Associate Professor Darren Roberts

Associate Professor Darren Roberts

Conjoint Associate Professor

PhD, Australian National University, Australia
MBBS, University of Queensland, Australia
BPharm, University of Queensland, Australia

Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine

Academic appointments

Conjoint Associate Professor, St Vincent's Clinical School, University of NSW, Mar 2017 - present
Honorary Associate Professor, Sydney Medical School – Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia; 2016 – Current
Honorary Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia; 2016 – Current     
Associate Professor of Medicine, Australian National University Medical School; 2014 – Current 

Non-academic employment

Staff Specialist Consultant Physician, Departments of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Renal Medicine and Transplantation, and Alcohol and Drug Services, St Vincent's Hospital, Jan 2017 - present

Clinical Toxicologist and Pharmacologist, NSW Poisons Information Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Jun 2016 - present

Location
St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, UNSW Sydney Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney

2015    Jacquot Research Establishment Fellowship 2016, Royal Australasian College of Physicians (A$90,000)
2014    Endeavour Executive Fellowship: Department of Education, Australian Government (declined)
2011    Amgen/ANZSN/University of Cambridge Fellowship in Nephrology: Australia and New Zealand Society of Nephrology and RACP
2010    International travel grant, Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology 
2009    National travel grant, Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology
2005    NHMRC Travelling Award (Walther Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Germany): National Health and Medical Research Council
2003    NHMRC Medical Post Graduate Research Scholarship:  National Health and Medical Research Council
1994    Queensland Rural Health Scholarship: Queensland Health

2013    Denis Wade Johnson & Johnson New Investigator Award: Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists
2010     Registrar Tutor of the Year: St Vincent’s Clinical School, University of New South Wales
2009    Best oral presentation by a Clinical Pharmacology Trainee: Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney
1996    Chalmers Prize: University of Queensland
1996    The Pharmaceutical Defence Limited Prize: University of Queensland
1996    The Kodak Australia Prize: University of Queensland
1996    Golden Key National Honour Society

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS                                 
American Association of Clinical Toxicology (AACT)
American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT)
American Society of Nephrology (ASN)
Asia Pacific Association of Medical Toxicology (APAMT)
Australasian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN)
Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT)
Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN)
European Association of Poison Control Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT)
European Vasculitis Society (EUVAS)
International Society of Nephrology (ISN)
Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)

MEDIA 

“Doctors warned of potentially fatal loperamide abuse”, The Medical Republic, 12 May 2016  
“Diarrhoea drug being used to get ‘morphine-like’ high”, Daily Telegraph, 17 June 2016 [interview; print]
Repeated in: “Loperamide dubbed ‘poor man’s methadone’ in misuse warning”, Australian Journal of Pharmacy, 21 June 2016 [print]
“Benzo-opioid combo concern”, Medical Observer, 23 June 2015 [interview; print] 
”Arsenic contamination of rice cakes”, ABC Canberra 666 (radio), 9 October 2015 [interview; radio]
“Death sparks warning on gout treatment”, MJA Insight, 6 June 2011 [prompted by publication 81] 
“Lethal Canberra mushrooms worry doctors”, news.com.au, 21 January 2013 [prompted by publication 25] 

My Research Supervision

Vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity: Does a TDM Advisory Service improve patient safety?
The pharmacokinetics of probe drugs in patients with acute kidney injury

My Teaching

HOSPITAL TEACHING

Various topics on clinical toxicology as part of the continuing education program of emergency medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, 2017

Various topics on clinical toxicology as part of the continuing education program of intensive care medicine and emergency medicine, Canberra and Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals, 2014-16

“Nephrology and acute poisoning”. Continuing education lecture series, Royal London Hospital, London, UK, 2013

“Clinical Toxicology”. Acute / General Medicine SpR Training Day, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK, 2013

“Haemodialysis in the management of acute poisoning”. Imam Reza Hospital (Mashhad), and Loghman-Hakim Hospital (Tehran), Iran, 2012

Teaching clinical pharmacology, an Australian approach. Imam Reza Hospital (Mashhad), Iran, 2012

“Intravenous fluids and electrolytes”, Pre-Intern education series, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 2011
 
“Acute renal failure”. Continuing Education series, Emergency Department, Concord Repatriation and General Hospital, 2011

“Aminoglycosides – what’s new?” Medical Grand Rounds, St Vincent’s Hospital, 2010

“Acute management of the poisoned patient”, JMO Education, St Vincent’s Hospital, 2010

“Opioid dependence and treatment” and “benzodiazepine dependence and treatment”. Drug and Alcohol update series, St Vincent’s Hospital, 2010
 
Presentations on the acute toxicity and management of glyphosate, paraquat, barbiturates, chlorophenoxy herbicides, organochlorine and organophosphorus insecticides, cardenolides, amphetamine, caffeine, hydroxychloroquine, diltiazem, Amanita phalloides, tiger snake envenomation, gamma hydroxybutyrate, and impact of pesticide restrictions on deaths from acute poisoning. Bimonthly clinical toxicology meetings of NSW Poisons Information Centre, 2003-11


TERTIARY EDUCATION

Writing and coordination of the delivery and assessment for the entire course content for the online Masters Medical Toxicology, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, 2017
 
“Assessment and management of drug overdose”, MD program, Notre Dame University, 2017

“Clinical pharmacology in renal disease”, MD program, University of Sydney, 2016-17.  

“Diuretics” Masters of Critical Care, University of Sydney, 2015

Various topics in pharmacology and nephrology. Medical program, ANU Medical School, 2015-17 

Lithium, mushrooms, MCPA, glyphosate, carbamazepine, beta-blockers. Open Source Clinical Toxicology Curriculum, Peoples-uni, 2011-15

“Case studies in clinical toxicology”, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK, 2013-4

“Acute and chronic renal failure”, “Quality Use of Medicines”, “Taking a good medical history”, clinical bedside teaching, “Medication use in the elderly”. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of NSW, 2010

“Methaemoglobinaemia”, “Other Insecticides and Herbicides”, “Lead”, “Plants that contain cardiac glycosides”. Masters of Science in Medical Toxicology (on-line distance education), Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2009-10