Emerging Researcher Fellowships

Alisa Robertson

Registrar, Infectious Diseases

Study title: Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections in haematology patients

This study aims to describe the epidemiology and outcomes of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections in haematology patients. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteraemia is a severe infection with high morbidity and mortality (up to 30% per episode).  S. aureus is often hospital acquired and may be associated with intravenous catheters.  Patients with blood cancer often experience prolonged hospitalization, need for intravenous catheters and neutropenia (low white cell counts caused by chemotherapy or underlying disease) which increases their overall infection risk substantially.  Neutropenic sepsis guidelines frequently include additional antibiotic cover to cover S. aureus bacteraemia resulting in high rates of prescription of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, which can itself be associated with antibiotic-related adverse events.  For these reasons, S. aureus bacteraemia risk and treatment can have a major impact on clinical care of blood cancer patients.  Importantly, hospital-acquired S. aureus bacteraemia may also be preventable through best practice infection and prevention.  Despite this, very little dedicated research into S. aureus bacteraemia has been performed in haematology patients.  Some international data indicate lower than expected incidence, despite underlying risk factors, which may indicate opportunities for prevention and need to revise protocols for antibiotic use.  In addition, outcomes are not well described in the literature.  Overall, this study aims to identify targets for improved prevention and empirical treatment decisions in a vulnerable patient group.

Kirsten O’Gorman

Clinical Lead Physiotherapist (Grade 4) Gerontology Stream, Physiotherapy

Study title: From Hospital to Home: Predicting Falls in Older Adults Using Physical Function Tests

Older adults are at high risk of falling soon after leaving hospital, with nearly 1 in 4 experiencing a fall during this time. Falls can have serious consequences, including injury, reduced independence and hospital readmission. Clinical guidelines recommend falls risk assessments and falls prevention interventions for all hospitalised older adults. However, this is difficult to achieve in busy hospital settings due to limited time and resources. As a result, patients who are most at risk of falling may not be identified before they go home. This project aims to find out if a combination of simple walking and balance tests can help identify which patients are most likely to fall in the one month after leaving hospital. The results could help clinicians to deliver targeted falls prevention strategies and identify patients for early assessment after discharge to reduce falls and support older adults to remain independent in the community.

Guoxi (Tim) Yang

Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nephrology

Study title: A Review of the Peri-operative and Early Post-operative Kidney Transplant Pathway at an Australian Tertiary Kidney Transplantation Centre: a quality improvement project aimed at decreasing early hospital readmission and post-transplant complications.

Kidney transplantation is the most effective treatment modality for patients with end-stage kidney disease. Early post-transplant complications (within the first 30 days) and early hospital readmission (EHR) are common and impose a significant burden on both kidney transplant recipients and the healthcare system. Previous studies have suggested that kidney transplant–specific perioperative care pathways, involving structured inpatient clinical protocols and multidisciplinary outpatient follow-up, are effective in reducing rates of post-transplant complications and EHR. However, there is limited literature describing specific post-transplant care pathways in the Australian kidney transplant setting, and the factors associated with early post-transplant complications and EHR remain less well defined. This project will be conducted as a retrospective cohort study, aiming to identify risk factors associated with early post-transplant complications and EHR in adult kidney transplant recipients at an Australian tertiary transplant centre. It will also seek to define the current perioperative pathway for kidney transplantation and propose targeted improvements based on the key factors identified.

Kristina Sabado

Clinical Nurse Specialist (Research Nurse), Cardiac Emergency

Study title: Early recognition of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Monash Health Emergency Departments: Co-design and pilot of a consumer-driven digital screening tool

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including heart attack, remains a leading cause of illness and death, and delays in recognition lead to poorer patient outcomes. This is particularly challenging for patients who do not present with typical chest pain symptoms, which can result in delayed diagnosis and treatment. This study will develop and pilot a simple, multilingual digital screening tool that is co-designed with clinicians and consumers and embedded within the existing HereToHelp platform, to support patients in reporting symptoms on arrival at the emergency department. By enabling patients to communicate concerns early, the tool aims to assist clinicians to identify those who may require urgent ECG. The project will be conducted across two Monash Health emergency departments and will evaluate whether this approach improves the timeliness of ECG testing. Findings from this study will inform future digital innovations and support improved recognition and care for patients with suspected ACS.

Oshara De Silva

Senior Dietitian, Nutrition and Dietetics

Study title: Metabolic Demands Across Decompensation and Recovery in Liver Cirrhosis: A Prospective Indirect Calorimetry Study

Oshara’s research aims to improve understanding of how energy needs change in people admitted to hospital with decompensated liver disease (advanced liver disease). Decompensated liver disease is strongly associated with malnutrition and loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia), which can be worsened by reduced food intake and increased nutritional requirements. While existing research suggests that energy expenditure increases during periods of illness, it is not known how long these changes persist after a decompensation event. Monash Health has recently introduced indirect calorimetry, the gold-standard method for measuring resting energy expenditure. This simple test takes approximately 10 minutes and can be performed in both ventilated and non-ventilated patients. The study will measure energy expenditure at four time points over a three-month period to better understand how energy needs change following a decompensation event. Findings from this research will help guide more accurate nutrition provision and may improve outcomes for people living with advanced liver disease.

Hongyi (Ruth) Liu

Medical Practitioner, Department of Medicine

Study title: Evaluating Coronary Artery Calcification as a Predictor of Osteoporosis Risk

Coronary artery disease and osteoporosis represent major comorbidities that increase morbidity and mortality within our aging population. While increased coronary artery calcification (CAC) is linked to poor skeletal health, this relationship remains clinically under-recognised, leading to high rates of under-diagnosed osteoporosis in heart disease patients. Our project aims to determine the predictive capacity of the CAC score (a marker of coronary artery disease) in identifying individuals at risk of osteoporosis, enabling opportunistic osteoporosis screening in those with cardiac symptoms. We will conduct a retrospective analysis of individuals who have completed cardiac computed tomography (CT) imaging at Monash Health for investigation of chest pain. Novel artificial intelligence – based methods (SpineQ, Bonescreen) will be used to calculate thoracic vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) as a marker of osteoporosis. Demographic data and CAC score will be extracted from the electronic medical record. Subsequently, we will investigate the relationship between the CAC score and AI-derived BMD to determine the accuracy of the CAC score in identifying those with poor skeletal health. Ultimately, these findings will inform future prospective trials evaluating the utility of the CAC score as a trigger for comprehensive bone assessment.

Sen-Pao Chang

Medical Laboratory Scientist, Haematology

Study title: Real-world evaluation of extended-life cryoprecipitate: haemostatic stability, microbiological safety and operational impact in a multi-campus university hospital in Victoria, Australia

This project will evaluate the haemostatic stability, microbiological safety, and operational feasibility of extended post-thaw refrigerated storage of cryoprecipitate within Monash Health. Using real-world cryoprecipitate units prepared for clinical use but not transfused, the study aims to generate translational evidence to support safer and more sustainable transfusion practices, reduce product wastage, improve transfusion readiness, and inform future transfusion policy and guideline development.