RESEARCH REPORT Our research. Our people. Southern Health is Victoria’s most integrated OUR VISION public health service uniquely providing To provide better health for our community health care across the entire lifespan – – Southern Health will be an Australian leader in improving the health and from newborns and children, to adults, wellbeing of our community. the elderly, their families and carers. Our services are provided from over 40 OUR PURPOSE care locations across south east Melbourne, To plan and deliver safe, effective and people-focused health care and services that including major tertiary and secondary anticipate and respond to our community’s hospitals, an extensive network of health needs by: rehabilitation, community health and g collaborating with other service providers mental health facilities and aged g maximising the use of all available resources residential care centres. g working together to realise people’s potential g fostering knowledge-based practice and Strong medical, clinical and translational continuous improvement. research across all clinical disciplines is To promote and provide quality education and integral to improving the health and research relevant to health care. wellbeing of our community. Monash Health Translation Precinct MELBOURNE CBD Southern Health Deakin University Prince Henry’s Institute Monash Institute of Medical Research Monash University CSIRO Monash University Monash Medical Centre Australian Moorabbin Synchrotron Monash Medical Centre,Sgva Clayton Kingston Cockatoo Dandenong Centre Hospital Dandenong Doveton Berwick Casey Hospital Pakenham Cranbourne Cranbourne Integrated Care Centre CONTENTS 4 Message from the Chair of the Board and 62 Mental Health: Psychological and Chief Executive Behavioural Medicine 4 Director of Research Strategy’s report 64 Mental Health: Southern Synergy 5 Our year at a glance 67 Monash Children’s 6 Reducing disability in children with 69 Monash Newborn cerebral palsy 71 Melbourne Children’s Sleep Centre 6 8 Cancer prognosis indicator breakthrough 72 Nephrology 10 Improving dialysis treatment 74 Neurosciences 12 Leading the way in emergency care 76 Nursing: Deakin - Southern Health 14 2010 Emerging Researcher Fellows Nursing Research Centre 15 A calming influence on the stress of 78 Obstetrics and Gynaecology dementia 81 Ophthalmology 16 Research governance 82 Pathology: Anatomical 17 Support our research 84 Pathology: Biochemistry 85 Pharmacy 18 Research Services 86 Respiratory and Sleep Medicine 10 23 Southern Health Research Week 2010 88 Rheumatology 24 Research Group Reports 90 Supportive and Palliative Care 24 Ageing: Monash Ageing Research Centre 91 Urology (MONARC) 93 Vascular Sciences 30 Allied Health Monash Health Translation Precinct MELBOURNE CBD 32 Anaesthesia and Peri-operative Medicine 95 Monash Health Translation Precinct Southern Health 33 Cardiology: MonashHEART and Monash Partner Reports Deakin University Prince Henry’s Institute Cardiovascular Research Centre 95 Monash Institute of Medical Research Monash Institute of Medical Research 36 Cardiothoracic Surgery Monash University 99 Prince Henry’s Institute CSIRO Monash University 38 Clinical Immunology 101 Southern Clinical School Monash Australian 8 39 Colorectal Surgery Medical Centre Moorabbin Synchrotron 40 Diabetes Unit 104 Collaborations Monash Medical 41 Diagnostic Imaging 104 BioGrid Australia Centre, Clayton Sgva 42 Emergency Medicine 106 Victorian Cancer Biobank Kingston Cockatoo Dandenong 45 Endocrinology Centre Hospital Dandenong 47 Gastroenterology and Hepatology 107 Postgraduate Students Doveton 49 Haematology Berwick 50 Infectious Diseases and Microbiology 120 Funding Sources 52 Infection Control and Epidemiology Casey 123 Southern Health and MHTP Hospital 53 Intensive Care Publications Pakenham 12 55 Medical Oncology 123 Journal articles 57 Mental Health: Centre for Developmental Cranbourne Psychology and Psychiatry 153 Book chapters Cranbourne 59 Mental Health: Clinical Trials Research 155 Books Integrated Group (Psychiatry) Care Centre 60 Mental Health: Early in Life (infant to 157 Collaborations and Partnerships youth) Mental Health Service 15 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE We are pleased to present Southern This year’s Research Report illustrates Health’s Research Report 2010. the vast range of research being undertaken with a focus on understanding Over the last year Southern Health, in the needs of Victorians living in the collaboration with our valued research South-East of Victoria. The feature stories partners, has continued to mature as a demonstrate our commitment to translational world class research organisation. 