Pathology research

Alfred Health Pathology Services incorporates Laboratory Haematology, Microbiology and Clinical Biochemistry (also known as Chemical Pathology) and Anatomical Pathology. 

This year’s report focuses on Haematology. Anatomical Pathology, headed by Professor Catriona McLean, is also reported.

Laboratory Haematology is primarily a diagnostic and consultative service providing expertise in blood banking, laboratory-based general haematology, including morphology, coagulation and flow cytometry, immunology tests and diagnostic bone marrow biopsies. The unit incorporates a specialist multidisciplinary transfusion medicine team which audits transfusion safety and practice.

Research collaborations involve identifying and supplying material for various registries of the Transfusion Outcomes Research Collaborative; Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society’s TRANSFUSE trial; Clinical Haematology and Trauma Unit clinical trials; Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD), Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group and Nucleus Network.

Current research

  • Development of highly sensitive flow cytometric techniques for detection of small volume minimal residual disease after potentially curative therapy, particularly in multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
  • Coagulopathy associated with mechanical circulatory assist devices and heart valve dysfunction (ACBD collaboration)
  • PTP1B expression in myeloproliferative disorders as a marker of JAK-STAT pathway dysregulation
  • Haematological and biochemical complications of dapsone therapy
  • Predicting outcome in AML: molecular testing for founder mutations
  • Blood product use in bone marrow transplant and cardiac surgery patients
  • Pre-operative optimisation of haemoglobin in orthopaedic patients to limit need for transfusion

Achievements

  • Dr Victoria Ling, Haematology RACP /RCPA Advanced Trainee, won the 2014 Victorian RACP Trainee Research Award for Excellence in Adult Medicine
  • Dr Kay Htun, Haematology RACP /RCPA Advanced Trainee, won the 2014 Alfred Hospital prize for Best Advanced Physician Trainee Project
  • Dr Mandy Davis, Haematologist and Transfusion Specialist, was awarded the WTMS (Whole Time Medical Specialist) grant of $56,000 for expansion of the BloodTrack program to improve safety of blood administration.

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia: predicting outcome

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Inappropriate pre-operative testing

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Side effects of Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs)

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Publications

Venetoclax induces rapid elimination of NPM1 mutant measurable residual disease in combination with low-intensity chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukaemia

Tiong IS, Dillon R, Ivey A, Teh TC, Nguyen P, Cummings N, Taussig DC, Latif AL, Potter NE, Runglall M, Russell NH, Raj K, Schwarer AP, Fong CY, Grigg AP, Wei AH

(2021), BRIT J HAEMATOL, 192(6), 1026-30

DOI: 10.1111/bjh.16722

Combined Associations of a Polygenic Risk Score and Classical Risk Factors With Breast Cancer Risk

Kapoor PM, Mavaddat N, Choudhury PP, Wilcox AN, Lindström S, Behrens S, Michailidou K, Dennis J, Bolla MK, Wang Q, Jung A, Abu-Ful Z, Ahearn T, Andrulis IL, Anton-Culver H, Arndt V, Aronson KJ, Auer PL, Freeman LEB, Becher H, Beckmann MW, Beeghly-Fadiel A, Benitez J, Bernstein L, Bojesen SE, Brauch H, Brenner H, Brüning T, Cai Q, Campa D, Canzian F, Carracedo A, Carter BD, Castelao JE, Chanock SJ, Chatterjee N, Chenevix-Trench G, Clarke CL, Couch FJ, Cox A, Cross SS, Czene K, Dai JY, Earp HS, Ekici AB, Eliassen AH, Eriksson M, Evans DG, Fasching PA, Figueroa J, Fritschi L, Gabrielson M, Gago-Dominguez M, Gao C, Gapstur SM, Gaudet MM, Giles GG, González-Neira A, Guénel P, Haeberle L, Haiman CA, Håkansson N, Hall P, Hamann U, Hatse S, Heyworth J, Holleczek B, Hoover RN, Hopper JL, Howell A, Hunter DJ; ABCTB Investigators; kConFab/AOCS Investigators, John EM, Jones ME, Kaaks R, Keeman R, Kitahara CM, Ko YD, Koutros S, Kurian AW, Lambrechts D, Le Marchand L, Lee E, Lejbkowicz F, Linet M, Lissowska J, Llaneza A, MacInnis RJ, Martinez ME, Maurer T, McLean C, Neuhausen SL, Newman WG, Norman A, O'Brien KM, Olshan AF, Olson JE, Olsson H, Orr N, Perou CM, Pita G, Polley EC, Prentice RL, Rennert G, Rennert HS, Ruddy KJ, Sandler DP, Saunders C, Schoemaker MJ, Schöttker B, Schumacher F, Scott C, Scott RJ, Shu XO, Smeets A, Southey MC, Spinelli JJ, Stone J, Swerdlow AJ, Tamimi RM, Taylor JA, Troester MA, Vachon CM, van Veen EM, Wang X, Weinberg CR, Weltens C, Willett W, Winham SJ, Wolk A, Yang XR, Zheng W, Ziogas A, Dunning AM, Pharoah PDP, Schmidt MK, Kraft P, Easton DF, Milne RL, García-Closas M, Chang-Claude J

(2021), JNCI-J NATL CANCER I, 113(3), 329-337

DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djaa056

Peeling back the onion layers': the challenge of HIV-associated multicentric Castleman's disease

Liu FF, Hall V, Cronin KM, Nair AP, Mclean CA, Hoy JF

(2021), AIDS, 35(1), 159-61

DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000002705

View all publications for Pathology research