Professor Mellis’ varied research interests include paediatric respiratory medicine, and evidence-based medicine. This incorporates development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and contributions to undergraduate and postgraduate evidence-based medicine curricula. His most recent research focus is on medical education, particularly peer-assisted learning, and team-based learning.
Respiratory medicine research includes clinical trials in children with asthma, chronic cough, pneumonia, and cystic fibrosis where the research results have informed evidence-based management of these important paediatric conditions. Professor Mellis has contributed significantly to the body of evidence on the management of paediatric asthma (including the role of inhaled corticosteroids). His work in this field has featured in evidence-based asthma management guidelines, including the 2014 Australian Asthma Handbook. He was a member of the team that conducted the first trial demonstrating the clinical efficacy of a leucotriene-receptor antagonist for the management of viral-induced wheeze in children, and the associated reduction in healthcare resource utilization. Additionally, he was involved in a recent multicentre trial on the management of chronic cough in children, which has generated evidence for a management algorithm for paediatric chronic cough.
Recently, Professor Mellis’ focus has shifted toward medical education research including optimising the delivery of medical education and using the research results to develop/improve medical school curricula. He supervises research on a range of education delivery methods including team-based learning, peer-assisted learning, and peer-based assessment (where medical students act as peer tutors and assessors). Together with the Central Clinical School team, he has introduced the famous ‘teaching on the run’ program to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, with over 250 Resident Medical Officers having completed this teacher-training program, most of whom are now actively involved in teaching medical students. In 2012 his team received a Vice-Chancellor’s teaching award, and in 2014, a Citation for outstanding teaching, from the Commonwealth Office of Teaching and Learning.
