Fetal surgery presentation by Ben Amberg wins Faculty 3MT

Hudson Institute PhD candidate, Benjamin Amberg, has won the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) for his presentation on fetal surgery research.

Ben won the Faculty final with his presentation, Mrs Donald’s balloon and fetal surgery, after placing first in the senior category of the School of Clinical Sciences competition. He will now represent the Faculty as a finalist at the Monash University 3MT Final on August 18 2020. This winner will progress to the Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition. Ben’s presentation cleverly links a memorable primary school science experiment, with his own research into how to keep fetal membranes in tact after surgery on the fetus during pregnancy.

Ben is undertaking his PhD in the Fetal and Neonatal Health Research group.

About Ben’s research

“Fetal surgeons can operate on babies with congenital abnormalities before they are born to minimise the consequences they face after birth,” Ben says. “Our research looks to better understand how mothers and babies tolerate this type of surgery and improve the way surgeons perform these procedures.”

How can fetal surgery help babies?

“Fetal surgery is potentially life-changing for developing babies with a congenital abnormality,” says Ben. “However, the immaturity of the baby means that surgical complications could have devastating implications. Our research uses preclinical models of fetal surgery to ensure that the effects of these procedures are completely understood before they are attempted in humans.”