Research Units

Coagulation Research at the NBRC

The complex interactions of platelets, coagulation factors and the blood vessels in health and disease are a major focus of our studies. The NBRC has established a world-class reference platelet laboratory, offering a wide range of specialised functional assays and proteomic and genomic screening for inherited platelet disorders. Global assays of fibrin and thrombin generation have been established to study hypercoagulable states, in both cardiovascular disease and malignancy. Our unique range of laboratory skills are applied to the diagnosis and treatment of difficult coagulation problems in the clinic. Finally, these laboratory studies complement our extensive clinical trials programme in new anticoagulants and treatments for bleeding disorders.

Current research interests include:

	Molecular characterisation of inherited platelet function disorders
	Effect of diet on platelet and coagulation factors
	Hypercoagulable changes in myeloma and other haematological malignancies
	Global coagulation assays to predict recurrent venous thromboembolism
	A/Prof Christopher Ward	Dr Marie-Christine Morel-Kopp	Ms Margaret Aboud

Stem Cell Research at the NBRC

Haematology was the first medical discipline to harness the potential of stem cell therapies, with successful transplantation of blood-forming stem cells over 30 years ago. Autologous and allogeneic transplantation has become a potent strategy to combat aggressive malignancies of the blood and lymphatic tissues. Our clinicians include experts in transplantation medicine, and our Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory is developing new methods to improve the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapies. These projects are paralleled by basic research into cell-based products that enhance tissue repair and regeneration, such as mesenchymal stem cells.

In July 2009, our group became one of the founding laboratories of the Sydney Centre for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (SCDRM). Based at the Kolling Institute, this collaborative Centre brings together researchers with interests in embryonic, adult and inducible stem cells, and their therapeutic applications across a broad spectrum of diseases. The NBRC has expertise in blood and bone-marrow derived stem cells to regenerate blood cells, the immune system and other tissues. Our laboratories on Level 11 include NATA-accredited facilities to prepare and cryogenically store therapeutic stem cell collections, a closed culture incubation system to develop cellular therapies and a flow cytometry laboratory for cell sorting and analysis.

Current research interests include:

	Metabolic markers of stem cell viability
	Immune reconstitution following haemopoietic stem cell transplantation
	Predicting clinical outcomes following allogeneic transplant
	Mesenchymal stem cells for tissue repair and regeneration
	Dr Lily Bai	Dr Walter Chen	Dr Tom Kennedy

Cancer Research at the NBRC

Malignancies of the blood are often clinically challenging, due to rapid progression and their effects on multiple organ systems. Great strides have been made in this area in the last decade, due to the molecular targeting of unique mutations or receptors in these cancers, and the new therapies derived from recent research have transformed outcomes in the clinic. At the NBRC, we have active research programmes in two families of haematological malignancy, the myeloproliferative and lymphoproliferative disorders. Our work has a clear translational focus, working with patient samples to identify the underlying molecular defect, and testing the sensitivity of their cancer cells to novel therapies in the laboratory. These projects are then enabling us to develop new diagnostic and prognostic assays, and provide the scientific basis for early clinical trials of new therapies.

Current research interests include:

	Molecular characterisation and genotyping of primary myelofibrosis
	Response of primary myeloproliferative clones to novel therapies
	Development of new prognostic assays in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
	A/Prof Stephen Mulligan	Dr Giles Best	DR William Stevenson

Clinical Trials at the NBRC/Dept of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine

As one of the leading academic units in Australian haematology, we place a strong emphasis on clinical research and trials of new therapies and diagnostic methods. Our Clinical Trials group includes senior nurses, experienced data managers and statisticians, and all of our clinicians and advanced trainees participate in trials activity. We recruit to over 30 multicentre trials annually, in haematological malignancies and thrombosis. Our team has experience in early Phase 2 and dose-finding studies, as well as the large-scale Phase 3 trials. We have been the lead Australian centre for trials of several novel therapies, with a particular focus on trials in chronic myeloid leukaemia, hypereosinophilic syndromes and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. The NBRC trials group is also a leading recruiter in trials of new anticoagulants and therapies for immune thrombocytopenia. In addition to international, pharma-sponsored trials, we support many Australian investigator-initiated trials, including those from ALLG (Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group) and a wide variety of clinical projects at RNS initiated by our own staff and students. Combining the strengths of our diagnostic and basic laboratories with the skills of our clinicians has made us a leader in translational research into diseases of the blood.

Clinician Investigators:

Dr Chris K Arthur
Dr Luke A Coyle
Dr Keith Fay
Dr Matthew Greenwood
Dr Naomi Mackinlay
A/Prof Stephen Mulligan
Dr William Stevenson
Dr Amanda Thomson
A/Prof Christopher Ward

	Dr Matthew Greenwood	Ms Molly Forbes