I am a Research Fellow in the Heart, Trauma and Sepsis Research Laboratory in the College of Medicine and Dentistry, at James Cook University (JCU). After graduating with a University Medal from JCU with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Physiology and Pharmacology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, I joined the Heart and Trauma Research Laboratory in 2008 where I undertook an MSc and PhD developing a small-volume resuscitation solution comprising adenosine, lidocaine and magnesium (ALM) for the treatment of traumatic hemorrhagic shock. This combination of drugs had previously been shown by the laboratory to protect the heart following 30 min of regional ischemia, and as a polarizing cardioplegia at higher concentrations. I have developed three in vivo rat models of hemorrhagic shock, and also worked in cardiac arrest, sepsis, infection, and surgical trauma, with publications in the Lancet, Journal of Trauma, Shock, Critical Care, Thrombosis Research, Journal of Surgical Research, Critical Care Medicine, Innate Immunity, Frontiers in Physiology, International Immunopharmacology, Clinical Vaccines and Immunology, Circulation, and Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corp.  I travelled to Aarhus University, Denmark in 2011 and was part of a research team that translated my rat hemorrhagic shock work into the pig. I have since returned to Denmark in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017 to complete further pig studies with collaborators at Aarhus University Hospital. More recently I completed the first trials of ALM in uncontrolled hemorrhage as well as traumatic brain injury, and continue to work with the US Military to translate ALM resuscitation fluid into the field.

In addition to the ongoing collaboration with the Department of Anaesthesiology at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, I also have collaborations with the Orthopaedic Research Institute of Queensland (ORIQL) working to improve outcomes in orthopaedic surgery; US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Tampa, Florida working on rat models of uncontrolled haemorrhage and traumatic brain injury; Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), Maryland, US working on blast injury; Combat Casualty Care Department, NMRC, San Antonio, US working on traumatic brain injury; US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Ft. Sam, Houston, US working on blood research and trauma-induced coagulopathy; Department of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey, US for ALM safety and civilian trauma trials; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane working on blood research and coagulopathy; and The Royal Hobart Hospital, Australia for improving outcomes in cardiothoracic surgery.

 

Teaching

• PP3201: Contemporary Research in Physiology (Level 3; TSV)
• PP5201: Contemporary Research in Physiology (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Trauma; Shock; Traumatic Injury; Haemorrhage; Haemorrhagic Shock; Pre-hospital Medicine; Emergency Medicine; Traumatic Brain Injury; Obstetric Haemorrhage; Coagulopathy; Inflammation; Surgery; Burns; Cardiovascular Medicine

Experience

• 2017 to present - Research Fellow, James Cook University (College of Medicine and Dentistry, Townsville)
• 2012 to 2016 - Senior Research Associate, James Cook University (College of Medicine and Dentistry, Townsville)
• 2008 to 2012 - Research Associate, James Cook University (College of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Townsville)

Research Disciplines

• Cardiovascular Medicine and Haematology (1102)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Clinical Health (9201)

Awards

• 2016 - Best Poster Presentation for “Small-Volume ALM Resuscitation Reduces Blood Loss and Mortality in a Rat Model of Severe Uncontrolled Haemorrhagic Shock” Townsville Research Week
• 2015 - Honorable Mention for “Differential Contributions of Platelets and Fibrinogen to Early Hypocoagulopathy during Hemorrhage and Shock, and its Correction with 7.5% NaCl ALM” Military Health System Research Symposium
• 2014 - Medicine Winner for “Treatment With Adenosine, Lidocaine/Mg2+ Induces Reversible Hypotension, Improves Cardiac and Pulmonary Function, and Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects in an Endotoxaemic Porcine Model” (Festival of Life Sciences)
• 2013 - Young Investigator Award for “Cardioprotective and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Treatment With Adenosine, Lidocaine/Mg2+ in a Porcine Model of Endotoxemia” presented at the Resuscitation Science Symposium (ReSS) (American Heart Association)
• 2012 - Best Abstract Award (Trauma) at the American Heart Association Resuscitation Science Symposium (ReSS) for “Small-Volume 7.5% NaCl Adenocaine/Mg2+ Preserves Cardiac Function During Hypotensive Resuscitation in the Pig Following Severe Hemorrhagic Shock
• 2012 - “So You Think You Can Research” Winner for “Development of a Revolutionary Small-Volume Resuscitation Fluid for Trauma Victims at North Queensland Festival of Life Sciences
• 2012 - Young Investigator Award for “Rat To Pig Translation: Small-Volume 7.5% NaCl Adenocaine/Mg2+ Has Multiple Physiological Benefits During Hypotensive And Blood Resuscitation In The Porcine Model Of Severe Hemorrhagic Shock” (ReSS; AHA)
• 2011 - Young Investigator Award for “Reversal of Acute Coagulopathy Using Small Volume 7.5% NaCl with Adenocaine and Mg2+ Resuscitation in the Rat Model of Severe Hemorrhagic Shock” (ReSS; AHA)
• 2010 - Best Abstract Award (Trauma) at the AHA ReSS for “7.5% NaCl with Adenosine, Lidocaine and Mg2+ (ALM) improves hypotensive resuscitation in the pressure-controlled rat model of severe hemorrhagic shock”
• 2007 - James Cook University Medal for Academic Excellence
• 2005 - James Cook University School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences Academic Prize Winner

