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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
2025
Journal Article
Systematic review of the management options available for low anterior resection syndrome (LARS)
Sharp, G., Findlay, N., Clark, D. and Hong, J. (2025). Systematic review of the management options available for low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). Techniques in coloproctology, 29 (1) 58, 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s10151-024-03090-3
2025
Journal Article
Impact of anastomotic leakage after colorectal cancer surgery on quality of life: a systematic review
Gielen, Anke H. C., Heuvelings, Danique J. I., Sylla, Patricia, van Loon, Yu-Ting, Melenhorst, Jarno, Bouvy, Nicole D., Kimman, Merel L., Breukink, Stephanie O., CoReAL collaborative and Clark, David A. (CoReAL Collaborative member) (2025). Impact of anastomotic leakage after colorectal cancer surgery on quality of life: a systematic review. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 68 (2) 10.1097/DCR.0000000000003478, 154-170. doi: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000003478
2025
Journal Article
Drain fluid iodine as a biomarker of anastomotic leak after low anterior resection in patients undergoing Gastrografin rectal tube flushes and omission of a diverting ileostomy: the GUSH study
Clark, David A., Dobeli, Karen, Allen, Darren, McWhinney, Brett, Lonne, Michael, GUSH Study Collaborators and Edmundson, Aleksandra (2025). Drain fluid iodine as a biomarker of anastomotic leak after low anterior resection in patients undergoing Gastrografin rectal tube flushes and omission of a diverting ileostomy: the GUSH study. Colorectal Disease, 27 (2) e70031. doi: 10.1111/codi.70031
2025
Journal Article
Long‐term survival outcomes in young‐onset colorectal cancer: A population‐based cohort study
Cao, Amy M. Y., Lonne, Michael L. R. and Clark, David A. (2025). Long‐term survival outcomes in young‐onset colorectal cancer: A population‐based cohort study. Colorectal Disease, 27 (2) e70007, 1-7. doi: 10.1111/codi.70007
2025
Journal Article
Development of a novel malignant colorectal polyp prognostic nomogram
Zammit, Andrew P., Aksoy, Yagiz Alp, Brown, Ian, Hooper, John D., Clark, David A., Fuchs, Talia L., Riddell, Andrew D. and Gill, Anthony J. (2025). Development of a novel malignant colorectal polyp prognostic nomogram. ANZ Journal of Surgery. doi: 10.1111/ans.19384
2025
Journal Article
Current approaches to the surgical management of Crohn’s disease in Australia and New Zealand
Zheng, Sophie, Edmundson, Aleksandra and Clark, David A. (2025). Current approaches to the surgical management of Crohn’s disease in Australia and New Zealand. International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 40 (1) 4, 4. doi: 10.1007/s00384-024-04778-6
2024
Journal Article
Splenic Flexure volvulus managed via laparoscopic colopexy in an adult patient – A video vignette
Valizadehzare, Shahab, Fok, Kar Yin and Clark, David A. (2024). Splenic Flexure volvulus managed via laparoscopic colopexy in an adult patient – A video vignette. Colorectal Disease, 27 (1) e17219, e17219. doi: 10.1111/codi.17219
2024
Journal Article
Quality of reporting on anastomotic leaks in colorectal cancer trials: a systematic review
Heuvelings, Danique J. I., Mollema, Omar, van Kuijk, Sander M. J., Kimman, Merel L., Boutros, Marylise, Francis, Nader, Bouvy, Nicole D., Sylla, Patricia, CoReAL Collaborative and Clark, David (2024). Quality of reporting on anastomotic leaks in colorectal cancer trials: a systematic review. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 67 (11), 1383-1401. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000003475
2024
Conference Publication
Post operative recurrence and surgical outcomes following Crohn's ileocolic resections in Australia (PORSCIA study)
Giddings, Hugh, Ng, Kheng-Seong, Solomon, Michael, Arzivian, Arteen, Haifer, Craig, Lin, Huiyu, Pappas, Christian, Clark, David, Deacon, Anthony, Radford-Smith, Graham, Ebrahimi, Nargus, Wu, Ann, Lewis, Mark, Lim, Roscoe, Zhang, Jennifer, Vasudevan, Abhinav, Demase, Kathryn, Karp, Jadon, Fernandes, Richard, An, Yoon-Kyo, Ng, Zi Qin, Mackenzie, Scott, Thin, Lena, Greeve, Tessa, Moore, Gregory, Ghaly, Simon and Australia And New Zealand Inflammatory Bowel Disease Consortium, Crohn’s Colitis Cure (CCCURE) (2024). Post operative recurrence and surgical outcomes following Crohn's ileocolic resections in Australia (PORSCIA study). Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) Australian Gastroenterology Week (AGW) 2024, Adelaide, SA Australia, 14–16 September 2024. Richmond, VIC Australia: John Wiley & Sons.
