Monash toxicology research receives recognition

Dr Anselm Wong

Monash toxicology and the Monash Emergency Research Collaborative (MERC) received two of the three research awards at the recent Toxicologist and Poisons Network Australia (TAPNA) annual scientific meeting, held in Sydney.

The event is the premier Australasian clinical toxicology meeting bringing together toxicologists from Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region.

Monash University PhD candidate-clinical toxicologist and Monash Health emergency physician Dr Anselm Wong delivered a presentation on the recently completed NACSTOP study, for which he received ‘Best Platform Research Presentation’.  This trial was initialled by the Monash Toxicology Unit and collaborators from Austin Health Toxicology Service and Western Sydney Area Health Toxicology Service (including Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals)

“With my co-authors Professor David Taylor, Professor Marco Sivilotti, Drs Richard McNulty, Shaun Greene, Naren Gunja, Zeff Koutsogiannis and Professor Andis Graudins, I reported the results of our multi-centre study and described the feasibility of a shortened acetylcysteine regimen in selected patient with paracetamol poisoning,” Dr Wong said.

Dr Ophelia Wong and Prof Andis Graudins

“This research will lead to decreased treatment times and earlier disposition for some of our patients.”

Dr Anselm Wong was also awarded best poster for his description of treatment of paracetamol poisoning in a patient with cystic fibrosis and the use of micro-RNA to predict liver injury.

“In the future, micro-RNA may have utility to identify patients at higher risk of liver injury despite treatment with acetylcysteine and thus indicate the need for prolonged treatment,” Dr Wong said. 

This research was performed in collaboration with Dr.Michael Gantier and team at the Centre of Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research.

Dr Roger Tong and Prof Graudins

Other poster presentations by members of the Monash Toxicology Unit and Monash Emergency Research Collaborative (MERC) included Dr Ophelia Wong, Dr Khin Moe Sam and Dr Roger Tong who presented on thyroid storm after thyroxine overdose, severe rhabdomyolysis after poly drug overdose and successful treatment of bradycardia in severe verapamil poisoning with transvenous pacing.

Dr Joe-Anthony Rotella reported on a case of poisoning from the Pong Pong Tree and Professor Graudins presented on the use and effectiveness of various dialysis modalities at Monash Health in the treatment of chronic lithium poisoning.