• About
  • People
  • Projects
  • Clinical Trials
  • Funding
  • Collaborations

The Surgical Science Research Group is led by Professor Guy Maddern, the RP Jepson Professor of Surgery at the University of Adelaide and the Director of Research at the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research (BHI), The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH).

Our group is always looking for enthusiastic students who wish to challenge themselves and further their education through our Honours or higher degrees programs. Please read information on the “Projects” tab and contact the relevant people.

 

Researchers

Students

Student Alumni (since 2016)

NameDegreeYear AwardedThesis titleSupervisorsScholarship
Bimala DhakalPhD, The University of Adelaide2022Perhexaline as a potential treatment for colorectal cancerMaddern G, Fenix KFaculty of Health and Medical Sciences Divisional Scholarship, The University of Adelaide
Schlumberger Foundation Postgraduate Award
Edward YoungMPhil(Surgery, The University of Adelaide022Emergency surgery deaths in Australia: Transfers and appendicestomiesMaddern G, Trochsler M
Ellie TreloarHonours, The University of Adelaide2022A randomised controlled pilot study to assess the effects of a Question Prompt List on patient engagement, anxiety and recall in a surgical outpatient consultationMaddern G, Wichmann M
Dr Nelson GranchiMPhil (Surgery), The University of Adelaide2022Improving the non-technical skills of surgeons in the outpatient clinicMaddern GJ, Trochsler M, Bruening MThe University of Adelaide Research Training Program Stipend
Dr Paul PatiniottMPhil (Surgery), The University of Adelaide2022Aspects of Hernia RepairMaddern GJ, Karatassas AThe Hospital Research Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship
Dr Roy (Li Long) OngMPhil (Surgery), The University of Adelaide. Dean's Commendation for Master by Research Thesis Excellence.2021Factors affecting surgical mortality of oral squamous cell carcinoma resectionMaddern GJ, Sambrook P
Dr Joshua KovoorFirst Class Honours, The University of Adelaide. Department of Medical Specialities Honours Award, Adelaide Medical School.2020Dilemmas for Surgery during COVID-19: A Global LessonMaddern GJ, Gladman M, Jones K, Tivey D, Babidge W
Dr Claire StevensMPhil (Surgery), The University of Adelaide2020An analysis of the trends and variability of hepatic and pancreatic surgery in AustraliaMaddern GJ, Trochsler M
Zein AmroHonours, The University of Adelaide2019Evaluating novel antibacterial treatments targeting bacterial water channelsDr Kati Richter, Professor Andrea YoolThe Hospital Research Foundation Honours Scholarship
Man Ying (Celine) LiFirst Class Honours, The University of Adelaide2019Nano-formulation of Curcumin as novel oral treatment for colorectal liver metastasesDr Kevin Fenix, Professor Xin-Fu ZhouThe Hospital Research Foundation Honours Scholarship
Dr Justin ChanMPhil (Surgery), The University of Adelaide2019Mortality and Morbidity in Cardiothoracic Surgery in AustraliaMaddern GJ, Worthington M
Dr Hannah GostlowMPhil (Surgery), The University of Adelaide2018Simulation in surgical education: lessons learned from a multi-site randomised cohort studyMaddern GJ, Babidge WRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons Scholarship
Dr Joseph SmithPhD, The University of Adelaide2018Surgery and climate change: The scientific and public policy implicationsMaddern GJ, Hewett PRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons Scholarship
Helen PalethorpePhD, The University of Adelaide2018, Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis ExcellenceFibroblasts, Androgen Signalling and Oesophageal AdenocarcinomaDrew P & Smith EFaculty of Health Sciences divisional scholarship, University of Adelaide
Kean KuanMResearch, The University of Adelaide2016Factors influencing transplant surgery: ex vivo porcine pancreas normothermic perfusionMaddern G, Trochsler M & Chung W
Dr Li Lian KuanMPhil(Surgery), The University of Adelaide2022Studies on benign hepatic and pancreatic pathologyMaddern G, Trochsler M
