What is the OPTIMAL Centre of Research Excellence?
OPTIMAL is a NHMRC-funded Centre of Research Excellence in improving immunoglobulin use and clinical outcomes in Australia.
Bringing together patients, leading researchers, health professionals and health economists it aims to generate the new knowledge and research capacity required to design, build and implement better systems for delivering immunoglobulin therapy and improve clinical outcomes for patients.
THE PROBLEM
Immunoglobulin (Ig) products are precious national resources manufactured from plasma donated and paid for by the community (product costs alone >$800m per year). Supplies are limited and clinical demand continues to grow as the potential applicability of Ig therapy is vast.
Unfortunately, the evidence base for Ig use in many conditions is limited. Even where there is evidence that Ig therapy has benefit, it is not clear how best to use it (when to start, optimal dose, schedule, when to stop) for an individual patient. No clinical guidelines on the use of Ig exist.
The second significant challenge is that the systems and processes to deliver Ig therapy to patients are highly variable, and there is little monitoring of outcomes, adverse effects, costs, and patient preferences. The result is potentially inefficient and ineffective use of Ig, which comes at an increased financial cost and reduced patient benefit.​
THE SOLUTION
OPTIMAL will address these evidence gaps and national priorities to provide a dedicated ‘home’ for immunoglobulin research in Australia. Utilisation of our established clinical trials, registries, biobanks and cohort studies will enable new research to be performed faster and at a lower cost.
Health economics analyses and consumer involvement will be embedded across both research streams to ensure immunoglobulin is being used where it is the most valuable and reduce costs to the community.
Key outcomes of OPTIMAL will be the development of clinical practice guidelines, and in turn, improved quality and safety, equity of access, and cost-effectiveness of Ig use; and a better health delivery system and clinical outcomes for patients.
Our People
PROF ERICA WOOD AO
Chief Investigator
MS LINLEY BIELBY
Chief Investigator
PROF JASON ROBERTS
Chief Investigator
A/PROF JAMES DALY
Chief Investigator
DR THAO LE
Associate Investigator
MS SARA CARRILLO DE ALBORNOZ SAN JUAN
Associate Investigator
DR LAUREN YOUNG
Program Manager
PROF ZOE MCQUILTEN
Chief Investigator
DR LAURA FANNING
Chief Investigator
A/PROF ANNEKE VAN DER WALT
Chief Investigator
DR ADAM IRVING
Associate Investigator
A/PROF PHILIP CRISPIN
Associate Investigator
DR CATRIONA PARKER
Research Fellow
PROF DENNIS PETRIE
Chief Investigator
PROF DAVID BURGNER
Chief Investigator
A/PROF LEAH HEISS
Chief Investigator
DR KHAILI CHAI
Associate Investigator
A/PROF DAVINDER SINGH-GREWAL
Associate Investigator
MR NEIL WATERS
Deputy Director - Operations, Transfusion Research Unit