Tubes of blood in Clinical Haematology

Clinical Haematology research

The Department of Clinical Haematology has an active research program for people with blood disorders and cancers.

About Clinical Haematology research

We have clinical trials open for all the major haematological cancers:
 
  • Lymphoma
  • Acute and chronic leukaemia
  • Myeloma etc.
Our clinical trials include:

 

  • Large global trials funded by pharmaceutical companies
  • Australian research trials run via the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group (ALLG)
  • Trials run by own researchers at Austin Health 

Many of our trials focus on novel therapies or new immune approaches to treating cancer.

Haematology is not just about blood cancers. We have recently started research trials into treatments for thrombosis (clotting) disorders. We are the Victorian centre for a trial of autologous transplants for multiple sclerosis (MS). Planning is also underway to become the the centre for transplants in scleroderma.

Haematology is a dynamic specialty. There are so many exciting new therapies for many of the blood disorders we treat. These treatments are available thanks to clinical trials.

Looking after our patients better

Our in-house research looks at ways we can look after patients better. This research covers areas such as:

  • Patient care
  • Supportive medications
  • Imaging (e.g PET scanning)

We have a tissue bank where patients donate small amounts of blood and other tissues. This allows us to learn more about the way blood cancers behave.

Research to improve patient care includes:

  • A new nurse-led approach to starting antibiotics in patients with serious infection. This has cut the time to treatment by an hour and improved outcomes for these patients.
  • Finding that it safe to send patients home after intensive chemotherapy once their white blood count returns to normal. This reduces the time they have to spend in hospital. 

Many of these internal studies have been published in international journals. This research has lead to changes in patient care across the world.

Contact us

Clinical Haematology

Unit administrator

+ 61 3 9496 5093

Support our research

Make a donation