Research

Dr Nikolic is an active contributor to the surgical education and research community. She has presented at national and international surgical conferences and has been recognised with a number of awards for her research, teaching and contribution to surgical training.

Publications

Paterson C, Nikolic A, Glyn T, Eglinton T, Singh P, Hill A. ‘Do Perioperative Probiotics/Synbiotics Reduce Postoperative Infection Rates Following Elective Colorectal Surgery? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis‘. J. Surg Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2025.05.026 (2025)

Nikolic A, Tranter-Entwistle I, McCombie A, Connor S, Eglinton T. ‘The Utility of Synoptic Operation Reports in Colorectal Surgery: A Systematic Review‘. Int J. Col Disease. DOI: 10.1007/s00384-024-04613-y (2024)

Nikolic A, Tiang T, Kuzminov A, Fernando D, Phillips S, Behrenbruch C, Johnston M. ‘The Impact of COVID-19 on General Surgical Trainee’s Surgical Exposure in Australia‘. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/ans.18888 (2024)

Nikolic A, Gullifer J, Johnson M, Hii M. ‘Oesophageal Neuroendocrine Tumours – Case Series of a Rare Malignancy‘. 2022. Dec 20(12):rjac582. DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjac582 (2022)

Beh P, Ng S, Nikolic A, Radojcic M, Chew G, Wickramasingth N, Smart P. ‘The increased use of Whatsapp application within a colorectal surgery team‘. Int J of Networking and Virtual Organisations. 24(2). 2021. DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2021.10037257 (2021)

Nikolic A, Waters P, Peacock O, Choi C, Rajkomar A, Heriot A, Smart P, Warrier S. ‘Hybrid abdominal robotic approach with conventional transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) for rectal cancer; feasibility and outcomes from a single institution‘. J Robot Surg. 14, 633-64. 2020. DOI: 10.1007/s11701-019-01032-y (2020)

Nikolic A, Wickramasinghe N, Claydon-Platt D, Balakrishnan V, Smart P. ‘The Use of Communication Apps by Medical Staff in the Australian Health Care System: Survey Study on Prevalence and Use‘. JMIR Medical Informatics. 6(1). 2018. DOI: 10.2196/medinform.9526 (2018)

Nikolic A, Behrenbruch C, Fleming B, Smart P, Woods R. ‘How to insert an internal seton for supralevator sepsis: an effective technique for complex fistulae‘.
ANZ J Surg. 88(6): 645-646. 2018. DOI: 10.1111/ans.14394 (2018)

Nikolic A, Keck J. ‘Ischaemic Colitis: Uncertainty in Diagnosis, Pathophysiology and Management‘. ANZJS. 88(4): 278-283. 2017. DOI: 10.1111/ans.14237 (2017)

Paterson C, Nikolic A, Glyn T, Eglinton T, Singh P, Hill A.

Do Perioperative Probiotics/Synbiotics Reduce Postoperative Infection Rates Following Elective Colorectal Surgery? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

J. Surg Research. (2025)

Nikolic A, Tranter-Entwistle I, McCombie A, Connor S, Eglinton T.

The Utility of Synoptic Operation Reports in Colorectal Surgery: A Systematic Review

Int J. Col Disease. (2024)

Nikolic A, Gullifer J, Johnson M, Hii M.

The Impact of COVID-19 on General Surgical Trainee’s Surgical Exposure in Australia

ANZ Journal of Surgery. (2024)

Nikolic A, Tiang T, Kuzminov A, Fernando D, Phillips S, Behrenbruch C, Johnston M.

Oesophageal Neuroendocrine Tumours

Case Series of a Rare Malignancy (2022)

Beh P, Ng S, Nikolic A, Radojcic M, Chew G, Wickramasingth N, Smart P.

The increased use of Whatsapp application within a colorectal surgery team

Int J of Networking and Virtual Organisations. 24(2). (2021)

Nikolic A, Waters P, Peacock O, Choi C, Rajkomar A, Heriot A, Smart P, Warrier S.

