​The Department of Hand Surgery and Peripheral Nerve Surgery is involved in numerous research projects.  Research includes surgical outcome reviews, surgical technique developments (animal models), multi-centre international trials and publishing of case reports.
 
The department receives Australian and international fellows each year and each actively pursues a research project during their term. In addition, Hand surgery registrars from the Australian Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgery training schemes join the department each year and are encouraged to undertake research, as are resident medical officers and medical students.
 
Anatomical, mechanical and clinical studies completed within the department offer guidance on the best surgical options and outcomes for patients and regularly influence the practices of surgeons and hand therapists at NSLHD, but also at state, national and international levels.  As an example, a recent study on the care of spasticity patients after comprehensive one-stage upper limb surgery demonstrated a significant improvement through multi-disciplinary care, which is now delivered in our multi-disciplinary spasticity clinic. 
 
Our research is often run in collaboration with our important partners, including the Children's Hospital Westmead, RNSH Department of Orthopaedics, Tetraplegia unit, multi-disciplinary Spasticity Clinic, and the Department of Physiotherapy; The Kolling Institute's Maxwell Murray Biomechanics Research Laboratory and Sutton Laboratories; The University of Sydney; International hospitals and universities (e.g. ERASMUS Medical Centre in Rotterdam, Netherlands; Loma Linda University, California, USA); and Pharmaceutical companies and external groups with a hand surgery interest.Selected publications in 2019/2020​

​ The Dermatology Service includes research in inflammatory skin disease, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen sclerosus, lichen planus, and hidradenitis suppurativa.  By participating in research, we are able to offer our patients immediate access to the latest and most advanced medicines providing relief for patients suffering with adult and paediatric psoriaris, adult and paediatric atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa. 

 

Key staff members include

• Professor Gayle Fischer OAM – Head of Dermatology Department
• A/Professor Stephen Shumak OAM – Consultant Dermatologist
• Erin Mewton – Dermatology Clinical Nurse Consultant
• Melissa Franklin – Dermatology Clinical Trials Coordinator
• Dr Ashod Kherlopian – Dermatology Research Fellow
  

Selected current studies

• Consensus statement on vulval lichen sclerosus severity and management
• Exploring attitudes underlying poor compliance to treatment in adolescent vulval lichen sclerosus using focus groups
• Effect of targeted immunomodulatory therapy on vulvar quality of life index (VQLI) in vulval lichen planus

• M16-047 – a phase III clinical trial investigating efficacy of Upadacitinib in combination with topical corticosteroids in adolescent and adult subjects with moderate to severe Atopic Dermatitis (PI – Professor Gayle Fischer)
• PROTOSTAR – a phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Guselkumab for chronic plaque psoriasis in paediatric patients (PI – Professor Gayle Fischer)
• HS0004 – a phase III clinical trials testing the efficacy of Bimekizumab in adult subjects with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (PI – Professor Gayle Fischer)
• B7451050 – a phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of abrocitinib and dupilumab in adult subjects with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (PI – Professor Gayle Fischer)
• LAAVA-2 – a phase I investigator-led clinical trial investigating the efficacy of fractional ablative CO₂ laser for genitourinary symptoms of menopause (collaboration between Dr Antonia Pearson and Professor Gayle Fischer)​