Professor Karin Thursky
- Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in residential aged care facilities
- Antimicrobial Stewardship in Rural/regional centres
- Antimicrobial Stewardship in Tertiary Hospitals
- Antimicrobial Stewardship in the community and general practice
- Patterns and impacts of antimicrobial usage in livestock
- Patterns and Rationales for Antimicrobial Usage in Companion Animals
The Vascular Bionics Laboratory
The Vascular Bionics Laboratory is a group of multi-disciplinary researchers collaborating across 11 departments in the Parkville Precinct. These include the Dept. of Medicine, the Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. The Lab is developing a novel model for minimally-invasive brain machine interfacing, capable of recording neural activity. Our primary interest lies in feature extraction of motor cortical signals for the ultimate purpose of thought directed machine control. One of its major achievements is the development of Stentrode devices.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leaders: Dr Nicholas Opie and Dr Thomas Oxley
Translational Traumatic Brain Injury Laboratory
The overall objective of the translational Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) laboratory is to improve our understanding and treatment of this devastating condition. Research projects involve studying the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of TBI, TBI biomarkers, and potential treatments by utilizing a translational research approach that incorporates both animal models and patients.
Academic site: Medicine @ Royal Melbourne Hospital
Group Leader: Dr Sandy Shultz