OPTIMAL Centre of Research Excellence: Designing Immunoglobulin Futures

Co-designing evidence-based systems to optimise immunoglobulin therapy for people with blood cancers

  • Investigators

      • Associate Professor Leah Heiss, Chief Investigator (Monash Art, Design and Architecture)
      • Professor Erica Wood AO, Principal Investigator (Monash University)
      • Professor Zoe McQuilten, Chief Investigator (Monash University)
      • Professor Dennis Petrie, Chief Investigator (Monash University)
      • Ms Linley Bielby, Chief Investigator (Department of Health, VIC)
      • Dr Laura Fanning, Chief Investigator (Monash University)
      • Professor David Burgner, Chief Investigator (Murdoch Children's Research Institute)
      • Professor Jason Roberts, Chief Investigator (University of Queensland)
      • Associate Professor Anneke van der Walt, Chief Investigator (Monash University, Alfred Health)
      • Associate Professor James Daly, Chief Investigator (Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Queensland University of Technology)

  • Co-investigators

      • India Read (PhD student, Monash Art, Design and Architecture)

  • Partner organisation

    • Monash Health

  • Funded by

    • National Health and Medical Research Council

  • Undertaken within

OPTIMAL is a NHMRC-funded Centre of Research Excellence in OPTimising Immunoglobulin Management in Australia. Bringing together patients, leading researchers, health professionals and health economists it aims to generate the new knowledge and research capacity required to design, build and implement better systems for delivering immunoglobulin therapy and improve clinical outcomes for patients.

Developing new, integrated systems for the use of immunoglobulin in Australia requires nuanced understanding of the current situation - how the myriad stakeholders (including government, patients, carers, healthcare workers and manufacturers) interrelate, and how their different behaviours and mental models affect and integrate with the management of immunoglobulin and its treatment modalities. The care system for blood cancers is complex and comprises socio-technical factors that range from consumer experience, technology usage through to organisational processes and economic burden.

In Redesigning Immunoglobulin, MADA researchers are leading the co-design of new systems for subcutaneous and intravenous immunoglobulin management and use (SCIg and IVIg), in collaboration with healthcare providers and stakeholders across Australia. This work involves mapping the ecosystem of immunoglobulin development and use and co-designing new pathways and systems of care.