Rate My Professor Chris Ward

Professor Chris Ward is a Conjoint Professor of Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, associated with the Northern Clinical School. He holds degrees including BMedSc, MBChB with Distinction from the University of Otago, a PhD, and fellowships FRACP and FRCPA. Serving as a clinical haematologist at Royal North Shore Hospital, he is Director of Research for the Department of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Director of Cancer Services for the Northern Sydney Local Health District, and Northern Blood Research Senior Staff Specialist. His clinical practice includes managing thrombosis and anticoagulation clinics and leading clinical trials for new anticoagulants and thrombocytopenia therapies.

Professor Ward's academic interests focus on thrombosis and haemostasis, platelet function disorders, hypercoagulable states, cancer-related thrombosis, myeloproliferative and lymphoproliferative disorders, stem cell biology, and transplant outcomes. He leads the Northern Blood Research Centre, serving as an international reference centre for platelet disorders with expertise in molecular diagnosis, gene sequencing, and protein analyses. The centre engages in multicentre clinical trials via groups like the Australian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Study Group and explores immunotherapy and cancer vaccines. Key publications include: "The association of depression with platelet activation: evidence for a treatment effect" (J Thromb Haemost, 2009), "Validation of whole blood impedance aggregometry as a new diagnostic tool for HIT" (Thromb Haemost, 2012), "GFI1b mutation causes a bleeding disorder with abnormal platelet function" (J Thromb Haemost, 2013), "Thrombocytopenia and CD34 expression is decoupled from alpha-granule deficiency with mutation of the first GFI1b zinc finger" (J Thromb Haemost, 2017), and "The effect of metoprolol and aspirin on cardiovascular risk in bereavement: a randomized controlled trial" (Am Heart J, 2020). He contributes to education by coordinating undergraduate teaching and supervising postgraduate students. Professor Ward holds prominent roles including ISTH Council Member, Co-Chair of the ASH Working Party on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, and Executive Council Member of the APSTH, influencing the field through leadership and research.