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SCS research and awards news

For all our research and awards news, please visit our news page.

Monday 20 March 2017

Welcome BMedSc(Hons) students 2017

2017 BMedSc(Hons) students at SCS
Welcome to our Bachelor of Medical Science Honours students for 2017.

This year we have a record 43 students who have chosen to complete their research at the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS).

Director of Monash Haematology receives academic promotion

Professor Stephen Opat
Director of Clinical Haematology at Monash Health Stephen Opat has been acknowledged for his significant achievements with an academic promotion at the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University.

Professor Opat’s research aims to improve outcomes for patients with lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and to achieve these ends he has employed a number of strategies.

“The Lymphoma and Related Diseases Registry (housed within Monash University’s, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine) enables haematologists across Australia and New Zealand to monitor access to care; benchmark outcomes nationally and internationally; explore variation in practice; and act as a resource for clinical trials,” said Professor Opat.

As Director of the Monash Haematology Clinical Research Unit, Professor Opat has also been principal investigator in over 40 studies in lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

“Monash Health has been a major contributor to the development of numerous compounds for the treatment of malignant and non-malignant blood disease, and our Unit is engaged in all aspects of clinical research, from first in human to large international phase III studies.”

Professor Opat said the Unit’s outstanding success is in no small part due to its managers Micheleine Uhe and Jeanette Gamgee, and their dedicated team of trial personnel. 

Another research interest of Professor Opat’s is improving the understanding of lymphoma biology to facilitate the rational application of targeted therapy.

“The Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance Lymphoma flagship is a collaborative effort to improve outcomes for patients with poor-risk non-Hodgkins lymphoma through gaining an understanding of the genetic lesions involved in the malignant transformation of lymphoid cells,” said Professor Opat.

“Our collaborative project involves genetic sequencing of tumour DNA coding regions to identify genetic variants that may help guide treatment.”

Professor Opat said he is extremely proud of his attachment to both Monash University and Monash Health and sees his academic promotion as an acknowledgement of the hard work and achievement of Monash Haematology.

“We often 'hit above our weight' but have a lower profile than the more established high profile institutions.”

Beyond haematology, Professor Opat’s other passion is road cycling.  He is about to embark on a six day cycling adventure in Kyushu, Japan to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation to support patients and research in blood cancer.

“It beats shaving my head—and if anyone wants to sponsor me they can do so here:  https://tinyurl.com/zldjwqe,” said Professor Opat.


Professor Opat is President, Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand; Chair, Steering Committee, Lymphoma and Related Diseases Registry; and Chair, Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance Lymphoma Flagship.

WIN FREE MOVIE TICKETS - tell us what you think of SCS eNews

The weekly SCS eNews is our main communication platform in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) and we’re keen to know if eNews is meeting your needs.

We’d be extremely grateful if you could give 3 minutes of your time to complete a survey giving us your feedback about eNews. 

We’re so keen to know what you think that one lucky person who completes the survey will win a voucher for 2 movie tickets!!



SCS staff meeting, and FREE LUNCH this Friday 24 March


If you would like to nominate a staff member for the Quiet Achiever Award, please complete the form HERE.

World's great shave success

Clinical Trials Centre Manager, Cheryl Coleman
The World's Greatest Shave at Monash Medical Centre was an overwhelming success.  The Monash Health Translation Team (MHTP) had aimed to raise $3000 for the Leukaemia Foundation but have already collected $11,800.

Thank you to everyone who supported the cause.

It's back: MHTP Footy Tipping 2017 - last chance to register

Well you work to earn a living, but on weekends comes the time...
It's the start of the 2017 AFL season and the MHTP Footy Tipping Competition is back!

Do you think you have what it takes to out-tip the winner of last year's MHTP tipping comp, Alan Trounson?

Sign up HERE and pay your entry fee to Ewen Young (Hudson Institute) before the siren!




Monash Children's Hospital Community Open Day 2 April

More information here:  http://www.monashchildrenshospital.org/about-monash-childrens-hospital/new-hospital/open-day/

Defence Health Foundation Grants in 2017

The Defence Health Foundation invites Expressions of Interest from researchers for medical research grants available from the beginning of 2018.
The objective of the research must be to benefit the health and wellbeing of serving or ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Forces or their immediate families.  
Our 2017 research priorities are for medical research that:
  • Evaluates healthcare programs that deliver services to contemporary serving ADF members, serving families, ex-serving and their families
  • Evaluates physical and mental health issues and behaviours of serving and ex-serving members and the impact on the lives of their families and family dynamics
  • Focuses on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation or intervention.
Grants on offer range from $25,000 to $100,000 p.a. over 1 to 3 years.

Full details can be found on our website www.defencehealthfoundation.org.au including the Research Grant Guidelines and the Expression of Interest application form.
Expressions of Interest must be submitted by Friday 28 April 2017. Successful applicants from this first stage will be invited to submit a full grant application by 7 July 2017. Grant recipients will be advised in November. 
About the Defence Health Foundation
The Defence Health Foundation is wholly funded by Defence Health Limited, private health insurer to the Defence community since 1953. The Foundation was established in 2010 and has awarded grants annually since 2011, totalling over $2.3 million to date in past distributions and current commitments.

Further enquiries should be directed to the CEO, Chris Grigsby on (03) 8679 1120 or to the Foundation Coordinator, Donna Ware on (03) 8679 1122, or email info@defencehealthfoundation.org.au

Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund - information

Please see details below for the Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund. 

Some notes from the MRO:  
  • The application requires a signed letter of support from your Department that gives details of any in-kind support etc. 
  • Section G of your application needs to be completed by the director of the Monash Research Office, Halina Oswald. To arrange this signature, applications need to be entered into Pure, with a signed Departmental letter of support, before 31 March. 
  • Applications in Tier 2 need matching funds
  • Intending applicants are requested to notify the Medical and Health Sciences team (mhs@monash.edu).
The Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund aims to support those in the early stages of health and medical research to translate their work into health and economic outcomes. 
The competitive program leverages funding from philanthropic, industry and international sources. It's designed to capitalise on Victoria’s comparative advantages in medical research, increase the efficiency of the Victorian health system and further enhance the Victorian economy’s investment attractiveness.
Round 1 applications are now open.
Who can apply
Applications will be accepted from collaborations or partnerships between:
·         health services
·         industry
·         medical research institutes
·         education institutes

Available funds

The Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund will provide $3 million per annum to help address current market gaps and deliver rewards for research. Funding is divided into two tiers.
Tier 1 funding is for proposals up to $100k. It supports early stage innovations including discovery research, clinical research and health practice, or an idea or innovation to attract peer review funding or investment by industry.
Tier 2 funding is for proposals up to $500k. It supports a small number of research proposals to ‘fast track’ translation into health and economic outcomes. Matching funding will be required to demonstrate capacity to collaborate and undertake research that has a clear pathway to translation.
How to apply
For more information and to apply:
Download the application form and guide which includes the selection criteria.
Applications close 14 April 2017.  The MRO compliance check closing date is 31 March 2017.  Intending applicants are requested to notify the Medical and Health Sciences team (mhs@monash.edu).
Announcements will be made in May 2017.

2017 Ramaciotti Health Investment Grants - EOI due 30 March

As trustee of the Ramaciotti Foundations, Perpetual would like to advise that applications are now open for the 2017 Ramaciotti Health Investment GrantsPlease visit the Perpetual website to view the 2017 guidelines for the awards.

Ramaciotti Health Investment Grants of up to $150,000 are awarded to individuals in universities, public hospitals or institutes for a contribution towards the undertaking of health or medical research, with the potential path to clinical application within five years.

Health Investment grant is intended to provide enabling research support for an autonomous early career investigator who is taking, or has recently taken, a substantive position.
As Monash may only submit a maximum of three applications across the University (including from our affiliates), there will be an expression of interest (EOI), review, and ranking process for applications.

Intending applicants are required to prepare an EOI using the attached template and submit to the Faculty Research Office (medicine.research@monash.edu) by no later than 5:00PM (AEDT) on Thursday 30 March 2017.


Applicants will be notified whether they have been selected to proceed to full application on or soon after 15 April 2017.

Travel Awards - Fourth World Congress of Reproductive Biology, Okinawa, Japan (27 - 29 Sept, 2017)

The Society for Reproduction and Development (SRD) is hosting the Fourth World Congress in Reproductive Biology (WCRB) in Okinawa, Japan, from Wednesday 27th September to Friday 29th September 2017 http://www.wcrb2017.jp/. The WCRB was established in 2008 to provide a forum for basic and clinical reproductive biologists from all around the globe to meet and exchange cutting edge ideas and research findings, and is jointly organised by 6 international societies in partnership; the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR, USA), Society for Reproductive Biology (SRB, Australia), Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF, UK), Chinese Society of Reproductive Biology (CSRB, China), Korean Society of Animal Reproduction (KSAR, Korea), and SRD (Japan).

The Congress hosted by the Society for Reproduction and Development (SRD) aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their interests, experiences and research findings about all aspects of reproductive biology. The Congress will provide plenary lectures, interdisciplinary symposia and oral and poster sessions for all the participants to present and discuss the recent trends and concerns in the field of reproductive biology. This year the Congress will also host a Sponsored Symposium, “Genome Editing in mammals”.

The Okinawa main island is one of the most beautiful islands in the world, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, with nature, a peaceful atmosphere, historical places and Ryukyuan cuisine. The island has an international airport and also easy access from most of the international airports in Asia.

In order to help promote attendance at this conference, the Society for Reproductive Biology (SRB) is offering 10 awards (up to AUD $2,000 per recipient) to contribute towards travel to its members. In total ten awards will be offered to either ECR members (those in their final year of their PhD up to 8 years post-PhD) or MCR members (those up to 15 years post-PhD). It is anticipated that these will be highly competitive. Information regarding the application process will be posted on the SRB website shortly. The deadline for applications will be Monday 27th March 2017 (the final date for submitting abstracts for consideration at the Congress is Friday 24th March). Successful recipients will be informed by Monday 24th April, well before the deadline for WCRB early-bird registration (4th Aug, 2017). Applicants may only apply for this award if they are not applying for travel awards from any of the other reproductive societies participating in the WCRB.  


To view the guidelines and/or download a copy of the application form, please click here 

Save the Date ‐ 2017 MNHS Graduate Research Supervisor & Staff Forum, 2 May

Tuesday 2 May, 9am - 12pm, Monash Club, 32 Exhibition Walk (previously building 50), Clayton Campus

The Associate Dean (Graduate Research), Professor Nellie GeorgiouKaristianis, warmly invites you to attend the Faculty’s Annual Graduate Research Supervisor and Staff Forum.

The Forum aims to cover important topics, including:
o   What changes have been recently made in graduate research?
o   What does our current graduate research landscape look like?
o   What are the Faculty’s latest strategies in graduate research?
o   Intellectual Property – why it’s important and who owns the research
o   Monash Doctoral Program – what’s new including myDevelopment

Who should attend?
All supervisors of graduate research students are strongly encouraged to attend. 

The forum provides an opportunity to learn more and become familiar with these important matters, and hear directly from the experts on how they affect your role. Come along to learn this valuable information and network with your colleagues.

Other important information
Morning tea provided – please advise when registering if you have any dietary requirements.

Note that this forum will be held in the morning with the Science-Medicine Affinity Workshop (including lunch) to follow immediately after from 12-3pm on the Clayton Campus – this event is coordinated by the Research Team in the Faculty Research Office with registration details to be announced shortly.


If you have any difficulties accessing the registration site or have any queries, please contact us at med-research.degrees@monash.edu or 990 54313. Unfortunately video conferencing facilities are not available (we are limited as during semester) however, we aim to circulate presentations to those who are unable to attend.


Academic Promotion Information Sessions and Outside Studies Programme (OSP)

Information sessions are scheduled for academic staff who wish to apply for academic promotion this year. We strongly encourage you to attend a faculty information session if you are considering applying for promotion. We invite female staff to attend the Academic Promotion Information Session for Women.

