Current Research Projects

We undertake committed scientific work to improve hospital and home care practices, to rigorously and independently test new products, and to promote global networks of vascular access researchers.

Patients experiencing medical treatment and needing IV catheters (including venous and arterial, central and peripheral, dialysis, chemotherapy, nutrition and cardiac care) benefit from reduced complications and a better experience of their IV treatment.

By drawing on our mix of inter-disciplinary expertise, understanding of the sector and access to international vascular access, we can help conduct needs assessment to identify gaps in clinical knowledge of professional evidence, identify potential areas of clinical practice change and develop appropriate strategies to help improve clinical workforce practice.

Our staff has professional experience in conducting these type of engagements with different clients including consulting companies, government agencies and industry bodies. The AVATAR group works to eliminate ineffective practices, and replace them with innovative solutions - saving global healthcare providers hundreds of millions of dollars per year.

Examples of Current Research Include:

LOVE-DIVA: Improving Difficult Vascular Access in Emergency Departments (LOVE-DIVA)

Preventing adverse events during paediatric cancer treatment (CLOCK Trial)

Difficult Access Requires Thought, Training and Technology (DART3)

I-DECIDED device assessment and decision tool

Peripherally inserted central catheter Innovation to reduCe Infections and Clots (The PICNIC trial)

Innovation to improve the experience and outcomes of paediatric central venous access devices: the e-Vascular Access Passport (IV Passport)

Development of the Paediatric Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Infusion Catheters (mini-MAGIC)

Peripherally InSerted CEntral catheter dressing and Securement (PISCES Trial)

Protect PIVCs: An adaptive randomized controlled trial of a novel antimicrobial dressing for peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) (ProP Trial)

The IVCare adaptive platform trial: Towards zero bloodstream infections in IV catheters (IVCare)

Feasibility of using Virtual Reality to manage patient anxiety during painful procedures in Emergency Department (VR-ED)

Impact of Catheter Stabilization on Catheter Micro-Motion and Function (MOTION)

Just say no to the just in case cannula: An implementation science trial with roadmap for national roll out

Read Our Research