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
2021
Journal Article
Statistical analysis plan for the NITric oxide during cardiopulmonary bypass to improve Recovery in Infants with Congenital heart defects (NITRIC) trial
Gibbons, Kristen S., Schlapbach, Luregn J., Horton, Stephen B., Long, Debbie A., Beca, John, Erickson, Simon, Festa, Marino, d'Udekem, Yves, Alphonso, Nelson, Winlaw, David, Johnson, Kerry, Delzoppo, Carmel, van Loon, Kim, Gannon, Brenda, Fooken, Jonas, Blumenthal, Antje, Young, Paul J., Butt, Warwick and Schibler, Andreas (2021). Statistical analysis plan for the NITric oxide during cardiopulmonary bypass to improve Recovery in Infants with Congenital heart defects (NITRIC) trial. Critical Care and Resuscitation, 23 (1), 47-58.
2021
Conference Publication
P0372 / #410: Transcutaneous oxygen saturation accuracy in critically ill children
Raman, S., Brooks, J., Williams, T., Pham, T., Harkins, M., Pegg, D., Dunster, K., Alphonso, N., Gibbons, K. and Schibler, A. (2021). P0372 / #410: Transcutaneous oxygen saturation accuracy in critically ill children. 10th Congress of the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive Critical Care Societies, Virtual, 1-4 December 2020. Philadelphia, PA USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. doi: 10.1097/01.pcc.0000739828.15966.00
2021
Journal Article
Use of neuromuscular blocking agents in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19: a propensity score analysis
Li Bassi, Gianluigi, Gibbons, Kristen, Suen, Jacky Y., Dalton, Heidi J., White, Nicole, Corley, Amanda, Hinton, Samuel, Forsyth, Simon, Laffey, John G., Brodie, Daniel, Burrell, Aidan, Fan, Eddy, Bartlett, Robert, Torres, Antoni, Chiumello, Davide, Elhazmi, Alyaa, Hodgson, Carol, Ichiba, Shingo, Luna, Carlos, Murthy, Srinivas, Nichol, Alistair, Ng, Pauline Yeung, Ogino, Mark, Panigada, Mauro, Pesenti, Antonio and Fraser, John F. (2021). Use of neuromuscular blocking agents in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19: a propensity score analysis. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3773555
2021
Journal Article
High flow in children with respiratory failure: a randomised controlled pilot trial - a paediatric acute respiratory intervention study
Franklin, Donna, Shellshear, Deborah, Babl, Franz E., Hendrickson, Rikki, Williams, Amanda, Gibbons, Kristen, McEnery, Kate, Kennedy, Melanie, Pham, Trang M. T., Acworth, Jason, Levitt, David and Oakley, Ed (2021). High flow in children with respiratory failure: a randomised controlled pilot trial - a paediatric acute respiratory intervention study. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 57 (2), 273-281. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15259
2021
Journal Article
Acute kidney injury: epidemiology and course in critically ill children
Tai, Chian Wern, Gibbons, Kristen, Schibler, Andreas, Schlapbach, Luregn J. and Raman, Sainath (2021). Acute kidney injury: epidemiology and course in critically ill children. Journal of Nephrology, 35 (2), 559-565. doi: 10.1007/s40620-021-01071-5
2020
Journal Article
Do variations in insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in pregnancy predict differences in obstetric and neonatal outcomes?
Madsen, Lene R., Gibbons, Kristen S., Ma, Ronald C. W., Tam, Wing Hung, Catalano, Patrick M., Sacks, David A., Lowe, Julia and McIntyre, H. David (2020). Do variations in insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in pregnancy predict differences in obstetric and neonatal outcomes?. Diabetologia, 64 (2), 304-312. doi: 10.1007/s00125-020-05323-0
2020
Journal Article
Prediction of Acute Kidney Injury on Admission to Pediatric Intensive Care
Raman, Sainath, Tai, Chian Wern, Le Marsney, Renate, Schibler, Andreas, Gibbons, Kristen and Schlapbach, Luregn J. (2020). Prediction of Acute Kidney Injury on Admission to Pediatric Intensive Care. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 21 (9), 811-819. doi: 10.1097/pcc.0000000000002411
2020
Journal Article
Testing for gestational diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. An evaluation of proposed protocols for the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia
McIntyre, H. David, Gibbons, Kristen S., Ma, Ronald C.W., Tam, Wing Hung, Sacks, David A., Lowe, Julia, Madsen, Lene R. and Catalano, Patrick M. (2020). Testing for gestational diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. An evaluation of proposed protocols for the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 167 108353, 108353. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108353
2020
Journal Article
Development of the birthweight appropriateness quotient: a new measure of infant’s size
Gibbons, Kristen S., McIntyre, H. David, Mamun, Abdullah and Chang, Allan M. Z. (2020). Development of the birthweight appropriateness quotient: a new measure of infant’s size. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 24 (10), 1202-1211. doi: 10.1007/s10995-020-02994-4
2020
Journal Article
Antithrombin dosing guidelines in children underestimate dose needed for plasma level increase
Mattke, Adrian C., Johnson, Kerry E., Parker, Suzanne, Stocker, Christian, Gibbons, Kristen and Schibler, Andreas (2020). Antithrombin dosing guidelines in children underestimate dose needed for plasma level increase. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 21 (8), 746-752. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000002383
2020
Journal Article
Adverse events and practice variability associated with paediatric endotracheal suction: An observational study
Schults, Jessica A., Long, Debbie A., Mitchell, Marion L., Cooke, Marie, Gibbons, Kristen, Pearson, Kylie and Schibler, Andreas (2020). Adverse events and practice variability associated with paediatric endotracheal suction: An observational study. Australian Critical Care, 33 (4), 350-357. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2019.08.002