Additionally, applications are now open for the Outside Studies Programme (OSP) 2017 round. Please see below for further details.

ACADEMIC PROMOTION INFORMATION SESSIONS

View all session dates, times and venues on the information sessions web page. For information session at Clayton campus, please register your attendance here by 5:00 PM on 23 March 2017; for information session at the Alfred Hospital, please register your attendance here by 5:00 PM on 27 March 2017.  

If you have any questions, please visit the academic promotion website, visit ask.monash for FAQs or call Access HR on 9902 0400.

OUTSIDE STUDIES PROGRAMME (OSP) – ROUND OPEN

OSP 2017 Round Dates for applications: Monday 20 March 2017 to Monday 17 April 2017

OSP allows you time out of your busy schedule to enhance your development, extend the body of knowledge in your chosen field or improve your research performance.

We invite you to apply for OSP to take in Semester 1 or 2, 2018.

 A few things to remember when you submit your application:
·         We encourage you to discuss your OSP application with your performance supervisor before making a submission.
·         You can apply online for OSP via the University’s e-recruitment system (Rex). Please select the appropriate Faculty application form from the list provided.
·         You do not need to obtain formal sign off from your performance supervisor and Head of Unit/Department/School. We will forward your application for approval on your behalf.
·         Applicants are to attach their CV and ensure that their leave dates include two weeks of annual leave.
·         OSP applications require a focussed research plan with published feasible outputs. Part of your OSP plan may include conference attendance and presentations, however, for the purposes of OSP, papers are not considered published outputs. 
For more information about how to apply for OSP, faculty-specific information, guidelines and reporting requirements, please visit the OSP web page. Before you apply, please read the revised Procedure.

 Frequently asked questions:


If you have any questions, please visit ask.monash for FAQs or call Access HR on 03 9902 0400.

SCS-Hudson ERC lunch and welcome mixer, 28 March

Be sure to book a place for the upcoming welcome event as numbers are limited!

There will be short presentations on funding opportunities and it's a great chance to meet with other ECRs. Lunch is catered.

Register at: https://my.monash.edu.au/news-and-events/bookings/mmcbs/view/194785/ 





STEM ECRs: Top 5 Under 40

The University of New South Wales and ABC Radio National have teamed up once again for Top 5 Under 40 - an initiative which provides emerging researchers in STEM disciplines the opportunity to communicate developments in scientific research.

The Top 5 win a two-week media residency in Sydney at Radio National. Two of the 2015 winners have gone on to present new ABC podcasts: Cosmic Vertigo and Dear Science. One of last year's winners was our very own Nij Lal.

Applications open: Friday 10 March
Applications close: Friday 21 April (midnight)
Judging panel for 10 shortlisted applicants: Tuesday 30 May
Top 5 winners announced: Thursday 8 June
Media residency at ABC RN in Sydney: Monday 3 July - Friday 14 July

Who can apply for the Top 5 under 40 program?
Top 5 Under 40 is open to early-career researchers working in Australian universities and research organisations across science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medical research. To be eligible for the scheme, you need to be under the age of 40 – see the online application form for full details of the entry criteria

If I am shortlisted, where will the interviews be conducted?
Up to 10 applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed by Skype.

Will support be provided for Top 5 winners who live outside of Sydney to take part in the two-week media residency at ABC RN's studios?
Yes. Any of the five winners based outside of Sydney will be eligible for travel, accommodation and expenses for the two-week residency in July.

For further information contact Steve Offner, UNSW Media Office, media@unsw.edu.au 


The competition's welcome page can be found here: https://www.unsw.edu.au/top5under40

Lost earring

Have you found a lost earring?  A large gold hoop earring with Swarovski crytals  was lost by a staff member on Thursday 9th March at Monash Medical Centre.  It has tremendous sentimental value.  If found, please contact Donna Shaw (donna.shaw@monash.edu)

2017 CiiiD seminar series commences 4 April

The first CiiiD seminar for 2017 will be on April 4th and will be presented by Professor Paul Hertzog.

The seminar will be held 1-2pm in Seminar Room 1 of the TRF.

