Associate Prof Jake Shortt receives Cancer Council Victoria funding for research into leukaemia and lymphoma treatments

Associate Professor Jake Shortt

Congratulations to Associate Professor Jake Shortt, Head of Haematology Research in the School of Clinical Sciences, who is the recipient of a Cancer Council Victoria 2020 Grants-in-Aid. The Cancer Council Victoria’s Grants-in-Aid program funds high-quality research projects into the treatment, causes, detection and prevention of all cancers.

Head of Haematology Research starts at MHTP

Associate Professor Jake Shortt

Monash University and Monash Health are excited to announce renowned haematologist Associate Professor Jake Shortt will lead haematology research in a newly created role at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP).

  

Associate Professor Shortt is clinical lead for leukemia and myelodysplasia at Monash Health and principle investigator on a number of leukemia and bone marrow disorder studies within the clinical trials unit.

“My scientific research focuses largely on lymphoma, leukaemia and myeloma and with our increased understanding of what drives these diseases at a molecular level, we can now rationally target the survival pathways and abnormal genetic programs operating within cancer cells,” said Associate Professor Shortt.

Most recently, Associate Professor Shortt’s research has involved combining drugs that work on epigenetic pathways with immune-modulators.

“If the DNA of a cell is its hardware, epigenetic pathways constitute the software, and software is re-programmable with drugs,” he explained.

“Epigenetic drugs can change or kill cells in such a way that they become more visible to the immune system and therefore you can prime a patient’s tumour and immune system concurrently to gain major therapeutic responses.”

“It is no exaggeration to say we have seen miraculous responses in the clinic at Monash, using approaches gleaned from our laboratory-based research.”

Until recently a Senior Research Fellow at Peter Mac, Associate Professor Shortt has relocated to MHTP to be at the ‘coal face’ of translational research, allowing him to conduct basic scientific research in tandem with clinical trial activity.

“It is a very exciting time in haematology and cancer biology at the moment,” said Associate Professor Shortt.

“We are seeing a revolution in our understanding of tumour biology at the genomic and epigenetic level.  Concurrently there has been a paradigm shift in the therapeutic application of immuno-oncology.”

In his new role at MHTP, Associate Professor Shortt plans to further develop his pre-clinical and translational research rationally, applying targeted therapies within appropriate genomic and epigenetic contexts.

“This new role will better allow me to link these concepts with clinical trial activity and from a broader perspective I would like to develop Haemato-Oncology at Monash into an internationally competitive program, building the academic reputation of both the Haematology department and Haematology research at the School of Clinical Sciences.”

“The major advantage Monash Health and the MHTP has over other cancer hospitals is its proximity to patients, and I feel I am taking my science to where the patients are, in an area of real growth and potential.”

“I’m really excited about the prospects at Monash—being embedded in a state-of-the-art facility with a really positive and progressive group of clinician scientists is a recipe for success,” added Associate Professor Shortt.

“We have an unprecedented opportunity to stake a claim in the future of haematology and cancer medicine in Victoria.”

Monash patients benefit from blood cancer drug for autoimmune disease

Publication authors Prof Stephen Opat,
Dr Sumita Ratnasingham and
Assoc Prof Jake Shortt at the
ASH Annual Meeting
3 December 2016

In a world-first, a Monash University study has shown an anti-myeloma drug to be an effective treatment against a range of autoimmune diseases affecting the blood.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TPP) is one such disease—a rare blood disorder characterised by clotting in small blood vessels. TPP causes microscopic clots to form throughout the body that can damage organs including the kidneys, heart and brain.

“At Monash, we were the first ever to use bortezomib (an anti-myeloma drug) in a patient with TPP,” said lead researcher and Monash Health haematologist Associate Professor Jake Shortt.

“Further to the patient’s full recovery and our New England Journal paper about this in 2013, we have successfully used bortezomib in a number of patients with a range of nasty autoimmune diseases affecting the blood.”

Presented as a case series, Associate Professor Shortt’s research was published this week in the inaugural issue of Blood Advances, a new peer-reviewed journal published by the American Society of Hematology and the first journal to join the Blood family in 70 years.

