Professor Ian Wright and Dr Hafiz Abdul-Aziz

Microcirculation: The “Fantastic Voyage” that drives our circulation; Why it matters, How does it work?

Presented by Professor Ian Wright

Overview

Most clinical interest and physiology concentrates on “big bits” of the circulation…the heart and the major blood vessels. It is becoming clear that microcirculation, which makes up the vast majority of the CVS, may be playing a far more important role in driving health and disease than previously appreciated. Professor Wright will describe changes in his and our understanding of the microcirculation. Whilst he works in the preterm infant context, he describes novel mechanisms relevant to many areas of clinical science and change the way we think about CVS risks.

About Professor Wright

Professor Wright trained as a neonatologist in the UK, NZ and Australia. He undertakes research from benchside, through bedside, to whole populations  and back. He is currently Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health Research at the University of Wollongong.

Overcoming barriers to optimal drug dosing in critically ill patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

Presented by Dr Hafiz Abdul-Aziz

Overview

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly being used as an ultimate rescue therapy in patients with severe cardiac and/or respiratory failure. ECMO has been shown to exacerbate the pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) alterations observed during critical illness for some drugs leading to potential therapeutic failure or toxicity. An advanced understanding of the PK/PD alterations in setting of ECMO is critical to antibiotic drug dosing in these complex patients pending robust dosing guidelines.

About Dr Abdul-Aziz

Dr Abdul-Aziz is currently a research fellow at the Centre for Research Excellence for Redefining Antimicrobial Use to Reduce Resistance (CRE REDUCE), UQCCR. He is a clinical pharmacist with a strong research interest in clinical research and multi-national clinical trials. His main research theme is finding novel ways and solutions to optimise antibiotic dosing in critically ill patients with severe infections.