The Ginger-MAP study

Full title: Evaluating the effects of standardised ginger root powder on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting using Body Surface Gastric Mapping: The Ginger-MAP Study

Project dates:

Commenced: 2023

Completion due: 2025

Ginger has shown benefit for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, one of the most distressing treatment side-effects affecting 25-60% of people having chemotherapy despite advances in anti-nausea medications. However, evidence on the mechanisms of action and optimal ginger dosing regimens is lacking, hindering translation into practice.

This research project will use novel Body Surface Gastric Mapping with symptom monitoring to:

  • confirm whether standardised ginger root powder helps to regulate stomach motility that is dysregulated in nausea and vomiting;
  • guide optimal ginger dosing regimens for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (by comparing different ginger doses); and
  • determine the feasibility of using Body Surface Gastric Mapping as an objective measure of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting by evaluating the correlation between irregular gastric electrical patterns and symptom severity.

Body Surface Gastric Mapping could then be a low-cost, quick, non-invasive method to further investigate the therapeutic potential of other foods and eating behaviours for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting as well as other conditions characterised by abnormal stomach motility.


Funding / Grants

  • QUT Faculty of Health Early Career Researcher Ideas Grant – Megan Crichton (2023)

Chief Investigators

Other Team Members

Ann Zhang (PhD Candidate) Adjunct Professor Liz Isenring Adjunct Associate Professor Skye Marshall Dr Amy Lovell – University of Auckland Mrs Maryanne Hargraves – St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane