Overview
Background
Professor Obermair is the Director of Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer Research (QCGC Research). He is a Professor of Gynaecological Oncology since 2007, a Senior Medical Officer at Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital and a Visiting Medical Officer at St Andrews War Memorial Hospital and Buderim Private Hospital. He holds an Honorary title of Professor at UQ since 2006.
Professor Obermair is an internationally recognised leader in gynaecological oncology research and treatment and has lead the research team at QCGC Research since establishing it in 2003.
Availability
- Professor Andreas Obermair is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctoral Diploma of Medicine, International University Vienna
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Research interests
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Clinical Trials
Decisions on cancer management ideally are based on the results of high-level evidence, obtained through clinical trials whenever possible. As a principle, a new (proposed better) intervention should be compared to the current standard treatment before being made available generally. Outside a clinical trial new treatments should not become available until evidence has become available to demonstrate superiority over the current standard treatment. Retrospective studies harbour the risk that biases influenced outcomes. At QCGC Research we engage in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. In large phase trials, patients are allocated randomly to one of two or more interventions in order to minimise the risk of bias. Generally, patients treated within clinical trials have a better outcome compared to patients who are not treated in clinical trials. As the Director of Research Gynaecological Oncology I am currently involved in developing and managing clinical trials in gynaecological cancers.
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Translational Research
The focus of QCGC Research's translational research program is the application of new technology (molecular, biochemical, imaging and surgical) to prevention, detection and therapy for gynaecological cancers.
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Quality of Life Research
Cancer specialists are aware that not only the survival time but also the quality of life is a key factor in cancer treatment. This is especially important when two treatments are equally effective but cause different side-effects. My Quality-of-Life research focuses on ovarian, endometrial, cervical and vulval cancer. I wish to provide the best, most effective and modern treatment to my patients with least possible detriments to quality of life.
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Minimally Invasive Surgery
In Australia, around 30,000 hysterectomies are conducted annually to treat uterine cancer and various benign gynaecological conditions. While open abdominal surgery may be necessary in around 10% of cases, evidence shows that less-invasive approaches, such as total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) can achieve better outcomes for women at a lower overall cost to the health system. Yet, in Queensland, four of ten hysterectomies are still conducted by open abdominal surgery. Our own research has shown that many Australian surgeons are keen to adopt new techniques such as TLH, but that the lack of systematic training and mentoring opportunities is the main impediment to practice-change. Together with gynaecological surgical teams at hospitals and industry support we developed a prototype for system-level transformative practice change in gynaecological surgery.
Research impacts
Professor Obermair is an innovative and skilled gynaecologic oncologist, surgical teacher and consumer advocate. His international leadership and research impact was acknowledged in 2020 by the Australian community, when he was awarded an NHMRC Investigator Fellowship Level 2 (2021-25). The national impact of his research was recognised in 2017, when he was awarded Cancer Australia’s Jeannie Ferris Recognition Award (2017), for outstanding achievements in clinical practice and research. He is deeply engaged in consumer involvement and co-founded and serves on the Board of the Cherish Foundation, a consumer-focussed organisation that funds clinical research in better treatments for women with gynaecological cancers.
