Contact Details
| Organization: | Paediatrics Royal Children's Hospital |
| Position: | Honorary (Senior Fellow) |
| Email: |
Biography
Eight years ago, I started working in my first research position as a Post Doctoral Scientist, and was responsible for setting up the Haematology Research Laboratory, in the Department of Clinical Haematology, at the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH), Melbourne.
In my current position, as the head of laboratory research in the Haematology Research Group, I play an integral role in our research activities. I am very excited to be working in translational research, as this allows me to see the application of the results of our studies into clinical practice. I have been intimately involved with the clinical diagnostic haematology laboratory at the RCH. Our work in developing age-appropriate reference ranges for coagulation parameters in children has been successfully translated into working reference ranges for the diagnostic laboratory at RCH. Globally, the results of this study (Ref #15) are used as a reference point for many laboratories around the World. There is also considerable international interest in this data by regulatory groups concerned with quality management of paediatric coagulation laboratories. Other studies have resulted in the incorporation of point of care monitors into daily practice of INR testing at RCH, and have established a model now being used in many centres around the world (Ref #20).
In 2007, my contribution to haematology research was recognized on the international stage when I was awarded the Sanofi-Aventis Clinical Research Fellowship (one awarded internationally), presented at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) congress in Geneva.
In 2008, I spent four weeks at the Australian National University, performing proteomics experiments for which equipment was not available within my immediate environment. In addition, in July 2009, I spent two weeks improving my knowledge in the area of proteomics, in the laboratory of Dr Jennifer van Eyk at the Johns Hopkins Institute in Baltimore, USA. I have a proven record and ability to take on new challenges and collaborate within Australia, as well as on World stage.
In the past eight years, I have worked on over twenty projects under the guidance and mentorship of Professor Paul Monagle (international clinical leader in the field of paediatric coagulation), who has been an invaluable contributor to my independence as a researcher. His clinical expertise combined with my research expertise, have resulted in a number of successful research projects, which in turn have provided a number of important publications for our research group.
My collaborative links as a researcher have expanded significantly and now include strong National (Pregnancy Research Centre; Department of Cardiac Surgery; Bio 21 Institute) and International (Henderson Research Centre, Hamilton, Canada; Diagnostica Stago, France) links.
In my role as the Head of the research laboratory, I have gained extensive experience in all aspects of running a research laboratory (administrative functions, preparing funding applications, setting-up new methods, training of research staff/students, database set-up, data analysis, manuscript preparation). In addition, my research experience has benefited significantly, through my role as a postgraduate student supervisor.
Research Expertise and International Linkages
Research Expertise
| Research Interest | Country of Expertise |
|---|---|
| Paediatric and Perinatal Thrombosis and Haemostasis | Australia |
| Developmental Haemostasis | Australia |
International Linkages
| Country | Establishment | Collaboration |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | McMaster University | Exchange, Research, Technical Assistance/Training |
| Austria | University of Vienna | Exchange, Research, Technical Assistance/Training |
Qualifications, Honours, Fellowships and Other Awards
Qualifications
| Title | Institution | Date Awarded | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science (Hons) | Monash University | 31-Dec-1996 | |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine) | Monash University | 31-Dec-2000 |
Memberships
| Membership Type | Membership Body | Description | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered | International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis | Regular member | 01-Jan-2009 |
Other Awards
| Award Type | Awarding Body | Comments | Date Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other (Award) | 2001 Travelling Fellowship - Paediatric Research Society of Australia and New Zealand. | 03-Sep-2001 | |
