Clinical research has been strong focus of the upper gastrointestinal unit of laparoscopic surgery. Multiple publications of technique and outcome with useful technological descriptions have been published. Sydney advanced laparoscopic training course was run for more than 10 years by the upper gastrointestinal unit (Professor GL Falk) teaching advanced techniques of laparoscopy including solid organ resection suturing laparoscopic anastomosis. 

Innovative management of benign disease including laparoscopic bile ducts surgery, a laparoscopic antireflux surgery, laparoscopic oesophageal surgery and other intra-abdominal techniques were pioneered and reported. Databases have been maintained for oesophageal and gastric carcinoma and gallbladder surgery. Further databases for reflux disease are managed prospectively. There is a large workload of bariatric surgery which has led to multiple databases and publications.