Works
Search Professor Andreas Obermair’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Pre-post feasibility trial of a telephone-delivered exercise intervention for patients during chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer: the ECHO-R trial protocol
Hayes, Sandra C, Spence, Rosalind R, Janda, Monika, Eakin, Elizabeth, Shannon, Catherine, Goh, Jeffrey, Beesley, Vanessa L, Vagenas, Dimitrios, Webb, Penny, Coward, Jermaine, Gordon, Louisa G, O’Neill, Helene, Williams, Merran, Rye, Sheree, Newton, Melissa J, Baniahmadi, Sara, Nascimento, Marcelo, Nicklin, James, Garret, Andrea and Obermair, Andreas (2024). Pre-post feasibility trial of a telephone-delivered exercise intervention for patients during chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer: the ECHO-R trial protocol. BMJ Open, 14 (1) e077158, 1-9. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077158
2023
Journal Article
Experience of practicing obstetrician gynaecologists in a surgical training program in total laparoscopic hysterectomy
Magalski, Gabrielle R., Obermair, Andreas, Hanna, George B., Graves, Nicholas, Coleman, Mark G., Horsham, Caitlin, Sanjida, Saira, Vasconcelos Nogueira E Silva, Carina, Rao, Archana and Janda, Monika (2023). Experience of practicing obstetrician gynaecologists in a surgical training program in total laparoscopic hysterectomy. AJOG Global Reports, 3 (3) 100249, 100249. doi: 10.1016/j.xagr.2023.100249
2023
Journal Article
Feasibility and safety of a surgical training program in total laparoscopic hysterectomy: Results of a pilot trial
Obermair, Andreas, Hanna, George B., Gebski, Val, Graves, Nicholas, Coleman, Mark G., Sanjida, Saira, Horsham, Caitlin, Rao, Archana and Janda, Monika (2023). Feasibility and safety of a surgical training program in total laparoscopic hysterectomy: Results of a pilot trial. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 64 (1), 1-7. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13740
2023
Journal Article
Sentinel lymph node staging versus lymphadenectomy in high risk patients: is there sufficient evidence to change practice?
Obermair, Andreas (2023). Sentinel lymph node staging versus lymphadenectomy in high risk patients: is there sufficient evidence to change practice?. International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer, 33 (7), 1021-1022. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2023-004662
2023
Journal Article
Correspondence on "ESGO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines fpr the management of patients with cervical cancer: update 2023” by Cibula<i>et al</i>
Obermair, Andreas and Leitao, Mario (2023). Correspondence on "ESGO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines fpr the management of patients with cervical cancer: update 2023” by Cibulaet al. International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer, 33 (7), ijgc-2023. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2023-004645
2023
Journal Article
Efficacy of exercise interventions for women during and after gynaecological cancer treatment – a systematic scoping review
Rose, Grace Laura, Stewart, Elizabeth Mary, Clifford, Briana Kristine, Bailey, Tom George, Rush, Alexandra Jane, Abbott, Claudia Rose, Hayes, Sandra Christine, Obermair, Andreas and McCarthy, Alexandra Leigh (2023). Efficacy of exercise interventions for women during and after gynaecological cancer treatment – a systematic scoping review. Supportive Care in Cancer, 31 (6) 342, 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-07790-8
2023
Journal Article
Exercise during CHemotherapy for Ovarian cancer (ECHO) trial: design and implementation of a randomised controlled trial
Hayes, Sandra, Obermair, Andreas, Mileshkin, Linda, Davis, Alison, Gordon, Louisa G., Eakin, Elizabeth, Janda, Monika, Beesley, Vanessa L., Barnes, Elizabeth H., Spence, Rosalind Renee, Sandler, Carolina, Jones, Tamara, Vagenas, Dimitrios, Webb, Penny, Andrews, John, Brand, Alison, Lee, Yeh Chen, Friedlander, Michael, Pumpa, Kate, O’Neille, Helene, Williams, Merran, Stockler, Martin and The ECHO Collaborative (2023). Exercise during CHemotherapy for Ovarian cancer (ECHO) trial: design and implementation of a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 13 (4) e067925, e067925. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067925
2023
Journal Article
The potential role of GLP-1 receptor agonist targeting in fertility-sparing treatment in obese patients with endometrial malignant pathology: a call for research
Violette, Caroline J., Agarwal, Ravi, Mandelbaum, Rachel S., González, José L., Hong, Kurt M., Roman, Lynda D., Klar, Maximilan, Wright, Jason D., Paulson, Richard J., Obermair, Andreas and Matsuo, Koji (2023). The potential role of GLP-1 receptor agonist targeting in fertility-sparing treatment in obese patients with endometrial malignant pathology: a call for research. Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, 23 (4), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/14737140.2023.2194636
2023
Journal Article
Can simple hysterectomy replace radical hysterectomy as treatment of early-stage cervical cancer?
