CEO Award for Monash research into paracetamol overdose

Dr Glenn Begley, Dr Anselm Wong,
Professor Paul Johnson

Monash clinician and researcher Dr Anselm Wong has received the Austin Health CEO Award for Clinical Research for Excellence for his PhD studies that investigated improved management of paracetamol overdose.

Dr Wong, a Monash Health clinical toxicologist and emergency physician and member of the Monash Emergency Research Collaborative (MERC), completed his PhD through the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University under the supervision of Professor Andis Graudins.

Dr Wong said his research aims to improve the management of paracetamol overdose, a common presentation to emergency departments worldwide from all age groups, especially the young female population.

“Part of my PhD demonstrated in a multicentre clinical trial that the acetylcysteine regimen, the antidote for paracetamol overdose, could be shortened from 20 to 12 hours for low risk patients,” Dr Wong said.

“This could not only decrease treatment times for patients but increase bed capacity in already overcrowded health systems.”

Dr Wong will continue his work in this area with the assistance of an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship.

In addition, Dr Wong has been invited to speak and present research at the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Toxicology Conference in Bali later this year, and the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine Conference in Perth where he will be presented with an International Development Award.

Dr Wong’s award winning research will be on display at the Translational Research Young Investigators Poster Session for PhD students at the upcoming MHTP Research Symposium on Thursday 8 November.