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SCS research and awards news

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Monday 22 December 2014

Monash University Education and Research Precinct at new Children’s Hospital

A Monash University Paediatrics Education and Research Precinct will be part of the new Monash Children’s Hospital at Clayton thanks to a recent funding commitment by the University.

The Monash University Council has committed $6 million to fund the precinct to support teaching, clinical research and administration of paediatric programs at one of Australia’s largest children’s hospitals.

“A prominent Monash University presence in the Monash Children’s Hospital (MCH) is vital for connecting clinical care, research and education,” said Head of Paediatrics Professor Nick Freezer.

Outstanding student achievement recognised

Outstanding student achievement was celebrated at the Faculty’s 2014 Student Awards Ceremony, held at at Clayton campus and hosted by Deputy Dean MBBS, Professor Michelle Leech last Tuesday. 
The annual event recognises and rewards the Faculty’s brightest students for their success in the academic year.  We would like to congratulate the following SCS students and staff who received awards and prizes:  
Undergraduate Prizes
Prize
Recipient
Monash Health Board of Management Prize

Lukas Sahhar
The Bryan Hudson Prize in Medicine

Laura Eades
Department of Paediatrics Monash Health Children’s Program – Arthur Clark Award in Paediatrics
Tony He

The Graeme Smith Senior Medical Staff Prize in Psychological Medicine
Gabrielle Stokes

Queen Victoria Medical Centre Prize in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Rohan Hardikar

Prince Henry's Prize in Surgery
Harsh Dubey

Monash Health Emergency Medicine Prize
Mikael Dunlop


Student Intern Awards

Prize
Recipient
Monash Health Senior Medical Staff Prize for best student intern

Joel Kuan
School of Clinical Sciences Student Internship Excellence Award 
Adam Peterson
Kenneth Lin
Ellice Jane Hammond Prize for excellence in student internship within Monash Health
Jennifer Shi Ning Tan




Teaching Committee Awards

Prize
Recipient
Student’s Choice Award for Distinguished Teaching
Lisa Vallender

School of Clinical Sciences Award for Distinguished Teaching Service 
Philip Graves

School of Clinical Sciences Year Supervisor’s Award
Robert Meek


Prizes for Medical Student Research

Prize
Recipient
Shaun Summers Award for Medical Student Research   

Laura Eades
Stephen Holdsworth Award for Medical Student Research

Laura Eades
David Healy Award for Medical Student PhD Research
Karinna Fyfe


PhD training scholarships available in male reproductive health

As part of a unique collaboration between Monash University in Australia and Justus Liebig University-Giessen in Germany, PhD students enrolled at Monash University undertake 12 months collaborative research at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany, with the option of receiving a joint degree award from both Universities. The Training Group already has enrolled 8 students based at Giessen, and 5 students based at Monash University or the MIMR-PHI Institute of Medical Research at Monash Medical Centre. English is the language spoken in all participating laboratories and training programs.                                      Please see further details here.

Meet our ECRs - Dr Tali Lang

Can you explain your research?

I work with Dr. James Harris and Professor Eric Morand as an immunologist/cell biologist. My area of research aims to elucidate the roles of innate immune cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells, as well as understand how normal catabolic processes, e.g. autophagy, can influence host immune responses in autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, lupus) and arthritis.  I am also currently investigating the mechanisms through which macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) influences inflammatory cytokine responses, specifically in autoimmune diseases.

What skills do you have that you could share with your colleagues?
Through my work I have developed a fairly broad set of experimental techniques. My main area of expertise is in cell biology and molecular biology. I am proficient in a number of cell based assays which include culturing of both established and primary derived cell cultures, cell proliferation assays, ELISAs and luciferase reporter assays. In the molecular department I am very experienced in qPCR, western blot analysis and co-immunoprecipitations. I have also used confocal microscopy for co-localisation studies.  

