
The Gastroenterology and Liver Services at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital supports the gastrointestinal health of a large number of patients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The department also fosters a culture of innovation in a range of clinical fields primarily related to cancer detection and inflammatory bowel disease.
As part of a 1AB hospital, the unit can provide a range of endoscopic services not widely available throughout NSW including radiofrequency ablation of Barrett’s oesophagus, endoscopic ultrasound and biopsy, enteroscopy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Our research has allowed us to be at the forefront of oesophageal, gastric, biliary, colonic, and pancreatic cancers and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Active areas of research within the group include:
Over the past decade, the department has published over 50 articles and presented at major Gastroenterology conferences including Australian Gastroenterology Week (AGW), the United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW) and Digestive Disease Week (DDW).
Four main areas of interest where publications have been successful and where the unit has expertise include:
Over 15 publications including demonstrating transcriptionally active HPV being associated with Barrett’s dysplasia (ACG, 2013) and associated with favourable prognosis (JAMA Open, 2018).
Over 10 studies showing increased yield of Surepath and alternate cytology collection and analysis for increasing diagnostic yield of EUS and ERCP (UEGW and AGW presentations).
Active IBD research group with supportive research staff. Previous and active trials investigating multiple oral, IV and subcutaneously injected biological therapies and non-medication/ faecal microbiota transplant based therapies.
Previous publications into confocal endomicroscopy and double-balloon Enteroscopy investigating small bowel pathology.