AHCDO Targeted Research projects 2025

ASHLEY FLETCHER

Ashley Fletcher is the AHCDO Australian Bleeding Disorders Registry (ABDR) Senior Research Fellow.

The Australian Haemophilia Centre Directors’ Organisation (AHCDO) offered funding through a Targeted Call for Research to address key knowledge gaps and urgent needs in bleeding disorders. Priority areas include improving diagnosis and understanding of von Willebrand disease, evaluating management practices, and identifying treatment and access disparities for people with bleeding disorders.

FUNDED PROJECTS

Revisiting Type 1 VWD classification in women with heavy menstrual bleeding: towards a better understanding of the phenotype – Professor Ross Baker ($25,000)

About half of women with heavy menstrual bleeding diagnosed with Type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD) later show normal von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels, although the reasons are unclear. This study aims to better understand bleeding differences among these women by developing a specialised tool to assess heavy menstrual bleeding and related disorders, and by evaluating the usefulness of different VWF function tests. Improved classification of VWD will enable more precise research into biological mechanisms and support more tailored clinical care.

Understanding treatment preferences for haemophilia A treatment in paediatric patients: a Discrete Choice Experiment – Dr Elise Flynn ($25,000)

With multiple effective treatments now available for haemophilia A, decisions increasingly depend on what matters most to each patient and family, such as fewer injections or stronger bleed protection. Using a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE), families will choose between structured treatment options, helping identify which factors drive their preferences. Findings will support more personalised treatment decisions, improve satisfaction, and enhance long-term health outcomes.

Reducing the impact of specimen transport-processing artefact on diagnostic accuracy in von Willebrand disease in a statewide community-based pathology provider – Dr Jeremy Robertson ($17,600)

Blood samples collected in regional areas must often be transported to central laboratories for testing, and handling during transport can affect test accuracy. This study will assess different processing and transport methods to identify those that best preserve sample quality. Minimising impurities will improve diagnostic accuracy for von Willebrand disease and other bleeding disorders, reducing the risk of misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment.