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
2020
Journal Article
The use of CAM products, practices, and practitioners by long-term endometrial cancer survivors in Australia
Caughey, Lucy, Sanjida, Saira, Obermair, Andreas and Janda, Monika (2020). The use of CAM products, practices, and practitioners by long-term endometrial cancer survivors in Australia. Supportive Care in Cancer, 28 (11), 5479-5489. doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05404-1
2020
Journal Article
Incidence and risk factors for lower limb lymphedema associated with endometrial cancer: Results from a prospective, longitudinal cohort study
Pigott, Amanda, Obermair, Andreas, Janda, Monika, Vagenas, Dimitrios, Ward, Leigh C., Reul-Hirche, Hildegard and Hayes, Sandra C. (2020). Incidence and risk factors for lower limb lymphedema associated with endometrial cancer: Results from a prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Gynecologic Oncology, 158 (2), 375-381. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.04.702
2020
Journal Article
Evaluating the impact of dose reductions and delays on progression-free survival in women with ovarian cancer treated with either three-weekly or dose-dense carboplatin and paclitaxel regimens in the national prospective OPAL cohort study
Sivakumaran, T., Mileshkin, L., Grant, P., Na, L., DeFazio, A., Friedlander, M., Obermair, A., Webb, P. M., Au-Yeung, G. and OPAL Study Group (2020). Evaluating the impact of dose reductions and delays on progression-free survival in women with ovarian cancer treated with either three-weekly or dose-dense carboplatin and paclitaxel regimens in the national prospective OPAL cohort study. Gynecologic Oncology, 158 (1), 47-53. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.04.706
2019
Journal Article
The impact of team familiarity on surgical outcomes in gynaecological surgery
Obermair, Andreas, Simunovic, Marko and Janda, Monika (2019). The impact of team familiarity on surgical outcomes in gynaecological surgery. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 40 (2), 1-3. doi: 10.1080/01443615.2019.1636778
2019
Journal Article
A bioimpedance spectroscopy-based method for diagnosis of lower-limb lymphedema
Steele, Megan L., Janda, Monika, Vagenas, Dimitrios, Ward, Leigh C., Cornish, Bruce H., Box, Robyn, Gordon, Susan, Matthews, Melanie, Poppitt, Sally D., Plank, Lindsay D., Yip, Wilson, Rowan, Angela, Reul-Hirche, Hildegard, Obermair, Andreas and Hayes, Sandra C. (2019). A bioimpedance spectroscopy-based method for diagnosis of lower-limb lymphedema. Lymphatic Research and Biology, 18 (2) lrb.2018.0078, 101-109. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2018.0078
2019
Journal Article
How to train practising gynaecologists in total laparoscopic hysterectomy: protocol for the stepped-wedge IMAGINE trial
Obermair, Andreas, Armfield, Nigel R., Graves, Nicholas, Gebski, Val, Hanna, George B., Coleman, Mark G, Hughes, Anne and Janda, Monika (2019). How to train practising gynaecologists in total laparoscopic hysterectomy: protocol for the stepped-wedge IMAGINE trial. BMJ Open, 9 (5) e027155, e027155. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027155
2019
Journal Article
Patient-reported experiences after hysterectomy: A cross-sectional study of the views of over 2300 women
Janda, Monika, Armfield, Nigel R, Kerr, Gayle, Kurz, Suzanne, Jackson, Graeme, Currie, Jason, Page, Katie, Weaver, Edward, Yazdani, Anusch and Obermair, Andreas (2019). Patient-reported experiences after hysterectomy: A cross-sectional study of the views of over 2300 women. Journal of Patient Experience, 7 (3), 237437351984007-379. doi: 10.1177/2374373519840076
2019
Journal Article
Incidence of adverse events, preventability and mortality in gynaecological hospital admissions: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Tanaka, Keisuke, Eriksson, Lars, Asher, Rebecca and Obermair, Andreas (2019). Incidence of adverse events, preventability and mortality in gynaecological hospital admissions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 59 (2), 195-200. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12937
2019
Journal Article
How many patients enter endometrial cancer surgery with psychotropic medication prescriptions, and how many receive a new prescription perioperatively?
