Vision and Mission
We aim to provide optimal clinical care for women with pelvic floor disorders, and undertake important and ground-breaking research.
Key Activities
With colleagues working across urogynaecology, gynaecology, urology, colorectal, and plastic surgical specialities, and biomechanical engineering, we have commenced research to provide optimal treatments for a range of pelvic floor disorders.
It is estimated that more than one million Australian women suffer from some form of pelvic floor disorder such as urinary leakage or prolapse, yet the extent of these problems remain largely hidden, and deserves greater awareness, appropriate funding, and more research.
Based at Epworth Freemasons in East Melbourne, the centre provides optimal clinical care for women with pelvic floor disorders, and is undertaking important and ground-breaking research. The centre’s multi-disciplinary team of medical specialists and allied health professions provide holistic and optimal care for our patients.
Funding
The Pelvic Floor Centre of Excellence at Epworth is 100% philanthropically funded through the Epworth Medical Foundation.
Core Team
- Centre Director: Associate Professor Marcus Carey (FRANZCOG CU)
Urogynaecologist & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgeon - Senior Research Fellow: Tanaka Dune
- Clinical Trial Coordinator: Jayne Damm
- Biostatistician: Dean McKenzie
Clinical Trials/Studies:
Our initial research focuses on developing new optimal treatments for prolapse that avoids synthetic mesh. These new treatments use a patient’s own tissue which is specially processed and placed by minimal access surgery (‘keyhole surgery’) to strengthen the prolapse repair surgery and provide optimal long-term outcomes. Additionally, we are investigating new non-surgical secondary prevention treatments for prolapse in high-risk women in the first few weeks after childbirth.
Our Centre has developed a new type of vaginal pessary to provide a non-surgical option for prolapse for women in Australia and in developing countries. We have developed a comprehensive education program to support GPs, other specialists, and allied health professionals to better identify and manage pelvic floor injuries. We aim to launch this program soon.