Overview
Background
Associate Professor Christopher Maher is a tertiary-referral Urogynaecologist at the Wesley & Mater Private Hospitals and Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital and active researcher and teacher at the University of Queensland. His long-term commitment to research and evidence based medicine has been rewarded with over 100 peer-review publications and many presentations at National and International conferences. He is the past president of the Queensland CFA (Continence Foundation of Australia), former Secretary of AGES, Chairman of IUGA Scientific Committee, Chair of Urogynaecology committee RANZCOG and is currently lead author of the Cochrane Review and International Collaboration on Incontinence on the surgical management of prolapse. Associate Professor Christopher Maher is the current Chairman of the Urogynaecological Society of Australia.
Availability
- Professor Christopher Maher is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma, Institution to be confirmed
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Research interests
-
Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse
lead Cochrane review on the surgical management of prolapse Lead International Collaboration Incontinence (ICI) on Surgical management of prolapse
-
Surgeon Volume and outcomes
Meta-analysis of gynaecology and urogynaecology outcomes based on surgeon volumes
-
Learning curve of Laparoscopic sacral colpopexy
Structured education and skills program to reduce learning curve for laparoscopic sacral colpopexy
-
Tissue engineering for pelvic organ prolapse
Animal studies to evaluate 3-D printed material as a matrix in pelvic organ prolapse and abdominal hernia in the sheep model
Research impacts
My research has largely docused on female pelvic floor dysfunction and intially revolved aroud the assessemnt and safety of surgical interventions for the management of pelvic floor dysfunction including
- Sacral nerve stimulator for female bladder overactivty
- laparoscopic and vaginal surgery for primary and recurrent urinary stress incontinence including prospective reviews and randomised controlled trials
- Laparoscopic, abdominal and vaginal surgery for uterine prolapse, rectocele and post-hysterectomy vault prolapse including retrospective audits, prospective evaluations and randomised controlled trials
- Reporting of and management of complications assocaited with mesh interventions for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse
More recently I have focused on completeing structured systematic reviews on the surgical management of prolapse including:
- Leading Cochrane reviews on the surgical management of prolapse in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016
- Leading committee International Collaboration on Incontinence on the surgical management of prolapse 2013, 2017 after being member since 2008
- Review articles on the pathway forward regarding the evaluation of new medical interventions
This body of research has been important in evlauting the efficacy of new interventions for female pelvic organ prolapse and identifying complications associated with these intervention. The reseach has been important and contributed to public debate surrounding the suitability of transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse that is currently teh suject of Class actions worldwide and Govermant evaluations in New Zealand, Scotland and Australia.
Works
Search Professor Christopher Maher’s works on UQ eSpace
2018
Journal Article
The minimal important difference of the Australian pelvic floor questionnaire
Baessler, Kaven, Mowat, Alexandra and Maher, Christopher F. (2018). The minimal important difference of the Australian pelvic floor questionnaire. International Urogynecology Journal, 30 (1), 115-122. doi: 10.1007/s00192-018-3724-1
2018
Journal Article
Total tape ban: Not the answer!
Haylen, Bernard T., Lee, Joseph K. S., Sivagnanam, Vasukhi and Maher, Christopher F. (2018). Total tape ban: Not the answer!. Neurourology and Urodynamics, 37 (6), 2035-2037. doi: 10.1002/nau.23794
2018
Journal Article
To the editor
Maher, Christopher and Buttini, Melissa (2018). To the editor. Menopause-The Journal of the North American Menopause Society, 25 (8), 951-951. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001132
2018
Journal Article
Can the learning curve of laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy be reduced by a structured training program?
