Overview
Background
Professor Kristen Gibbons is Group Lead of the Children’s Intensive Care Research Program at the Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Co-Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Paediatric Study Group (ANZICS PSG).
Professor Gibbons holds qualifications in mathematics, information technology, biostatistics, and research communication, and completed her PhD in Biostatistics at UQ. Her career has been dedicated to transforming outcomes for critically ill children through the design and delivery of large-scale international clinical trials and the development of innovative digital platforms to support high-quality research.
She has been instrumental in leading landmark studies, including the NITRIC trial, the largest trial ever undertaken in paediatric congenital heart disease surgery. This trial demonstrated no benefit of using nitric oxide during cardiopulmonary bypass, changing clinical practice internationally and influencing guidance from the American Academy of Paediatrics. Alongside this, Professor Gibbons has pioneered a comprehensive clinical trials digital platform now used across more than 20 projects and 10,000 patient records worldwide.
Professor Gibbons’ research spans clinical trial methodologies, epidemiology, machine learning, prediction modelling, and bioethics, with a strong commitment to improving consent practices in paediatric and adult intensive care research. Her leadership has attracted over $22 million in competitive grant funding, including major NHMRC and MRFF awards, and her contributions have been recognised with the UQ Faculty of Medicine Leader of the Future Award (2023) and the Child Health Research Centre Collaborator of the Year Award (2024).
She is also deeply invested in training and mentoring the next generation of clinician-researchers and data scientists, supervising PhD, Masters, and biostatistics students.
Availability
- Professor Kristen Gibbons is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Clinical Trials
Paediatric Clinical Trials
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Precision Medicine
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Common Interventions in Intensive Care
Antibiotics and Intravenous Fluids
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Clinical Trial Methodology
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Sepsis
Identification & Treatment
Research impacts
Professor Gibbons has led landmark international clinical trials, including the largest study in paediatric congenital heart disease surgery, which changed global practice by demonstrating no benefit of nitric oxide during cardiopulmonary bypass. She has pioneered innovative digital platforms now supporting more than 20 trials and 10,000 patient records, enhancing data quality and trial efficiency worldwide. Her work in clinical trial methodology, machine learning, and bioethics is transforming paediatric critical care and shaping international standards for research and practice.
Works
Search Professor Kristen Gibbons’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
Machine learning to predict poor school performance in paediatric survivors of intensive care: a population-based cohort study
Gilholm, Patricia, Gibbons, Kristen, Brüningk, Sarah, Klatt, Juliane, Vaithianathan, Rhema, Long, Debbie, Millar, Johnny, Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Schlapbach, Luregn J., Ganeshalingam, Anusha, Sherring, Claire, Erickson, Simon, Barr, Samantha, Raman, Sainath, Long, Debbie, Schlapbach, Luregn, Gibbons, Kristen, George, Shane, Singh, Puneet, Smith, Vicky, Butt, Warwick, Delzoppo, Carmel, Millar, Johnny, Gelbart, Ben, Oberender, Felix, Ganu, Subodh, Letton, Georgia, Festa, Marino, Harper, Gail and the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) Centre for Outcomes & Resource Evaluation (CORE) and ANZICS Paediatric Study Group (ANZICS PSG) (2023). Machine learning to predict poor school performance in paediatric survivors of intensive care: a population-based cohort study. Intensive Care Medicine, 49 (7), 785-795. doi: 10.1007/s00134-023-07137-1
2023
Journal Article
SuPreme Study: a protocol to study the neuroprotective potential of sulfate among very/extremely preterm infants
