Research

The Department of Surgery has research interests in a number of areas.  For further information please contact the Department’s Administrative Assistant on 9903 0611.

Research Opportunities for Honours, PhD, Master of Surgery, MD students

Cardiac Surgical Research Unit, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery

For further information contact: Professor Franklin Rosenfeldt f.rosenfeldt@alfred.org.au

Research Areas Include:

Metabolic physical and mental preparation for major surgery

Antioxidant Therapy for the Treatment of iron overload Cardiomyopathy in ?-Thalassaemia sufferers

The evaluation of hearts obtained after cardiac arrest for use as heart transplant donors

Mechanical and biological properties of absorbable polylactide plates for use in operative fixation of fractured ribs

Cardiac mitochondrial metabolism in health & disease states

Epidemiology-based projects

Thoracic/pulmonary surgery related projects

Neurosurgery Research

For further information contact: Professor Jeffrey V. Rosenfeld -  j.rosenfeld@alfred.org.au
Ph: 9903 0190

Research Areas Include:

Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Injury

Clinical Studies in the Alfred Hospital

Traumatic spine and spinal cord injury

Intensive monitoring, including brain oxygen and micro dialysis

Surgery for brain injury

Laboratory studies in the National Trauma Research Institute

Traumatic brain injury models in rodents

Inflammation post-trauma

Neural precursor cells

Cytokine response

Effect of hypoxia

Neurosurgical Ethics including organ donation issues

Orthopaedic Surgery Research

For further information contact Miss Susan Liew s.liew@alfred.org.au

Research Areas Include:

Femoral fracture fixation in multi-trauma patients

Posterior pelvic fixation

Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) device in orthopaedic patients

Use of retrievable inferior vena cava filters in orthopaedic patients

Non-Operative treatment of type II dens fractures

Use of Gamma nail for the fixation of proximal femur fractures in the elderly

International collaborative multi-centre randomised trials

Department of General Surgery

For further information contact Prof. Jonathan Serpell jonathan.serpell@alfred.org.au

Research Areas Include:

Breast Endocrine and General Surgery:
Involved in various areas of clinical research including: endocrine surgery, thyroid surgery, parathyroid surgery, adrenal surgery, parotid surgery and soft tissue tumour surgery.

Current Research Projects include:
Anatomical studies on the recurrent laryngeal nerve (Prof. Jonathan Serpell),
The Australian experience of isolated limb infusion for palliation intransit metastasis for melanoma. (Dr Paul Paddle, Prof Jonathan Serpell).
The impact of synoptic thyroid cytology reporting. (Dr Cyril Tsan, Prof. Jonathan Serpell).

Colorectal & General Surgery Unit
Involved in a diverse range of research projects which reflect the diverse interests of the members of this unit. Research areas include, colorectal cancer, management of faecal incontinence, anal intraepithelial neoplasia, transanal endoscopic microsurgery, laproscopiccolorectal surgery and endorectal ultrasound.

Current Research Projects Include
A study of patients with anal intraepithelial neoplasia (Dr. Robert Winn)
Pathology reporting for colorectal cancer (Mr. Stephen Bell)
The use of an electromagnetic chair for faecal incontinence ( Mr. Chip Farmer)
The use of dye staining to improve the lymph node yield in bowel resection specimens to increase the accuracy of pathology reporting. (Mr. Stephen Bell)

Upper Gastrointestinal & General Surgery Unit
The Upper Gastrointestinal Unit has established several databases for the collection of clinical information regarding major hepatectomies, pancreatic surgery, oesophagectomy, gastrectomy and bariatric practices.

Research Projects Include:

Laparoscopic hepatectomy ( Mr. Charles Pilgrim, Mr. Val Usatoff, Mr. Peter Evans)

Traumatic Rupture of the diaphragm (Dr. Kishani Goonewardne, Mr. Paul Burton, Mr. Peter Evans)

A randomized controlled trial of the effect of the lap-box trainer on laproscopic skills acquision Use of retrievable inferior vena cava filters in orthopaedic patients

Non-Operative treatment of type II dens fractures

Use of Gamma nail for the fixation of proximal femur fractures in the elderly

International collaborative multi-centre randomised trials