Pathology research

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