Research
From the operating theatre to the laboratory
Translational research in cystic fibrosis airway disease, endoscopic orbital and skull base surgery, and rhinology.
PhD — Sinus Stem Cell Therapeutics
Dr Banks is completing a PhD at UNSW Sydney, supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) candidature awarded in 2023. Her research investigates autologous gene-corrected airway stem cells for the treatment of cystic fibrosis airway disease — work at the intersection of rhinology, respiratory medicine and regenerative therapeutics.
The programme reflects a broader clinical and academic focus on the unified airway: the role of the sinuses in respiratory health, particularly in children with cystic fibrosis.
Grants & Funding
- 2023
NHMRC PhD Candidature
Autologous corrected airway stem cells for the treatment of cystic fibrosis airway disease.
- 2023
Base of Skull Service (BOSS), Sydney Children's Hospital
Introduction of a new paediatric skull base service to the Randwick campus. Awarded Investment and Prioritisation funding of approximately $3 million.
- 2023
Triple I Seed Grant — Human Tonsil Organoid Study
Lead Clinician. With Dr A Abayasingam, Dr S Waters and A/Prof R Bull.
- 2023
Paediatric Endosuite — A New Model of Care
Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick. Proposed funding with the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation and NSW Ministry of Health.
Selected Publications
A selection from more than thirty international peer-reviewed publications. The complete record is maintained on ORCID.
- 1.
O'Connor L, Banks C. Endoscopic approaches to primary benign orbital neoplasm: patient selection, classification, and techniques. Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep. 2026;14:7.
- 2.
Lazarus R, Thompson C, Bishop J, Perry N, Foster J, Banks C, Middleton P, Doumit M. Nasal irrigation as an alternate method to monitor airway microbiology in cystic fibrosis. J Cyst Fibros. 2025;24(6):1105–9.
- 3.
Allan KM, Zhang SL, Wong SL, et al. incl. Banks C, Waters SA. Gene-corrected basal cells restore CFTR in vitro; transplants regenerate epithelium in a preclinical sinus model. bioRxiv [preprint]. 2025.
- 4.
Jafari A, Simmonds JC, Mitchell MB, Banks CG, Lehmann A, Paz-Lansberg M, Yoon MK, Metson R. A new patient-reported outcomes measure for surgically treated epiphora: the Tearing Assessment and Rating Scale-12 (TEARS-12). Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2024;38(4):211–7.
- 5.
Orlandi RR, et al. incl. Banks C. International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: rhinosinusitis 2021. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2021;11(3):213–739.
- 6.
Husain Q*, Banks C*, Bleier BS. Lynch vs transcaruncular approach: optimizing access to the lateral frontal sinus (*co-first authors). Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2020;10(8):991–5.
- 7.
Banks C, Grayson J, Cho DY, Woodworth BA. Frontal sinus fractures and cerebrospinal fluid leaks: a change in surgical paradigm. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;28(1):52–60.
- 8.
Banks C, Husain Q, Sacks R, Freitag SK, Bleier BS. Development of a modular cadaveric endoscopic orbital surgery model. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2020;34(2):183–8.
- 9.
Banks C, Scangas GA, Husain Q, Hatton MP, Fullerton Z, Metson R. The role of routine nasolacrimal sac biopsy during endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. Laryngoscope. 2020;130(3):584–9.
- 10.
Wang EW, et al. incl. Banks C. ICAR: endoscopic skull-base surgery. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2019;9(S3):S145–365.
Book Chapters
Banks C, Sacks R, Harvey R. Preoperative and intraoperative considerations in sinus surgery. In: Kennedy D, Hwang P, Orlandi R, Wormald PJ, eds. Rhinology: Diseases of the Nose, Sinuses, and Skull Base. Thieme.
Banks C, Sacks R. Fibrous dysplasia, ossifying fibroma and other fibro-osseous lesions of the sinuses. In: Georgalas C, Sama A, eds. The Frontal Sinus: Surgical Approaches and Controversies. Thieme; 2022.
Banks C, Bleier B. Management of intraconal hemangioma: techniques and outcomes. In: Sindwani R, ed. Endoscopic Surgery of the Orbit. Elsevier; 2021.
Banks C, Woodworth B. Cystic fibrosis and chronic rhinosinusitis: interventions on the horizon. In: Gudis D, Schlosser R, eds. The Unified Airway: Rhinologic and Respiratory Disorders. Springer; 2020.
Banks C, Bleier B. Endoscopic approach to intraconal hemangioma: surgical anatomy and techniques. In: Fagan J, ed. The Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Operative Surgery. 2019.
Banks C, Sivasubramaniam R, Sacks R. Transnasal endoscopic approach to orbital and periorbital surgery. In: Stamm A, ed. Transnasal Endoscopic Skull Base and Brain Surgery. Thieme; 2019.
Banks C, Wilcsek G, Sacks R. Evaluation and management of acquired lacrimal obstruction. In: Bleier B, Freitag S, Sacks R, eds. Endoscopic Orbital Surgery. Thieme; 2019.
Journal & Grant Review
Dr Banks reviews for leading journals in otolaryngology and respiratory medicine: