
Overview
Background
Professor David A Clark
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and University of Queensland, Australia
Prof Clark is a visiting colorectal surgeon at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. He qualified from the University of QLD in 1991, trained in surgery in Brisbane, and undertook colorectal fellowships in the United Kingdom. He was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons at Edinburgh in January 2002.
He is a Professor for the University of QLD and runs a busy clinical practice at the St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside. He has a strong interest in inflammatory bowel disease and the IBD Unit at the RBWH has an active academic program. Prof Clark has presented internationally in the field of IBD and minimally invasive colorectal surgery.
The colorectal unit based at the RBWH has a commitment to education and runs a regular laparoscopic colorectal training course and now supports 3 colorectal fellows and a research co-ordinator. He is a board member of the ANZ Training Board in Colorectal Surgery (ANZTBCRS) and the recent convenor for the Society and Section scientific meetings.
Prof Clark heads the Brisbane Colorectal Reseacrh Unit (CRU) and completed a PhD at the University of Sydney in June 2022. He concurrently supervised 4 PhD candidates through UQ. He is widely published in the fields of minimally invasive surgery and inflammaory bowel disease.
Brisbane is renowned for minimally invasive colorectal surgery and training and teaching are a passion.
Availability
- Professor David Clark is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Sydney
- Board Member, Australia and New Zealand Training Board in Colorectal Surgery, Australia and New Zealand Training Board in Colorectal Surgery
- Member, Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand, Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand
- Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
- Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Research interests
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Early Surgery for Ileal Crohn's Disease
Surgery as a therapeutic option vs trial of multiple medical therapies.
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Surgery for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis
Refining the minimally invasive technique for these acutely unwell patients and optimizing the ultimate restorative procedure.
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Minimally invasive colorectal surgery
Regular masterclasses showcasing advances in minimally invasive approaches to colorectal surgery.
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Modified Kono S anastomosis after ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease
An RCT out of the RBWH and recruiting 2023.
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Colorectal cancer organoids for predicting response to chemotherapy
QIMR research project to collect specimens and enhance the pipeline to grow and test organoids in a clinically actionable timeframe.
Research impacts
Professor Clark's publications in the field of drain fluid biomarkers of anastomotic leak have seen the uptake of the research methodology in numerous centres around the world. Indeed the measurement of drain fluid amylase is an inexpensive and readily availble test that should be the standard of care in the peri-operative period of ileal pouch surgery when a diverting ileostomy is not incorporated. Further development of novel drain fluid biomarkers are under investigation to support the post-operative care in the setting of rectal cancer surgery.
Research in the field of organoids has the potential to translate to precision medicine in a clinically actionable timeframe.
Publications from the colorectal sub-committee in colorectal cancer through the Queensland Cancer Control and Analysis Team (QCCAT) are produced to report on multiple aspects of service delivery and quality throughout Queensland with the goal of enhancing patient outcomes throughout the state.
Works
Search Professor David Clark’s works on UQ eSpace
2022
Journal Article
Drain fluid amylase as a biomarker for the detection of anastomotic leakage after rectal resection without a diverting ileostomy
Clark, David A., Edmundson, Aleksandra, Steffens, Daniel, Harris, Craig, Stevenson, Andrew and Solomon, Michael (2022). Drain fluid amylase as a biomarker for the detection of anastomotic leakage after rectal resection without a diverting ileostomy. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 92 (4), 813-818. doi: 10.1111/ans.17461
2022
Journal Article
Multicenter Study of Drain Fluid Amylase as a Biomarker for the Detection of Anastomotic Leakage After Ileal Pouch Surgery Without a Diverting Ileostomy
Clark, David A., Edmundson, Aleksandra, Steffens, Daniel, Radford-Smith, Graham and Solomon, Michael (2022). Multicenter Study of Drain Fluid Amylase as a Biomarker for the Detection of Anastomotic Leakage After Ileal Pouch Surgery Without a Diverting Ileostomy. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, 65 (11), 1335-1341. doi: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000002376
2022
Journal Article
Surgical management and long‐term functional outcomes after anastomotic leak in patients undergoing minimally invasive restorative rectal resection and without a diverting ileostomy
McGiffin, Tony, Clark, David A., Edmundson, Aleks, Steffens, Daniel, Stevenson, Andrew and Solomon, Michael (2022). Surgical management and long‐term functional outcomes after anastomotic leak in patients undergoing minimally invasive restorative rectal resection and without a diverting ileostomy. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 92 (4), 806-812. doi: 10.1111/ans.17475
2022
Journal Article
Microsatellite instability in young patients with rectal cancer: molecular findings and treatment response
Zaborowski, Alexandra M., Abdile, Ahmed, Adamina, Michel, Aigner, Felix, D'Allens, Laura, Allmer, Caterina, Anula, Rocio, Andric, Mihailo, Atallah, Sam, Bach, Simon, Bala, Miklosh, Barussaud, Marie, Bausys, Augustinas, Beggs, Andrew, Bellolio, Felipe, Bennett, Melissa-Rose, Berdinskikh, Anton, Bevan, Vicki, Biondo, Sebastiano, Bislenghi, Gabriele, Bludau, Marc, Brouwer, Nelleke, Brown, Carl, Bruns, Christiane, Buchanan, Daniel D., Buchwald, Pamela, Burger, Jacobus W. A., Burlov, Nikita, Campanelli, Michela ... Winter, Des C. (2022). Microsatellite instability in young patients with rectal cancer: molecular findings and treatment response. British Journal of Surgery, 109 (3), 251-255. doi: 10.1093/bjs/znab437
2022
Journal Article
Ileal Crohn's disease fistulating into a Meckel's diverticulum
Zammit, Andrew Philip, Miller, Gregory, Satchwell, Joshua and Clark, David (2022). Ileal Crohn's disease fistulating into a Meckel's diverticulum. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 92 (11), 3103-3104. doi: 10.1111/ans.17572
2022
Journal Article
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration-task load index: NASA-TLX: evaluation of its use in surgery
Bell, Stephen W., Kong, Joseph C. H., Clark, David A., Carne, Peter, Skinner, Stewart, Pillinger, Stephen, Burton, Paul and Brown, Wendy (2022). The National Aeronautics and Space Administration-task load index: NASA-TLX: evaluation of its use in surgery. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 92 (11), 3022-3028. doi: 10.1111/ans.17830
2022
Journal Article
Does an ileostomy cover the surgeon or the anastomosis?
