PhD opportunities with Monash Partners

Monash Partners has 2 PhD opportunities:

• Consumer and Community Involvement Implementation Research for Impact
• Strengthening trust and engagement with populations at risk of COVID-19 and other diseases

The COVID PhD is in partnership with the Victorian Department of Health in the pilot of a translational research PhD fellowship program; $23,000 top-up funding will be provided per student per year for 3 years.  

University staff vaccination status for renewing Authorised Worker Permits

Sent on behalf of Dr Eugene Fredericks, Manager, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health

All Monash University Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences staff with Authorised Worker permits received an e-mail from Monash HR on 12 October 2021, and we draw your attention to the urgent and important requirement for you to show evidence of your vaccination status by 15 October (Friday) so that you can continue to work onsite at a Monash University Site or healthcare facility.  

Your permit will be invalid from 15 October 2021 until you provide evidence of your vaccination status through Monash’s Vaccinate Monash form.

As outlined by the Chief Human Resources Officer, Monash Authorised Workers must provide evidence of their vaccination status through Monash’s Vaccinate Monash form before 15 October. You will no longer be authorised to attend work with your permit if you do not comply with these requirements and confirm your COVID-19 vaccination status.

MNHS Authorised Workers working in healthcare facilities

Additionally, the Victorian Chief Health Officer has released a direction on mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers outlining clear requirements for COVID-19 vaccination for all staff that enter a Victorian Health Service site from 15 October. 

If you do not meet these requirements you will not be able to attend a healthcare facility from 15 October 2021.  To access healthcare sites, you will need to follow the instructions of your healthcare site regarding providing evidence of your vaccination status for their systems, as well as submitting your proof of vaccination to the University. 

Monash staff without an Authorised Worker Permit

All other staff are working from home until 5 November, or when the state reaches 80% double vaccination, and will receive further information about  providing evidence of their vaccination status in line with Victoria’s Roadmap and with the University’s Roadmap to Reactivation.

Information for Hudson staff who receive this message:

1. Hudson Institute has issued Authorised Worker Permits to its staff. Staff with Hudson-issued permits should follow the instructions of Hudson.
2. There are a number of Hudson staff who hold fractional paid appointments at the University. In this case, as the University needs to capture information for all of the staff on its payroll, your assistance in submitting this information to cover your University appointment is required, please. 

COVID-19 Human Movement Data

COVID-19 isn't going away. In recent weeks, we have seen spikes in cases worldwide. According to the Wall Street Journal on 10/13/20 "U.S COVID-19 Hospitalization Hit Highest Level in Nearly Six Weeks" WSJ

Monash Health Foundation COVID-19 Research Fund Grant for COVID-19 pneumonia treatment research

Congratulations to Dr Atul Malhotra, on receiving a Monash Health Foundation COVID-19 Research Fund Grant for his research on treatment for COVID-19 pneumonia.  Read full story here

COVID-19: The steroids that are helping seriously ill patients survive

Recently, we learnt that COVID-19 can be beaten. For the first time there is an evidence-based treatment for this disease, and it’s a low cost medicine that can be accessed in most places on the planet.  Read full story here.

Halting the Oxford vaccine trial doesn’t mean it’s not safe – it shows they’re following the right process

Only days after the federal government announced a A$1.7 billion vaccine deal to roll out COVID-19 vaccines to Australians in 2021, one of the two candidates has halted its phase 3 trials after a participant became ill. Read full story here

Research Australia Report - The impact of COVID-19 on health and medical researchers

The report from Research Australia on The impact of COVID-19 on health and medical researchers was officially launched yesterday. This report is a compilation and analysis from their national survey of over 1200 researchers. Further information are available at the Research Australia website. 

Weekly COVID-19 Research Continuity Q&A Sessions

Due to the implementation of Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne, the Faculty has decided that the Research Continuity Q&A sessions will be held on a weekly basis until further notice. Calendar invites will be circulated accordingly.

Department of Health grant helps Monash researchers to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of immunisation services in Australia

A/Prof Michelle Giles

Congratulations to Associate Professor Michelle Giles on receiving a $20,000 grant from the Department of Health to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of immunisation services in Australia.

COVID -19 Human Movement Data - Reopening

Now that states are opening up, Gabriel Scott wanted to reach out and see if there is any collaborative interest in analyzing human movement data. UberMedia is one of the largest aggregators of mobile location data from mobile devices in the US, and globally. UberMedia is looking to provide assistance for COVID-19 research, particularly around social distancing.

Masks update on behalf of the MNHS COVID-19 Task Force

As you will already know, people living in metropolitan Melbourne, and the Mitchell Shire, will be required to start wearing face masks when out of the home from tonight (22 July 2020) at 11.59pm.

The University has updated its advice for the use of face masks for staff working on-campus.

Reminder - Impact of COVID-19 - Survey

Sent on behalf of Professor Eric Morand and Professor Elizabeth Hartland

Dear friends and colleagues,

Thank you to those who have taken the time to complete this survey to help us understand the impact of COVID-19 on you and your work..  If you have not completed this survey, we ask that you please take a few minutes to do so via link HERE by Monday 27 July 5pm.

University and Faculty position on use of masks

As you're aware, the Victorian Government advises that adults living in areas under Stage 3 restrictions wear a face mask when outside home if it is difficult to keep 1.5 metres apart from other people.

Ferring grant helps identify the factors involved in natural conception of infertile couples

Congratulations to Dr Fabrizzio Horta on receiveing the Ferring COVID-19 Investigational Grant in Reproductive Medicine and Maternal Health.

Impact of COVID-19 - Survey

Sent on behalf of Professor Eric Morand and Professor Elizabeth Hartland

Dear friends and colleagues,

Today we want you to take a few minutes to help us understand the impact of COVID-19 on your work.

World-first clinical trial using umbilical cord blood cells to treat COVID-19

L-R: Dr Atul Malhotra, Professor Graham Jenkin
Leaders of the study

In a world-first, hospitalised patients with COVID-19 at a Melbourne hospital will be infused with umbilical cord blood cells as part of a clinical safety trial to test the potential new treatment.

Victorian Government Announcement of COVID-19 Research Investment

On 11 May 2020 the Victorian Government announced further investment of $8 million into research that aims to understand the immediate and potentially longer-term impacts of COVID-19. This is in addition to $4 million in COVID-19 research funding announced on 3 March 2020. The total package of $8.56m comprises programs of funding for biomedical research, cohort studies into the long term impacts of COVID-19 and health services research projects to enhance models of care.

Invitation to participate in our survey – The impact of COVID-19 on research

Research Australia is working with its members across the pipeline to compile a comprehensive report for Australian governments to fully understand:

COVID-19 'Free to Access, Access to Free' e-resources

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of content providers are offering temporary free access to scholarly content and collections (removing paywalls), or offering free access to their content on platforms where Monash is already a subscriber (free to subscribers).

Responding to Public Enquiries on COVID-19 'Cures'

Public interest in research has increased as a result of COVID-19, and many of our researchers are receiving a higher volume of queries from the public.

The Faculty have developed a standard response to help make it quicker for you to respond to queries from the public, approved by the Universities media and legal teams. Please see the COVID-19 intranet page.