2010 research from timely interventions in our has been a year of change and achievement. Emergency Departments to life-changing The Southern Health Research Plan outcomes for our dialysis patients in the 2010-2013 was developed after a broad Nephrology Department. stakeholder consultation process and approved by the Southern Health Board. The printed version of our Research Report In this plan, we have detailed our new highlights just some of the outstanding research vision for Southern Health: research achievements of Southern Health in conjunction with our academic partners “To be a health service that integrates including the Prince Henry’s Institute, Monash excellence in clinical services, education Institute of Medical Research, Monash and research. Southern Health will provide University, philanthropic, government and a supportive and dynamic environment commercial partners. We would encourage for health care professionals to conduct you to read the full on-line version of the world-class clinical and translational research Southern Health Research Report 2010 which that drives improved clinical practice.” provides comprehensive information on the research activities for each department, key This is an exciting step forward for Southern collaborators and Monash Health Translation Health and underscores the central Precinct partners. importance of our research in the delivery of safe and effective person-centred care. On a final note, we would like to acknowledge Professor John Funder AO, Director of Barbara Yeoh In 2010 Southern Health also undertook a Research Strategy for his contribution to Chair, Board of Directors review of its research governance framework Southern Health for over two years between to ensure that we continued to maintain the June 2008 and December 2010. John highest standards of research governance chaired a number of research committees and ethics. In August 2010, the National including the Research Advisory Council and Health and Medical Research Council’s was instrumental in the development of the certification of Southern Health’s Human Research Strategic Plan 2010-2013. We take Research Ethics Committee again evidenced the opportunity to thank John and wish him Shelly Park our leadership in this field. all the best in his retirement. Chief Executive DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH STRATEGY’S REPORT In 2010 there were many reasons for Towards the end of the year, the Southern celebration of research at Southern Health, Health Board signed a memorandum of and one for continuing hard work. understanding with Monash University to develop a true Academic Health Service, For four years we have awarded Emerging and Southern Health and partners performed Researcher Fellowships, of $30,000 for a at twice the national average in securing start-up year; on reviewing the program, NHMRC grants. the cause for celebration is that over half those awarded were continuing to a PhD. The current Victorian government is The Southern Health Senior Medical Staff committed to Academic Health Centres; Research Week in May was the best yet, with my swansong, post-election, was to spend excellent presentations and over 160 posters an hour briefing the current Victorian from hospital staff and the affiliated institutes. Minister for Health and Ageing, the The Research Directorate maintained its Honourable David Davis, on Monash OA status on review, a tribute to Malar Health Translation Precinct. Thiagarajan and her team. The Southern I would like to extend a very sincere Health Research Advisory Council committee welcome to my successor, Professor Stephen was reconfigured, to encourage more Holdsworth: from me, ave atque vale. participation by hospital clinicians in research Professor John Funder AO across Southern Health. Director of Research Strategy 4 Southern Health Research Report 2010 5 OUR YEAR AT A GLANCE 675 $23 million Projects underway NHMRC grant funding there were more than 675 research projects underway more than $23 million in NHMRC grant funding involving patients, either in clinical drug or device trials, awarded to Southern Health and MHTP partners or addressing key questions in clinical medicine, public health and the social sciences 225 $5.1 million New research projects Cancer research grants there were 225 new research projects approved by the more than $5.1 million in cancer research grants awarded Southern Health Human Research Ethics Committees to Southern Health and MHTP partners in 2010 255 $6 million Clinical drug or device trials Commercially sponsored clinical trials there were 255 clinical drug or device trials underway, more than $6 million funding for commercially sponsored including 16 phase 1, 47 phase II, 109 phase III, 17 phase clinical trials by leading pharmaceutical companies and IV trials biotechnology companies for national and international clinical research 117 806