Bond University’s Urology Group, headed by Professor Russ Chess-Williams, is fast becoming one of the largest of its kind in Australia.
Following the receipt of a National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant last year, the group now consists of Faculty academic staff, research students and an international team of research collaborators from the universities of NSW, Wollongong and Sheffield, England.
Valued at $434,800 and extending over three years, the NHMRC funding is being directed towards vital research into overactive bladder function, a condition that affects an estimated 17% of the population.
“An overactive bladder is not only uncomfortable and embarrassing for the patient affected, it may also be a sign of further disease,” said Professor Chess-Williams.
“In many cases the side effects of the drugs currently available, which include a dry mouth and ulcers, outweigh the benefits so over 40% of patients choose to stop taking them.”
The group is conducting numerous research projects to investigate different methods for the management and treatment incontinence.
“We are exploring the response of different drugs and treatments such as Botox to minimise or stop the contractions of the bladder.”
Professor Chess-Williams has also been invited to speak at the Japanese Urology Association Eastern Conference being held in Japan in September.
“During my visit to conference in September, I will be presenting some of the results obtained from our research,” he said.
According to Professor Chess-Williams, links to pharmaceutical companies are crucial to progressing research.
“In America and Europe this area of research is quite advanced in comparison to Australia, as there are many links with pharmaceutical companies to gain funding,” said Professor Chess-Williams.
Thanks to the contribution of Bond University’s Urology Group, urology research is slowly developing in Australia and gaining a higher profile.