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was 12 years old I watched the movie As the band played on. It was a very moving film about an epidemiologist and his quest into finding a cure and putting more research into HIV/AIDS. This movie had a profound effect on me and from that day onwards I had a passion and knew I wanted to become a scientific researcher to help humanity. 

What do you enjoy doing outside work?

I am a very sociable and fun loving person who enjoys the outdoors, so on weekends I like to go out with friends and explore new places around Melbourne and surrounds. I also like to do some kind of physical activity such as dancing, go for runs or walks and sometimes indulge in a game of pitch and putt golf. In the summer going to the beach, snorkelling, sea kayaking, camping and hiking are a must.
Something your work colleagues probably don’t know about you?
I am a bit of a revhead. I love motorsport…..not so much watching it on TV but actually driving fast cars. I have driven V8 supercars around Sandown racecourse and I love tearing up the track go-karting. Love the adrenalin of going fast!!   

2015 Advancing Women's Research Success Grant Program - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The 2015 Advancing Women’s Research Success Grant Program is now open for applicationsHigh performing academic women at Levels B and C with primary carer responsibilities are encouraged to apply. Application form and guidelines are attached.  Please note that while the extent of an applicant’s carer responsibilities will be taken into account in selection, the first criterion for the award is research excellence and research potential.

Recipients of a 2014 Advancing Women's Research Success Grant are not eligible to apply for a grant this year. However, recipients of a 2012 or 2013 grant may reapply for the 2015 round of grants.

Applications (and supporting material) should be submitted to awrs-grant@monash.edu by Friday 13 February, 2015. They will then be sent to the Senior Deputy Dean (Research) for ranking.  Application form available here     Grant guidelines here 

Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF) Fellowship - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Contact Singapore is a non-profit organization under the Singapore government. They promote careers in Singapore as well as facilitate students and professionals who are interested to work in Singapore.  
The ​Singapore ​National Research Foundation (NRF), Contact Singapore's sister agency​,​ was set up to help with the national direction for Singapore’s R&D. Every year, NRF invites researchers in the early stage of research careers to apply for the Singapore NRF ​F​ellowship. They welcome researchers in all disciplines of science and technology:
  • Engineering
  • Life Science
  • Natural and Physical Sciences
  • Computer Science including ICT and interactive and digital media
The deadline​for ​submission of NRF ​F​ellowship application​s​ is 25 February 2015.  Further details are provided in the attached fact sheet and flyer.

Tuesday 16 December 2014

Baby book result

For those who tried their luck in the recent baby book, the results are in:
Alexandra Jasmine Dick (yes, a girl) born 26 November, weighing in at 3.5kg.

The winning bet was placed by father Jonathan, "who over and above his own guesswork, did not have any insider information," according to SCS official bookmaker Nicola Abel.

$20 was also donated to the Monash Children's Hospital.


PhD scholarship success at SCS

Congratulations to the 20 School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) graduate research applicants who successfully secured scholarships in the latest round.

Amongst the successful applicants is our own Dr Vera Golder who received a prestigious Faculty Postgraduate Excellence Award.  The highly competitive award is offered to the Faculty’s top eight scholarship recipients who demonstrated outstanding academic merit and research potential.

Record attendance at emergency medicine conference

Dr Egerton-Warburton
Monash Emergency clinicians and researchers were well represented at the highlight of the Australasian Emergency Medicine scientific calendar, the 2014 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) annual conference last week, with a record 999 delegates attending the event in Melbourne.

Conference scientific convenor and Director of emergency medicine research at Monash Medical Centre, Dr Diana Egerton-Warburton presented two sessions on alcohol harm that attracted significant media attention.

Dr Egerton-Warburton also presented a paper on Monash Health’s “Just Say No to Just in case cannula" policy.  This successful change initiative at Monash Medical Centre has demonstrated at 20% absolute reduction of PIVC insertion as well as a reduction in PIVC associated staph bacteraemia rates.

Monash medical students broaden their experience at The Valley Private hospital

In an exciting new initiative, The Valley Private hospital (TVP) will host select Monash final year medical students as part of their learning experience from next year.

