NEW TREATMENT OPTIONS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE Design of next generation meshes using degradable polymers and stem cell based surgical constructs
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) develops when tissues, pelvic floor muscles and ligaments that support the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus and bowel) are damaged, usually in childbirth. This injury causes the organs to shift, or ‘drop’, into the vagina or event outside of the body. This can lead to debilitating symptoms including poor bladder or bowel control and pain during sex
POP Facts
- 1 in 4 women globally in their 40s live with POP
- 1 in 2 women over 50 years of age live with POP
- $200 million annual cost to the Australian healthcare system
POP is a lifelong, potentially debilitating condition. Despite the high prevalence, there is no cure for POP.
Dr Shayanti Mukherjee, Research Group Head, Translational Tissue Engineering at the with her team at Hudson Institute of Medical Research is developing new ways to prevent and potential cure pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The technology aims to ultimately lead to safer and more effective treatment for women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) using a woman’s own stem cells to boost the effectiveness of a degradable mesh.
Dr Shayanti Mukherjee specialises in innovative cell-based therapies for pelvic floor disorders and birth trauma injuries.
Dr Mukherjee’s research uses a woman’s own stem cells to create a 3D-printed degradable mesh, promising to avoid the complications that have plagued previous synthetic non-degradable meshes.
“By integrating cutting-edge techniques like electrospinning and 3D printing of materials and cells, I aim to revolutionise maternal urogynaecological health, offering transformative solutions and improving the wellbeing of women affected by this prevalent issue.”
“This research has the potential to revolutionise therapies for pelvic floor regeneration and enable personalised medicine for women,” she said.
“By advancing innovative cell-based therapies, we are on the brink of transforming the landscape of maternal urogynaecological health, promising a brighter and healthier future for women across the globe,” said Dr Mukherjee.
Source: Hudson Institute of Medical Research
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Lens on patient care & allied health workforce across settings
The CEO of Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA), Bronwyn Morris-Donovan spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
The structure and priorities for AHPA
The setting and disciplines in Allied Health
Allied Health representation in the Strengthening Medicare Task Force
Importance of a data strategy and interoperability in delivery of allied health services
Key allied health priorities hopefully addressed in Federal Budget.In the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
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Imperatives for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer
Professor Clare Scott, a pioneering clinician scientist at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, also serves as a medical oncologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and the Royal Women’s Hospital.
Her comprehensive training in medical oncology has fuelled her specialisation in gynaecological cancer, combining rigorous research with clinical trials to improve patient outcomes. With over a decade of involvement in ANZGOG, Australia’s foremost gynaecologic cancer research organisation, she is deeply committed to advancing research and saving lives.
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State of Private Hospitals sector in Australia
During Mr Roff’s working career at APHA he has represented the private hospitals sector to nine different Federal Health Ministers and eight Prime Ministers. He believes the government should take steps to regulate the health insurance industry to protect consumers and ensure that Australians have access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare services.
