Research

Major activities involve gastroenterology and nutrition and neurology. Newly formed groups also hold great promise in other specialties such as nephrology and educational research.

Gut disorders are a significant burden on the health and wellbeing of the Australian community. Irritable bowel syndrome affects one in six people, coeliac disease one in 100, and inflammatory bowel disease one in 200.

Dietary therapy, which is commonplace for the management of coeliac disease, is underdeveloped for the other chronic intestinal diseases. The School conducts a major program in the application of diet in the therapy and prevention of such diseases.

A major focus is in short-chain poorly absorbed carbohydrates (FODMAPs) and their role in the genesis of Crohn's disease, their mechanisms of action, and their application in patients with these conditions.

The research laboratory arm has developed novel biochemical techniques to measure FODMAP content of foods, and the physiology laboratory has a range of hydrogen and ¹³C breath-testing methodologies, both of which provide key support for the translations of clinical studies.

The School offers student postgraduate opportunities in these fields, as well as in studies of coeliac disease and its assessment, novel treatment and outcomes. Research into inflammatory bowel disease includes evaluation of fatigue and the role of psychological factors and therapies in clinical outcomes.

In neurosciences, an active academic program has been developed in three key areas: the epidemiology and genetics of multiple sclerosis (in conjunction with the Howard Florey Neuroscience Institute, and The Royal Melbourne Hospital); the assessment and treatment of stroke (including new 'thrombolytic' or clot-busting drugs from the Vampire bat and the Malaysian Pit Viper snake), and in novel approaches to the therapy of Alzheimer's disease.

Other strong research programs include haematology and medical oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, respiratory medicine and nephrology.

Contact

Dr Jane Muir, Head of Research
jane.muir@med.monash.edu.au
Telephone: +61 3 9895 4632