Spotlight on the Haematology Department

The Haematology department at Middlemore Hospital are unique in that all six consultants are actively involved in clinical research. The Haematology team are dedicated to providing the best care for their patients and giving them the opportunity to participate in world-class clinical trial research right here in Counties Manukau. The team are very busy with a combination of commercial and grant-funded trials as well as their clinic responsibilities. In FY2020, the Haematology department received the most feasibilities for new trials and conducted the most trials.

In 2022 the Haematology clinical trial portfolio will continue to expand with exciting new bispecific antibody trials starting in the new year.

We look forward to being involved and continuing our work with the Haematology team.   

 

Dr Sharon Jackson – Clinical Lead

Dr Jackson is the clinical lead for Haematology at Middlemore. She has been active in clinical research for over 20 years and most recently has had a strong research interest in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).  She continues to lead a number of commercial trials in haematological conditions such as myeloma and CLL, enabling patients to access drugs that are not funded or otherwise available in NZ.

Current trials: LOTESA (CLL), DREAMM 8 (Multiple Myeloma), MURANO (CLL), Elevate (CLL/SLL), Captivate (CLL/SLL), IKEMA (Multiple Myeloma),

Upcoming trials: LOXO-305 (CLL/SLL)

 

Dr Samar Issa – Consultant Haematologist and Clinical Head of Lymphoma Services

Dr Issa is an active member of a number of scientific groups; is the founding chair of the Lymphoma Network of New Zealand and the founding Clinical Director of the Middlemore Tissue Bank. She has multiple research publications and is the primary investigator on several local and international lymphoma clinical trials. Samar is passionate about research. She is the author of multiple research papers and book chapters in the field of lymphoma.

Current trials: Acerta 308 – specific BTK inhibitor (Mantle Cell Lymphoma) and FL212 – specific BTK inhibitor (Relapsed/refractory Follicular Lymphoma)

Upcoming trials: GB5121-2101 (Relapsed/refractory primary or secondary CNS lymphoma), Coastal (Relapsed Indolent Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma), SUNMO (Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma), M20-638 – bi-specific antibody (Relapsed/refractory Follicular Lymphoma)

 

 

Dr James Liang – Clinical & Pathology Haematologist Consultant

Dr James Liang has been a Clinical & Pathology Haematologist Consultant at Middlemore Hospital since 2017. Dr Liang has a strong research interest in Myeloproliferative neoplasma and his current research portfolio reflects this.

Current trials: Imago (Essential Thrombocythemia), KER-050 (Myelodysplastic syndrome), Alpine (CLL/SLL), Momentum (Myelofibrosis), Transform-1 (Myelofibrosis)

Upcoming trials: Transform 2 (Myelofibrosis), Imago OLE (Essential Thrombocythemia)

 

Dr Gordon Royle – Consultant Haematologist

Dr Royle has made significant contributions to research, particularly in the development of novel anticoagulant drugs which are alternatives to warfarin and he has been a principal investigator on a number of studies looking at the use of these drugs in treating blood clots and pulmonary embolism.  

Current trials: KISS (Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia), Anticoagulation Obesity Study

Upcoming trials: DABI 110 (Venous thromboembolism prevention)

 

Dr Kirsty Marshall – Consultant Haematologist

Dr Marshall returns to the Counties Haematology team as a SMO, after doing much of her advanced training here. She has taken on the PI role for two of the Multiple Myeloma studies and is working as a sub-investigator in most of the studies conducted by the team. She has a strong interest in research, having spent 18 months as a research fellow at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, and is keen to expand her research portfolio.

Current trials: ICARIA (Multiple Myeloma) and IMROZ (Multiple Myeloma)