Research Report 2015 Translational health research creating positive outcomes for thousands of South Australians Front cover image: Master of Philosophy (Surgery) Student Dr Hannah Gostlow shows primary school children how to use the laparoscopic surgical simulator. (Photo: James Devine) This page: BHI researchers fundraising for THRF at The Longest Table lunch, see p141 for more information. Design: thisbigdesign Thanks to The Hospital Research Foundation for their contribution to this report. 01 RESEARCH REPORT 2015 CONTENTS CONTENTS Director’s Report 2 Significant Impact Publications 3 Themes 11 Ageing 12 Cancer 16 Cardiovascular Disease 26 Chronic Disease 36 Cli nical Sciences, Health Services and Population Health 46 Drug and Vaccine Development 62 Inflammatory Disease 65 Research Staff 70 Research Students 76 Grants 82 Publications 90 High Profile International Talks 106 Community Engagement 109 TQEH Research Day 114 Awards 115 Support Structures 119 Human Research Ethics Committee Report 122 The Hospital Research Foundation 124 Chair’s Report 125 Board Members 128 Contact Corporate and Community Support 131 Research Equipment 137 The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Fundraising Events 138 Research Secretariat DX465101 Major Project 144 28 Woodville Road Woodville South, South Australia 5011 T: +61 8 8222 7836 F: +61 8 8222 7872 E: [email protected] www.basilhetzelinstitute.com.au 02 RESEARCH REPORT 2015 DIRECTOR’S REPORT Director’s Report 2015 has been a challenging year for research within the Australian scene. The NHMRC success rates were down to only 13%, the options for non-NHMRC funding are decreasing and universities are under severe pressure with respect to their research budgets. At the same time, within South Australia the new Royal Adelaide Hospital is powering ahead with an opening date for late 2016. The SAHMRI research facility is slowly reaching capacity and the opportunity to perform important translational research remains viable within the Central Adelaide Local Health Network. With the move of all breast cancer surgery to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital creating the largest breast cancer unit within Australia, the opportunity to develop high volume translational research has increased even further. In order for the Basil Hetzel Institute to remain relevant and successful it will be important to link more closely with the clinical groups, both at the new Royal Adelaide and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in order to develop significant projects based on the volume of clinical challenges being faced by the Network. The closure of the old Royal Adelaide Hospital during 2016 will also provide an opportunity to welcome groups unable to be housed at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital which will have no wet laboratory research facilities. A new medical school being built adjacent to the hospital will have some facilities but not nearly enough and many groups will need to be absorbed into the BHI. The support of The Hospital Research Foundation has been invaluable during the last twelve months and continues to provide an underpinning of the work being conducted within The Institute. It provides valuable seed support for research projects and, as such, there will hopefully be ongoing reward for early success brought by the groups enjoying this initial support. As the Australian economic situation continues to be put under pressure the community must look to new initiatives that will bring intellectual property as well as health benefits. Medical research is something that South Australia and Australia generally excel at and the BHI can be an important part of this going forward. Guy Maddern Director of Research The Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research The Queen Elizabeth Hospital RESEARCH REPORT 2015 SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Significant Impact Publications 2015 04 RESEARCH REPORT 2015 SIGNIFICANT IMPACT SIGNIFICANT IMPACT PUBLICATIONS cancer from USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Ageing and the factors which potentially modulate their risk. In this study, it was found that factors reported to Impact Factor: 4.9 decrease the risk of endometrial cancer in the general Kaehr R, Visvanathan R, Malmstrom T, Morley J. population (use of oral contraceptives, having at least Frailty in Nursing Homes: The FRAIL-NH Scale. one full term pregnancy, and late age at menarche), Journal of the American Director’s Association. also decreased the risk of endometrial cancer in 2015;16(2): 87-89. women who carry Lynch syndrome mutations. The Journal of the American Director’s Association is The findings would allow information to be given to not only the second highest impact factor geriatrics mutation carriers as to the modulation of risk from and gerontology clinical journal but is also a journal hormonal influences. dedicated to research focused on nursing homes. Early detection through screening will allow clinicians Impact Factor: 5.1 and staff to tailor interventions to improve outcomes DeNichilo MO, Panagopoulos V, Rayner for nursing home residents. However, there had been TE, Borowicz RA, Greenwood JE, Evdokiou no frailty screening tool designed with the nursing A. Peroxidase enzymes regulate collagen extracellular matrix biosynthesis. The American home resident in mind till this paper. The idea for such Journal of Pathology. 