Research 2003

With strong academic links to both Monash University and Melbourne University, the Institute has a strong commitment to fostering and supporting research.

The Institute's Ethics committee reviews applications for research, predominantly focusing on those involving human tissue. The following list of projects currently undertaken at the Institute underscores the strength and diversity of the research projects supported at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.Projects currently being supported by the VIFM:

VIFM Staff Projects
Ms. Leonie Baker, Ms. Amanda Charles, Dr, Joseph Ibrahim, Dr. Adam O'Brien and A/Prof. David Ranson as the Clinical Liaison Service Group completed a major project reviewing Coronial Legislation throughout Australia and investigating the way in which health departments use coronial findings. This project was funded by the Australian Council for Safety in Quality and Healthcare.A review of Adverse Medical Treatment Events in Victoria was also undertaken.

Summer Succession and the Decomposition Rates in the Victorian Bushland.
Dr Melanie Archer

Genetic Analysis of Coronial Cases with the Cause of Death Unascertained.
Dr Bentley Atchison; Professor Olaf Drummer

An@tomedia - A New Approach to Medical Education Developments in Anatomy. This project incorporates post-mortem images of selected viscera obtained at autopsy.
A/Prof. Christopher Briggs

Studies on the Toxicology of Cannabis.
Mr. Mark Chu

Correlation of Human Femoral Bone, Quality, Quantity and Structure.
Professor John Clement

Toxicity Associated with Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors.
Professor Olaf Drummer; Ms. Jessica Halstead 

The Toxicology of Monoamine Active Drugs.
Ms. Kabrena Goeringer

Effects of Antibiotic Incubation on Heart Valve Pathology.
Ms. Kellie Hamilton; Ms. Lyn Ireland

Dental Assessment of Victorian Children from Birth to Five Years of Age using Photographic and Radiographic Techniques.
Dr. Tony Hill

Endothelial Cell Seeding of Cold-Stored Blood Vessels.
Mr. Arthur Smardencas

Gender Differences in Child Sexual Abuse Characteristics and Long-Term Outcomes of Mental Illness, Suicide and Fatal Overdose: A Prospective Investigation.
Ms. Josie Spataro

Development of a More Efficient Method of Mitochondrial DNA Analysis.
Ms. Angela Tan

Professor Drummer completed a major collaborative 10-year study into the involvement of drugs in fatal road crashes. This study, which involved most of the States in Australia, showed that recent use of cannabis significantly increased the risk of a fatal crash. In addition many other impairing drugs also increased crash risk. Co-consumption of alcohol further increased crash risk. The significance of this study was further enhanced by the realisation that drugs were becoming an increasingly prevalent factor, while alcohol induced road trauma steadily decreased in this period. These studies have been accepted for publication in two International Journals - Accident Analysis & Prevention and Forensic Science International.

The following Research Projects have been approved by the Committee and supported with tissue donated or approved for use by next-of-kin.

Quantitative Analysis of kidney structure in the Australian Population.
Professor John Bertram & Dr. Terry Samuel, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Monash University, CLAYTON VIC.

Age changes in the cervico-thoracic spine.
Mr Lance Boyd-Clark (PhD Candidate), Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Melbourne, MELBOURNE VIC.Dr Ken Opeskin, St. Vincent's Hospital, 41 Victoria Parade, FITZROY VIC.

Genetic and Proteomic Studies of Human Motor Neurone Disease.
Associate Professor Surindar Cheema, Head, Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Monash University, CLAYTON VIC.

Investigations of the steroidogenic capacity of the myocardium.
Dr. Tim Cole and Dr. Morag Young, Baker Medical Research Institute, MELBOURNE VIC.

Use of Human Cadaver Scent for Dog Training.
Leading Senior Constable Philip Collishaw, Victoria Police, 505 Mickleham Road, ATTWOOD VIC.

Risk factors for serious farm-work related injuries among males.
Dr. Lesley Day (Senior Research Fellow), Accident Research Centre, Monash University, CLAYTON VIC.

A post mortem study to evaluate prions in the olfactory mucosa and tonsil tissue.
Dr. Mark Draper, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, EAST MELBOURNE VIC. 

 PhD student Mark Chu prepares extraction tubes for the analysis of Tetrahydro-Cannabinol (THC) in blood. Mark has now completed his studies and has accepted a position as a toxicologist with the Institute.