Professor Guy Maddern: Student Research Projects for 2022
Further information about the following research projects can be found on Professor Guy Maddern's University of Adelaide Researcher Profile.
  • Laparoscopic Simulation Skills Program (LSSP)
  • Coaching to Enhance Surgeons’ Non-Technical Skills
  • Developing novel diagnostic tools and preventative therapies for metastatic colorectal cancer
  • Systematic reviews of surgical topics
  • Audit of surgical mortality
  • Health System Research
  • Health Technology Assessment
Protein biomarkers for colorectal cancer liver metastasis
Supervisors: Professor Guy Maddern and Dr Kevin Fenix Please email [email protected] to discuss your options further. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the Western and developing countries. The incidence and mortality of CRC also increase in young adults. Metastatic dissemination from primary tumour accounts for over 90% of all colorectal cancer death. Adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to provide a significant improvement in patient survival, however this advantage is not available for all patients who could benefit from it due to inability of current standard method to accurately predict prognosis. Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II CRC patients is still regarded as controversial. About 25% of stage II CRC patients will develop metastasis after surgical removal of their primary tumour mainly to liver and 50 - 60% of stage III CRC patients will develop metastasis. The overall survival rate for stage II CRC patients five years after surgery is approximately 70 - 80% and that for stage III patients is 30 - 60%. Questions remaining to be answered include which patients will benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy and what chemotherapy to use to give most benefit for the patients. Classic disease staging, which is currently the key prognostic indicator for CRC, includes degree of lymph node involvement. Recovery and evaluation of lymph nodes in the resection specimen are, however, influenced by the method and quality of surgical resection, quality of pathologic evaluation, tumour related factors and patient factors. Variation in the assessment of lymph node status could lead to under-staging and as a result a falsely node-negative patient may not receive the potential benefit of adjuvant therapy. It is well recognised that staging by light microscopy alone is not sufficiently accurate to predict spread as significant variation with respect to clinical outcome exists within currently used stages. Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) has been used to predict CRC recurrence for almost 40 years. However, serum CEA has a poor diagnostic accuracy. There is therefore urgent need for histological staging to be supported by molecular profiling of tumours to provide additional accuracy in stratifying patients for better disease management and ultimately improved survival. We have identified protein candidates using proteomic approaches and currently collaboratively working with Callaghan Innovation New Zealand to generate a prototype diagnostic test. Current projects for Honours degree students include evaluation of protein biomarker candidates on a larger number of clinical samples and to determine the functions of the proteins on cancer progression and development using cell culture techniques. We have fresh frozen normal colon, colon tumour, normal liver and liver metastasis and blood of more than 500 patients and some of them were from matched patients accompanied by complete clinical parameters. In addition we also have tissue microarray of more than 250 samples. This resource is hardly found elsewhere. New projects can be discussed, designed and established to identify additional biomarkers for colorectal cancer for Higher Degree Research Student Projects.
Individualised risk assessment and therapeutic interventional for colorectal cancer in the South Australian population

