Department of Epidemiology & Preventative Medicine

The Department of Epidemiology & Preventative Medicine (DEPM) is part of Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine based at the Alfred Hospital.

DEPM works closely with The Alfred clinical units to provide expertise in large epidemiological studies, multi-centre clinical trials, clinical registries, and evidence synthesis and health social science. Its collaborative work with national and international research institutes, Monash affiliated hospitals, public health institutes in Victoria and nationally, government, non-government and industry partners, ensures its research informs public health and clinical practice both nationally and globally.

The expertise of DEPM staff has led to many international collaborations on large global trials such as APSREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly), Australia’s largest clinical trial study of 19,000 participants in Australia and the US. As well as STAREE (STAtins in Reducing Events in the Elderly), a world first study on the effects of stains on healthy ageing. The department’s Occupational & Environmental Health team has also established itself as a national expert in studying high-risk occupational cohorts.

DEPM also has a diverse teaching curriculum with well-established international links across the Asia Pacific region, the United States and Europe, including a collaborative program with Sri Lanka and the Middle East to provide academic research training to qualified doctors. DEPM also offers short courses to health professionals seeking professional development, and flexible post-graduate and higher degree by research programs that offer a combination of online learning, on-campus learning and block days, to suit working professionals. Postgraduate courses are offered in Public Health, Biostatistics, Clinical Research Methods, Health Services Management, International Health and Occupational and Environmental Health.

Senior staff have contributed to public health emergency responses such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, as well as working closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO) on international collaborative efforts to eradicate polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

The department houses a number of registries monitoring procedures such as transfusions, diseases such as prostate cancer or lung cancer as well as healthcare services.

The scope of the research conducted at DEPM is wide-ranging and includes critical care, women’s health, clinical data management, infectious diseases, cancer research, epidemiological modelling, trauma, and public health and human rights.

Related Link

Monash University School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine