Neil Piller

Neil Piller

Professor Neil Piller is a Professor in the area of Lymphology at the Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Flinders University and Director of the Lymphoedema Assessment Unit, Flinders Surgical Oncology as well as member of the Flinders University microcirculatory and lymphological research group.[1] Piller's major interest is in the accurate diagnosis of, targeted treatment for and management of all forms of primary and secondary lymphoedema.

Neil is one of the coordinators of the Graduate Entry Medical Program at Flinders University, concentrating on Year 1 and 2 electives programs and Health Professions and Society. Neil offers a 6-month elective in year 2 of the medical Program (one of the few opportunities in Australia and internationally) for medical students to gain an in-depth understanding of the lymphatic system, its associated structures and of lymphoedema its treatment and management.

Neil is an executive board member of the International Society of Lymphology and was President of the 22nd International congress of Lymphology, an accolade which has only been conferred to an Australian once previously. Neil was sought out by the Director of the WHO supported World Alliance for Wound and Lymphoedema Care as a consequence of his international reputation and leadership in the treatment and management of lymphoedemas, and in particular due to his holistic approaches to lymphoedema and wound linkages. Neil is an active member of the Scientific board of the Union Internationale de Phlebology. Recently in Monaco, along with other world experts were responsible for the development of consensus documents in primary lymphatic malformations and phlebolymphoedemas, which will help guide detection, differentiation and treatment of these chronic diseases. The consensus development continues at other planned meetings in 2011.

Neil is an executive member of the International Society of Lymphology which is based in Tucson Arizona. He is also an executive board member of the Australasian Lymphology Association, the International, American and Australian Lymphoedema Frameworks again being sought for his breath and depth of knowledge in the differential diagnosis of and treatment and management of all forms of lymphoedemas.

He is Australasian Editor of USA based "Lymphatic Research and Biology", editorial board member of the USA based journal “Lymphology”, editorial board member and clinical sciences editor of the UK based “Journal of Lymphoedema”, the USA based “Phlebology” journal and the “US Chinese Journal of Oncology and Lymphology”.

Neil was recently (2011) awarded an Emeritis fellowship with the Australasian College of Phlebology for his services to improvement of understanding of the complementary roles of the lymphatic and venous systems and also received a medal for excellence in the advancement of science in the field of lymphology from the College. He also has international awards from the International Lymphoedema Framework (2009) for excellence and leadership in clinical research and from the American Society of Lymphology (2007) for his lymphatic research and for his dedication to advance evidence based medicine in Lymphology.

Neil’s research occurs mainly in the form of clinical trials, with the majority of them examining the ways of providing targeted treatment for lymphoedema that can be performed by health professionals (in the clinic environment) and patients and their partners/carers (in their homes) – thus better empowering the patient. The most recent trials have focused on bras (and underwear) and of their potential negative effect on worsening breast oedema, seroma reduction and electrical and mechanical stimulation of lymphatic function. In 2009 Neil was invited to Parliament by Health Minister John Hill to talk about lymphoedema, his research and of the ways of dealing with it.

Neil has presented and published over 400 works in learned journals, patient focused health magazines and at national and international meetings. He has published a range of booklets aimed at helping inform patients (Diagnosis treatment and managment of "Primary Lymphoedema" " Breast oedema and Lymphoedema", "Secondary arm lymphoedema" and "Secondary LEg Lymphoedema". He is also author of the CD "The Vital Essence" which has two versions: one for patients and one for health professionals, both of which contain over 70 animations and movies and interactivities about lymphoedemas.

Neil has also had a long and strong interest in bringing evidence and objectively into the assessment and treatment and targeting of treatment on lymphoedemas and in association with members of the Biomedical Engineering group at FMC has pioneered the development of tissue tonometry and tissue indurometry aimed at providing objective measures of the status of lymphoedema and of the effect of treatment on it. In this respect Neil is a board member of the Flinders University Medical Devices Partnering Program group aimed at facilitating development of Flinders Medical Technologies across the University.

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