2020
Journal Article
Randomised clinical trial of group‐based physiotherapy in extremely low birthweight children with minimal/mild motor impairment: A preliminary study
Brown, Laura, Burns, Yvonne R., Watter, Pauline, Gibbons, Kristen S. and Gray, Peter H. (2020). Randomised clinical trial of group‐based physiotherapy in extremely low birthweight children with minimal/mild motor impairment: A preliminary study. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 56 (5) jpc.14712, 727-734. doi: 10.1111/jpc.14712
2020
Journal Article
Induction of labour using prostaglandin E2 as an inpatient versus balloon catheter as an outpatient: a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Beckmann, Michael, Gibbons, Kristen, Flenady, Vicki and Kumar, Sailesh (2020). Induction of labour using prostaglandin E2 as an inpatient versus balloon catheter as an outpatient: a multicentre randomised controlled trial. BJOG, 127 (5), 571-579. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.16030
2020
Journal Article
Testing for Common Respiratory Viruses in Children Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care: Epidemiology and Outcomes
Moynihan, Katie M., McGarvey, Tambra, Barlow, Andrew, Heney, Claire, Gibbons, Kristen, Clark, Julia E., Schlebusch, Sanmarié and Schlapbach, Luregn J. (2020). Testing for Common Respiratory Viruses in Children Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care: Epidemiology and Outcomes. Pediatric critical care medicine : a journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies, 21 (6), 1-e341. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000002302
2020
Journal Article
The effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative behaviour change in children: a randomised controlled trial
Lee-Archer, P. F., von Ungern-Sternberg, B. S., Reade, M., Betts, M., Haenke, D., Keys, A., Rance, T., Gibbons, K. and Long, D. (2020). The effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative behaviour change in children: a randomised controlled trial. Anaesthesia, 75 (11), 1461-1468. doi: 10.1111/anae.15117
2019
Journal Article
Prevalence of QTc prolongation in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care – a cause for concern?
Hardy, Janet R., Bundock, Daniel, Cross, Jessica, Gibbons, Kristen, Pinkerton, Ross, Kindl, Korana, Good, Phillip and Philip, Jennifer (2019). Prevalence of QTc prolongation in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care – a cause for concern?. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 59 (4), 856-863. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.12.356
2019
Journal Article
Multicentre, randomised trial to investigate early nasal high—flow therapy in paediatric acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial—a Paediatric Acute respiratory Intervention Study (PARIS 2)
Franklin, Donna, Shellshear, Deborah, Babl, Franz E., Schlapbach, Luregn J., Oakley, Ed, Borland, Meredith L., Hoeppner, Tobias, George, Shane, Craig, Simon, Neutze, Jocelyn, Williams, Amanda, Acworth, Jason, McCay, Hamish, Wallace, Alex, Mattes, Joerg, Gangathimn, Vinay, Wildman, Mark, Fraser, John F, Moloney, Susan, Gavranich, John, Waugh, John, Hobbins, Sue, Fahy, Rose, Grew, Simon, Gannon, Brenda, Gibbons, Kristen, Dalziel, Stuart and Schibler, Andreas (2019). Multicentre, randomised trial to investigate early nasal high—flow therapy in paediatric acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial—a Paediatric Acute respiratory Intervention Study (PARIS 2). BMJ Open, 9 (12) e030516, e030516. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030516
2019
Journal Article
Nasal high flow in room air for hypoxemic bronchiolitis infants
Franklin, Donna, Babl, Franz E., Gibbons, Kristen, Pham, Trang M. T., Hasan, Nadia, Schlapbach, Luregn J., Oakley, Ed, Craig, Simon, Furyk, Jeremy, Neutze, Jocelyn, Moloney, Susan, Gavranich, John, Shirkhedkar, Prasanna, Kapoor, Vishal, Grew, Simon, Fraser, John F., Dalziel, Stuart, Schibler, Andreas and and PARIS and PREDICT (2019). Nasal high flow in room air for hypoxemic bronchiolitis infants. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 7 426, 426. doi: 10.3389/fped.2019.00426
2019
Journal Article
High-flow oxygen for children's airway surgery: randomised controlled trial protocol (HAMSTER)
Humphreys, Susan, von Ungern-Sternberg, Britta Sylvia, Skowno, Justin, Williams, Tara, Taylor, Julia, Taverner, Fiona, Gibbons, Kristen, Burgoyne, Laura, Sommerfield, David, Stephens, Philip, Hallett, Ben, Vijayasekaran, Shyan, Slee, Nicola, Burns, Hannah, Sowa, Marcin, Davidson, Andrew and Schibler, Andreas (2019). High-flow oxygen for children's airway surgery: randomised controlled trial protocol (HAMSTER). BMJ Open, 9 (10) e031873, 1-6. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031873
2019
Journal Article
Development of a cross-validated model for predicting emergency cesarean for intrapartum fetal compromise at term
Flatley, Christopher, Gibbons, Kristen Stacey, Hurst, Cameron and Kumar, Sailesh (2019). Development of a cross-validated model for predicting emergency cesarean for intrapartum fetal compromise at term. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 148 (1) ijgo.12979, 41-47. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.12979
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
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
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating optimal nutrition intervention in Paediatric ExtrcorporealLife Support
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sainath Raman
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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