Asian blood donors & donation practicesPrincipal Investigator: Dr Lin Fung
Partners:
People in most countries are living longer, and patients aged 60 years old or more are one of the largest blood user groups. Therefore, as populations age, the proportion of the population who currently receive more transfusions is also expected to increase and place increased pressure on the blood supply. This collaborative study will gather blood donor and donation information from all 10 blood collection agencies. This will allow us to compare and contrast practices so as to identify ways to ensure blood donor wellfare, optimise blood donation practice so as to secure future blood supplies to meet the growing blood demands. 
Leon Cavalli - Artificial Intelligence in perioperative anaemia managementPhD candidate
Role: Associate Lecturer - Information and Communication Technology Institute: USC Qualifications: Exec MBA, BICT Project Title: Perioperative anaemia management in on-pump cardiac surgery - an artificial intelligence approach. Leon is investigating the appropriateness of the use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Hb thresholds for diagnosing anaemia in the context of on-pump cardiac surgery. Along with clinical collaborators at the Prince Chrales Hospital, he is (i) evaluating the effectiveness of the pre-operative anaemia management program and (ii) applying artificial intelligence/machine learning to improving patient blood management of in cardiac surgery. His aim is to develop a tool to predict blood loss and prevent inappropraite blood use. 
Fraser Morris - Blood transfusion outcomes in major abdominal surgeryMSc candidate
Qualifications: Bachelor of Biomedical Science Accelerated Project title: Incidence & outcome of perioperative blood transfusion in patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery. Blood transfusions are often a necessary intervention for patients undergoing major abdominal surgery (MAS). Published literature reports that 20% of MAS result in serious post-operative complications that are associated with an increase in morbidity, mortality and length of stay. This project is conducted in the collaboration of Prof Michelle Chew from Linkoping University (Sweden), and will investigate the incidence of perioperative transfusion of blood and blood products in MAS. It will also increase understanding surrounding the relationship between preoperative anaemia and intraoperative transfusion and the relationship between preoperative anaemia and post-operative transfusion. Additionally, this project will look at the relationship between intra- and post-operative transfusions, mortality, major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and postoperative infections. |
Geoff Simon - Optimising blood use for an ageing populationPhD candidate
Role: Lecturer Medical Laboratory Science Institute: USC Qualifications: (BAppSci (Med Lab Sci), GradCertMgt) Project Title: Optimising blood use for an ageing population Ageing will be the most profound population change to occur in Australia over the coming decades. In 2012 there were 3.2 million people in Australia aged over 65 years, projected to grow by 80% to 5.8 million by 2031, and then to 11.1 million by 2061. Australian and international studies report that more than 50% of red cells are transfused to people aged 65 years and above. The dramatic decline in the proportion of younger people in the population, and relative increase in the older cohort, will significantly affect the dynamics of blood supply and demand. Studies report that little information is available on characteristics of the older population of blood recipients. Research undertaken during development of the Australian Patient Blood Management (PBM) guidelines revealed a range of studies in orthopaedic surgery, cardiac surgery, anaemia management and critical care. These studies are relevant to the geriatric cohort as well as the population more broadly, however, the PBM guidelines and recommendations are not specific to the geriatric population. This research project will increase understanding of blood use in older adults in an Australian context. It will also explore aspects of physiology to determine whether specific patient blood management guidance is needed for older adults Publications:
Tanja Windegger - Intravenous versus subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapyPhD conferred (Dec 2020)
Role: Research Assistant Institute: USC Qualifications: PhD, BSc Hons (BioMed), Ass Deg Med Lab Sc Project Title: Clinical, social and economic impacts of intravenous (IVIg) versus subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) therapy on patients with secondary hypogammaglobulinaemia (SHG) in Australia. This is an Australian multicentre study comparing the clinical, quality of life and health economic impact of two different administration modes available for immunoglobulin replacement therapy in adult patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) or acquired hypogammaglobulinaemia secondary to haematological malignancy (SID). Immunoglobulin (Ig) can be administered intravenously (IVIg) at hospital by a registered nurse, or alternatively patients can be trained to self-administer subcutaneously (SCIg) at a place and time of convenience to them. SCIg became available for use in March 2013 in Australia, but in 2018 still only 5% of eligible patients receive or have access to home-based SCIg to prevent recurrent infection. Furthermore, there is very limited published data available on SCIg for SID patients. Data from this project can be used by clinicians to guide decision on which treatment mode is most effective for each individual patient on a clinical, quality of life and cost-effectiveness level in Australia.
Gillian Puckeridge - Preoperative anaemia in hip fractures of older peoplePhD candidate
Role: Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) Clinical Risk and Safety Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service Qualifications: BNurs, GradDipNurs-Trauma Project Title: Preoperative anaemia in hip fractures of the elderly. This project is a sequential explanatory project commencing with 2 quantitative studies; firstly reporting the prevalence and progression of preoperative anaemia in geriatric hip fractures and secondly, reporting association between preoperative anaemia and outcomes. The third phase is a qualitative study exploring barriers to timely surgery and perception of surgical priority for geriatric hip fractures. Publications:
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