Mowat, Alex, Maher, Christopher and Pelecanos, Anita (2018). Can the learning curve of laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy be reduced by a structured training program?. Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, 24 (4), 272-276. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000000441
2018
Journal Article
Surgical pathway for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse
Mikhail, Susana M. and Maher, Christopher (2018). Surgical pathway for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, 28 (4), 105-109. doi: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2018.03.002
2018
Journal Article
Surgery for women with posterior compartment prolapse (review)
Mowat, A., Maher, D., Baessler, K., Christmann-Schmid, C., Haya, N. and Maher, C. (2018). Surgery for women with posterior compartment prolapse (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018 (3) CD012975. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012975
2018
Journal Article
Diagnostic Assay Development for Poliovirus Eradication
Gerloff, Nancy, Sun, Hong, Mandelbaum, Mark, Maher, Chelsea, Nix, W. Allan, Zaidi, Sohail, Shaukat, Shahzad, Seakamela, Lerato, Nalavade, Uma P., Sharma, Deepa K., Oberste, M. Steven and Vega, Everardo (2018). Diagnostic Assay Development for Poliovirus Eradication. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 56 (2) e01624-17. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01624-17
2018
Journal Article
Position statement: a clinical approach to the management of adult non-neurogenic overactive bladder
Chung, Eric, Lee, Dominic, Gani, Johan, Gillman, Michael, Maher, Christopher, Brennan, Janelle, Putra, Lydia Johns, Admad, Laura and Chan, Lewis L. W. (2018). Position statement: a clinical approach to the management of adult non-neurogenic overactive bladder. Medical Journal Australia, 208 (1), 41-45. doi: 10.5694/mja16.01097
2018
Journal Article
The way forward after the transvaginal mesh decade
Maher, Christopher (2018). The way forward after the transvaginal mesh decade. Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, 20 (1), 7-9. doi: 10.1111/tog.12471
2017
Journal Article
Response to 'Transvaginal mesh: Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past'
Mowat, Alexandra E. and Maher, Christopher (2017). Response to 'Transvaginal mesh: Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past'. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 57 (5), E12-E12. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12675
2017
Journal Article
Response to The mesh debate: Transvaginal anterior anchored mesh should not be abandoned
Mowat, Alex and Maher, Christopher (2017). Response to The mesh debate: Transvaginal anterior anchored mesh should not be abandoned. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 57 (2), 220-220. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12626
2017
Journal Article
Transvaginal mesh: let's not repeat the mistakes of the past
Mowat, Alexandra E. and Maher, Christopher (2017). Transvaginal mesh: let's not repeat the mistakes of the past. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 57 (1), 108-110. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12597
2017
Book Chapter
Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse
Maher, C., Baessler, K., Cheong, C., Consten, E., Cooper, K., Deffieux, X., Dietz, V., Gutman, R., Ierserel, J., Sung, V. and DeTayrac, R. (2017). Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse. Incontinence: 6th International Consultation on Incontinence. (pp. 1855-1992) edited by Paul Abrams, Linda Cardozo, Adrian Wagg and Alan Wein. London, United Kingdom: ICUD/ICS.
2016
Journal Article
Surgery for women with anterior compartment prolapse (Review)
Maher, Christopher, Feiner, Benjamin, Baessler, Kaven, Christmann-Schmid, Corina, Haya, Nir and Brown, Julie (2016). Surgery for women with anterior compartment prolapse (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2016 (11) CD004014. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004014.pub6
2016
Journal Article
A prospective observational study of the classification of the perineum and evaluation of perineal repair at the time of posterior colporrhaphy
Christmann-Schmid, Corina, Wierenga, Annemijn Philine Annette, Frischknecht, Eveline and Maher, Christopher (2016). A prospective observational study of the classification of the perineum and evaluation of perineal repair at the time of posterior colporrhaphy. Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, 22 (6), 453-459. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000000314
2016
Journal Article
Surgery for women with apical vaginal prolapse (Review)
Maher, Christopher, Feiner, Benjamin, Baessler, Kaven, Christmann-Schmid, Corina, Haya, Nir and Brown, Julie (2016). Surgery for women with apical vaginal prolapse (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2016 (10) CD012376. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012376
2016
Journal Article
Sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse: evidence-based review and recommendations
Costantini, Elisabetta, Brubaker, Linda, Cervigni, Mauro, Matthews, Catherine A., O'Reilly, Barry A., Rizk, Diaa, Giannitsas, Konstantinos and Maher, Christopher F. (2016). Sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse: evidence-based review and recommendations. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 205, 60-65. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2016.07.503
2016
Journal Article
Surgical outcomes for low-volume vs high-volume surgeons in gynecology surgery: a systematic review and metaanalysis
Mowat, Alex, Maher, Christopher and Ballard, Emma (2016). Surgical outcomes for low-volume vs high-volume surgeons in gynecology surgery: a systematic review and metaanalysis. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 215 (1), 21-33. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.02.048
2016
Journal Article
Surgical outcomes for low-volume versus high-volume surgeons in gynecology surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis editorial comment
Mowat, Alex, Maher, Christopher and Ballard, Emma (2016). Surgical outcomes for low-volume versus high-volume surgeons in gynecology surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis editorial comment. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, 71 (7), 398-399. doi: 10.1097/01.ogx.0000484997.02098.20
2016
Journal Article
An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for female pelvic organ prolapse (POP) (vol 27, pg 165, 2016)
Haylen, Bernard T., Maher, Christopher F., Barber, Matthew D.), Camargo, Sergio, Dandolu, Vani, Digesu, Alex, Goldman, Howard B., Huser, Martin, Milani, Alfredo L., Moran, Paul A., Schaer, Gabriel. N. and Withagen, Mariella I. J. (2016). An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for female pelvic organ prolapse (POP) (vol 27, pg 165, 2016). International Urogynecology Journal, 27 (4), 655-684. doi: 10.1007/s00192-016-3003-y
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Christopher Maher is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Christopher Maher directly for media enquiries about:
- Female Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Pelvic organ Prolapse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Urinary incontinence
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: