Major expansion at Nepean Hospital

13 September 2005

A major expansion in researching and teaching facilities at the University of Sydney’s Western Clinical School based at Nepean Hospital was officially launched by the University of Sydney and Sydney West Area Health Service, on Thursday 15 September.

The 50 per cent increase in laboratory space, which will be operational by 2006, represents a major expansion in medical research and education at Penrith. Since becoming a teaching hospital of the University of Sydney, the Western Clinical School has developed a number of strengths in clinical laboratory research, they are:

Haematology: Under the leadership of Professor Jim Wiley, this nationally funded research is looking at leukaemia and other related conditions. Professor Wiley’s group is one of the School’s largest laboratory based groups and has strong collaborations with other groups within the University of Sydney.

Thyroid Eye Disease: Professor Jack Wall recently joined Nepean, bringing his International Thyroid Eye Centre. His research investigates the pathogenesis of this peculiar condition.
Critical Care: Associate Professor Tony McLean’s group is very active in multi-centre clinical trials and echocardiography.

Perinatal Medicine: This is a collaboration between the obstetric and gynaecology and paediatric groups which has developed interests in the maternal and neonatal immune system and their relationship to pre-eclampsia, the use of stem cells to treat hypoxic brain damage in neonates, prediction of normal delivery and screening for pre-eclampsia. The group includes Professor Michael Peek and Professor Ralph Nanan.

Gastrointestinal Disease: Professor Nick Talley and his group are carrying out epidemiological work into various gastrointestinal conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, while Professor Chris Martin’s group investigates the surgical aspects of these conditions.
Psychological Medicine: Head by Professor Vladan Starcevic, who is studying aspects of depression and drug and alcohol abuse.

Professor Michael Peek, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Sydney University’s Faculty of Medicine, said: ‘With increasing research productivity and new University of Sydney appointments to the hospital, the new laboratories are very timely will help attract talented scientists and academic clinicians to our area and enhance the learning experience of our medical students.’

The new initiative was formally announced by Professor Andrew Coats, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine University of Sydney and Professor Steven Boyages, Chief Executive of Sydney West Area Health Service.