Hybrid abdominal robotic approach with conventional transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) for rectal cancer; feasibility and outcomes from a single institution

J Robot Surg. 14, 633-64. (2020)

Nikolic A, Wickramasinghe N, Claydon-Platt D, Balakrishnan V, Smart P.

The Use of Communication Apps by Medical Staff in the Australian Health Care System: Survey Study on Prevalence and Use

JMIR Medical Informatics. 6(1). (2018)

Nikolic A, Behrenbruch C, Fleming B, Smart P, Woods R.

How to insert an internal seton for supralevator sepsis: an effective technique for complex fistulae

ANZ J Surg. 88(6): 645-646. (2018)

Nikolic A, Keck J.

Ischaemic Colitis: Uncertainty in Diagnosis, Pathophysiology and Management

ANZJS. 88(4): 278-283. (2017)

Presentations

‘SynOPsys-CRC: Development of ANZ Colorectal Cancer Synoptic Operation Reports’. Podium presentation at the RACS ASC, Christchurch (2024)

Podium presentation at RACS Annual Scientific Conference: “Pre-biotics, pro-biotics and bowel preparation” (2024)

‘The Impact of COVID-19 on General Surgical Trainees’ Surgical Exposure in Australia’. Podium presentation at the RACS ASC, Adelaide (2023)

‘The Utility of Synoptic Operation Reports in Colorectal Surgery: A Systematic Review’. Poster presentation at the Colorectal Spring Meeting, Gold Coast (2023)

Podium presentation at RACS Annual Scientific Conference: “Fellowship Exams and Operative Exposure in the COVID Era” (2023)

Podium presentation at ACT Annual Scientific Meeting: “New Forms of Education for Trainees and Surgeons” (2023)

Prevocational Australasian Surgical Society Interview Preparation Event: “Surgical Training Interviews” (2023)

‘Impact of Perioperative Probiotics or Synbiotics on Postoperative Infections After Major Foregut Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis’. Podium presentation at the November Annual Academic Surgery Conference (2022)

Podium presentation at General Surgeon’s Australia’s RACSTA Induction Conference: “Training 101 – Progression Through Training, Study and Exams” (2022)

‘The Use of Communication Applications in the Australian Health Care System’. Podium presentation at ‘Epworth Research Week’ (2018)

‘A Systematic Review of Stenting for Bowel Obstruction for Extracolonic Malignancies – A Data Deficit?’. Podium presentation at ‘Epworth Research Week’ (2018)

‘How to Insert an Internal Seton for Supralevator Sepsis: an Effective Technique for Complex Fistulae’. Poster presentation at the ‘Alpine Colorectal Meeting: Switzerland’ (2018)

‘Early Closure of Ileostomy Post Rectal Resection – An Australian Experience’. Poster presentation at the ‘Alpine Colorectal Meeting: Switzerland’ (2018)

‘Decreased Complications Rates with Early Closure of Ileostomy Post Rectal Resection’ Podium presentation at the ‘General Surgeon’s Australia Annual General Meeting’ (2016)

‘Stress Management and Schizophrenia’. Poster presentation at Monash University’s Research Week (2011)

Awards

2025

RACS Queensland Younger Fellows Grant — to support the Robotic and Advanced Colorectal Cancer Fellowship, Nottingham, UK

2023

CSSANZ Foundation Award for Most Promising First Year ANZTBCRS Fellow’s Research Project

2022

John Corboy Medal — RACS, for exceptional service and dedication by a surgical trainee

2021

Herbert and Gloria Kees Research Scholarship — RACS

Awards & Recognition

2023

CSSANZ Foundation Award for Most Promising First Year ANZTBCRS Fellow’s Research Project

2022

John Corboy Medal — RACS. Presented annually to a surgical trainee in recognition of outstanding service and dedication.

2021

Herbert and Gloria Kees Research Scholarship — RACS

2019

Certificate of Achievement for top 20 most-read article in the ANZ Journal of Surgery

2018

Health Informatics Research Poster Award — Epworth Research Week

2012

Ellice Jane Hammond Award for Excellence in Student Internship — Monash University