International Research Fellow from Japan shares his ECMO research

Japanese Research Fellow Yudai Iwasaki joined CCRG in 2025, working within the Preclinical Innovative Medical and Engineering Laboratory (PRIMELab) to further his understanding of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). 

Yudai says it was CCRG’s reputation as a leader in ECMO research and its strong integration of clinical, engineering and experimental science that attracted him to the group. 

Prior to moving to Australia, Yudai completed his medical degree at Tohoku University in Japan and worked as an intensive care physician and an anesthesiologist for 10 years. 

“Later on, I decided to pursue a PhD because I wanted to better understand the mechanisms behind critical illness rather than only treating its consequences. During this time, I was heavily involved in researching COVID-19-related coagulopathy, which strengthened my interest in translational research.

“After completing my PhD, I worked in high-volume ECMO centers that would treat up to 80 ECMO patients each year. This naturally influenced my research and I enjoy bringing my clinical experience to preclinical and benchtop research including large ECMO models,” said Yudai.

“We are currently working on Pump-Controlled Retrograde Trial Off (PCRTO), a new strategy used to safely test whether a patient is ready to come off ECMO. It is a specialised test that helps doctors see how well the heart and lungs cope with stress before ECMO is removed,” explains Yudai.

“Because this approach is still being studied, its safety is not yet fully established. However, it may allow us to observe heart function in more detail. And if we can improve weaning assessment this may lead to reduced ECMO-related complications. This is always the end goal.”

At CCRG, Yudai has been involved in developing PCRTO concepts through clinical observations and mock-loop studies. He has also contributed to research on new weaning strategies and evaluation methods for patients requiring VV ECMO and alternative lung machines.

Away from the lab, Yudai enjoys Brisbane’s coastal lifestyle, spending time by the ocean and swimming with his family, which helps him recharge outside his clinical and research work.