Hurrion, Elizabeth M., Badawi, Nadia, Boyd, Roslyn N., Morgan, Catherine, Gibbons, Kristen, Hennig, Stefanie, Koorts, Pieter, Chauhan, Manbir, Bowling, Francis, Flenady, Vicki, Kumar, Sailesh and Dawson, Paul A (2023). SuPreme Study: a protocol to study the neuroprotective potential of sulfate among very/extremely preterm infants. BMJ Open, 13 (7) 076130, 1-10. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076130
2023
Journal Article
Long‐term outcomes after paediatric sepsis (LOTUS)–A protocol for an Australian cohort study
Minogue, Jessicah, Schlapbach, Luregn J., Keogh, Samantha, Gibbons, Kristen and Long, Debbie (2023). Long‐term outcomes after paediatric sepsis (LOTUS)–A protocol for an Australian cohort study. Nursing in Critical Care, 29 (2), 438-443. doi: 10.1111/nicc.12938
2023
Journal Article
Achieving international consensus on the concept of woman-centred care: A Delphi study
Brady, Susannah, Bogossian, Fiona and Gibbons, Kristen S. (2023). Achieving international consensus on the concept of woman-centred care: A Delphi study. Women and Birth, 36 (6), e631-e640. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.06.001
2023
Journal Article
Transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange in children requiring emergent intubation (Kids THRIVE): a statistical analysis plan for a randomised controlled trial
George, Shane, Gibbons, Kristen, Williams, Tara, Humphreys, Susan, Gelbart, Ben, Le Marsney, Renate, Craig, Simon, Tingay, David, Chavan, Arjun, Schibler, Andreas, Cronin, Joanna, Pearson, Kylie, Rasmussen, Katie, Acworth, Jason, Hickey, Leah, Delzoppo, Carmel, Perkins, Elizabeth, Oberender, Felix, Waghorn, Jessica, McCahill, Courtney, Singhal, Nitesh, Harper, Gail, Ganu, Subodh, Letton, Georiga, Erikson, Simon, Thomson, Hannah, Schlapbach, Luregn J., Burren, Juerg, Zimmerman, Elisa ... the Australia, New Zealand Intensive Care Society Paediatric Study Group (ANZICS PSG) (2023). Transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange in children requiring emergent intubation (Kids THRIVE): a statistical analysis plan for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 24 (1) 369, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07330-z
2023
Journal Article
Impact of parental and healthcare professional concern on the diagnosis of pediatric sepsis: a diagnostic accuracy study
Sever, Zoe, Schlapbach, Luregn J., Gilholm, Patricia, Jessup, Melanie, Phillips, Natalie, George, Shane, Gibbons, Kristen and Harley, Amanda (2023). Impact of parental and healthcare professional concern on the diagnosis of pediatric sepsis: a diagnostic accuracy study. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 11 1140121, 1140121. doi: 10.3389/fped.2023.1140121
2023
Journal Article
Nitric oxide on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in neonates and children (NECTAR Trial): Protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Mattke, Adrian, Johnson, Kerry, Gibbons, Kristen, Long, Debbie, Robertson, Jeremy, Venugopal, Prem, Blumenthal, Antje, Schibler, Andreas and Schlapbach, Luregn (2023). Nitric oxide on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in neonates and children (NECTAR Trial): Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 12 e43760, 1-10. doi: 10.2196/43760
2023
Journal Article
Perioperative dexmedetomidine compared to midazolam in children undergoing open-heart surgery: a pilot randomised controlled trial
Long, Debbie A., Gibbons, Kristen S., Stocker, Christian, Ranger, Michael, Alphonso, Nelson, Le Marsney, Renate, Dow, Belinda, Schults, Jessica A., Graydon, Cameron, Shehabi, Yahya and Schibler, Andreas (2023). Perioperative dexmedetomidine compared to midazolam in children undergoing open-heart surgery: a pilot randomised controlled trial. Critical Care and Resuscitation, 25 (1), 33-42. doi: 10.1016/j.ccrj.2023.04.007
2023
Journal Article
Effect of early high-flow nasal oxygen vs standard oxygen therapy on length of hospital stay in hospitalized children with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: the PARIS-2 randomized clinical trial