The collaborative agreement between public and private hospital systems will allow Monash students to undertake an elective rotation at TVP for the first time.

“Our students will receive exposure and be involved with the entire patient experience at TVP,” said Associate Professor Chris Wright, Academic Director of Clinical Programs.

Monash research to improve survival rates of premature babies

Dr Nold
MIMR-PHI Institute and Adjunct School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) researcher Dr Claudia Nold has been awarded a prestigious Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship in the charity’s latest funding announcements.

A pharmacist by training with broad expertise in cytokine biology, inflammation and immunology, Dr Nold will use the project funding to further her research into interventional immunology in diseases of the neonate.

“High mortality and morbidity in premature babies largely arises from three diseases that modern neonatology struggles to prevent or treat,” said Dr Nold. “I plan to examine their molecular mechanisms to pave the way to therapies.”

2015 Scientific Mobilisation Program - Travel grant opportunity for French collaboration

The Australian Academy of Science (AAS) and the Embassy of France in Australia have released a call for applications for the 2015 Scientific Mobilisation Program from candidates who are conducting a research project involving at least one French scientific or technological partner. This travel grant will cover the expense of one economy return airfare from any Australian capital city to a major airport in France (to depart from mid March 2015), and stay for a maximum of 28 days. Preference will be given to early career researchers. For further information including eligibility requirements and how to apply please visit http://www.ambafrance-au.org/2015-Scientific-mobilisation

Closing date is  9am, Monday 19 January 2015. Results will be announced January - early February 2015.

2015 Platform Access Grants (Round 2) - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - closing date 27 March 2015

The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences is pleased to announce a call for applications for a second round of Platform Access Grants (PAG) for funding commencing in 2015. The timing of this round has been offset by 6 months from the PAG scheme administered under the Strategic Grants Scheme (SGS 2015).

We invite proposals from individuals or small teams (max. 3 members) requesting Service Fees to access Monash Technology Research Platforms (including Biostatistics and Bioinformatics), or to purchase Products of these platforms.  Grants of up to $15,000 will be available for this purpose.  Please note that the “Service Provider” does not have to be a collaborator on the grant, and if they are not, they must not be listed as a Chief Investigator.  
Registrations and applications for the 2015 PAG scheme are NOW OPEN at:  

Monash ECF and CDF Incubator Programs - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Nominations are open for the Monash Early Career Fellowship and Career Development Fellowship Incubator Programs. This program integrates faculty and central level professional services, as well as a broad academic review network to support high quality applications. The program supports application development, preparation and peer-review in the months leading up to submission, with a view to helping you develop the strongest application possible. This year the incubator program is open to all Monash applicants with continuing support contingent on an applicant's continuing engagement in the program.

It's like working in a nightclub: ED doctor

Emergency doctors have had enough of those who misuse alcohol clogging up their hospital beds, threatening staff and compromising the care of other patients.

A snapshot of 100 EDs in Australia and New Zealand at 2am last Saturday found one in eight patients were there because of booze. However, in some hotspots the ratio was one in two.

The results would have been even worse if the weather hadn't kept people at home, said Monash Health emergency physician Dr Diana Egerton-Warburton, lead researcher of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine study.  Full story here.

Violence down thanks to alcohol lockout laws


Sydney's controversial alcohol lockout laws have their critics, but doctors at the city's busiest emergency department say it's clear they're working.  See Dr Diana Egerton-Warburton interviewed in the channel 10 news story here.

Medical boost for premature babies (Ritchie Centre's Professor Euan Wallace)

A world first trial is underway in Melbourne that treats premature babies with their own stem cells. Channel 7 News report here.

2015 Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference - Poster Abstract Deadline Extended (9 January)


Poster Abstract Deadline Extended - 9 January 2015 


The 2015 Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference organising committee invites you to register for the 5th annual conference.

Join infection and immunity scientists from around Australia and overseas for three days of networking and science.