“If you consider that leukaemia and lymphoma are cancers of the immune system and that autoimmune disease is caused by an overactive immune system, you can rationalise that anti-lymphoma drugs could be good for autoimmune disease,” said Associate Professor Shortt, who is also Head of Haematology Research at the Monash Health Translation Precinct.

Associate Professor Shortt said that the subsequent use of bortezomib in ten Monash Health patients was carried out ‘off label’ through compassionate access—a real credit to Monash Health’s attitude towards drug availability for patients in need.

“Although our paper is a case series rather than a clinical trial, we have observed high response rates with minimal toxicity,” said Associate Professor Shortt.

Associate Professor Shortt presented an abstract of this work at last year’s American Society of Hematology annual meeting, and it was subsequently listed in the Cleveland Clinics top 10 most compelling 2015 benign haematology abstracts.

The article published in Blood Advances was also distributed to 27,000 delegates at the American Society of Hematology's Annual Meeting in San Diego last weekend.

Associate Professor Jake Shortt and co-authors recognised for research excellence

Assoc Prof Shortt

Clinician Researcher at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP), Associate Professor Jake Shortt and his co-authors are recipients of the 2015 Joseph Sambrook Award for Research Excellence.

The Sambrook Award is awarded to the researchers at Peter Mac who were the principal authors of a paper considered by an independent panel to be the 'best' published from Peter Mac in a peer-reviewed journal over the two previous calendar years (in this instance, 2013 and 2014).

The criteria for award are research excellence, actual or potential clinical impact and work considered to be of 'paradigm shifting' nature.

Until a few months ago a Senior Research Fellow at Peter Mac, Associate Professor Shortt relocated to MHTP to be at the ‘coal face’ of translational research, allowing him to conduct basic scientific research in tandem with clinical trial activity.

Associate Professor Shortt is now running a translational research group in malignant haematology at the MHTP and is clinical lead at Monash Health for leukaemia and myelodysplasia.

The paper for which Associate Professor Shortt received the Sambrook Award is: The drug vehicle and solvent, N-methylpyrrolidone is an epigenetic immunomodulator and anti-myeloma compound. Cell Reports 2014; 7:1009-19.

“Our paper reports the surprising discovery that N-methylpyrrolidone, which has been used to formulate a wide variety of drug preparations for many years and had been considered relatively biologically inert, has significant activity in a preclinical myeloma model,” said Associate Professor Shortt.

“We explored the mechanism and identified that NMP has immunomodulatory activity and modifies gene expression through an epigenetic mechanism and this work has since led to a Phase I clinical trial of NMP in refractory multiple myeloma and a drug development program that aims to produce more potent anti-cancer agents based on NMP.”

Monash University research uncovers potential of new clinical trial for lymphoma patients

Dr Jake Shortt

Researchers at Monash University have shown a novel anti-lymphoma therapy is remarkably effective against one of the most aggressive B-cell lymphomas.

Published in the prestigious journal Leukemia and led by Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s Dr Gareth Gregory, the research is part of an ongoing collaboration with Monash University’s School of Clinical Sciences(SCS).

According to Cancer Council Australia, lymphomas are the most common form of haematological or blood cancer in Australia, and the sixth most common form of cancer overall.  

The incidence of lymphomas has more than doubled over the past 20 years and is continuing to rise, for no known reason.

“Certain B-cell lymphomas carry a cancer causing gene called ‘Myc’, said research collaborator Dr Jake Shortt, co-senior author and Adjunct Senior Lecturer, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health.

Monash research into myeloma receives generous donation

Associate Professor Jake Shortt, Dr Zahra Sabouri-Thompson
and Mr Russell Bode

A generous donation by a former myeloma patient will directly fund research into the disease at the Monash Health TranslationPrecinct.

Mr Laurence ‘Laurie’ Bode sadly passed away from myeloma in July 2016.  Keen to make a difference and improve outcomes for myeloma patients, Laurie’s family identified Monash University’s Associate Professor Jake Shortt as a leader in myeloma research.  The family has recently bequeathed his laboratory $100,000.

Associate Professor Shortt is a Monash Health haematologist and Head of the Blood Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory, Monash University at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP).   

“The Bode family reviewed the work we are doing in myeloma at the MHTP and wanted to fund a 'discovery project' looking for new treatments,” Associate Professor Shortt said.

Laurie Bode with his grandchild

“Their generous donation has enabled us to dedicate a full time scientist, Dr Zahra Sabouri-Thompson, to myeloma research, specifically aiming to discover how to 'drug' new targets in the myeloma cell.”

A former Electronic Warfare practitioner with the Department of Defence, Laurie had always enjoyed solving complex problems and approached his disease in the same way.  

Laurie’s brother and estate executor, Russell Bode, said Laurie hated not being in control of the outcome of his disease and the aim of the donation is to enable research into a curative solution.

“After the birth of his first grandchild in 2015, Laurie was adamant that a cure for cancer would be found, and it need not have the same crippling impact on future generations,” Russell said.

“Laurie’s generosity demonstrates his desire as an engineer to solve problems like myeloma, and not accept the fact the disease doesn’t have a cure.”

“His normal approach to complex issues in his electronic warfare engineering career was to thoroughly research the issue, and apply his no fuss practical innovative problem solving capability to a neat solution,” Russell said.

Laurie’s family are hopeful that the BloodCancer Therapeutics laboratory team will help find that solution.

Associate Professor Shortt said he is extremely grateful to the Bode family for helping translate his laboratory’s discoveries to new treatments in the clinic.

Professor Jake Shortt appointed Acting Head, Department of Medicine

Professor Peter Ebeling AO is delighted to announce that Professor Jake Shortt will be taking on the role of Acting Head of the Department of Medicine effective immediately until 2 November 2022.  This follows the announcement last Friday from Professor Eric Morand that Professor Ebeling will be Acting Head of School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health whilst he goes on six months' sabbatical leave. Professor Shortt will now be the primary point of contact for all Department of Medicine enquiries and approval processes.

Please join us in welcoming and supporting Professor Shortt as he takes on this important role whilst also continuing as Head of Haematology Research and clinical lead at Monash Haematology for myeloid leukaemia, myelodysplasia and T-cell lymphoma.  He is also Principal Investigator on a range of clinical trials for T-cell lymphoma and myeloid malignancies, conducted through the Monash Haematology clinical trials unit.

Ms Ruth Fantozzi will be supporting Professor Shortt as Executive Assistant to the Head of Department of Medicine and can be contacted via email (ruth.fantozzi@monash.edu) for any Department-related matters.

Associate Professor Jake Shortt receives SERP grant for myeloma research

Congratulations to Associate Professor Jake Shortt, Head of Haematology Research at the School of Clinical Sciences and Clinical Lead at Monash Haematology, on receiving the Leukaemia Foundation's Strategic Ecosystem Research Partnership (SERP) grant.

MHTP hosts Myeloma Australia event

Laura Jones, Dr George Grigoriadis, Dr Michael Low,
Associate Professor Jake Shortt, Elli Foley

Myeloma Australia welcomed over 60 people with myeloma, their families and friends to their "Monash Myeloma Update" last weekend.

Held for the first time in collaboration with Monash Health and Monash University, the half day event took place in the Translational Research Facility (TRF) at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP).

Associate Professor Jake Shortt presenting

Myeloma Australia support nurses Laura Jones and Elli Foley said the audience was excited to hear from leading speakers including Dr George Grigoriadis, Associate Professor Jake Shortt, and Dr Michael Low.

"Topics were well received and involved disease overview, treating myeloma and living well, and research updates specific to the MHTP," Laura said.

Monash Health acknowledged internationally as Myelodysplasia Center of Excellence

Associate Professor Jake Shortt

Monash Health in affiliation with Monash University has been approved as a "Myelodysplasia (MDS) Center of Excellence" by the International MDS Foundation.

Associate Professor Jake Shortt said the application was supported by publications from the Grigoriadis/Banerjee lab and from several papers by Dr Zoe McQuilten and Associate Professor Erica Wood using data linkage to ascertain patterns of MDS in Australia.

“We are also a frequent lead Australian site in recruitment to MDS clinical trials, several of which are currently recruiting at the MHTP,” said Associate Professor Shortt, Head of Haematology Research and clinical lead for MDS and Leukaemia at the Monash Health Translation Precinct.

The Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation was established by an international group of physicians and researchers to provide an ongoing exchange of information relating to MDS. 

To be recognized as an MDS Center of Excellence, an institution must have:

• An established university (or equivalent) program
• Recognized morphologic expertise in MDS
• Available cytogenetics and/or molecular genetics
• Ongoing research, including Institutional Review Board-approved clinical trials
• Documentation of peer-reviewed publications in the field

Associate Professor Shortt said he looks forward to progressing the acute leukaemia strategy as the next goal in the MDS and Leukaemia program at MHTP.

Monash haematologist recognised for leading myeloma research

Associate Professor Shortt

Monash haematologist and researcher Associate Professor Jake Shortt was awarded the prestigious Myeloma Australia prize for the top preclinical myeloma research presentation at the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HAA) meeting in Adelaide last week.

Associate Professor Shortt is clinical lead for leukaemia and myelodysplasia at Monash Health and Head of Haematology Research at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP).

At the HAA annual meeting, Associate Professor Shortt presented his new research findings in the Presidential Symposium. 

“My research group has discovered a new epigenetic mechanism of action for thalidomide analogues, which are used widely in the clinic to treat myeloma,” said Associate Professor Shortt.

“Despite many years of clinical use, and the infamous causation of birth defects over half a century ago, the way thalidomide worked at a molecular level was unknown for many years.”

By looking at the way certain genes change in myeloma cells after thalidomide treatment, Associate Professor Shortt’s group identified that the thalidomide analogues target a key epigenetic ‘reader protein’ for destruction.   This impairs the ability of a myeloma cell to access critical regions of DNA.

“MHTP through the Department of Haematology was very well represented at the HAA meeting, with seven oral and 18 poster presentations,” added Associate Professor Shortt.

Also an acknowledgement of the research strength at the precinct, Unit Head of Clinical Haematology at Monash Health, Associate Professor Stephen Opat was appointed President of the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ).

Cancer patients to benefit from Victorian Cancer Agency funded research at MHTP

Associate Professor Jake Shortt

Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) researchers received close to $4.5 million in grants in the latest Victorian Cancer Agency (VCA) funding round, announced last Friday.

Of the eleven projects supported through the VCA, four will be led by Monash University’s School of Clinical Science researchers.

MHTP Head of Haematology Research, Associate Professor Jake Shortt received nearly $2 million to lead a clinical trial in collaboration with the Alfred's Myeloma Research Group investigating a new cancer treatment for Victorian myeloma patients.

“Our patients will receive a unique therapeutic antibody called MDX1097 that recognises a molecule only present on the surface of myeloma cells, and not normal cells,” said Associate Professor Shortt.

“The most exciting recent advance in myeloma treatment is the introduction of immune therapies targeting myeloma cells—and we’re hoping our immune therapy MDX1097 will also make a significant impact.”

Monash University Senior Research Fellow Dr Arun Azad and Hudson Institute’s Associate Professor Ron Firestein also received $2 million to determine whether particular prostate and colorectal cancer patients will respond to a new class of cancer drug known as BET inhibitors.

“Our clinical trial, to be undertaken at the newly opened Clinical Trials Unit at MHTP, is the first in the world to look at the association between patients with a particular biomarker known as long non-coding RNA and the potential benefit of BET inhibitors,” said Dr Azad who is also a Consultant Medical Oncologist at Monash Health.

Professor Terry Haines and Professor Helen Truby, Head of Department of Nutrition and Dietetics were awarded $300,000 to examine different approaches for delivering an accelerated nutrition support program for patients with stomach or oesophageal cancer.

Director of Research at Southern Physiotherapy Clinical School, Professor Haines said he hopes to deliver programs to improve body weight and quality of life for those newly diagnosed with stomach or oesophageal cancer.

Regional and rural Australian cancer patients will also benefit from MHTP research aiming to improve palliative care expertise outside metropolitan cities.

Director of Supportive and Palliative Care at Monash Health, Associate Professor Peter Poon received $141,000 to lead a telehealth project to deliver earlier specialist palliative care to rural cancer patients, especially those with difficult-to-manage symptoms.

“Working together with rural medical practitioners, our project will lead to improved care planning, carer support and multidisciplinary management,” said Associate Professor Poon.

Monash leads Federal Government’s NHMRC project grant funding

Professor William Sievert

The Federal Minister for Health, The Hon Sussan Ley announced on Saturday that Monash University had topped the funding in this year’s project grants awarded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Monash is to receive a total of $78.7 million, including $62.7 million in project grants. 

The School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) and Hudson Institute of Medical Research together received 15 of the Faculty’s 64 grants, totalling $10.7 million in new funding for CIA researchers.

Monash Health nephrologist Associate Professor Kevan Polkinghorne received more than $1 million for his project that will study the impact of fish oil supplementation on reducing cardiovascular disease events in dialysis patients. 

“If proven beneficial, it will represent an easily accessible and inexpensive novel therapy to improve the lifespan of dialysis patients,” said Associate Professor Polkinghorne.

Nearly $500,000 awarded to Head of Haematology Research at the Monash Health Translation Precinct, Associate Professor Jake Shortt brings hope to multiple myeloma patients.    

“Thalidomide-like drugs (called IMiDs) are an essential treatment for multiple myeloma, a common incurable blood cancer,” said Associate Professor Shortt.

“We have discovered that IMiDs destroy proteins that myeloma cells use to ‘read’ cancer-causing genes in their own DNA.”

“We will investigate how important the destruction of these ‘gene readers’ is in myeloma cells, including patient samples—also setting up future studies targeting ‘gene readers’ using IMiDs in combination with other targeted drugs in clinical trials.”

Patients suffering liver cirrhosis are also expected to benefit from nearly $400,000 awarded to Professor William Sievert.

“Globally, liver cirrhosis is the sixth most common cause of life-years lost to premature mortality and deaths due to liver cirrhosis have increased by over 45% between 1990 and 2013,” said Professor Sievert, Director of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit at Monash Health.

“We propose a phase 1 clinical trial of human amnion epithelial cells (hAEC), a placental stem cell derived from the fetus, in patients with compensated cirrhosis.”

“Our ultimate goal is to develop hAEC as a therapy that will reduce fibrosis in cirrhotic patients at risk of disease progression and this therapy has the potential to decrease the global burden of disease and death due to cirrhosis and its complications.”

Professor Paul Hertzog, Director of the Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research received more than $1.3 million for his research into interferons (IFNs), a family of proteins with critical roles in infectious and inflammatory diseases and cancers.

Professor Hertzog said that currently we do not understand why there are so many type I IFNs, their different functions and how they are achieved. 

“This project will determine at a fine molecular level how different IFNs interact with molecules on target cells and transmit particular signals. We will focus on a novel IFNe that we discovered and these studies will underpin the development of new therapies.”

Congratulations to all researchers (listed below) at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) who received grants or fellowships in this latest round.   Read full details of their grants HERE.

Dr David Scott

Professor Stephen Holdsworth

Associate Professor Jake Shortt

Professor Paul Hertzog

Professor Michael Hickey

Professor William Sievert

Associate Professor Evdokia Dimitriadis

Associate Professor Ron Firestein

Dr Colin Clyne

Associate Professor Mark Hedger

Dr Peter Stanton

Professor David Walker

Professor Philip Bardin

Dr Miranda Davies-Tuck

Associate Professor Kevan Polkinghorne

Dr Michelle Tate

Dr Jacqueline Boyle

Professor David Nikolic-Paterson

Internationally-recognised haematologist leads world-first clinical trial to fight blood cancers

A world-first clinical trial and research into a new drug class to fight blood cancers has earned Dr Jake Shortt a competitive Victorian Cancer Agency (VCA) Fellowship worth $750,468 over four years.

