The following describes recent microbiology and infectious diseases research activities of the Royal Women's Hospital.
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Overall, the Women’s Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases conducts clinically based research, as well as cutting edge molecular diagnostics for detection of infections as they relate to Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, including Sexual Health.
Research focuses include cervical cancer, sexual health and mother-to-baby infections, with emphasis on providing evidence for evaluations and changes that may translate into clinical practice, affecting patient health.
Professor Suzanne Garland leads the team of eight scientists and five clinical research nurses and six PhD students.
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Research activities
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Currently the group holds five NHMRC project grants, as well as funding from the Cancer Council, Northern Territory Government, pharmaceutical company-initiated clinical vaccine trials, as well recently announced NHMRC programme grants totaling over $12 million dollars to date.
The following are the key areas of research for the department:
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(a) Leading research on human papillomavirus (HPV) and its role in cervical cancer in a number of clinically based research projects, including:
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- assessment of prophylactic cervical vaccine effectiveness in the Australian population by conducting three phase clinical trials two of which are ongoing
- evaluation of molecular markers that can predict disease recurrence after treatment of cervical abnormalities
- evaluation of genetic and environmental factor responsible for development of cervical cancer: this study is conducted using the power of a twin model
- determination of HPV genotypes prevalence in the Australian population (pre and post vaccination).
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(b) Our research team has been leaders in development and application of molecular testing for detection of sexually transmitted infection (STI) of marginalized, remote populations by combining sensitive molecular techniques with self-sampling methodology. The methods established have been utilized both nationally and internationally in a number of projects including STI prevalence in various populations such as antenates in Vanuatu, Samoa, Thailand, China and Mongolia. For this we were awarded the Public Health Award for Excellence in Research from the Department of Human Services in Victoria in 1999.
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(c) We are currently evaluating an Australia wide assessment of the impact of intrapartum chemoprophylaxis on group B streptococcus (GBS) antimicrobial resistance, the ultimate aim of which is appropriate antibiotics to prevent early onset neonatal GBS sepsis.
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(d) Role of probiotics in reduction of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants is being evaluated. This study is a multicentre trial and will involve 1,000 premature infants.
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International activities
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(a) World Health Organization (WHO) - One of nine worldwide Reference Laboratories for HPV detection and surveillance. Professor Garland also has been serving as an advisor to WHO for the past decade.
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(b) Establishment of the Asian-Oceania Research Organization on Genital Infection and Neoplasia (AOGIN) Society- brings together clinicians and scientists within the Asian and Oceania regions and whose work is related to genital infections and neoplasia. The aims of AOGIN are to promote and develop, at an Asia-Oceania level, research, training, screening, prevention and information concerning genital infections, pre-cancers and cancers in women. Professor Garland was the inaugural President and now Past President of this organization. AOGIN meetings are held biennially with the 2006 meeting being held in Cebu, Philippines, where over 500 clinicians and scientists from the region attended and ~1000 in 2008 in Seoul, Korea .The 2010 meeting is to be held in Delhi India.
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