Please forward this email to anyone you think may be interested in being part of a great Australian science tradition.

We look forward to your participation at the Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference. 

50 Complimentary Student Registrations

Survey - Health and Wellbeing in the Faculty - please complete by 16 January

Two years ago, the Faculty offered staff a “health check” and, from this, a report was developed on the health and wellbeing of our staff. It identified a number of issues that may be addressed by an increase in physical and mental health activity.

Therefore, in 2015, we would like to promote participation in the University’s health and wellbeing program.  Items on offer will include fitness programs like yoga and pilates, general health information sessions, nutrition based programs and mindfulness/resilience programs to name a few.
To assist us in tailoring the wellbeing program for our faculty, your feedback to the 2014 Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences Staff Health and Wellbeing Survey would be extremely valuable. The survey closes on 16 January, 2015.

(Detailed information on the SWAP programs available go to http://www.monash.edu/ohs/wellbeing/swap.html.)

Finalised programs to be offered to the faculty will be available early in 2015.

MMC Site Alert: Bus Stop Relocation - Browns Road South Shuttle Bus

What is happening? 
  • Major works along the Kanooka Grove to Loading Bay section of our Service Road supporting the MHTP-TRF project have concluded, and this section of the service road is again open to traffic
  • The staff shuttle bus servicing the Browns Road South car park will return to it is original drop-off/pick-up point outside the entry to Block E

How will it impact me?

·         Staff travelling to the Browns Road South car park in the afternoon may board the shuttle bus outside the entry to E Block, from the first regular timetabled afternoon bus on Tuesday afternoon December 16, 2014
·         The existing timetable will continue to apply at the bus stop during both the morning and afternoon shuttle services.
·         Staff travelling from the Browns Road South car park in the morning may alight outside the E Block entry
·         Click here for the shuttle bus timetable

Attn: MMC Animal Facility Users

The Animal Facility Co-ordinating Committee is again in the process of compiling information on current and projected usage of the MMC animal facilities. This survey was sent out earlier this year but as we received a poor response rate we are asking all MMCAF users to assist us in participating again.  Please click on the link below to ensure your future needs are recorded.

Thursday 11 December 2014

Lupus research at Monash to benefit from $750,000 grant

Professor Eric Morand
Improved outcomes for patients with lupus are expected as a result of research funding worth nearly $.75 million, secured by researchers in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS).

Pharmaceutical companies UCB Biopharma SPRL and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), who are among the leading companies worldwide developing therapies for lupus, are to fund research led by Professor Eric Morand, Head of SCS and Head of Rheumatology at Monash Health, to develop and validate treatment targets in lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or lupus) is a serious multisystem autoimmune disease,” said Professor Morand. “Patients with lupus, usually young women, suffer a loss of life expectancy and in some cases severe illness, caused by the immune system damaging multiple organs.”

Tuesday 9 December 2014

Monday 8 December 2014

State-of-the- art education facilities to be built at SCS


Education facilities for students in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) are set to improve significantly thanks to a new multi-million dollar building initiative funded by Monash University.

The University has agreed to fund the construction of state-of-the-art education facilities at Monash Medical Centre (MMC), at a cost of potentially tens of millions of dollars. 

“Education facilities at MMC have been outstripped by growth in numbers of learners,” said Head of SCS Professor Eric Morand. “Despite being probably the largest clinical school in Australia we currently have some of the least generous and lowest quality space for students.”

No negatives for children's weight management intervention

Professor Helen Truby
Weight management intervention in overweight children does not impact negatively on their body perception and satisfaction, according research published last month in Appetite.

The Monash led longitudinal study investigated the changes in body perception and satisfaction in overweight and obese children in a six month weight management program delivered to parents.

“Childhood obesity affects both physical and psychological health; and overweight children experience higher levels of body dissatisfaction compared with their healthy weight counterparts,” said lead author Professor Helen Truby, Head, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health.