Franklin, Donna, Babl, Franz E., George, Shane, Oakley, Ed, Borland, Meredith L., Neutze, Jocelyn, Acworth, Jason, Craig, Simon, Jones, Mark, Gannon, Brenda, Shellshear, Deborah, McCay, Hamish, Wallace, Alexandra, Hoeppner, Tobias, Wildman, Mark, Mattes, Joerg, Pham, Trang M. T., Miller, Letitia, Williams, Amanda, O’Brien, Sharon, Lawrence, Shirley, Bonisch, Megan, Gibbons, Kristen, Moloney, Susan, Waugh, John, Hobbins, Sue, Grew, Simon, Fahy, Rose, Dalziel, Stuart R. and Schibler, Andreas (2023). Effect of early high-flow nasal oxygen vs standard oxygen therapy on length of hospital stay in hospitalized children with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: the PARIS-2 randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 329 (3), 224-234. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.21805
2023
Journal Article
Validation of a paediatric sepsis screening tool to identify children with sepsis in the emergency department: a statewide prospective cohort study in Queensland, Australia
Gilholm, Patricia, Gibbons, Kristen, Lister, Paula, Harley, Amanda, Irwin, Adam, Raman, Sainath, Rice, Michael, Schlapbach, Luregn J. and Queensland Statewide Sepsis Collaborative (2023). Validation of a paediatric sepsis screening tool to identify children with sepsis in the emergency department: a statewide prospective cohort study in Queensland, Australia. BMJ Open, 13 (1) e061431, 1-25. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061431
2022
Journal Article
Effect of Saline vs gluconate/acetate–buffered solution vs lactate-buffered solution on serum chloride among children in the pediatric Intensive Care Unit: the SPLYT-P randomized clinical trial
Raman, Sainath, Gibbons, Kristen S., Mattke, Adrian, Schibler, Andreas, Trnka, Peter, Kennedy, Melanie, Le Marsney, Renate and Schlapbach, Luregn J. (2022). Effect of Saline vs gluconate/acetate–buffered solution vs lactate-buffered solution on serum chloride among children in the pediatric Intensive Care Unit: the SPLYT-P randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 177 (2), 122-131. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.4912
2022
Journal Article
Research monitoring practices in critical care research: a survey of current state and attitudes
Le Marsney, Renate, Williams, Tara, Johnson, Kerry, George, Shane and Gibbons, Kristen S. (2022). Research monitoring practices in critical care research: a survey of current state and attitudes. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 22 (1) 74, 74. doi: 10.1186/s12874-022-01551-7
2022
Journal Article
Apnoeic oxygenation during paediatric intubation: a systematic review
George, Shane, Wilson, Megan, Humphreys, Susan, Gibbons, Kristen, Long, Elliot and Schibler, Andreas (2022). Apnoeic oxygenation during paediatric intubation: a systematic review. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10 918148, 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.918148
2022
Conference Publication
Identifying clinical symptom profiles for sepsis in children screened for sepsis on admission to the emergency department
Gilholm, P., Irwin, A., Lister, P., Harley, A., Raman, S., Schlapbach, L. J. and Gibbons, K. (2022). Identifying clinical symptom profiles for sepsis in children screened for sepsis on admission to the emergency department. 11th Congress of the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive & Critical Care Societies, Online, 12-16 July 2022. Philadelphia, PA United States: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. doi: 10.1097/01.pcc.0000899876.46317.ec
2022
Conference Publication
An International Delphi Study of Woman-centred Care
Brady, Susannah, Gibbons, Kristen and Bogossian, Fiona (2022). An International Delphi Study of Woman-centred Care. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.07.078
2022
Journal Article
Prevalence, features and workplace factors associated with burnout among intensivists in Australia and New Zealand
Mair, Shona, Crowe, Liz, Nicholls, Mark, Senthuran, Siva, Gibbons, Kristen and Jones, Daryl (2022). Prevalence, features and workplace factors associated with burnout among intensivists in Australia and New Zealand. Critical Care and Resuscitation, 24 (3), 280-288. doi: 10.51893/2022.3.OA8
2022
Journal Article
Outcomes after Stage I Norwood palliation in a recently established program can achieve results similar to longer established services
