Conjoint Associate Professor Xia Wang
Conjoint Associate Professor
- 2016: Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), University of Sydney.
- 2010: Master of Medicine (Epidemiology and Biostatistics), Peking Union Medical College.
- 2007: Public Affairs Management, Weifang Medical College.
Medicine & Health
George Institute for Global Health
I am a Conjoint Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney and Program Lead for Blood Pressure and Haemorrhagic Stroke Research at The George Institute for Global Health. My research focuses on improving care for people with acute stroke, particularly those with intracerebral haemorrhage.
I use epidemiology and biostatistics to answer questions that arise in clinical practice. I work with clinicians to design and analyse international multicentre randomised trials, combine data from individual trial participants and study patterns of stroke care in population data.
I have served as lead statistician for INTERACT2, ENCHANTED and HeadPoST. My trial leadership includes MIRACLE, which evaluates minimally invasive soft-channel evacuation for people with bleeding in the basal ganglia. These trials address practical questions about how and when to treat patients in the acute phase of stroke.
I also study sex differences and socioeconomic inequalities in stroke care and outcomes. My work uses linked health data and explores artificial intelligence for clinical decision support. In 2026 I was awarded an NHMRC Investigator Grant to investigate blood pressure optimisation and surgical innovation, with funding commencing in 2027.
I completed my PhD in Medicine at the University of Sydney and a Master of Medicine in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Peking Union Medical College. I supervise research students and mentor visiting researchers, with an emphasis on study design and the interpretation of results for clinical practice.
E-mail
Location
The George Institute for Global Health
Level 8, Health Translation Hub
55 Botany Street, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
- Awarded 2026; funding commences in 2027: NHMRC Investigator Grant (Emerging Leadership Level 2), Transforming Stroke Outcomes Through Blood Pressure Optimisation and Surgical Innovation. A$1,636,800.
- 2024–2027: NSW Health Cardiovascular Research Capacity Program Early-Mid Career Researcher Grant, Artificial Intelligence for decision support in acute stroke. A$450,000.
- Awarded 2020; commenced in 2021: NHMRC Investigator Grant (Emerging Leadership Level 1), Generating new evidence to better guide stroke management. Five years, A$568,292.78.
- NSW Health Investigator Grant Development Funding, Generating new evidence to better guide stroke management. A$100,000.
- Awarded 2018; commenced in 2019: National Heart Foundation of Australia Postdoctoral Fellowship, Generating new evidence to better guide stroke management. Two years, A$150,000.
- 2020: Selected for the first cohort of the Future Stroke Leaders Programme, World Stroke Organization.
- 2015 award, presented in 2016: Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad, China Scholarship Council.
I study how the timing and intensity of blood pressure treatment after intracerebral haemorrhage relate to functional recovery. I use data from international clinical trials to examine blood pressure trajectories and compare treatment approaches.
My work also includes the MIRACLE trial of minimally invasive surgery and studies of sex differences and socioeconomic inequalities in stroke treatment and outcomes. I use trial data and linked health records to examine questions about treatment decisions and access to care.
My NSW Health-funded research on decision support in acute stroke investigates how artificial intelligence might help clinicians evaluate treatment options and predict outcomes. I focus on how these approaches can be tested rigorously before use in patient care.
Editorial service
- I have served as an Associate Editor of Stroke and Vascular Neurology and as an Editorial Board Member of Neuroprotection.
Professional committees
- I have contributed to a National Hypertension Taskforce working group.
- I served on the NSW Cardiovascular Research Network Rising Stars Sub-Committee from 2021 to 2023.
Peer review and research training
- I have reviewed NHMRC grant applications and conference abstracts and examined master's-level research at UNSW.
- I support visiting researchers and clinical research training in Australia and China. My contributions include teaching study design and trial methods and mentoring researchers in statistical analysis and evidence synthesis for clinical research projects.
My Research Supervision
My current doctoral supervision includes research on:
- Blood pressure management after intracerebral haemorrhage, including treatment strategies and recovery after acute stroke.
- Socioeconomic differences in stroke outcomes and their implications for stroke care.
My Teaching
I teach clinical research methods, epidemiology and biostatistics. At UNSW I have contributed guest teaching on data management for randomised controlled trials in HDAT9400.
I have taught observational study design and analysis in the SAHZU training programme at The George Institute and clinical trial design and analysis in training programmes for Capital Medical University. I help clinicians turn practical questions into research studies and interpret statistical evidence for patient care.