Clark, David A., Stevenson, Andrew, Lumley, John, Petersen, Damien, Harris, Craig, Steffens, Daniel and Solomon, Michael (2022). Does an ileostomy cover the surgeon or the anastomosis?. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 92 (1-2), 19-20. doi: 10.1111/ans.17364
2021
Journal Article
Incisional hernia following ileostomy closure: who's at risk? The Gold Coast experience
Bloomfield, Ian, Dobson, Benjamin, Von Papen, Michael and Clark, David (2021). Incisional hernia following ileostomy closure: who's at risk? The Gold Coast experience. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 92 (1-2), 146-150. doi: 10.1111/ans.17359
2021
Journal Article
Geographical variation in the use of diverting loop ileostomy in Australia and New Zealand Colorectal Surgeons
Clark, David A., Stephensen, Bree, Edmundson, Aleksandra, Steffens, Daniel and Solomon, Michael (2021). Geographical variation in the use of diverting loop ileostomy in Australia and New Zealand Colorectal Surgeons. Annals of Coloproctology, 37 (5), 337-345. doi: 10.3393/ac.2020.09.14.1
2021
Journal Article
Preclinical molecular PET-CT imaging targeting CDCP1 in colorectal cancer
Cuda, Tahleesa J., He, Yaowu, Kryza, Thomas, Khan, Tashbib, Tse, Brian W., Sokolowski, Kamil A., Liu, Cheng, Lyons, Nicholas, Gough, Madeline, Snell, Cameron E., Wyld, David K., Rose, Stephen, Riddell, Andrew D., Stevenson, Andrew R. L., Thomas, Paul A., Clark, David A., Puttick, Simon and Hooper, John D. (2021). Preclinical molecular PET-CT imaging targeting CDCP1 in colorectal cancer. Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging, 2021 3153278, 3153278. doi: 10.1155/2021/3153278
2021
Journal Article
An umbrella systematic review of drain fluid analysis in colorectal surgery for the detection of anastomotic leak: not yet ready to translate research studies into clinical practice
Clark, David A, Steffens, Daniel and Solomon, Michael (2021). An umbrella systematic review of drain fluid analysis in colorectal surgery for the detection of anastomotic leak: not yet ready to translate research studies into clinical practice. Colorectal Disease, 23 (11) codi.15844, 2795-2805. doi: 10.1111/codi.15844
2021
Journal Article
Characteristics of Early-Onset vs Late-Onset Colorectal Cancer A Review
Zaborowski, Alexandra M., Abdile, Ahmed, Adamina, Michel, Aigner, Felix, d'Allens, Laura, Allmer, Caterina, Alvarez, Andrea, Anula, Rocio, Andric, Mihailo, Atallah, Sam, Bach, Simon, Bala, Miklosh, Barussaud, Marie, Bausys, Augustinas, Bebington, Brendan, Beggs, Andrew, Bellolio, Felipe, Bennett, Melissa-Rose, Berdinskikh, Anton, Bevan, Vicki, Biondo, Sebastiano, Bislenghi, Gabriele, Bludau, Marc, Boutall, Adam, Brouwer, Nelleke, Brown, Carl, Bruns, Christiane, Buchanan, Daniel D., Buchwald, Pamela ... REACCT Collaborative (2021). Characteristics of Early-Onset vs Late-Onset Colorectal Cancer A Review. JAMA Surgery, 156 (9), 865-874. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2021.2380
2021
Journal Article
Exploring the perioperative outcomes of a sample of successful adopters of transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) during the learning phase
Caycedo-Marulanda, Antonio, Nadeau, Kara, Verschoor, Chris P., Sands, Dana, Spinelli, Antonino, Ashamalla, Shady, Patel, Sunil V., Di Candido, Francesca, Mujukian, Angela, Zaghiyan, Karen, Stevenson, Grant, Wolthuis, Albert, Clark, David A., D’Hoore, Andre, Stevenson, Andrew and Wexner, Steven D. (2021). Exploring the perioperative outcomes of a sample of successful adopters of transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) during the learning phase. Surgery, 169 (4), 774-781. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2020.10.018
2021
Journal Article
Palpable head on digital rectal examination: a rare case of uterine incarceration causing obstruction and perforation of an ileal pouch in mid‐term pregnancy
Mizumoto, Ryo, Moloney, Jayson and Clark, David (2021). Palpable head on digital rectal examination: a rare case of uterine incarceration causing obstruction and perforation of an ileal pouch in mid‐term pregnancy. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 91 (9) ans.16641, E629-E630. doi: 10.1111/ans.16641
2021
Journal Article
Reply to Gachabayov et al. ‘Consensus statement on TaTME: other thoughts’
