Western Health Endocrinology and Diabetes Research Group

Research Overview

The Western Health Endocrinology and Diabetes Research Group is comprised of academic clinicians and higher degree students conducting clinical research primarily in the fields of

  1. obstetric endocrinology
  2. diabetes and complications prevention
  3. bone health

We collaborate with colleagues in Nephrology, Cardiology and Obstetrics, and have strong links with academic partners in Australia and overseas.   As part of the Western Chronic Disease Alliance, we study chronic diseases and interventions in the western suburbs of Melbourne.

Centre for Obstetric Endocrinology Research and Education (COERE)

Western Health has one of the largest maternity hospitals in Australia with high rates of gestational diabetes and endocrine disease.  We have a diverse range of maternal health projects including studies into the use of steroids prior to caesarean section, gestational diabetes screening methods, the use of metformin, lipid disorders in pregnancy, and digital health technologies.

Diabetes and complications prevention

Western Health is a site for multicentre trials for diabetes research into novel therapies, new indications for medicine, and diabetes epidemiology.  We lead research that considers the effect of diabetes on vulnerable populations and considers the overlap between diseases such as CoVID, Type 2 diabetes, Type 1, diabetic foot disease and dental disease.

Bone health

Bone disease is a particular area of research interest to Group members.  Western Health is a trial site for the TrAFFiC Study which assesses the risk factors for the development of atypical femoral fractures.  Further research includes projects investigating preoperative localisation for primary hyperparathyroidism, as well as studies to assess and improve fracture liaison and diabetic foot services.

Staff

A/Prof Shane Hamblin, Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/14441-peter-hamblin

Dr Vivian Grill, Deputy Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes

A/Prof Christopher Yates, Co-Director of Research https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/193077-christopher-yates

Dr Dev Kevat, Co-Director of Research

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/1019898-dev-kevat

Dr I-Lynn Lee, Co-Director of Research

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/889861-i-lynn-lee

Dr Hanh Nguyen

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/1047423-hanh-nguyen

Dr Bala Krishnamurthy

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/419140-balasubramanian-krishnamurthy

Dr Barbora Paldus

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/808728-barbora-paldus

Dr Rahul Barmanray

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/864486-rahul-barmanray

Dr Deepak Dutta

Dr Debra Gordon

Dr Jessica Deitch

Dr Rinky Giri

Dr Christoper Preston

Dr Annabel Jones

Collaborators

There is an active collaboration with the Melbourne Health Dept of Diabetes and Endocrinology for a multi-site study of glucocorticoid induced diabetes.

The Endocrinology & Diabetes Unit is also a part of the Western Chronic Disease Alliance
(Western Health Units: Nephrology, Endocrinology & Diabetes, Internal General Medicine, and Cardiology along with the University of Melbourne and Victoria University) which has been established to study chronic diseases in the western suburbs of Melbourne involving nephrology, diabetes and/or cardiology.

Funding

Dr Jessica Deitch is the recipient of the  University of Melbourne Research Training Program Scholarship as well as the Lowe Sheppard Scholarship.  Dr Rinky Giri is the recipient of the inaugural Arlene Wake Fellowship that supports her as a research fellow at the Centre of Digital Innovation and Transformation of Health as well as support the project.

Research Opportunities

This research project is available to PhD students, Post Doctor Researchers to join as part of their thesis.
Please contact the Research Group Leader to discuss your options.

Research Outcomes

Dr Hanh Nguyen https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8846-6168

Research Publications

Publications from the Endocrinology and Diabetes Research Group Members in 2015:

  1. Sim IW, Sanders KM, Borromeo GL, Seymour JF, Ebeling P. Declining incidence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients with cancer. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2015; 100(10): 3887-3893
  2. Sim IW, Ebeling P  Romosozumab/CDP7851 for the treatment of osteoporosis Expert Review of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2015; 10(5): 471-481
  3. Dick M, Catford SR, Kumareswaran K, Hamblin PS, Topliss DJ  Persistent syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion following traumatic brain injury. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep. 2015;2015:150070. doi: 10.1530/EDM-15-0070. Epub 2015 Aug 27
  4. Somarajah G, Karunajeewa H, Hamblin PS, Karahalios E, Janus E The true prevalence of diabetes in hospital patients and its implications Intern. Medicine Journal 2015 45 (5): 594