Sanjida, Saira, Janda, Monika, McPhail, Steven M., Kissane, David, Couper, Jeremy, Scott, James and Obermair, Andreas (2019). How many patients enter endometrial cancer surgery with psychotropic medication prescriptions, and how many receive a new prescription perioperatively?. Gynecologic Oncology, 152 (2), 339-345. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.11.018
2019
Conference Publication
Incidence of adverse events in minimally invasive vs open radical hysterectomy in early cervical cancer: results of a randomized controlled trial
Obermair, Andreas, Asher, Rebecca, Pareja, Rene, Frumovitz, Michael, Lopez, Aldo, Moretti-Marques, Renato, Rendon, Gabriel, Ribeiro, Reitan, Tsunoda, Audrey, Behan, Vanessa, Buda, Alessandro, Bernadini, Marcus Q., Zhao, Hongqin, Vieira, Marcelo, Walker, Joan, Spirtos, Nick M., Yao, Shuzhong, Chetty, Naven, Zhu, Tao, Isla, David, Tamura, Mariano, Nicklin, James, Robledo, Kristy P., Gebski, Val, Coleman, Robert L., Salvo, Gloria and Ramirez, Pedro T. (2019). Incidence of adverse events in minimally invasive vs open radical hysterectomy in early cervical cancer: results of a randomized controlled trial. Biennial Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS), Kyoto, Japan, 14-16 September 2018. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Mosby. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2019.09.036
2019
Conference Publication
Weight perception and sociodemographic characteristics following endometrial cancer treatment
Janda, M., Gebski, V., Forder, P. and Obermair, A. (2019). Weight perception and sociodemographic characteristics following endometrial cancer treatment. 2019 IGCS Annual Global Meeting, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 19 – 21 September, 2019. London, United Kingdom: B M J Group. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2019-IGCS.57
2019
Conference Publication
The implementation of a standardized surgical training program for specialist gynaecologists to decrease the rate of open, abdominal hysterectomy
Janda, M. and Obermair, A. (2019). The implementation of a standardized surgical training program for specialist gynaecologists to decrease the rate of open, abdominal hysterectomy. 2019 IGCS Annual Global Meeting, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 19 – 21 September, 2019. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2019-IGCS.53
2018
Journal Article
Normative interlimb impedance ratios: implications for early diagnosis of uni- and bilateral, upper and lower limb lymphedema
Steele, Megan L., Janda, Monika, Vagenas, Dimitrios, Ward, Leigh C., Cornish, Bruce H., Box, Robyn, Gordon, Susan, Matthews, Melanie, Poppitt, Sally D., Plank, Lindsay D., Yip, Wilson, Rowan, Angela, Reul-Hirche, Hildegard, Obermair, Andreas and Hayes, Sandra C. (2018). Normative interlimb impedance ratios: implications for early diagnosis of uni- and bilateral, upper and lower limb lymphedema. Lymphatic Research and Biology, 16 (6), 559-566. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2017.0082
2018
Journal Article
Minimally Invasive versus Abdominal Radical Hysterectomy for Cervical Cancer
Ramirez, Pedro T., Frumovitz, Michael, Pareja, Rene, Lopez, Aldo, Vieira, Marcelo, Ribeiro, Reitan, Buda, Alessandro, Yan, Xiaojian, Yao Shuzhong,, Chetty, Naven, Isla, David, Tamura, Mariano, Zhu, Tao, Robledo, Kristy P., Gebski, Val, Asher, Rebecca, Behan, Vanessa, Nicklin, James L., Coleman, Robert L. and Obermair, Andreas (2018). Minimally Invasive versus Abdominal Radical Hysterectomy for Cervical Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 379 (20), 1895-1904. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1806395
2018
Conference Publication
Quality of life assessment in early-stage cervical cancer patients in undergoing radical hysterectomy via minimally invasive surgery or open approach: The LACC Trial
Frumovitz, M., Obermair, A., Pareja, R., Lopez, A., de Andrade Vieira, M., Ribeiro, R., Buda, A., Yan, X., Robledo, K., Asher, R., Gebski, V., Behan, V., Coleman, R. and Ramirez, P. (2018). Quality of life assessment in early-stage cervical cancer patients in undergoing radical hysterectomy via minimally invasive surgery or open approach: The LACC Trial. _, _, _. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group.
2018
Conference Publication
Incidence of adverse events comparing abdominal vs. minimally invasive radical hysterectomy in patients with early-stage cervical cancer: LACC Trial
Obermair, A., Asher, R., Frumovitz, M., Pareja, R., Lopez, A., Viera, M., Ribeiro, R., Buda, A., Yan, X., Robledo, K. P., Gebski, V., Coleman, R. L. and Ramirez, P. T. (2018). Incidence of adverse events comparing abdominal vs. minimally invasive radical hysterectomy in patients with early-stage cervical cancer: LACC Trial. _, _, _. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group.
2018
Journal Article
Challenges and controversies in the conservative management of uterine and ovarian cancer
Janda, M., McGrath, S. and Obermair, A. (2018). Challenges and controversies in the conservative management of uterine and ovarian cancer. Best Practice and Research: Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 55, 93-108. doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2018.08.004
2018
Journal Article
Obesity in total laparoscopic hysterectomy for early stage endometrial cancer: health gain and inpatient resource use
Armfield, N. R., Janda, M. and Obermair, A. (2018). Obesity in total laparoscopic hysterectomy for early stage endometrial cancer: health gain and inpatient resource use. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 31 (4), 283-288. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzy162
2018
Journal Article
All-cause death in young women with endometrial cancer who receive progesterone therapy
Obermair, Andreas, Janda, Monika and Gebski, Val (2018). All-cause death in young women with endometrial cancer who receive progesterone therapy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 219 (1), 119-119. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2018.03.009
2018
Journal Article
Surgical approach to hysterectomy and barriers to using minimally invasive methods
Janda, Monika, Armfield, Nigel R., Kerr, Gayle, Kurz, Suzanne, Jackson, Graeme, Currie, Jason, Page, Katie, Weaver, Edward, Yazdani, Anusch and Obermair, Andreas (2018). Surgical approach to hysterectomy and barriers to using minimally invasive methods. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 58 (6), 690-695. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12824
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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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
Enquiries
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