Novel Sites of leptin production and action.
Professor Murray Esler (Associate Director) & Ms. Nina Ekelis (PhD. Candidate), Baker Research Institute Limited, Commercial Road, PRAHRAN VIC.

The presence of inflammation in normal spine.
Mr. John Ford, PhD candidate, School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, PARKVILLE VIC.

The vascularity of the costochondral junction - an anatomical study.
Dr. Raphael Hau (Orthopaedic Registrar), Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Burgundy Street, HEIDELBERG VIC.

Sexual Offences Reference: Victorian Law Reform Commission.
Ms. Melanie Heenan (Research and Policy Officer), Victorian Law Reform Commission, 10-16 Queen Street, MELBOURNE VIC.

The effect of cigarette smoke exposure in utero on neonatal lung development and immune function in the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. (SIDS).
Professor Alan James (Consultant Paediatric Physician), Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, PERTH WA.

Plain X-ray radiography of the normal human skeleton.
Associate Professor Jeffrey Kerr, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Monash University, CLAYTON VIC.

Incidental lung cancer discovered during Coronial autopsies in Victoria.
Dr. Renee Manser, Clinical Epidemiology and Health Service Evaluation Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, PARKVILLE VIC.

Brain Bank - Studies on Neurological and Psychiatric Illness.
Professor Colin Masters (Head), Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, PARKVILLE VIC.
Associate Professor Brian Dean, Mental Health Research Institute, PARKVILLE VIC.
Associate Professor Catriona McLean (Director), National Tissue Resource Centre, PARKVILLE VIC.

Anatomical study into the retaining ligaments and supporting tissues of the human face.
Mr. Bryan Mendelson (Principal Researcher) & Associate Professor Kerr (Principal Researcher) & Richard Huggins (Honours Student), Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Monash University, CLAYTON VIC.

Growth of human cartilage cells in tissue culture: preliminary studies.
Associate Professor Barry Oakes, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Monash University, CLAYTON VIC.

Clinical assessment of medial patello-femoral plica syndrome and correlation with other diagnostic techniques including ultrasound, MRI and X-ray.
Mr. Martin Richardson (Orthopaedic Surgeon), Royal Melbourne Hospital, PARKVILLE VIC.
Mr. Richard Montshiwa (Student), The University of Melbourne, PARKVILLE VIC.

Histology of the normal penis with particular reference to Langerhan's Cells.
Professor Roger Short (Wexler Professorial Fellow), Department of Obstetrics an Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, CARLTON VIC.
Mr. Scott McCombe (Research Fellow), Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, CLAYTON VIC.

The Concentrations and Correlations of Organochlorines in different Autopsy Samples.
Associate Professor Malcolm Sim (Principal Researcher) & Dr. Narges Khanjani (Associate Researcher), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Central and Eastern Clinical School, Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, PRAHRAN VIC.

Histological and Radiographic examination of fresh temporal bones implanted with perimodiolar arrays.
Professor M. Tycokinski, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Victoria Parade, EAST MELBOURNE VIC.

Donor and recipient human leukocyte antigen mismatch: implications for allograft heart valve function.
Dr. Cheng-Hon Yap (Post-graduate student) & Mr. Michael Yii (Cardiac Surgeon), St. Vincent's Hospital, 41 Victoria Parade, FITZROY VIC.

VIFM staff in collaborations with external researchers

Anthropology of ancient skeletal remains from Sos Hoyük Turkey.
Dr Bentley Atchison (VIFM)
Ms Elizabeth Parr (PhD Candidate), Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Melbourne, MELBOURNE VIC.

Segmental testing of the lumbar spine: effect of applying tension to the lumbar fasciae.
A/Prof. Christopher Briggs & Professor John Clement (VIFM)
Ms. Priscilla Barker (PhD Candidate), Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Melbourne, MELBOURNE VIC.

An Autopsy Video to support those approaching relatives, to discuss autopsy in hospitals.
Professor Stephen Cordner (VIFM)
Associate Professor Paul Monagle (Director, Division of Laboratory Services) & Ms. Barbara Robb (Social Worker Assistant to Dr. Paul Monagle), Women's and Children's Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, PARKVILLE VIC.