Positive parenting support parents

Emeritus Professor Bruce Tonge
with parents at the seminars
‘Positive parenting for children with a disability’ was the theme of a recent seminar series held by Stepping Stones, a free parenting support program at Monash University’s Clayton campus.
The 90-minute evening seminars focussed on teaching evidence-based parenting strategies to manage and prevent child behaviour problems, develop skills, and improve parental and family wellbeing. 
The Stepping Stones program offers two years of free group, individual and online parenting support to help reduce child behavioural problems and build parental resilience. 

MMC Christmas BBQ invitation - TODAY

Monash Medical Centre invites all staff to enjoy a free Christmas lunch on
Tuesday 9 December, 12 - 2pm in the Atrium Courtyard, 
Level 1, MMC

Menu:  Aussie BBQ (including vegetarian option) with a special piece of Christmas cake!

ARC Discovery Projects Workshop - Thursday 11 December

ARC Discovery Projects Workshop
Thursday 11 December 12:00-1:00pm,
Lecture Theatre South 1, Building 64, Monash Clayton Campus

In 2014, the university ranked number 1 in NHMRC Project Grants and Fellowships, and we wish to maintain this position into the future. The Faculties of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the University also wish to improve on our success in attaining Australian Research Council support.

Monash Partners AHSC funding opportunities

The following two AHSC funding opportunities are currently open:

1) Collaboration with Manchester AHSC ...No applications were received (from any Theme) so late ones will be accepted by Michael Wright.

2) MP AHSC Seed funding projects are still open, due date 19th Dec.
                                    Seed funding application here

The inflammasome component ASC propagates inflammation via 'prionoid' type activity - TODAY 4pm

MIMR-PHI special seminar, presented by Dr Bernado Franklin from the Institute of Innate Immunity, University of Bonn.

TODAY, 4-5 pm, Level 2 seminar room, MIMR-PHI building

See attached flyer for details

"Getting there" - enhancing school attendance SAVE THE DATE 1st May 2015

We are pleased to announce a one-day conference for primary and secondary school staff, health and welfare professionals and clinicians who work with students who have difficulties with attendance. This conference will provide up to date information and practical strategies to enhance school attendance including therapeutic approaches and school-based responses.
Friday 1st May, Hawthorn Arts Centre, Hawthorn.  
See attached flyer for details.

ECR networking - Friday 12 December at 3.30pm

Medicine Seminar room, Level 5 E-block, Monash Medical Centre
Come and meet other ECRs in the School and also learn about how we can support you! 
   
  Welcome from Clare Westhorpe (ECR rep)
  Introduction to the new ECR coordinator
    Guest speakers: Tania Wilmann (Faculty Research Office) and                                                            Eugene Fredericks, SCS Manager                                                                                                                                                         Mentoring Program for next year
How to find us: E block is at the back of Monash Medical Centre, next door to the MIMR-PHI Institute. Enter via ground floor, next to loading dock, and take lifts to Level 5.

Top five under 40 - applications now open

Are you a young scientist with a passion for communicating your research?

UNSW and ABC RN want to help you make an impact and turn your vital work into compelling radio programs and online features to reach a wider audience.
To mark 40 years of The Science Show, Top 5 under 40 is an exciting initiative to discover Australia’s new generation of science thinkers – and give them a voice.

We know about the struggles of young researchers to get a foothold in Australia. This project aims to highlight the value and potential of our talented younger scientists.   More info here.  Applications close 16 January 2015.

MHTP's Professor Helena Teede featured in the MJA

Professor Helena Teede, Director of the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation at MHTP has received a $2.5 million grant from the NHMRC to set up a Centre for Research Excellence and continue her work in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Read full story in the MJA article here.

YEAR END REMINDER: invoices, purchase orders and expense reports due by 10 December

Finance staff are reminded that, in preparation for end of year:

Wednesday 10 December 2014 is the last day to:
-request purchases with either a purchasing services team or via ESS
-enter Concur expense reports
-send manual expense reports to Expense Management
-send overseas invoices and claim forms to Accounts Payable

Monday 5 January 2015 is the last day that outstanding Concur expense reports can be approved.