Rimpau, Sebastian, Gibbons, Kristen, Venugopal, Prem, Alphonso, Nelson, Anderson, Benjamin, Johnson, Kerry E. and Mattke, Adrian C. (2022). Outcomes after Stage I Norwood palliation in a recently established program can achieve results similar to longer established services. Heart Lung and Circulation, 31 (8), 1176-1181. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2022.02.004
2022
Journal Article
Effectiveness–implementation hybrid-2 randomised trial of a collaborative Shared Care Model for Detecting Neurodevelopmental Impairments after Critical Illness in Young Children (DAISY): pilot study protocol
Long, Debbie, Gibbons, Kristen, Dow, Belinda, Best, James, Webb, Kerri-Lyn, Liley, Helen G., Stocker, Christian, Thoms, Debra, Schlapbach, Luregn J., Wharton, Carolyn, Lister, Paula, Matuschka, Lori, Castillo, Maria Isabel, Tyack, Zephanie and Bora, Samudragupta (2022). Effectiveness–implementation hybrid-2 randomised trial of a collaborative Shared Care Model for Detecting Neurodevelopmental Impairments after Critical Illness in Young Children (DAISY): pilot study protocol. BMJ Open, 12 (7) e060714, 1-11. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060714
2022
Journal Article
Effect of nitric oxide via cardiopulmonary bypass on ventilator-free days in young children undergoing congenital heart disease surgery: the NITRIC Randomized Clinical Trial
Schlapbach, Luregn J., Gibbons, Kristen S., Horton, Stephen B., Johnson, Kerry, Long, Debbie A., Buckley, David H. F., Erickson, Simon, Festa, Marino, D'Udekem, Yves, Alphonso, Nelson, Winlaw, David S., Delzoppo, Carmel, Van Loon, Kim, Jones, Mark, Young, Paul J., Butt, Warwick and Schibler, Andreas (2022). Effect of nitric oxide via cardiopulmonary bypass on ventilator-free days in young children undergoing congenital heart disease surgery: the NITRIC Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, 328 (1), 38-47. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.9376
2022
Journal Article
Patient and economic impact of implementing a paediatric sepsis pathway in emergency departments in Queensland, Australia
Blythe, Robin, Lister, Paula, Seaton, Robert, Harley, Amanda, Schlapbach, Luregn J., McPhail, Steven, Venkatesh, Bala, Irwin, Adam, Raman, Sainath, Schlapbach, Luregn, Harley, Amanda, Irwin, Adam, Graham, Nicolette, Thomson, Fiona, Owen, Kieran, Garrish, Kirsten, Sampson, Emma, Long, Debbie, George, Shane, Grimwood, Keith, Bell, Christa, Semple, Bethany, Adams, Claire, Brown, Josea, Maloney, Louise, Lister, Paula, Schofield, Scott, Thomas, Clare, Dejong, Liam ... the Queensland State-wide Sepsis Collaborative (2022). Patient and economic impact of implementing a paediatric sepsis pathway in emergency departments in Queensland, Australia. Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 10113, 10113. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-14226-6
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Kristen Gibbons is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating optimal nutrition intervention in Paediatric ExtrcorporealLife Support
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sainath Raman
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding and incorporating the consumer voice in paediatric intensive care research
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bec Jenkinson, Dr Sainath Raman
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Doctor Philosophy
Machine learning in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit: Development of Risk Prediction Models
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sainath Raman, Dr Trish Gilholm
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Measuring and Defining Woman-Centred Care: A Mixed Methods Study
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fiona Bogossian
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Decreased fetal movement and mobile application interventions during pregnancy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Fran Boyle, Professor Sailesh Kumar, Honorary Professor Vicki Flenady
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Maternal and perinatal factors associated with adverse perinatal outcomes at term and the development of a predictive model for identification of at risk pregnancies.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Vicki Flenady, Professor Sailesh Kumar
Media
Enquiries
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