Our Research

Research registries

Venous Thromboembolism Cohort Study (VTE)

Clinical trials

RATIONAL Platform Trial

Role of Antibiotic Therapy or Immunoglobulin On iNfections in hAematoLogy Platform Trial (RATIONAL-PT) is an expansion of the currently recruiting RATIONALISE trial and continues on from the important work completed as part of the RATIONAL pilot trial. RATIONAL-PT utilises an innovative adaptive platform design to efficiently assess infection prevention strategies in patients with blood cancers. The trial is currently in the development stage and will be submitted for ethical review in 2023. Initial funding for the trial has been provided by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
RATIONALISE

The Role of Antibiotic Therapy or Ig On iNfections in hAematoLogy: Immunoglobulin Stopping or Extension. RATIONALISE is an NHMRC funded Phase II/III trial evaluating the cessation of immunoglobulin (Ig) therapy in adult patients with blood cancer. The trial aims to determine if Ig therapy can be stopped if patients are free of major infection after six months of Ig therapy, and after stopping Ig, if oral antibiotics can be used to prevent future infection. The trial includes a health economics analysis to explore the cost-effectiveness of the trial interventions, a biological sub-study and a qualitative sub-study to explore patient perspectives on infection prevention and related treatments.
REDDS

The REDDS trials, undertaken in collaboration with our UK colleagues, investigate red blood cell transfusion thresholds and quality of life in transfusion-dependent myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). REDDS-1 was a feasibility trial of haemoglobin thresholds. The success of REDDS-1 led to REDDS-2, a randomised clinical trial that assesses the feasibility of a weekly red cell transfusion schedule (using matched red cells) and its impact on patient quality of life and physical function outcomes. REDDS-2 in Australia is funded by the Australian & New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion, Monash Haematology and the National Blood Authority.
DIAAMOND Project

Diagnosis of Aplastic Anaemia, Management, and Outcomes utilising a National Dataset. A national registry-based clinical trial using a novel adaptive (Bayesian) study design, to investigate the benefit and costs of avatrombopag, a second-generation thrombopoietin receptor agonist, in addition to conventional immunosuppressive therapies, in adult patients with Aplastic Anaemia. This work is funded by the Medical Research Future Fund.
FEISTY II

FEISTY II is a phase III randomised clinical trial examining fibrinogen replacement in severely injured trauma patients with major haemorrhage and hypofibrinogenemia. The trial is funded by the MRFF and National Blood Authority.
MY-PROMPT-2

The MY-PROMPT-2 trial tests whether real-time symptom feedback using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) improves the duration of treatment in multiple myeloma, and leads to better patient outcomes and more efficient use of high-cost medicines. This is an MRFF-funded trial conducted in collaboration with AMaRC.
ASPREE

Two ongoing analyses led by TRU are sub-studies of the ASPREE international trial of low-dose aspirin or placebo in the healthy elderly. ASPREE-Anaemia is characterising contributors to, and consequences of, anaemia in the elderly, funded by the Alfred Research Trust. The NHMRC-funded ASPREE-CHIP (clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential) study is studying development of CHIP and its consequences, using genomics analysis of samples from the ASPREE biobank.
TREATT

An NHMRC-funded trial to evaluate anti-fibrinolytic therapy in thrombocytopenia, a collaborative RCT with NHS Blood and Transplant (UK) that explores the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid to limit bleeding in people with haematologic malignancies and low platelet counts.
AMARC

The Australasian Myeloma Research Consortium (AMaRC), led by Alfred Health, aims to promote, facilitate and sponsor multi-centre investigator-initiated trials and collaborative laboratory research projects in myeloma, acting as a trial centre supporting the participating sites in Australasia. Several AMARC studies are in association with the Australian and New Zealand Myeloma and Related Diseases Registry (MRDR).
ITACS

IV iron for treatment of anaemia before cardiac surgery, in collaboration with The Alfred. This is an international RCT comparing efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of preoperative intravenous iron in cardiac surgery patients with anaemia, funded by the NHMRC and ANZCA.
PLATYPUS

Platelet transfusion versus tranexamic acid study to prevent bleeding in outpatients with bone marrow failure syndrome (PLATYPUS): a placebo-controlled blinded randomised N-of-1 trial. PLATYPUS is an early-stage clinical trial investigating the best way to prevent bleeding in people with bone marrow failure syndromes that cause low platelet counts, including myelodysplastic syndromes and aplastic anaemia. Using a personalised 15-week "N-of-1" study design, participants will experience three treatment approaches: regular platelet transfusions, tranexamic acid tablets, and current standard care. The trial will evaluate the feasibility, safety, effectiveness, patient experience, and cost implications of each strategy, providing the first clinical evidence on these treatments in this patient population. The findings will guide the design of a larger future trial.

Other research activities

Data linkage and modelling studies

In collaboration with established large clinical registries (for trauma, intensive care and cardiac surgery) and using data from these sources as well as administrative datasets (such as hospital admissions and laboratory information), we can study clinical outcomes for patients and develop models for transfusion to predict and monitor blood use. An example of this work includes development of the ACSePT model for predicting blood use in cardiac surgery. Other projects using donor travel information and large public health datasets to develop models of risk for transfusion-transmitted infections such as West Nile Virus.

Meta-analyses and systematic reviews

We undertake meta-analyses and systematic reviews to better understand the current evidence base for transfusion practice and identify evidence gaps for future research. Our national and international activities include collaborations with the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group, National Blood Authority, Oxford's Systematic Reviews Initiative, the US National Institutes of Health, and the Canadian Institute of Health Research.

The iLIMM Project

'Intervening to improve risk and outcomes for Early-Onset Incurable non-Hodgkin Lymphoma via immune mapping and manipulation' – This national research program aims to improve outcomes for people with Early Onset Incurable Lymphoma (EO-iL). The researchers will measure tumour burden using advanced imaging and blood-based biomarkers, while also studying changes in the immune system and gut microbiome to better understand factors that influence disease progression and patient outcomes. The program includes a pilot trial in which 36 patients will participate in a 12-week structured exercise intervention to assess whether exercise can improve immune and gut health and reduce signs of tumour growth. To track disease journey and outcomes over time, a longitudinal study will be embedded into the LaRDR. The iLIMM project will generate new evidence to support more personalised care and risk assessment for young people living with EO-iL.

Hospitals in the Home

Home platelet transfusion in patients with blood cancers – Many aspects of blood cancer care, including chemotherapy and intravenous antibiotics, are already delivered outside the hospital, in patients’ homes. This approach improves patient comfort, reduces caregiver burden and the use of inpatient hospital beds, and may also reduce costs. However, the provision of transfusion is more complex than other supportive care at home due to safety concerns and cost. Hospital in the Home aims to evaluate the feasibility of giving platelet transfusions in the home of a patient diagnosed with a haematological malignancy as well as identify the costs, safety and acceptability of the program.

Transfusion Research Unit

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Our Research

Research registries

Aplastic Anaemia and Other Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes Registry (AAR)

Lymphoma and Related Diseases Registry (LaRDR)

Australian and New Zealand Myeloma and Related Diseases Registry (MRDR)

Asia Pacific Myeloma and Related Diseases Registry (APAC MRDR)

National Transfusion Dataset (NTD) inc. the Australian and NZ Massive Transfusion Registry (ANZ-MTR)

Thrombotic Microangiopathies (TMA) Registry

Haemoglobinopathy Registry (HbR)

Myelodysplastic Syndromes Registry (MDSLink)

Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (NAIT)

Venous Thromboembolism Cohort Study (VTE)

Clinical trials

RATIONAL Platform Trial

RATIONALISE

REDDS

DIAAMOND Project

FEISTY II

MY-PROMPT-2

ASPREE

TREATT

AMARC

ITACS

PLATYPUS

Other research activities

Data linkage and modelling studies

Meta-analyses and systematic reviews

The iLIMM Project

Hospitals in the Home