Monday 12 January 2015: the Concur accrual journal will be sent to Corporate Finance Division. This means any 2014 transactions that have not been processed and approved at 5pm on Friday 9 January will be accrued.


View all Year End deadlines and procedures online.

Friday 28 November 2014

We want your news!

Have you attended or presented at a conference recently? Published a paper? Given a poster presentation? Won an award? Received a grant? Invented a new medical device? Or merely discovered the cure for cancer?

Your colleagues at SCS want to share your success.  Please forward your stories to Katherine Greenberg.  (Even if you don't think your story is interesting, others do!!)

And you can always tell us about a colleague's success if they're too shy to come forward themselves.

Lions Club generosity to help arthritis patients

Eric Gittins and Eric Morand with the
M1000 Pro multifunctional plate reader
Rheumatoid arthritis patients will benefit from research enabled by state of the art equipment donated by the Lions Club to the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS).

Thanks to the generous donation of $78,000 from the Victorian Lions Club, Australian Lions Foundation and Lions Clubs International Foundation, the Arthritis Research Group in the Centre for Inflammatory Diseases at SCS has been able to purchase a Tecan M1000 Pro multifunctional plate reader.

The Victorian Lions Club has been raising funds for over 30 years for the Victorian Lions Rheumatism & Arthritis Medical Research Foundation, said Lions Club representative and Past District Governor Mr Eric Gittins. In the last 12 years we have donated well over $300,000 to Monash University for various equipment and facilities.

Researchers shed new light on the genetics of memory performance

A/Prof Srikanth
In the largest study of the genetics of memory ever undertaken, an international research team including scientists from the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) has discovered two common genetic variants believed to be associated with memory performance.

Published last week in Biological Psychiatry, the findings are a significant step towards better understanding how memory loss is inherited.

Longer life spans and the increased prevalence of memory impairment and dementia world-wide underscore the critical public health importance of efforts aimed at deciphering the underlying mechanisms of human memory.  

The Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) consortium was developed to facilitate the study of the entire genome through pooling of data from research centers all across the world. Nearly 30,000 participants who did not have dementia were included in the study. Each participant completed memory tests, such as word recall, and their entire genome was genotyped. Using sophisticated statistical analysis, the genome was examined for segments that were associated with low memory scores.

Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Head of Stroke and Ageing Research at SCS Associate Professor Velandai Srikanth and his team of Australian collaborators contributed to this analysis and report using data from the Tasmanian Study of Cognition and Gait (TASCOG).

Language competence and the link to antisocial behaviour

A/ Prof Pam Snow
Research in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) highlights the long-term social, behavioural and educational implications of poor language skills among disadvantaged children and the benefits of teacher professional development (PD).

Recently published in the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Department of Psychiatry’s Associate Professor Pamela Snow collaborated on a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) that examined the impact of teacher PD aimed at improving children’s oral language skills and early literacy success.

“Reduced oral language competence in the early years compromises psychosocial development and has been shown in overseas research to predispose to mental health problems,” said Associate Professor Snow.

“Language difficulties in childhood and adolescence are also linked with externalising behaviour disorders.”

CID meeting TOMORROW 12-1pm: Molecules to medicine, commercializing anti-fibrotic drugs for the treatment of chronic kidney disease

Presented by Professor Darren Kelly, Director Biomedical Research, Department of Medicine 
University of Melbourne

Medicine Seminar Room, Level 5, Block E

MIMR-PHI Special Seminar - TOMORROW 12pm-1pm From endosymbiont to intercellular mitochondrial trafficking - the unfolding story of mitochondria

Speaker:  Professor Mike Berridge, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

Level 3 Boardrooms, MIMR-PHI building

See attached flyer for details.

