Clinical Research

Through world-class research, we are working hard to determine the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use.

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Clinical Research Projects

The INTERCEPT Trial: Carbon-Dioxide Flushing versus Saline Flushing of Thoracic Aortic Stents

Status: In-progress Year: 2022 Funded: 92,909 Grant Type: Major Project Grant

Researcher // Dr Oliver Lyons – Canterbury District Health Board
  • 2021-present SMO Vascular Endovascular & Transplant Surgery, Canterbury DHB
  • 2021-present Associate Editor (Randomised Controlled Trials, Methodology and statistics), European Journal Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
  • 2021-present Senior Lecturer Vascular Surgery, University of Otago
  • 2018-present Honorary Lecturer Vascular Surgery, King’s College London
  • SMO Vascular Endovascular & Transplant Surgeon


Keyhole repair of the major blood vessel in the chest (the ‘aorta’) is done to prevent death from the blood vessel bursting, for example due to an ‘aortic aneurysm’ or ‘aortic dissection’. Unfortunately the operation has an unavoidable small risk of stroke, and also ‘silent stroke’. These patients may suffer with decline in brain function and delirium, but the long-term detrimental effects of silent strokes are unclear. We think these silent strokes are mostly caused by tiny air bubbles trapped within the fabric of the stents used for the keyhole operation. In this trial, we will evaluate whether flushing the stents with carbon dioxide gas and then liquid (prior to insertion in the patient) will be better at removing the trapped air bubbles than just using liquid alone (which is current standard practice), and reduce the number of silent strokes (and associated mental decline) that patients suffer. This trial may provide a cheap and readily useable method of reducing the risk of stroke in these patients.

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The experience of taking pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in advanced pancreatic cancer

Status: In-progress Year: 2021 Funded: $110,000 Grant Type: Major Project Grant

Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (PC) has a dismal prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 5% and a median survival of months. In addition to poor survival, a hallmark feature affecting PC patients is pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI). PEI is defined as the condition in which the amount of secreted pancreatic enzymes is insufficient for normal digestion. This results in malabsorption and subsequent symptoms of poor digestion, such as diarrhoea, excessive flatulence, cramping, steatorrhoea, abdominal bloating and weight loss. PEI can be treated with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), which improves fat digestion and symptoms. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of PERT in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer in a survey format to explore current use and compliance. The results of this study will help inform a randomised control trial using a complex intervention design.

Researcher// Dr Amanda Landers – University of Otago, Christchurch

More About Dr Amanda Landers