| Other (Award) | Young Investigator Award - International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis | 11-Jul-2009 | |
| Scholarship | Royal Children's Hospital Travelling Scholarship | 01-Jan-2003 | |
| Prize | HSANZ - Travelling Grant | 01-Jan-2003 | |
| Other (Award) | Young Investigator Award - International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis | 07-Jul-2007 |
Government Research Classifications
Research Fields, Courses and Discipline Classifications
- Clinical Chemistry (MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY AND CLINICAL CHEMISTRY) (320301)
- Basic Pharmacology (PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES) (320502)
- Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES) (320503)
- Anaesthesiology (CLINICAL SCIENCES) (321001)
- Haematology (CLINICAL SCIENCES) (321008)
- Paediatrics (CLINICAL SCIENCES) (321019)
- Surgery (CLINICAL SCIENCES) (321029)
Socio-Economic Objective Classifications
- Treatments (e.g. chemicals, anntibiotics) (HUMAN PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS) (670403)
- Blood disorders (CLINICAL; ORGANS, DISEASES AND ABNORMAL CONDITIONS) (730103)
- Cardiovascular system and diseases (CLINICAL; ORGANS, DISEASES AND ABNORMAL CONDITIONS) (730106)
- Surgical methods and procedures (CLINICAL; ORGANS, DISEASES AND ABNORMAL CONDITIONS) (730109)
- Skeletal system and disorders (incl. Arthritis) (CLINICAL; ORGANS, DISEASES AND ABNORMAL CONDITIONS) (730114)
- Child health (PUBLIC HEALTH) (730204)
- Preventive medicine (PUBLIC HEALTH) (730213)
- Biological sciences (NON-ORIENTED RESEARCH) (780105)
Grants and Contracts
Research Grants, Contracts and Consultancies awarded to the University of Melbourne as the administering institution (since 2003) as recorded in Themis Agreements.
Grants
| Title | Role | Funding Source | Scheme | Award Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age-related response to heparin in children. | Chief Investigator | NHMRC | Project Grants | 01/01/2007 |
| PAEDIATRIC AND PERINATAL THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS | Chief Investigator | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA | ISTH Fellowship (SANOFI-AVENTIS) | 01/07/2007 |
| Identifying protein changes in plasma after brief interruption and restoration of blood supply and heart surgery. | Chief Investigator | NHMRC | Project Grants | 01/01/2010 |
Additional Grant and Contract Information
GRANTS AWARDED
2009 Bayer: Rivaroxaban Paediatric Study. $113,000
2008 NHMRC/RAGS Equipment Grants: Investigating adverse pregnancy outcomes. $20,000
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute: Age-specific proteomic map of human plasma. $20,000
2007 Inner Wheel Australia: Improving the isolation and culturing of cord blood derived stem cells. $60,000
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute: Age-related structural and functional differences in haemostatic proteins. $25,000
Medical Research Grant: Gradient PCR machine purchase. $20,000
2007-9 NHMRC Project Grant: The impact of developmental haemostasis on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of heparin in children. $273,000
2007-9 Awarded the Sanofi-Aventis Clinical Research Fellowship and it was in the form of salary support of $USD20,000 per year, presented at the International Congress on Thrombosis and Haemostasis in Geneva in 2007.
2005-6 RAGS and NHMRC Equipment Grants: Gel Documentation and Analysis system (Syngene G:BOX). $61,475
Roche Diagnostics: CoaguChek XS study. $26,796
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute: Thrombin generation to assess bleeding and clotting risk in children. $43,000
Haemophilia Foundation Australia: Thrombin generation, the role of hyperfibrinolysis (levels of Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor; TAFI) and levels of Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI) in children with severe Haemophilia: correlation to clinical outcomes. $15,080
RAGS and NHMRC Equipment Grants: Platelet function studies in children: the impact of developmental haemostasis, toxic venoms and Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB). $38,000
2004 University of Melbourne Award for Joint Research Projects: Analysis of the venom and medical importance of lesser known Australian snakes. $15,000
2002 Bayer Diagnostics: RapidPoint, point of care monitoring in children. $70,000
Publications
Publications produced at the University of Melbourne and reported in the Annual Publications Collection and 'Research Report' since 2001. The Themis Publications module, released in November 2006, allows additional publications from previous institutions and publications from past years to be entered.