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| Professor Morand and final year MBBS student Andrew Toh |
The Australian Rheumatology Association awarded one of
its highest annual research awards last week to the lupus research group in the
Centre for
Inflammatory Diseases at the School
of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health.
Led by Professor
Eric Morand and postdoctoral scientist Dr Sarah Jones, the research was the
basis of a project by final year Monash MBBS student Mr Andrew Toh.
During his Bachelor of Medical Science (Hons) at SCS in 2014,
Andrew’s research demonstrated for the first time that expression of the anti-inflammatory
protein Gilz is reduced in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and
that low levels are associated with worse disease.
This important work arose from the strong collaboration
between Monash University and the Monash
lupus clinic at Monash Health,
led by Monash academic Dr
Alberta Hoi.
"Gilz has the potential to be the basis of a new way
to treat SLE," said Head, School of Clinical Sciences and Director of
Rheumatology at Monash Health Professor Morand.
“We are starting work on developing a therapy based on
this molecule that could obviate the need for steroid drugs in SLE."
“This award is a very pleasant surprise,” said Andrew. “Contributing to this novel research has been
a fascinating and deeply satisfying experience.”
“My BMedSc year was a truly exhilarating journey—I’ve
gained invaluable research skills and a greater appreciation for the vast
research work underpinning clinical practice in medicine.”
“I would strongly encourage the BMedSc to medical
students,” added Andrew.
“The supervisors at SCS have a highly infectious passion for
research; they provide a supportive and enthusiastic environment to undertake
research and I am eternally grateful for the experience they've given me.”
The Australian Rheumatology Association awarded its 'Best
Basic Science' award to this work at its annual national scientific meeting last
week in Adelaide.
Professor Morand is convenor of the 2017 world lupus
congress to be held in Melbourne.
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