SCS Launch of new Postgraduate Training Program – 8th December

Monday 8th December,  2.30pm - 3.30pm
MIMR-PHI Boardroom, MIMR Building Level 3
Who Should Attend: SCS/MIMR-PHI supervisors of HDR students

This will introduce the new precinct-wide format for management of SCS HDR training and provide information to all SCS/MIMR-PHI supervisors about the new Monash Doctoral Program for PhD training which begins in January 2015.
Further information: Rachael.Unwin@monash.edu

Getting to know our ECRs - Dr Clare Westhorpe

Can you explain your research?
I work with Prof Michael Hickey and Prof Richard Kitching in the Centre for Inflammatory Diseases (Dept of Medicine). We are looking at how different types of immune cells damage the kidneys during autoimmune disease. We are able to image cells moving about in the kidney in live, anaesthetised mice, which is really cool. We're hoping to work out how to turn off the immune pathways that cause kidney damage.

What skills do you have that you could share with your colleagues?
Intravital imaging on the multiphoton microscope and flow cytometry. 

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Even when I was a kid, I wanted to be a scientist. What a nerd! 

What do you enjoy doing outside work?
Taking my kids to sport! I have two young boys, Jack who's in prep and Charlie who's 2 years old (that's him in the pic). 

Something your work colleagues probably don’t know about you?
I also help run a kindergarten committee, which has shown me a lot about people, business and government.

Three Ritchie Centre clinician/PhD students recently received the following awards

Dr Sebastian Hobson
RANZCOG Luke Proposch Perinatal Research Scholarship
The role of melatonin in mitigating oxidative stress in preeclampsia.
2015 $20,000

Dr Shavi Fernando 
RANZCOG Ella Macknight Memorial Scholarship 
Melatonin and infertility: Can we improve outcomes of assisted reproductive technology - a placebo controlled randomised controlled trial.
2015/2016 $50,000

Dr Luke Larmour
RANZCOG Mary Elizabeth Courier Research Scholarship
Factors influencing the progression of high-grade cervical dysplasia to invasive carcinoma. 
2015/2016 $60,000

Quiet Achiever Nominations now OPEN - to be awarded at 5 December staff meeting

The Quiet Achiever Award is given to a staff member to reward and recognise their achievements and contribution to the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health.  
A $200 shopping voucher will be awarded to the winner.  Download nomination form here.

SCS staff meeting will take place 12pm, December 5 at the Monash Club, Clayton campus.

Black Start TOMORROW 7-8am

Monash Health have scheduled a site wide Black Start exercise for Tuesday 2nd December 2014 between the hours of 7:00-8:00am.

The purpose of a Black Start is to test and demonstrate that the emergency power supply performs as an integrated system and continues to deliver power to critical services. Black Starts also demonstrate the orderly restoration of supplies once normal source power has been restored.

Tuesday 25 November 2014

SCS learns from Harvard Medical School

While attending the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston last week, School of Clinical Sciences Head, Professor Eric Morand, accepted an invitation to visit Harvard Medical School (HMS).

Professor Morand met with Jane M Neill, Associate Dean for Medical Education Administration and Planning, Harvard University to learn about the HMS medical education precinct.

These discussions were timely given SCS is planning to develop a major health care professional education precinct at Monash Medical Centre, said Professor Morand.
Professor Morand and
Jane M Neill

"Harvard recently upgraded their clinical skills centre and Monash is keen to learn from the best around the world."

Monash and Harvard Medical Schools are both research-intensive environments where most teachers are also hospital clinicians, added Professor Morand.  Importantly, we share similar values about education and teaching patient-centred care.

Professor Morand reported he learned what Harvard believes they got right, what they would do differently, and what the future looks like.

Beyond the discussions about building a medical education precinct and building on the links between the two organisations, Professor Morand discovered that Monash's links to Harvard have a long history.

Foundation Professor of Anatomy at Monash, and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine from 1977 to 1988, Emeritus Professor Graeme Schofield was an anatomy instructor at HMS and some of his former students, who are current HMS staff, remember him fondly as an outstanding teacher.