Overview
Background
Dr Mari Takashima is a nurse-statistician and clinical trialist whose research centres on medical device safety in paediatric and neonatal populations. She is a certified health informatician with expertise in clinical epidemiology, clinical trials, applied biostatistics, and health informatics.
Her research program focuses on the utilisation and safety of invasive medical devices, including vascular access devices, cardiopulmonary bypass circuits, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Her current research interests include the safety of plastic chemicals in medical devices. This emerging program investigates chemical leaching of plasticisers such as DEHP and BPA from plastic circuits and tubing used in paediatric and neonatal care, and the potential health consequences of cumulative exposure in vulnerable patients.
Availability
- Dr Mari Takashima is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Nursing, Griffith University
- Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing, Queensland University of Technology
- Masters (Research) of Clinical Epidemiology, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Griffith University
Research interests
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Paediatric medical device safety
I investigate how to make medical devices safer for children, from vascular access devices such as cannulas and central lines to feeding devices and life support circuits. My work examines device complications including blockage, blood clots, infection, skin injury and device failure in newborn, paediatric and intensive care settings. I am an investigator on three national trials testing safer device selection and care.
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Plastic chemical exposure from medical devices
I study how chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenol A leach from plastic medical devices into vulnerable patients. My focus is newborns and children exposed during cardiac surgery on bypass, extracorporeal life support, dialysis and intravenous therapy. This work combines laboratory testing, clinical studies and evidence reviews to identify safer devices and inform hospital purchasing and clinical practice.
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Evidence synthesis and meta-analysis
I conduct systematic reviews, scoping reviews and network meta-analyses. My work includes reviews of antimicrobial catheter impregnation, central venous access device securement and chemical leaching from devices, providing evidence to guide clinical decisions and practice guidelines.
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Biostatistics and health research methods
I lead statistical design and analysis across a wide range of health research, including clinical trials, cohort studies, data linkage studies, surveys and quality improvement projects. My expertise spans trial design, causal inference, longitudinal and survival analysis, and analysis of routinely collected hospital data. I am passionate about matching the right statistical method to the right research question.
Works
Search Professor Mari Takashima’s works on UQ eSpace
2018
Journal Article
Complication and failures of central vascular access device in adult critical care settings
Takashima, Mari, Schults, Jessica, Mihala, Gabor, Corley, Amanda and Ullman, Amanda (2018). Complication and failures of central vascular access device in adult critical care settings. Critical Care Medicine, 46 (12), 1998-2009. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000003370
2017
Journal Article
Randomized controlled trials in central vascular access devices: a scoping review
Takashima, Mari, Ray-Barruel, Gillian, Ullman, Amanda, Keogh, Samantha and Rickard, Claire M. (2017). Randomized controlled trials in central vascular access devices: a scoping review. PLoS ONE, 12 (3) e0174164, e0174164. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174164
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Mari Takashima is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
Is there an association between chylothoracies and thromboses in neonates and infants post cardiac surgery?
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Amanda Ullman
Completed supervision
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2025
Master Philosophy
The Performance of Tunnelled, Non-Cuffed Central Venous Catheters and Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters in Infants
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Amanda Ullman
Media
Enquiries
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