Centre for Reproductive Health monthly meetings

The Centre for Reproductive Health (CRH) is launching our monthly mini-symposium meetings on Tuesday, 4 April 2017.  Each session will feature research presentations and journal presentations relating to the areas listed.  If you are interested in participating please contact the convenor listed or Kate Loveland.  We would be delighted to have your attendance and involvement.

The meetings begin at 12.30pm (Hudson Level 3 Boardrooms) with a light lunch and conclude at 4pm.  



CRH Mini Symposium Meetings 2017

Dates
Theme and Convenor(s)
4 April 2017
Cell Signalling: 
Dr Peter Stanton and Dr Liza O’Donnell
2 May 2017
Immunology in Reproduction: 
A/Prof Mark Hedger
6 June 2017
Germ Cells: 
Prof Kate Loveland and Prof Jock Findlay
4 July 2017
Extracellular Vesicles – new paradigms for cell-cell communication: 
Prof Lois Salamonsen
1 August 2017
Biology of Gender Differences: 
Dr Joo Lee and Dr Rachel Hill
5 September 2017
Contraception and Implantation: 
Prof Eva Dimitriadis
3 October 2017
Placenta and Pregnancy:
A/Prof Guiying Nie
14 November 2017
IVF: 
Dr Tracey Edgell
5 December 2017
TBC:  Annual CRH and IRTG Melbourne Health and Reproductive Biology Workshop

PhD Pre-Submission Seminar / Final Review, Muideen Olaiya, 24 March


All staff and students are invited to Muideen Olaiya's final review seminar.

Friday 24 March, 10-11am, Level 6, TRF

Thesis title: Benefits and barriers to the implementation of a chronic disease management program in survivors of stroke. 

Synopsis: My PhD is aimed at determining the effectiveness of a comprehensive, coordinated, and individualised management program for secondary prevention in people with stroke or transient ischaemic attack. 


Supervisors: Prof. Amanda Thrift, A/Prof. Dominique Cadilhac, and Prof. Velandai Srikanth.
Panel Chair: Dr Joohyung Kim 


Independent assessors: A/Prof. Vijaya Sundararajan (University of Melbourne) and A/Prof. Peter Tipping (Monash University)

Lilly Diabetes Pipeline Presentation, Professor Robert J. Heine, 23 March 8am

This Thursday, 23 March from 8-9am, at the Diabetes Centre, Special Medicine Building, the Diabetes Unit Educational Meeting will host a live videoconference from the headquarters of Lilly Pharmaceutical in Indianapolis, IN, delivered by Dr Robert Heine.

Professor Robert J. Heine is Distinguished Lilly Scholar, Lilly Diabetes, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, and Honorary Professor of Diabetes, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Robert J. Heine joined Lilly Diabetes in January of 2008. He was the Vice President Global Medical Affairs for Lilly Diabetes until 2014. In his current position he is responsible for the medical strategy, global medical education and external research and development.

Before joining Lilly he was Professor of Diabetology in the Department of Endocrinology and director of the Diabetes Centre at the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam.

Dr Heine has held several key positions within the EASD, including Honorary Treasurer and member of the Executive Committee, and was President of the Organizing Committee for the 2007 Meeting of the EASD, Amsterdam.
Dr Heine has served as Associate Editor of Diabetic Medicine, and has been a member of the editorial boards of several diabetes journals. To date, he has (co)authored more than 400 peer-reviewed papers and reviews.

Hudson Seminar Series, "Chromosome structure, genome instability and disease", Thurs 23rd March 12-1pm

This week's Hudson Seminar will be held, Thursday 23rd March 2017 at 12.00pm to 1.00pm in Seminar rooms 1 & 2, Level 2, TRF Building.
The speaker will be Dr. Damien Hudson, Joint Head of Chromosome Research at Murdoch Children's Research Institute.

A light lunch and refreshments will follow the presentation. 

PhD candidature review, Nadia Bellofiore, "The reproductive profile of the female spiny mouse across a lifespan", 27 March

All staff and students are invited to Nadia Bellofiore's mid-candidature review.

