The Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management has a proud history of conducting quality research.
About our research
We are committed to evidence-based best practice, continuous quality improvement, research and teaching. We undertake a variety of research including basic research, small research studies of various design conducted by supervised medical students, as well as major international multi-centre clinical trials.
Our focus
- Large multicentre trials endorsed by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Clinical Trials Network
- Airway, respiratory protection, cardiac anaesthesia and healthcare wellbeing and safety
- Pain medicine research
- Genetics of malignant hypertension
- Echocardiography, cardiac outcomes for cardiac surgery and quality of recovery after surgery
Our collaborators
We have close collaborations with:
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne
- Ultrasound Education Group in the Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne
Malignant hyperthermia (MH)
We are recognised as a world leader in research into novel genetic variants causing MH, with an extensive list of publications.
Dr Robyn Gillies and A/Prof Andrew Bjorksten are founding members of the Malignant Hyperthermia Australia and New Zealand (MHANZ) group and work in the Malignant Hyperthermia Diagnostic Unit (MHDU) at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
MHDU staff perform clinical and genetic diagnosis and counselling, as well as MH crisis management.
The MHDU coordinates in-vitro contracture testing for MH for patients from Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and Northern Territory. This testing is performed in our departmental laboratory.
Contact the Malignant Hyperthermia Diagnostic Unit for more information.
Current research studies
We participate in clinical trials conducted by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Clinical Trials Network.
Publications
A randomised crossover study to compare the user seal check and quantitative fit test between two types of duckbill N95 particulate respirator masks: The Halyard Fluidshield (R) N95 and the BSN Medical ProShield (R) N-95 particulate respirator masks
Williams, DL; Kave, B; Lee, K; Segal, R; Krieser, RB; Mezzavia, PM; Ng, I
(2021), Anaesth. Intensive Care, 112-118
Advocacy for COVID-19 vaccination at perioperative consultations: An opportunity for protection
Douglas, N; Gregorevic, K; Law, M; Thomson, BNJ; Johnson, DF
(2021), ANZ J. Surg., 1964-1965
DOI: 10.1111/ans.17066
Airway management in the adult patient with COVID-19: High flow nasal oxygen or not? A summary of evidence and local expert opinion
Lee, S; Bradley, WPL; Brewster, DJ; Chahal, R; Poon, L; Segal, R; Totonidis, S; Tsang, D; Ng, M
(2021), Anaesth. Intensive Care, 268-274
300 Grattan St, Parkville, Victoria
We need clinical trials to prove that new treatments are safe and effective for people to use. They are essential to the discovery of new medications and devices, neither of which can be approved for use in Australia without clinical trials.