This initiative sets out to bring together a group of experienced and practising clinicians together with an experienced translational researcher all working within the Central Adelaide Health region including the Royal Adelaide and The Queen Elizabeth Hospitals to direct research scientists working within the scope of colorectal primary and metastatic disease.

Immune Checkpoints in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Prediction and Prevention

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world, accounting for over 9% of all cancer incidences. The majority of CRC related deaths are attributable to liver metastasis (LM) – the most critical prognostic factor observed in ≈50% of CRC patients.

Anti-adhesion work

An estimated 9 million abdominal surgeries occur each year, with up to a staggering 95% of these resulting in the formation of intra-abdominal adhesions. The presence of adhesions may go unnoticed until clinical manifestations arise such as pain, reduced gastrointestinal function or bowel obstruction leading to the need for repeat surgical intervention.

Various Sponsored Clinical Trials
Ameliorating liver ischaemia-reperfusion injury – the role of the innate immune response and Wnt signalling pathway.

Surgery is the best chance to cure cancers in the liver. During surgery blood vessels may be clamped to control bleeding. This can lead to ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, which increases complications and mortality. There is no effective treatment.

Development of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for screening and early detection of metastatic colorectal cancer.

HREC reference number: HREC/14/TQEHLMH/164

For more information please contact: Dr Kevin Fenix

Chief InvestigatorsGranting bodyProject TitleType of GrantTotal Grant AmountFunding Period
Maddern G, Treloar EAvant FoundationSolving ward round woes: an intervention to improve patient careProject Grant$200,0002023–2025
Maddern G, Costello S, Bryant R, Price T, Afzali H, Kuan L, Gaget VMedical Research Future Fund (MRFF)Faecal microbiota transplantation to improve pain, symptom management and treatment efficacy in patients with pancreatic cancerMRFF Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative$1,521,8322023–2026
Maddern GCommonwealth Department of HealthAsynchronous video coaching in rural settingsProject Grant$281,1802022–2023
Maddern G, Johnson J, Rogers W, Richards B, Hutchinson K, Clay-Williams R, Grundy QAustralian Research CouncilMedical device representatives: Implications for Australian hospitalsDiscovery Project$311,0002020–2022
Maddern G, Inacio M, Visvanathan R, Karnon JMedical Research Future Fund (MRFF)Mobile X-ray services provided within residential aged care facilitiesMRFF Targeted Health System and Community Organisation Research Project$1,970,0002020-2022
Richter KNHMRC #1163634Maximising the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments for infection control after surgeryNHMRC CJ Martin Biomedical Early Career Fellowship$417,1922019 - 2022
Maddern G, Fenix KCancer CouncilConstruction of the South Australian Liver Tissue Biobank (SALT) for discovery and development of prognostic biomarkers of colorectal cancer liver metastasisBeat Cancer Infrastructure Grant$100,0002019 - 2020
Fenix K, Maddern GThe Hospital Research FoundationConstruction of the South Australian Liver Tissue Biobank (SALT) for discovery and development of prognostic biomarkers of colorectal cancer liver metastasisMatched funding$100,0002019 - 2020
Karatassas ARoyal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Foundation for SurgeryDeveloping a hernia mesh tissue integrated indexSmall Project Grant$10,0002019
Maddern G, Granchi NAvant FoundationA comprehensive video based coaching program for continuing surgical services improvement - design, efficacy, assessment and clinical implementationProject Grant$100,0002019
Maddern GThe Hospital Research FoundationA comprehensive video based coaching program for continuing surgical services improvement - design, efficacy, assessment and clinical implementationProject Grant$84,0002019 - 2020
Fenix KThe Hospital Research Foundation (THRF)Using tissue-resident T cells to develop new prognostics and treatments against bowel cancerTHRF Early Career Fellowship$240,0002018 - 2020
Wormald PJ, Maddern G, Vreugde SThe Hospital Research Foundation (THRF)A novel medicated resorbable adhesion barrier device for use in abdominal surgeryDevelopment Grant$75,0002018 - 2020
Dhakal BSchlumberger FoundationThe immune cell compartment in colorectal liver metastasisFaculty for the Future Fellowship (International PhD Scholarship)US$150,0002018 - 2020
