Research Portfolio

Development of a human cardiac myocyte assay for the production of lethal dose response curves for box jellyfish venoms: Can heat and intralipids be used as a treatment for cubozoan envenomings?

The problem of box jellyfish stings is an issue of medical and commercial importance to tropical Australia, notably in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australian coastal communities, threatening the perception of Australia as a safe destination. For example, approximately 160 people from Queensland resorts, including many international visitors, were hospitalized following envenoming during the summer of 2001-02 closing much of the frequented north Queensland coastline. Fatalities from Irukandji and Chironex box jellyfish stings and the loss of tourism to affected areas present both a medical and economic challenge. Although cubozoan envenoming in Australia may be seen as a minor "medical"…

Principal Investigator: Dr Peter Pereira
Amount Awarded: $41,672.83
Institution: Cairns Hospital

A randomised, un-blinded trial of continuous infusion versus bolus dosing of flucloxacilin in the management of uncomplicated cellulitis in an Emergency Department Short Stay Ward.

Skin infections are common in the Emergency Department. Currently, such infections are treated by admitting the patient to hospital for 24 hours and giving them four injections of an antibiotic called flucloxacillin. However, an alternative way to administer antibiotics is to attach a device to the patient’s arm which infuses the flucloxacillin over a 24 hour period. We anticipate that this device will reduce the time that nurses spend giving injections and also reduce the cost to the hospital associated with giving patients multiple injections. The overall aim of this study is to trial the antibiotic device to determine whether…

Principal Investigator: Dr Peter Logan
Amount Awarded: $41,647
Institution: Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital

Ketamine alone versus propofol added to ketamine versus ketamine mixed in propofol for pediatric procedural sedation in emergency departments.

Children present to emergency departments (EDs) with injuries that require painful procedures such as straightening broken bones and suturing cuts. Medicines used for these procedures include midazolam (a sleeping medicine), nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and morphine (pain killer) as well as many others. Ketamine is one medicine that combines pain relief and sedation. Ketamine is very safe and has been used in millions of procedures around the world. Children when they wake up after ketamine may be agitated or feel like vomiting. Ketamine can raise blood pressure and some situations it should not be used. Ketamine is Australia’s preferred sedative…

Principal Investigator: Dr David Herd
Amount Awarded: $49,543
Institution: Mater Children’s Hospital

Examining Sepsis in the Emergency Department

Infections, particularly serious infections leading to sepsis, cost the Australian healthcare system millions of dollars every year and impose a significant burden of illness on the Australian community. Serious infections also have the capacity to cause tragedy at a much more personal level, with lethal outcomes possible even in young healthy individuals. Despite the significant consequences of these illnesses, we have very limited information about the best way to identify and treat infection in Emergency Departments. Therefore, research that provides more information is vital. We are conducting a ground breaking body of research to improve our understanding of infection in…

Principal Investigator: Dr Julian Williams
Amount Awarded: $90,056.17
Institution: Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital

Procedural sedation in the Emergency Department; A comprehensive analysis of a prospective registry of consecutive procedural sedations and telephone follow-up

Patients frequently present to the Emergency Department (ED) requiring brief but painful procedures as part of their medical treatment. Completion of these procedures in a safe and timely manner should be a core competency of an Emergency Physician. Insufficient data currently exists to guide the Emergency Physicians in the conduct of these procedures. A specific and highly comprehensive registry of patient related parameters, patient and physician satisfaction with the sedative episode is required.

Principal Investigator: Dr Greg Treston
Amount Awarded: $50,000
Institution: Redcliffe Hospital