Obermair, Andreas and Pareja, Rene (2023). Can simple hysterectomy replace radical hysterectomy as treatment of early-stage cervical cancer?. International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer, 33 (4), 647-647. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2023-004372
2023
Journal Article
Role of adjuvant therapy in intermediate-risk cervical cancer patients: subanalyses of the SCCAN study
Cibula, David, Akilli, Huseyin, Jarkovsky, Jiri, van Lonkhuijzen, Luc, Scambia, Giovanni, Meydanli, Mehmet Mutlu, Ortiz, David Isla, Falconer, Henrik, Abu-Rustum, Nadeem R., Odetto, Diego, Klát, Jaroslav, dos Reis, Ricardo, Zapardiel, Ignacio, Di Martino, Giampaolo, Presl, Jiri, Laky, Rene, López, Aldo, Weinberger, Vit, Obermair, Andreas, Pareja, Rene, Poncová, Renata, Mom, Constantijne, Bizzarri, Nicolò, Borčinová, Martina, Aslan, Koray, Salcedo Hernandez, Rosa Angélica, Fons, Guus, Benešová, Klára, Dostálek, Lukáš and Ayhan, Ali (2023). Role of adjuvant therapy in intermediate-risk cervical cancer patients: subanalyses of the SCCAN study. Gynecologic Oncology, 170, 195-202. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.01.014
2023
Journal Article
Common analgesics and ovarian cancer survival: the Ovarian cancer Prognosis And Lifestyle (OPAL) Study
Majidi, Azam, Na, Renhua, Jordan, Susan J., DeFazio, Anna, Obermair, Andreas, Friedlander, Michael, Grant, Peter and Webb, Penelope M (2023). Common analgesics and ovarian cancer survival: the Ovarian cancer Prognosis And Lifestyle (OPAL) Study. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 115 (5), 570-577. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djac239
2023
Conference Publication
Age is the best predictor of MLH1 promotor methylation in mismatch repair deficient endometrial carcinoma
Gounden, S., Obermair, A., Garrett, A., Fan, H. Mar and Cummings, M. (2023). Age is the best predictor of MLH1 promotor methylation in mismatch repair deficient endometrial carcinoma. Pathology Update 2023, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 24-26 February 2023. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.pathol.2022.12.182
2023
Journal Article
Groin surveillance by serial ultrasonography rather than sentinel node biopsy or inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy for patients with vulvar cancer: a pilot study
Hacker, Neville F., Barlow, Ellen L., McNally, Glenn, Morrell, Stephen, Gebski, Val and Obermair, Andreas (2023). Groin surveillance by serial ultrasonography rather than sentinel node biopsy or inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy for patients with vulvar cancer: a pilot study. Cancers, 15 (3) 831, 1-11. doi: 10.3390/cancers15030831
2022
Conference Publication
Exercise during chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer (ECHO-R): A Phase II trial evaluating feasibility, safety and efficacy of an individually-tailored exercise intervention during chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer
Sandler, Carolina, Spence, Rosalind, Obermair, Andreas, Janda, Monika, Eakin, Elizabeth, Beesley, Vanessa, Vegenas, Domitrios, Gordon, Louisa, Webb, Penelope, Williams, Merran, O'Neill, Helene and Hayes, Sandi (2022). Exercise during chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer (ECHO-R): A Phase II trial evaluating feasibility, safety and efficacy of an individually-tailored exercise intervention during chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2022
Journal Article
Collaborative centralization of gynaecological cancer care
Moloney, Kristen, Rao, Archana and Obermair, Andreas (2022). Collaborative centralization of gynaecological cancer care. Current Opinion in Oncology, 34 (5), 518-523. doi: 10.1097/CCO.0000000000000865
2022
Journal Article
Vaginal vault smear cytology in detection of recurrence after hysterectomy for early cervical cancer
Grace, Leah, Sanday, Karen, Garrett, Andrea, Land, Russell, Nicklin, Jim, Obermair, Andreas, Rao, Archana, Tang, Amy and Allanson, Emma R. (2022). Vaginal vault smear cytology in detection of recurrence after hysterectomy for early cervical cancer. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 32 (7) ijgc-2021-003302, 853-860. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2021-003302
2022
Journal Article
Toward incorporating health-related quality of life as coprimary end points in clinical trials: time to achieve clinical important differences and QoL profiles
Gebski, Val, Obermair, Andreas and Janda, Monika (2022). Toward incorporating health-related quality of life as coprimary end points in clinical trials: time to achieve clinical important differences and QoL profiles. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 307 (21) e2102750, 2378-2388. doi: 10.1200/jco.21.02750
2022
Journal Article
Germline BRCA variants, lifestyle and ovarian cancer survival
Gersekowski, Kate, Delahunty, Rachel, Alsop, Kathryn, Goode, Ellen L., Cunningham, Julie M., Winham, Stacey J., Pharoah, Paul, Song, Honglin, Jordan, Susan, Fereday, Sian, DeFazio, Anna, Friedlander, Michael, Obermair, Andreas and Webb, Penelope M. (2022). Germline BRCA variants, lifestyle and ovarian cancer survival. Gynecologic Oncology, 165 (3), 437-445. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2022.03.020
2022
Journal Article
Are endometrial cancer clinical practice management guidelines sufficiently consumer centric?
