Tracy Fitzsimmons

Dr Tracy Fitzsimmons

Research Officer

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences


The focus of the RAH Colorectal Research Group is to undertake patient centered outcomes research in colorectal surgery. My research projects are broadly focused on Colorectal Surgical Oncology, and Recovery After Surgery.

Colorectal cancer is estimated to become the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, and it is currently the second most common cause of cancer related mortality.

The impact of surgery on colorectal patient care is significant. For many patients this episode of care may be the single most important event in their treatment journey. However, despite this, the quality and extent of clinical outcomes based research activity in colorectal surgery has historically been lacking, particularly in comparison to efforts underway in medical oncology, molecular biology, and basic science research.

Specific projects I am involved in include:
1. TNT prospective study of Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer.
2. LaNoReC (Lateral Nodal Recurrence in Rectal Cancer): An international prospective registration study looking at the role of lateral pelvic lymph
node dissection for residual abnormal lateral nodes in patients with rectal cancer. www.dccg.nl/trial/lanorec
3. Pelvex collaborative. International prospective registry of pelvic exenteration outcomes (extended surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer with
removal of surrounding pelvic organs en bloc). www.pelvex.org

The focus of the RAH Colorectal Research Group is to undertake patient centered outcomes research in colorectal surgery. My research projects are broadly focused on Colorectal Surgical Oncology, and Recovery After Surgery.

colorectalresearch.org

 

 

Date Project Title Investigators Funding Body Amount
2018 Barbara Kidman Women's Fellowship TR Fitzsimmons University of Adelaide $24,000
2017 Azithromycin modulation of cytokine production during LPS induced/chronic inflammation in vitro:  Impact on osteoclastogenesis TR Fitzsimmons, D Haynes, PM Bartold Australian Dental Research Foundation $11,050
2014 Cytokine profiles in serum and placenta of pregnant mice following experimentally induced periodontitis P Zilm, TR Fitzsimmons, C Roberts.  Australian Dental Research Foundation $13,764
2014 Fish oil as an adjunct therapy for periodontitis – a pilot study to determine whether there are acute and chronic benefits? A Coates, TR Fitzsimmons, PM Bartold, S Ivanovski, P Howe Australian Dental Research Foundation $9000
2012 Effect of Azithromycin on cytokine expression by human gingival fibroblasts C Doyle, Bartold PM, TR Fitzsimmons, C Marchant Australian Dental Research Foundation $6000
2010 Multiplex analysis of the presence of IL-13, IL-15 and IL-17 in gingival crevicular fluid of subjects with periodontitis TR Fitzsimmons Australian Dental Research Foundation $5600
2009 A NanoDrop spectrophotometer system for micro-volume quantitation of nucleic acid and protein TR Fitzsimmons, PS Zilm, PM Bartold, P Cathro, D Haynes, S Gronthos, T Hughes, G Townsend, D Keefe National Health and Medical Research Council, Equipment Grant $10,000
2009 Identification and quantitation of periodontal pathogens by real-time polymerase chain reaction TR McNamara, N Gully, PS Zilm Australian Dental Research Foundation $4000
2009 The effects of environmental redox potential (Eh) and pH on Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis co-cultured biofilms J Chew, N Gully, PS Zilm, TR McNamara Australian Dental Research Foundation $4000
2009 An in-vitro evaluation of the effectiveness of endodontic irrigants, with and without ultrasonic activation, in the eradication of Enterococcus faecalis biofilm A Seet, P Cathro, PS Zilm, TR McNamara, N Gully Australian Dental Research Foundation $4000
2009 Efficacy of antimicrobial treatment involving sodium hypochlorite, ledermix and calcium hydroxide against Enterococcus faecalis cultured as a biofilm on a dentine substrate PS Zilm, P Cathro, B Plutzer, TR McNamara Australian Dental Research Foundation $4000
2008 Influence of smoking on molecules associated with bone resorption in human gingival crevicular fluid.  Australian Dental Research Foundation PM Bartold, TR McNamara, T Tang Australian Dental Research Foundation $6600
2007 Investigation of proteins in gingival crevicular fluid as a basis for disease diagnosis T McNamara, P Zilm, C Bagley, PM Bartold Australian Dental Research Foundation $4800

 

Dates Teaching Role Course School, Faculty, Institution Subject Code
Semester 1, 2009 Casual Tutor Human Biology ID Part 1 School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide 2910_DENT_1003AHO
Semester 2, 2008 Casual Tutor Dental and Health Science II Part 2 School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide 2620_DENT_2001BHO
Semester 2, 2006 Casual Ttor Dental and Health Science II Part 2 School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide 2620_DENT_2001BHO

 

  • Other Supervision Activities

    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2018 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Oral microbiome assessment of plaque biofilms in an in vitro 3D printed flow cell Adelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Peter Varga
    2018 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and their derivatives in periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis Adelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide - Honours Part Time Lucas Ciacciarelli
    2018 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Regulation of osteoimmune immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) signalling factors in the pathogenesis of Chronic Periodontitis Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Adrian Duran
    2017 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Azithromycin modulation of cytokine production during LPS induced/chronic inflammation in vitro: Impact on osteoclastogenesis Adelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Dr Alen Rahulan
    2011 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Azithromycin suppresses P. gingivalis LPS induced pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production (IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 and GRO) by human gingival fibroblasts in vitro Dept of Dentistry, University of Adelaide Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Periodontics) Other - Dr Catherine Doyle
    2009 - 2011 Co-Supervisor Expression of bone resorption markers in gingival crevicular fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients with and without periodontitis: a pilot study’ Dept of Dentistry, University of Adelaide Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Periodontics) Other - Dr Kere Kobayashi
    2009 - 2011 Co-Supervisor Expression of rheumatoid arthritis markers in normal and inflamed gingival tissues Dept of Dentistry, University of Adelaide Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Periodontics) Other - Dr Geoffrey Harvey
    2009 - 2010 Co-Supervisor C-reactive protein, periodontitis and systemic inflammation Dept of Dentistry, University of Adelaide Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Periodontics) Other - Dr Emma Megson
    2007 - 2009 Co-Supervisor C-reactive protein, periodontitis and systemic inflammation Dept of Dentistry, University of Adelaide Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Periodontics) Other - Dr Teck Tang

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