News Archive

Research ranging from new spinal devices to an artificial eardrum was showcased in the School of Surgery’s recent research symposium.

The School of Surgery is one of UWA’s newest Schools and encompasses clinicians, researchers and students from a wide variety of backgrounds. They include burns surgeon Professor Fiona Wood and her team, renowned researchers in orthopaedics and ear surgery, clinical researchers in vascular surgery and breast cancer, musculoskeletal and gait experts, and molecular biologists investigating causes of colon cancer.

The research symposium is a forum for colleagues in these disparate areas to present their research activities and findings.

The recent program focused on the research activities of the School’s diverse postgraduate students. The presentation topics also covered burns treatment, and breast cancer and pregnancy, and were of a very high standard. The symposium provides an ideal speaking opportunity for postgraduate students to acquire and improve on the skills required to effectively communicate and disseminate their research findings.

Postgraduate research prizes were awarded in three categories. The award for the most outstanding publication (2007) in clinical (human) studies went to Angela Ives, a PhD student of the General Surgery Unit for her work on pregnancy and breast cancer. For in vitro (scientific) research, the equivalent prize was received by Jimin Chen, a PhD student of the Centre for Orthopaedic Research for his work on tendon and ligament repair. The prize for the most outstanding postgraduate presentation at the symposium was awarded to Rebecca Crawford of the Centre for Musculoskeletal Studies. Rebecca is developing and testing a spinal implant to help alleviate chronic back pain.

The prizes were sponsored by Johnson and Johnson Medical.

The School of Surgery would like to acknowledge the other symposium sponsors - Roche Pharmaceuticals and AstraZeneca Oncology

By Aimee Nichevich, Research Officer, School of Surgery.