Gastroenterology
Dr Martin Weltman
MBBCh PhD FRACP FAChAM
Head of Dept of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Senior Staff Specialist and Senior Lecturer
One of our major research interests is 'the natural
history, pathogenesis and therapy of non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease’. Our studies on the role of the Medex device in
gastronterology dianosis, have led us to be pioneers of this device in the clinical research context. List collaborative relationships with Westmead (Prof J George: Fatty liver and Hepatitis C studies) and Professor Nick Talley from the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, USA as our collaborator and leader of many of our funded studies.
Martin is regarded as an authority on the subject with several presentations both at a National and International level, as well as many publications in international journals. Dr Weltman also has an interest in the therapy of Hepatitis C and the pathogenesis and outcomes of alcoholic liver disease. His current projects also involve studies evaluating acute pain responses in people who are on regular pain medication and their outcome.
Dr Nghi Phung
MBBS, FRACP
Dr Phung is a Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist as well as a Drug&Alcohol Medicine physician at Nepean Hospital. The topic of her PhD thesis was related to the Hepatic Fibrogeneis in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, a fatty liver condition now acknowledged to be the commonest cause of abnormal liver funtion tests in the developed world, and in many ways, also similar to liver disease associated with excessive alcohol drinking. Findings in the thesis identified oxidative stress as critical to the pathogenesis of fibrosis (scarring in the liver). Various means of counteracting the oxidative stress were examined for potential therapeutic effects, specifically to inhibit the developement of fibrosis in the liver.
Nghi brings to Nepean Hospital her experience with research and various laboratory techniques which will be readily applicable to a multitude of research topics relevant to patients afflicted with gastrointestinal, liver diseases and addictions.