
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
2018
Journal Article
Giant faecolith as an unusual cause of small bowel obstruction: A case report
Riddell, Andrew and Clark, David (2018). Giant faecolith as an unusual cause of small bowel obstruction: A case report. International Journal of Case Reports and Images, 9, 1-4. doi: 10.5348/100891z01tc2018cr
2017
Journal Article
Management of low colorectal anastomotic leakage in the laparoscopic era: more than a decade of experience
Boyce, Stephen Alexander, Harris, Craig, Stevenson, Andrew, Lumley, John and Clark, David (2017). Management of low colorectal anastomotic leakage in the laparoscopic era: more than a decade of experience. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, 60 (8), 807-814. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000000822
2016
Conference Publication
Colectomy rates in regional transfer versus metropolitan patients with severe ulcerative colitis
Patrick, D., Ballard, E., O'Rourke, P., Hanigan, K., Simms, L., Irwin, J., Cheng, R., Clark, D. A., Appleyard, M., Howlett, M. and Radford-Smith, G. L. (2016). Colectomy rates in regional transfer versus metropolitan patients with severe ulcerative colitis. Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia.
2016
Journal Article
Laparoscopic or open appendicectomy for suspected appendicitis in pregnancy and evaluation of foetal outcome in Australia
Winter, Nicole N., Guest, Glenn D., Bozin, Michael, Thomson, Benjamin N., Mann, G. Bruce, Tan, Stephanie B. M., Clark, David A., Daruwalla, Jurstine, Muralidharan, Vijayaragavan, Najan, Neeha, Pitcher, Meron E., Vilhelm, Karina, Cox, Michael R., Lane, Steven E. and Watters, David A. (2016). Laparoscopic or open appendicectomy for suspected appendicitis in pregnancy and evaluation of foetal outcome in Australia. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 87 (5), 334-338. doi: 10.1111/ans.13750
2014
Conference Publication
Hospitalization and treatment costs for acute, severe, steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis: Infliximab beats ciclosporin
Thwaites, P., Irwin, J., Walker, N., McMahon, A., Sewell, K., Croft, A., Clark, D., Howlett, M. and Radford-Smith, G. L. (2014). Hospitalization and treatment costs for acute, severe, steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis: Infliximab beats ciclosporin. Australian Gastroenterology Week 2014 , Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 22‐24 October 2014. HOBOKEN: Wiley-Blackwell.
2013
Journal Article
Surgical outcomes in steroid refractory acute severe ulcerative colitis: the impact of rescue therapy
Powar, M. P., Martin, P., Croft, A. R., Walsh, A., Petersen, D., Stevenson, A. R. L., Lumley, J. W., Stitz, R. W., Radford-Smith, G. L. and Clark, D. A. (2013). Surgical outcomes in steroid refractory acute severe ulcerative colitis: the impact of rescue therapy. Colorectal Disease, 15 (3), 374-379. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2012.03188.x
2012
Journal Article
The ideal ileal-pouch design: a long-term randomized control trial of J- vs W-pouch construction
McCormick, P. H., Guest, G. D., Clark, A. J., Petersen, D., Clark, D. A., Stevenson, A. R., Lumley, J. W. and Stitz, R. W. (2012). The ideal ileal-pouch design: a long-term randomized control trial of J- vs W-pouch construction. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 55 (12), 1251-1257. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0b013e318270327f
2011
Journal Article
Prolonged use of thromboprophylaxis may not be necessary in laparoscopic colorectal surgery
Verheijen, Paulus Menno, Stevenson, Andrew R. L., Stitz, Russel W., Clark, David A., Clark, Andrew J. and Lumley, John W. (2011). Prolonged use of thromboprophylaxis may not be necessary in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 26 (6), 755-759. doi: 10.1007/s00384-011-1139-2
2011
Journal Article
Laparoscopic resection of advanced colorectal cancer
Verheijen, P. M., Stevenson, A. R. L., Lumley, J. W., Clark, A. J., Stitz, R. W. and Clark, D. A. (2011). Laparoscopic resection of advanced colorectal cancer. British Journal of Surgery, 98 (3), 427-430. doi: 10.1002/bjs.7329
2010
Journal Article
Teaching colorectal surgery in the laparoscopic era; Is it safe?
