Dr Craig Coorey is a nephrologist at Westmead Hospital and a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney within the Centre for Kidney Research. His research focuses on improving outcomes in kidney transplantation, including donor recipient matching and the prediction and management of complications after transplant. Dr Coorey is the recipient of the NHMRC Gustav Nossal Postgraduate Scholarship Award for his research into improving post kidney transplant outcomes with a patient centred causal inference framework.
I am a nephrologist at Westmead Hospital and a PhD applicant at the University of Sydney within the Centre for Kidney Research. My research career has focused on improving outcomes in kidney transplantation, including donor recipient matching and the prediction and management of complications after transplant.
I am an active member of the Early Career Committee of the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand, as well as the Transplant Working Group of the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry. In 2025, I received an Early Career Researchers Award from the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand in recognition of my growing contribution to the field.
Kidney transplantation offers people with kidney failure the best chance to return to normal life. However, managing the balance between organ rejection and the side effects of strong immune suppressing medications remains a major challenge. These medicines increase the risk of cancers and heart attacks, and organ shortages mean many patients face unequal access to transplantation.
My research program is aiming to leverage sophisticated causal inference methodologies to address key challenges in kidney transplantation in equity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer care.
It is also aiming to identify fairer approaches to donor matching for kidney transplantation.
I am particularly interested in causal inference techniques such as instrumental variable analysis, quasi-experimental design and target trial emulation, and their application in nephrology.
By analysing large registry datasets and strengthening national collaborations, my research will explore improved prevention and management strategies and develop approaches that support more equitable access to transplantation across Australia and New Zealand.
I hope that my research program will have a lasting impact on the healthcare systems and care delivery, ultimately transforming patient outcomes after kidney transplantation.
I am very grateful for the incredible support and encouragement I have received over the years from basic science researchers in my undergraduate science degree and clinician-scientists in my clinical career so far.
These inspirational mentors have instilled a passion for science and discovery, and I have been very lucky to have had opportunities to pursue research alongside my clinical training.
I look forward to my PhD journey ahead and taking the next steps in my early career as a clinician scientist.