Obermair, Andreas, McNally, Orla, Farrell, Rhonda, Ribeiro, Reitan and Ng, Joseph Soon-Yau (2022). Are endometrial cancer clinical practice management guidelines sufficiently consumer centric?. International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer, 32 (7), ijgc-2022. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2022-003580
2022
Journal Article
Getting the MOST out of follow-up: a randomized controlled trial comparing 3 monthly nurse led follow-up via telehealth, including monitoring CA125 and patient reported outcomes using the MOST (Measure of Ovarian Symptoms and Treatment concerns) with routine clinic based or telehealth follow-up, after completion of first line chemotherapy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer
Cohen, Paul A., Webb, Penelope M., King, Madeleine, Obermair, Andreas, Gebski, Val, Butow, Phyllis, Morton, Rachael, Lawson, Wanda, Yates, Patsy, Campbell, Rachel, Meniawy, Tarek, McMullen, Michelle, Dean, Andrew, Goh, Jeffrey, McNally, Orla, Mileshkin, Linda, Beale, Philip, Beach, Rhonda, Hill, Jane, Dixon, Cyril, Hegarty, Sue, Codde, Jim, Ives, Angela, Lee, Yeh Chen, Brand, Alison, Mellon, Anne, Bilic, Sanela, Black, Isobel, Jeffares, Stephanie and Friedlander, Michael (2022). Getting the MOST out of follow-up: a randomized controlled trial comparing 3 monthly nurse led follow-up via telehealth, including monitoring CA125 and patient reported outcomes using the MOST (Measure of Ovarian Symptoms and Treatment concerns) with routine clinic based or telehealth follow-up, after completion of first line chemotherapy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 32 (4) 002999, 560-565. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2021-002999
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Andreas Obermair is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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feMMe: Uterus-preserving treatment of endometrial cancer
In 2020 we completed the feMMe, phase 2 cliniccal trial which established anticancer activity of levonorgestrel intrauterrine device (LNG-IUD) to treat endometrial cancer. The next two steps towards estabnlioshing this treatment for larger groups of patients include:
1. To determine factors that predict response to LNG-IUD
2. To determine long-term patient outcomes including survival, fertility, and patient needs.
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Improving Quality of Survival for Women with Gynaecological Cancer
- Focus on improving quality of life, health & function during & after gynaecological cancer treatment, with a focus on biomarker research, implementation research and cancer survivorship.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
Patterns of care in endometrial cancer management in Queensland: a retrospective analysis.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Eva Baxter
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Doctor Philosophy
Advanced methods for biomarker informed endometrial cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Eva Baxter, Dr Zoe West, Professor Andrew Martin
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Doctor Philosophy
Diet quality and composition in Australian women with endometrial cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Monika Janda
Completed supervision
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Hereditary endometrial cancer: Improving identification and referral of patients with suspected Lynch syndrome
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Amanda Spurdle, Associate Professor Lisa Fitzgerald
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Nutritional status of patients with gynaecological cancer -
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Cleghorn
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Media
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