Richter KThe Hospital Research Foundation (THRF)Improving effectiveness of infection control after surgeryTHRF Early Career Fellowship$240,0002018 - 2020
Maddern G, Price T, Young J, Hewett P, Hardingham J, Worthley D, White D, Mulligan DSAHMRI/BEAT Cancer/The Hospital Research FoundationIndividualised risk assessment and therapeutic interventional for colorectal cancer in the South Australian populationProject Grant$750,0002014 - 2019
Maddern G, Trochsler M, Tivey D, Vreugdeburg TFederal Office of Public Health, Health and Accident Insurance, Benefits, Department of Health Technology Assessment, SwitzerlandHealth Technology Assessment Framework AgreementProject Grant$2,800,0002018 - 2019
Ma L, Liang Q, Hauben E, Fenix KFlinders Innovation Partnership Seed Grants SchemeStudy of bioactivity of Hengshan Astragalus Shiitake as biological response modifiers in cancer therapySeed Grant$125,0002018 - 2019
Richter KThe University of AdelaideIroning out superbugs - validation and translation of a novel treatment that kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria by targeting iron metabolismEarly Career Research Fellowship$120,0002018
Richter KThe Hospital Research Foundation (THRF)Ironing out superbugs - validation and translation of a novel treatment that kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria by targeting iron metabolismLeverage Funding
- Early Career Research Fellowship
$25,0002018
Maddern GThe Hospital Research Foundation (THRF)A comprehensive video-based coaching program for continuing surgical improvement - design, efficacy assessment and clinical implementationProject Grant$84,0002018
Eldredge TARoyal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)Bile reflux post-bariatric surgery - a cohort studyRP Jepson Scholarship$66,0002018
Ludbrook G, Walsh R, Story D, Maddern GAustralian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)Extended post-anaesthesia care - a feasibility studyElaine Lillian Kluver ANZCA Research Award$69,9942018
Kopecki Z, Grubor-Bauk B, Wijesundara D, Fenix KUniversity of South AustraliaIdentify a diagnostic marker for psoriasisNew Adventures Fund$18,1932018
Gowans E, Wijesundara D, Maddern GThe Hospital Research Foundation (THRF)The protective efficacy of cytolytic DNA vaccine for HCV in marmosets: a step forward towards human clinical trialsDevelopment Grant$200,0002017 - 2018
Hauben E, Voelcker N, Maddern GThe Hospital Research Foundation (THRF)Development of targeted nanoparticles as preventative therapy for liver metastasisProject Grant$125,0002017 - 2018
Maddern G, Hauben H, Ngo D, Beltrame JThe Hospital Research Foundation (THRF)The nexus between visceral adiposity, associated liver composition, and metastatic progression in colorectal cancer patientsProject Grant$75,0002016
Hauben E, Gowans E, Vreugde S, Evdokiou A, Maddern GARC Linkage, Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) grantMiltenyi AutoMACS ProEquipment grant$30,0002016
Maddern GJ, Roberts M, Crawford DNHMRCAdvanced imaging to define hepatic and intestinal drug disposition in aging and liver diseaseProject Grant$735,8202013 - 2015
Maddern GJ, Runciman W, Mandel C, Schultz T, Munn ZHCF Health and Medical Research FoundationUse of surgical and radiology checklists in Australian hospitals: uptake, barriers and enablers$311,1952013 - 2015  
Maddern GJ, Wormald PJ, S Moratti S, Robinson B, Robinson SNHMRCIn vivo evaluation of the safety and efficacy of a novel chitosan gel in the reduction of adhesions following abdominal surgery in both animal and human modelsProject Grant$514,9752013 - 2015  
Rogers WA, Johnson AJ, Townley C, Sheridan J, Ballantyune A, Lotz M, Meyerson D, Tomosey GF, Eyers AA, Maddern GJ, Thomson CJARCOn the cutting edge: promoting
best practice in surgical innovation
Linkage Grant$255,0002011 - 2014  
Maddern GJ, Fitridge R, Boult M, Golledge J, Thompson M, Barnes MNHMRCProspective evaluation of a model to predict outcomes following endovascular aortic aneurysm repair Project Grant$1,036,9252009 - 2013  
Maddern GJ, Wormald PJ, Jamieson G, Fitridge R, Hewett PThe Hospital Research Foundation (THRF)Development and assessment of novel surgical technologies and their introduction into the Australian healthcare systemProgram Grant$1,250,0002009 - 2013

CollaboratorInstitutionCityCountry
Ashley Dennison and Wen ChungUniversity Hospitals of LeicesterLeicesterUnited Kingdom
Richard Stubbs

The Wakefield ClinicWellingtonNew Zealand
Jonathan KarnonFlinders UniversityAdelaideAustralia
Susan WoodsSAHMRIAdelaideAustralia
Bernd KlosterhalfenHospital of DuerenDuerenGermany
Regine SuessAlbert-Ludwigs-UniversityFreiburgGermany
Simon SwiftUniversity of AucklandAucklandNew Zealand