Hompes, Roel, Adamina, Michel, Aigner, Felix, Araujo, Sergio, Arezzo, Alberto, Ashamalla, Shady, deBeche-Adams, Teresa, Bell, Stephen, Bemelman, Willem, Brown, Carl, Brunner, Walter, Buchs, Nicolas, Caycedo, Antonio, Chadi, Sami, Chan, Park Sung, Clark, David, Denost, Quentin, D'Hoore, André, Fearnhead, Nicola, Francis, Nader, de Graaf, Eelco, Hasegawa, Suguru, Hayes, Julian, Heriot, Alexander, Hompes, Roel, Houben, Bert, Ito, Masaaki, Katory, Mark, Kleijnen, Jos ... the TaTME Guidance Group representing the ESCP (European Society of Coloproctology), in collaboration with ASCRS (American Society of Colon, Rectum Surgeons) et al (2021). Reply to Gachabayov et al. ‘Consensus statement on TaTME: other thoughts’. Colorectal Disease, 23 (2), 553-555. doi: 10.1111/codi.15434
2021
Journal Article
Transanal mesorectal excision: early outcomes in Australia and New Zealand
Lau, S., Kong, J., Bell, S., Heriot, A., Stevenson, A., Moloney, J., Hayes, J., Merrie, A., Eglinton, T., Guest, G., Clark, D. and Warrier, S. (2021). Transanal mesorectal excision: early outcomes in Australia and New Zealand. British Journal of Surgery, 108 (2), 214-219. doi: 10.1093/bjs/znaa098
2020
Journal Article
Return to work following laparoscopic-assisted resection or open resection for rectal cancer: findings from AlaCaRT—Australasian Laparoscopic Cancer of the Rectum Trial
Law, Chi Kin, Brewer, Kate, Brown, Chris, Wilson, Kate, Bailey, Lisa, Hague, Wendy, Simes, John R., Stevenson, Andrew, Solomon, Michael, Morton, Rachael L., Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG) and Clark, David (Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group member) (2020). Return to work following laparoscopic-assisted resection or open resection for rectal cancer: findings from AlaCaRT—Australasian Laparoscopic Cancer of the Rectum Trial. Cancer Medicine, 10 (2), 552-562. doi: 10.1002/cam4.3623
2020
Journal Article
Amylase quantification in the terminal Ileum following formation of an Ileostomy
Clark, D. A., Cuda, T., Pretorius, C., Edmundson, A., Solomon, M. and Riddell, A. D. (2020). Amylase quantification in the terminal Ileum following formation of an Ileostomy. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 19368, 19368. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-76349-y
2020
Journal Article
PET imaging quantifying Ga-PSMA-11 uptake in metastatic colorectal cancer
Cuda, Tahleesa J., Riddell, Andrew D., Liu, Cheng, Whitehall, Vicki L., Borowsky, Jennifer, Wyld, David K., Burge, Matthew E., Ahern, Elizabeth, Griffin, Alison, Lyons, Nicholas J. R., Rose, Stephen E., Clark, David A., Stevenson, Andrew R. L., Hooper, John D., Puttick, Simon and Thomas, Paul A. (2020). PET imaging quantifying Ga-PSMA-11 uptake in metastatic colorectal cancer. The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 61 (11), 1576-1579. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.119.233312
2020
Journal Article
Argument for taTME
Lauder, Christopher and Clark, David (2020). Argument for taTME. Annals of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgery, 5 44. doi: 10.21037/ales.2020.03.10
Supervision
Availability
- Professor David Clark is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Ileostomy app to reduce readmission with dehydration
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel theranostic targets for metastatic colorectal cancer
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel Theranostic Targets for Colorectal Cancer
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving the management decisions for patients diagnosed with a colorectal malignant polyp
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Reducing post-operative Crohn's disease recurrence
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jakob Begun, Dr Rabina Giri
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving the management decisions for patients diagnosed with a colorectal malignant polyp
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Personalised Medicine for Colorectal Cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Vicki Whitehall
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving Immunotherapy Efficacy for Colorectal Cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Vicki Whitehall
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Improving the management decisions for patients diagnosed with a colorectal malignant polyp
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
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