The Eva & Les Erdi Snowdome / VCA Fellowship will enable Jake to investigate awakening dormant genes to help the immune system fight blood cancers.

Talking lymphoma with Associate Professor Jake Shortt

Listen to Monash University's Associate Professor Jake Shortt talk about lymphoma research.

15 September was World Lymphoma Awareness Day.  See the Leukaemia Foundation's site for more information.

Monash haematology research showcased at ASH Scientific Meeting in North America

Dr Sumita Ratnasingam with poster at
the ASH in Orlando, Florida.

An abstract presented by Monash Haematology Research Fellow Dr Sumita Ratnasingam at the American Society of Haematology (ASH) Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Florida last week has been selected for the "2016 Highlights of ASH in North America".

Published this month in Blood, the abstract Bortezomib Yields High Response Rates in Antibody-Mediated Autoimmune Hematological Diseases Refractory to Conventional Immunosuppression, is a collaborative research study led by Monash researchers including Dr Rathasingam, Associate Professor Stephen Opat and Associate Professor Jake Shortt.  Other contributors included collaborating clinicians from the Alfred, Monash and Peninsula Health.

“The authors describe the first case series of bortezomib use in autoimmune hematological disease,” said co-author Associate Professor Shortt.

“Building on an initial case from Monash Health that was reported in the New England Journal of Medicine (Shortt et al, NEJM, 2013; 368: 90-2), the anti-cancer drug bortezomib has now been successfully repurposed in a range of non-malignant immune-mediated diseases.”

Bortezomib was designed to kill myeloma cells—these arise from the part of the immune system that makes antibodies.

In autoimmune disease, antibodies from non-cancerous plasma cells are produced and these can attack normal tissues, including blood cells.

“On this basis, we have now used bortezomib ‘off-label’ to reduce antibody production in autoimmune disease, and it appears to be both effective and well tolerated,” added Associate Professor Shortt.

The novelty of this work merited selection showcasing in the ‘Highlights of ASH in North America, 2016’ program, which provides a re-cap of ‘stand out’ abstracts from the ASH meeting.

Investigators at Monash Haematology and the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health are currently developing a trial protocol in which to formally test this approach prospectively in patients.

Monash haematology leading new investigator research in Australia

Dr Danielle Oh, Dr Olga Motorna, Dr Allison Mo

Monash haematologists have been recognised by the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ), with the award of three competitive New Investigator Scholarships.

Monash Health haematology trainees Dr Olga Motorna, Dr Danielle Oh and Dr Allison Mo each received prestigious scholarships worth $60,000 to support their PhD projects at Monash University and Melbourne University.   Only seven scholarships are awarded across Australia and New Zealand.

Under the supervision of Professor Erica Wood,  Dr Zoe McQuilten and Associate Professor Jake Shortt, Dr Mo will undertake epidemiological and clinical studies investigate anaemia in the elderly Australian population.

“Although anaemia is common in the elderly (and rising with an ageing population), and the elderly receive more blood transfusions for treatment of anaemia than younger patients, we currently don’t have detailed epidemiological data describing the burden of anaemia in the elderly Australian community, risk factors or the consequences of anaemia on health outcomes,” Dr Mo said.

Consequently there is a lack of data to guide treatment of anaemia and provide guidance on the appropriate use of blood transfusions in the elderly.

MHTP Clinical Trials Centre a unique Australian resource

Clinician researchers at the newly opened MHTP Clinical Trials Centre celebrated International Clinical Trials Day last Friday.

Held on 20 May, the event commemorates the day that James Lind began his trials into the causes of scurvy.  Lind's experiments in 1747 on board the HMS Salisbury were run under very different conditions to today.

The state-of-the-art Clinical Trials Centre (CTC) at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) provides a ‘home base’ for Monash Health clinician-scientists to conduct early, mid and late phase clinical trials.  Supported by a dedicated clinical trial pharmacy and pathology centre, the CTC pharmacy and pathology staff understand the specific requirements of trial protocols. 