Memberships

• 2015 - Fresh Science Alumnus, Science in Public, Australia

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Davenport L, Letson H and Dobson G (2017) Immune-inflammatory activation after a single laparotomy in a rat model: effect of adenosine, lidocaine and Mg2+ infusion to dampen the stress response. Innate Immunity, 23 (5). pp. 482-494
• Griffin M, Letson H and Dobson G (2017) Buprenorphine analgesia leads to coagulopathy and increased plasma fibrinogen in healthy rats: implications for small animal research. Shock, 48 (1). pp. 78-84
• Letson H and Dobson G (2017) 3% NaCl adenosine, lidocaine, Mg2+ (ALM) bolus and 4 hours "drip" infusion reduces noncompressible hemorrhage by 60% in a rat model. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 82 (6). pp. 1063-1072
• Sharma R, Letson H, Smith S and Dobson G (in press) Tranexamic acid leads to paradoxical coagulation changes during cardiac surgery: a pilot rotational thromboelastometry study. Journal of Surgical Research, pp. 1-13
• Dobson G and Letson H (2016) Adenosine, lidocaine, and Mg2+ (ALM): from cardiac surgery to combat casualty care - teaching old drugs new tricks. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 80 (1). pp. 135-145
• Griffin M, Letson H and Dobson G (2016) Small-volume adenosine, lidocaine, and Mg2+ 4-hour infusion leads to 88% survival after 6 Days of experimental sepsis in the rat without antibiotics. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, 23 (11). pp. 863-872
• Letson H and Dobson G (2016) Differential contributions of platelets and fibrinogen to early coagulopathy in a rat model of hemorrhagic shock. Thrombosis Research, 141. pp. 58-65
• Dobson G, Letson H, SHARMA R, Sheppard F and Cap A (2015) Mechanisms of early trauma-induced coagulopathy: the clot thickens or not? Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 79 (2). pp. 301-309
• Letson H and Dobson G (2015) Correction of acute traumatic coagulopathy with small-volume 7.5% NaCl adenosine, lidocaine, and Mg2+ occurs within 5 minutes: a ROTEM analysis. Journal of trauma and acute care surgery, 78 (4). pp. 773-783
• Dobson G, Letson H and Tadaki D (2014) The Bellamy challenge: it's about time. Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps, 160. pp. 9-15
• Granfeldt A, Letson H, Hyldebrandt J, Wang E, Salcedo P, Nielsen T, Tønnesen E, Vinten-Johansen J and Dobson G (2014) Small-volume 7.5% NaCI adenosine lidocaine, and Mg2+ has multiple benefits during hypotensive and blood resuscitation in the pig following severe blood loss: rat to pig translation. Critical Care Medicine, 42 (5). pp. e329-e344
• Granfeldt A, Letson H, Dobson G, Shi W, Vinten-Johansen J and Tønnesen E (2014) Adenosine, lidocaine and Mg^2+ improves cardiac and pulmonary function, induces reversible hypotension and exerts anti-inflammatory effects in an endotoxemic porcine model. Critical Care Medicine, 18 (6). pp. 1-19

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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 27+ research outputs authored by Dr Hayley Letson from 2010 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

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These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Effects of Adenosine-lidocaine and Other Vasoactive Compounds on Relaxation on Rat Aorta and Human Vascular Rings (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit the JCU Research Data Catalogue.

• Letson, H. (2017) Adenosine, Lidocaine and Mg2+ (ALM) fluid therapy for treatment of non-compressible uncontrolled haemorrhage. James Cook University

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
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