2015;185:1372-84. as screening tool blossomed from a conversation between Professors Morley and Visvanathan here in This paper shows for the very first time that peroxidase Adelaide. The screening tool is easy to administer and enzymes, such as myeloperoxidase and eosinophil researchers are currently investigating its performance. peroxidase, play a fundamental role in regulating the recruitment of fibroblast and the biosynthesis of collagen extracellular matrix at sites of normal tissue Cancer repair and fibrosis, with enormous implications for many disease states where infiltrating inflammatory Impact Factor: 35.3 cells deposit peroxidases. Dashti SG, Chau R, Ouakrim DA, Buchanan DD, Clendenning M, Young JP, Winship IM, Arnold J, Ahnen DJ, Haile RW, Casey G, Gallinger S, Cardiovascular Disease Thibodeau SN, Lindor NM, Le Marchand L, Newcomb PA, Potter JD, Baron JA, Hopper JL, Impact Factor: 45.2 Jenkins MA, Win AK. Female Hormonal Factors and the Risk of Endometrial Cancer in Lynch Stewart S, Ball J, Horowitz JD, Marwick TH, Syndrome. Journal of the American Medical Mahadavan G, Wong C, Abhayaratna WP, Chan Association. 2015 Jul 7;314(1):61-71. YK, Esterman A, Thompson DR, Scuffham PA, Carrington MJ. Standard versus atrial fibrillation- Lynch syndrome is a highly penetrant genetic condition specific management strategy (SAFETY) to which predisposes to colorectal and endometrial reduce recurrent admission and prolong survival: cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus), among pragmatic. Multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2015;385(9970):775-784. other sites. In women who carry a Lynch syndrome mutation, the only prevention strategy for endometrial Lancet is one of the highest ranked general medical cancer has been hysterectomy when families have journals. This report documented the benefit of an been completed. This paper investigates other outreach program for management of patients with prevention avenues. The work arises from a long-term, atrial fibrillation. ongoing, multinational study, funded by the NIH, and initiated in 1997, of families ascertained on colorectal 05 RESEARCH REPORT 2015 SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Impact Factor: 3.0 Impact Factor: 3.0 Chong, C.-R., Drury, N.E., Licari, G., Frenneaux, Boult M, Howell S, Cowled P, De Loryn T, Fitridge M.P., Horowitz, J.D., Pagano, D., Sallustio, B.C. R. Self-reported fitness of American Society of Stereoselective handling of perhexiline: Anesthesiologists class 3 patients undergoing Implications regarding accumulation within the endovascular aneurysm repair predicts patient human myocardium. European Journal of Clinical survival. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2015;62:299- Pharmacology. 2015; 71(12): 1485-1491. 303. This is the first clinical study to investigate the uptake The Journal of Vascular Surgery is the highest ranked of the individual isomers of perhexiline into the heart, specialist vascular surgery journal and is widely read and to demonstrate that although perhexiline is used by vascular surgeons and researchers worldwide. as an equal mixture of two isomers, they may have This publication introduces a simple and practical different effects on heart function in humans. The new method of assessing surgical and survival risk work is the result of an international collaboration with for patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm colleagues in the UK and formed part of the research repair. Patients are asked whether then can walk programme for two PhD students. 1 km or climb two flights of stairs. The answers to these questions divides patients into “fit and unfit” Impact factor: 14.3 categories and the unfit patients are approximately 3 times more likely to die up to three years after the Pasupathy S, Air T, Dreyer RP, Tavella R, Beltrame operation. An important use of the results of this study JF.Systematic review of patients presenting with suspected myocardial infarction and is that patients with good self-reported fitness could nonobstructive coronary arteries. Circulation. proceed directly to surgery but surgeons might choose 2015 Mar10;131(10):861-70. to discuss treatment options with less fit patients, therefore improving understanding and communication Myocardial infarct patients without significant of risks,