2.30pm, Monday 27 March, Seminar Room 3, TRF level 2.

Presentation title: The reproductive profile of the female spiny mouse across a lifespan

Synopsis: Nadia's research focuses on the reproductive biology of female spiny mice, an African rodent species. She discovered the spiny mouse is the first rodent species to naturally menstruate, and is currently determining how similar this species menstrual cycle is to women's. 

Supervisor Name: Dr Hayley Dickinson, A/Prof Peter Temple-Smith


Shared Medical Appointments workshop 13 May, 2017

Become an ASLM Registered SMA Practitioner or Facilitator by attending the Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) workshop and follow-up assessment on Saturday 13th May 2017, 9.30am-4pm.


Traditionally, medical consultations have been carried out in a 1:1 situation; an ‘expert’ (doctor) consulting with one patient. This has served us well, and still does with injuries and infectious diseases. But the rise in chronic diseases with the modernisation of society has dramatically altered the clinical landscape.

Also known as ‘Group Visits’ or ‘Group Medical Appointments’ in the US, an SMA is, “A series of consecutive individual medical consultations in a supportive group setting where all can listen, interact, and learn.” As such an SMA is a both an individual consultation and a group education session.

SAVE THE DATE: Women in leadership program, 17-18 May 2017


PARTICIPANTS NEEDED TO TAKE PART IN A DIABETES CLINICAL TRIAL

 ARE YOU:
  • A pre-diabetic OR have type 2 diabetes (diet-controlled or taking Metformin only)
  • Aged between 18 and 70 years
  • Someone with no significant weight change in the last 6 months or have no intention to lose weight in the next 3 months
  • Not taking other regular medications
  • Someone with no significant diseases that require treatment
  • A non-smoker, non-drug user, non-high alcohol intake
  • Not lactating, pregnant or planning to be in next 4-6 months
  • Living in Melbourne


WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?
     $100 visa card or gift card of your choice as a token of appreciation
 Free Diabetes and Cardiovascular risk assessment
 Free body fat and muscle assessment (around $200 value)
 Free Fibroscan to assess condition of your liver
 Free routine blood tests
 Free cognitive tests

 This study involves up to 5 visits over a period of approximately 14 weeks and takes place at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton. Medical certificates can be provided when needed.
For further information, or to take part, please contact Josphin Johnson @ 0385722629 or Email: med-carnosineir@monash.edu

(This study has approval from the Monash Health Human Research Ethics Committee–Project Number 16061A).

Interleukin-17RA Promotes Humoral Responses and Glomerular Injury in Experimental Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis

Joanna Ghali et al. published in Nephron.

Read article here.

Diffusion and Perfusion MR Imaging in Acute Stroke: Clinical Utility and Potential Limitations for Treatment Selection

Ronil Chandra et al. published in Topics in magnetic resonance imaging.

Read article here.

Obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to enlarged Virchow-Robin spaces: A rare cause of pulsatile tinnitus

Tony Goldschlager et al. published in World Neurosurgery.

Read article here.

Pregnancy Outcomes and Insulin Requirements in Women with Type 1 Diabetes Treated with Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion and Multiple Daily Injections: Cohort Study

Helena Teede et al. published in Diabetes technology & therapeutics.

Read article here.

The lower airway microbiota in early cystic fibrosis lung disease: a longitudinal analysis

David Armstrong et al. published in Thorax.

Read article here.

Innovative Approaches to Hypertension Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Amanda Thrift et al. published in Cardiology Clinics.

Read article here.

A rapid monocyte response team

Michael Hickey published in Blood.

Read article here.

A quality improvement initiative to reduce central line infection in neonates using checklists

Kenneth Tan et al. published in the European Journal of Pediatrics.

Read article here.

Evaluation of a Commercially Delivered Weight Management Program for Adolescents

Maxine Bonham et al. published in The Journal of Pediatrics.

Read article here.

Early- versus Late-Onset Fetal Growth Restriction Differentially Affects the Development of the Fetal Sheep Brain

Suzie Miller et al. published in Developmental Neuroscience.

Read article here.