Clinical Trials Centre team at MHTP

”The CTC provides a resource that is available nowhere else in Australia,” said Clinical Lead for the MHTP Clinical Trial Centre Professor William Sievert.

The Centre includes access to chairs for study subjects requiring timed infusions of investigational new drugs and overnight facilities for participants in detailed pharmacokinetic studies.

“Every detail is watched over by clinical trial nurses who ensure that trial protocols are strictly followed while providing care for their study subjects,” said Professor Sievert, who is also Director, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Monash Health and a Research Group Head in the Centre for Inflammatory Diseases at Monash University.

Since opening late last year, 416 patients have visited the CTC, participating in 83 different clinical trials from 12 trial units, including haematology, oncology, lung & sleep, gastro/liver, diabetes, infectious diseases, gastro IBD, rheumatology, neurology, stroke, emergency and endocrinology. 

“Our clinical research group is focused on treatment for viral hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma in addition to care pathways for patients with end-stage liver disease,”said Professor William Sievert.

“We have taken part in studies that have developed new, non-interferon based therapy for hepatitis C that cures more than 90% of patients who are treated.” 

MHTP clinician-researchers are also starting studies that will look at curing hepatitis B, which currently can be controlled but not cured. 

Head of Haematology Research at SCS and consultant haematologist at Monash Health, Associate Professor Jake Shortt is involved in clinical trials for patients with cancers of the blood and bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

"We use trials as a means to access promising medications for patients in need where they may not be available through the PBS."

Associate Professor Shortt said that in haematology there are a lot of new and effective high cost drugs that are not necessarily available. 

"These drugs often provide a more effective alternative to conventional treatment, including 'chemo-free' regimens. Our studies seek to improve treatment outcomes in patients while saving the hospital system money at the same time."

Medical Oncologist and Head of Phase 1 Clinical Trials Group Dr Ben Markman runs clinical trials in cancer patients, testing new drugs that are early in development.

"We look at the safety of these compounds and how the body reacts to and handles the drugs," said Dr Markman.

"We provide opportunities for cancer patients where there may be no other options or the existing options are inadequate."

 "The MHTP and CTC provides a state-of-the art facility that allows patients to be treated safely and comfortably on these clinical trials."

A truly translational facility, the CTC tackles all phases of trials.

“We have multiple units utilising the floor; we are just not giving Chemo,” said MHTP Clinical Trials Centre Manager Ms Cheryl Coleman.  “We started out with 5 and currently have 11 with two more starting soon with us.”

The CTC provides a hybrid model of care, with both primary and team nursing utilised. The space is shared, as is the experience and skills of the staff.

“We offer a one stop shop: outpatient consults, treatment areas, a dedicated trials pharmacy and a dedicated trials lab all on the same floor,” said Ms Coleman.  

             

The CTC at MHTP accepts trials from Monash Health, Monash University and the Hudson Institute will soon commence work for commercial businesses wanting to bring their technology to the patients.

Monash Haematology research recognised at HAA

Associate Professor Wood
delivering the Ruth Sanger Oration

Research at Monash Haematology was recognised and awarded at the HAA Annual Scientific Meeting in Melbourne last month, attended by around 1500 national and international delegates.

The event is the combined scientific meeting of the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ), Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion (ANZSBT) and the Australasian Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

The prestigious Ruth Sanger Oration was awarded to Associate Professor Erica Wood, Monash Health haematologist and Head of Monash University’s Transfusion Research Unit. The award is the highest honour of the ANZSBT made in recognition of a significant contribution to the field of transfusion medicine.

Associate Professor Wood was recognised for her research, teaching, service to the ANZSBT and international work.

“It was a great honour to receive the award and deliver the Ruth Sanger Oration,” said Associate Professor Wood.  “My oration focussed on the role of haemovigilance systems in improving the safety of clinical transfusion in our region and internationally.”

“While our blood supplies in Australia and New Zealand are very safe, we still have a lot of work to do about how we use blood in our hospitals – human error is responsible for many of the serious adverse events related to transfusion,” said Associate Professor Wood.