2024
Journal Article
Surgical outcomes in ileal Crohn's disease complicated by ileosigmoid fistula
Jenkin, Ashley, Edmundson, Aleksandra and Clark, David (2024). Surgical outcomes in ileal Crohn's disease complicated by ileosigmoid fistula. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 94 (9), 1563-1568. doi: 10.1111/ans.19176
2024
Journal Article
Feasibility of triple assessment of the anastomosis using an anastomotic checklist
Kelly, Madeleine Louise, Cao, Amy, Rajan, Ruben, Objective Anastomotic Checklist Reviewers and Clark, David A (2024). Feasibility of triple assessment of the anastomosis using an anastomotic checklist. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 94 (10), 1812-1817. doi: 10.1111/ans.19198
2024
Journal Article
Pregnancy and stomas: a 9‐year retrospective series at a major metropolitan hospital in Brisbane Queensland
Kelly, Madeleine Louise, Fullerton, Alexandra, Cao, Amy Millicent Yesheng, Colbran, Rachel, Kimble, Rebecca and Clark, David A. (2024). Pregnancy and stomas: a 9‐year retrospective series at a major metropolitan hospital in Brisbane Queensland. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 94 (9), 1617-1621. doi: 10.1111/ans.19142
2024
Journal Article
Ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease and the Kono S anastomosis: all that is gold does not glitter
Clark, David A. (2024). Ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease and the Kono S anastomosis: all that is gold does not glitter. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 94 (12), 2101-2102. doi: 10.1111/ans.19181
2024
Journal Article
Obstructing colorectal cancer: a population-based review of colonic stenting in Queensland, Australia
Keogh, Cian, Moore, Julie, Cossio, Danica, Smith, Nick and Clark, David A. (2024). Obstructing colorectal cancer: a population-based review of colonic stenting in Queensland, Australia. Annals of Coloproctology, 40 (3), 268-275. doi: 10.3393/ac.2023.00640.0091
2024
Journal Article
Patients' and carers' views on research priorities in prehabilitation for cancer surgery
Vu, Jennifer, Koh, Cherry, Solomon, Michael, Brown, Kilian, Karunaratne, Sascha, Cole, Ruby, Smith, Phillippa, Raichurkar, Pratik, Denehy, Linda, Riedel, Bernhard, Prehabilitation Expert Collaborative, Steffens, Daniel and Clark, David (2024). Patients' and carers' views on research priorities in prehabilitation for cancer surgery. Supportive Care in Cancer, 32 (6) 378. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08585-1
2024
Journal Article
Estimation of risk posed by malignant polyps amongst colorectal surgeons in Australia and New Zealand
Zammit, Andrew P., Brown, Ian, Hooper, John D., Clark, David A. and Riddell, Andrew D. (2024). Estimation of risk posed by malignant polyps amongst colorectal surgeons in Australia and New Zealand. Annals of Coloproctology, 40 (1), 114-120. doi: 10.3393/ac.2023.00178.0025
2023
Journal Article
Research priorities in prehabilitation for patients undergoing cancer surgery: an international Delphi Study
Raichurkar, Pratik, Denehy, Linda, Solomon, Michael, Koh, Cherry, Pillinger, Neil, Hogan, Sophie, McBride, Kate, Carey, Sharon, Bartyn, Jenna, Hirst, Nicholas, Steffens, Daniel, Prehabilitation Expert Collaborative and Clark, David (2023). Research priorities in prehabilitation for patients undergoing cancer surgery: an international Delphi Study. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 30 (12), 7226-7235. doi: 10.1245/s10434-023-14192-x
2023
Journal Article
Long term outcomes of total colectomy for severe constipation
Johnston, Ben J., Clark, David A. and Warwick, Andrea M. (2023). Long term outcomes of total colectomy for severe constipation. Colorectal Disease, 25 (6), 1194-1201. doi: 10.1111/codi.16517
2023
Journal Article
Reactive oxygen species as mediators of disease progression and therapeutic response in colorectal cancer
Lyons, Nicholas, Giri, Rabina, Begun, Jakob, Clark, David A, Proud, David, He, Yaowu, Hooper, John and Kryza, Thomas (2023). Reactive oxygen species as mediators of disease progression and therapeutic response in colorectal cancer. Antioxidants and Redox Signaling, 39 (1-3), 186-205. doi: 10.1089/ars.2022.0127
2023
Journal Article
In comparison with polypectomy, colorectal resection is associated with improved survival for patients diagnosed with malignant polyps
Zammit, Andrew P., Hooper, John D., Brown, Ian, Clark, David A. and Riddell, Andrew D. (2023). In comparison with polypectomy, colorectal resection is associated with improved survival for patients diagnosed with malignant polyps. Colorectal Disease, 25 (2), 261-271. doi: 10.1111/codi.16369
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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