Verheijen, Paul M., Ven, Anthony W.H. vd, Davids, Paul H.P., Clark, David A. and Prank, Apollo (2010). Teaching colorectal surgery in the laparoscopic era; Is it safe?. Journal of Surgical Education, 67 (4), 217-221. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2010.06.009
2009
Journal Article
Laparoscopic Resection for Diverticular Disease: Follow-up of 500 Consecutive Patients Reply
Lumley, John W., Jones, Oliver M., Clark, David A., Stevenson, Andrew R. L. and Stitz, Russell W. (2009). Laparoscopic Resection for Diverticular Disease: Follow-up of 500 Consecutive Patients Reply. Annals of Surgery, 250 (1), 175-175. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181ad961f
2009
Journal Article
Laparoscopic Resection for Diverticular Disease Follow-Up of 500 Consecutive Patients Reply
Jones, Oliver M., Stevenson, Andrew R., Clark, David, Stitz, Russell W. and Lumley, John W. (2009). Laparoscopic Resection for Diverticular Disease Follow-Up of 500 Consecutive Patients Reply. Annals of Surgery, 249 (3), 549-549. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e31819ac6af
2008
Journal Article
Laparoscopic resection for diverticular disease: Follow-up of 500 consecutive patients
Jones, Oliver M., Stevenson, Andrew R. L., Clark, David, Stitz, Russell W. and Lumley, John W. (2008). Laparoscopic resection for diverticular disease: Follow-up of 500 consecutive patients. Annals of Surgery, 248 (6), 1092-1097. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181884923
2008
Journal Article
Short-term outcomes of the Australasian Randomized Clinical Study comparing laparoscopic and conventional open surgical treatments for colon cancer The ALCCaS Trial
Hewett, Peter J., Allardyce, Randall A., Bagshaw, Philip F., Frampton, Christopher M., Frizelle, Francis A., Rieger, Nicholas A., Smith, J. Shona, Solomon, Michael J., Stephens, Jacqueline H., Stevenson, Andrew R. L., ALCCaS Trial group and Clark, David (2008). Short-term outcomes of the Australasian Randomized Clinical Study comparing laparoscopic and conventional open surgical treatments for colon cancer The ALCCaS Trial. Annals of Surgery, 248 (5), 728-738. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e31818b7595
2008
Conference Publication
Experience of 500 consecutive cases justifies laparoscopic resection of diverticulitis
Jones, O., Stevenson, A., Clark, D., Stitz, R. and Lumley, J. (2008). Experience of 500 consecutive cases justifies laparoscopic resection of diverticulitis. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Boston, MA United States, 7-11 June 2008. New York, NY United States: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
1999
Journal Article
Cardiac assessment with thallium scanning prior to aortic aneurysm repair
Quigley, FG, Clark, D and Avramovic, J (1999). Cardiac assessment with thallium scanning prior to aortic aneurysm repair. Cardiovascular Surgery, 7 (6), 640-644. doi: 10.1016/S0967-2109(99)00031-9
1999
Journal Article
Laparoscopic orchidopexy for the intra-abdominal testis
Clark, DA and Borzi, PA (1999). Laparoscopic orchidopexy for the intra-abdominal testis. Pediatric Surgery International, 15 (7), 454-456. doi: 10.1007/s003830050636
Supervision
Availability
- Professor David Clark is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Ileostomy app to reduce readmission with dehydration
Supervision history
Current supervision
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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
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
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel Theranostic Targets for Colorectal Cancer
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel theranostic targets for metastatic colorectal cancer
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving the management decisions for patients diagnosed with a colorectal malignant polyp
Associate Advisor
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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