Associate Professor Wood is a member of the World Health Organization expert advisory panel on transfusion medicine, Vice-President of the International Society of Blood Transfusion, and President of the International Haemovigilance Network. In these roles she has worked for more than 20 years to improve blood safety nationally and internationally. 

“We are privileged to have a transfusion expert of Associate Professor Wood’s calibre and international reputation championing patient blood management at Monash Health,” said Associate Professor Jake Shortt, Group leader at the Monash Health Translation Precinct.

Monash Health haematologist and Monash University PhD student Dr Ashwini Bennett received the HSANZ New Investigator scholarship. This highly competitive award of $60,000 enables Dr Bennett to continue her PhD at Monash Health and Monash University, where she is investigating novel markers of thrombosis.

Other recognition included an oral presentation by Monash Health haematologist Dr Sumita Ratnasingam, whose research focuses on mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Dr Ratnasingam’s study compared the safety and efficacy of first line immunochemotherapy (ICT) regimens in treating elderly patients with MCL.

“MCL accounts for 6% of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma and is a fairly aggressive disease with an expected survival of less than five years,” said Dr Ratnasingam.

“Despite the median age of diagnosis being 60-70 years, there is a paucity of treatment guidelines or clinical trials for elderly MCL to guide our management, resulting in varied treatment strategies and outcomes.”

Dr Ratnasingam undertook a retrospective audit of elderly MCL (elderly defined as age 60 or above) patients in four Victorian tertiary hospitals. The results confirm that typical older patients with MCL benefit from the same therapies normally reserved for younger patients.

Monash clinicians and researchers had 20 abstracts accepted for oral and poster presentations at the Annual Scientific Meeting.    

Monash University’s Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor Stephen Opat is the current President of the HSANZ and was the convenor of the meeting and chair of the local organising committee with many other Monash Haematology staff members, including Associate Professor Shortt, Associate Professor Wood and Dr Zane Kaplan.

An overview of Associate Professor Wood’s lecture can be found here: http://thelimbic.com/haematology/clinical-transfusion-practice-in-australia-could-be-safer-sanger-oration

International award and fellowship for Monash haematologist will improve outcomes for lymphoma patients

Dr Gareth Gregory

Monash haematologist Dr Gareth Gregory has been recognised as an international expert in aggressive lymphoma, recently receiving the European Hematology Association Clinical Research Training in Hematology Award.

Following a highly competitive application process, Dr Gregory was one of only 15 international early career academic haematologists selected who demonstrated success in clinical research.  Only two were awarded to recipients outside Europe.

The Award consists of three workshops in Europe over the next nine months, where Dr Gregory will network with world-leading haematologist clinician-researchers to hone clinical trial design and execution.

“I have a passion for translational research in order to improve outcomes for patients afflicted by blood cancer,” Dr Gregory said.

“My interest in this field has led to a number of clinical and preclinical projects, including my PhD research in which I identified novel oncogenic dependencies of aggressive lymphoma.”

“Recent translation of my findings has led to an international phase I clinical trial of new therapies at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) to treat aggressive lymphoma.”

This award provides Dr Gregory with the opportunity to learn from global leaders in the haematology research community, with the ultimate aim of creating successful investigator-initiated clinical trials to run from the MHTP to benefit Australian patients.

In further success, Dr Gregory has also been awarded the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) Early Career Practitioner Fellowship for 2018.

“This fellowship bridges the difficult divide between award of a PhD and eligibility for other early career funding opportunities,” Dr Gregory said.

“The fellowship will enable me to consolidate my role as a clinician-researcher within the MHTP and to create a comprehensive lymphoma translational research group to complement the expanding haematology and oncology presence in the precinct.”

“I am very excited to be working alongside leading researchers in this area including Professors Segalov and Southey and Associate Professors Shortt and Azad.”

Dr Gregory said all of these opportunities are the result of the vision to expand haematology clinical and research activities within Monash Health and Monash University and none would have been possible without the personal mentorship from Unit Head, Professor Stephen Opat, and his PhD supervisor Associate Professor Jake Shortt. 

“I am very excited for the continued growth of these services and the bright future for haematology research within the Monash network.”