Jenni Williams-Spence specialises in research with large clinical trial and registry datasets in the cardiac surgery domain. She completed a BbMedSci (Hons) and a BA majoring in Economics at Victoria University of Wellington, before obtaining a PhD in Clinical Research. Her studies explored the use of remote ischaemic preconditioning for high-risk cardiac surgery patients, and she has subsequently worked on clinical trials, and with administrative datasets and the Victorian Cancer Registry. Jenni currently utilises this experience as a Research Fellow with the Centre of Cardiovascular Research and Education in Therapeutics and as Program Manager of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) Database.

The ANZSCTS Database is a binational clinical quality registry with 60 hospitals and over 180,000 cases, making it a rich source of data for clinical performance feedback and an active research program. The Database continues to evolve in terms of its dataset, statistical analyses, feedback processes and applications. Accordingly, Jenni leads a range of critical Database projects including the introduction of new methods for risk adjustment and reviewing outcomes for low volume procedures, and investigating the use of valve surgery data for establishing a post-market surveillance program for valve prostheses.

Jenni also has an interest in data linkage to expand datasets and address complex research questions. She has supported linkages with the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database and the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry, which will generate critical research regarding risk factors and long-term outcomes for cardiac surgery patients with renal impairment.