The Pope receives Peter Ebeling's report

Last Thursday in Rome, CEO and President of the International Osteoporosis Foundation presented the Pope with Peter Ebeling's ground-breaking report Osteoporosis in men - why change needs to happen.

Watch Peter's video here!

MHTP success in latest NHMRC funding announcement

The Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) received nearly $16 million to lead 26 research projects in last week’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding announcement – the second largest amount given to a research precinct in Australia.

Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbott MP and Federal Health Minister the Hon. Peter Dutton MP, announced the NHMRC grants across six schemes worth more than $539.8 million last Friday.

Peter Ebeling leads latest research on osteoporosis

WOD international
spokesperson, Peter Ebeling

October 20 is World Osteoporosis Day (WOD), the beginning of a year-long campaign that raises awareness about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the debilitating bone disease.

SCS Department of Medicine Head, Professor Peter Ebeling is a Board member of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), the peak body at the forefront of research in this field.  Professor Ebeling is the author of the latest IOF report, Osteoporosis in men - why change needs to happen.

MHTP Translational Research Facility building update

The construction of the Monash Health Translation Precinct - Translational Research Facility (MHTP-TRF) is progressing well and is ahead of the scheduled program.

All structural slabs have now been completed and the building façade will be arriving on site thisweek for installation. The construction of the hospital link bridge between MMC and the new TRF will commence in late October, while the link bridge to the research building will commence in December. 

Last week, Monash Health Chief Executive Ms Shelly Park, MIMR-PHI Institute Director and CEO Professor Bryan Williams, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health Professor Eric Morand  and MIMR-PHI Institute Chair of Board Dr Bob Edgar were included in an official site visit to inspect the progress of the building.

A traditional 'Topping Off' ceremony also took place last Friday to celebrate the completion of the roof.

$30m funding will boost biomedical research

A multi-million dollar initiative supported by government will see Monash University and CSIRO work in partnership to boost bio-medical research and business in Australia.

Led by Monash and CSIRO, the Biomedical Materials Translation Facility (BMTF) is expected to have a particular focus on drug delivery, diagnostics and medical devices in a bid to help diagnose and treat chronic cardiovascular, cancer, ophthalmic and other diseases.  Full story here.

David Kissane to present latest research on demoralisation at International Psycho-Oncology Society

Professor David Kissane, Head, Department of Psychiatry, will attend the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) 16th World Congress and Psychosocial Academy 20 – 24 October, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Founded in 1984, the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) was created to foster international multidisciplinary communication about clinical, educational and research issues that relate to the subspecialty of psycho-oncology and two primary psychosocial dimensions of cancer:

1. Response of patients, families and staff to cancer and its treatment at all stages;
2. Psychological, social and behavioral factors that influence tumor progression and survival.

SCS and Monash Health recognised at Victorian Public Healthcare Awards

Professor Euan Wallace received the Health Lifetime Achievement Award at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards ceremony held last week. This award is the highest honour for an individual in recognition of their dedication, commitment and achievements in health.

Euan has dedicated his professional life to excellence in obstetrics and improving the quality of care for women and babies.

He has personally cared for 7,000-8,000 women during their pregnancies at Monash Health, as well as authoring more than 214 published research papers and holding numerous administrative portfolios across Monash Health, the Victorian Government and Monash University.

Other Award recipients included The Monash Health Emergency Care Team: bottom up meets top down leadership to revolutionise emergency care, who received a Premier's Award for advancing healthcare – putting patients first (highly commended).

And the Minister for Mental Health's Award for delivering innovative alcohol & drug or mental healthcare winner was the Monash Health Agile Psychological Medicine Team, Dr Melissa Casey and Professor David Clarke.

Congratulations to all!

Our own Dr Megan Brown receives top award

A former Monash University medical student has received the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) Bryan Hudson Medal.

Dr Megan Brown, who now works at Monash Health, received the medal for best overall performance in the 2014 RACP Written and Clinical Examinations in Adult Medicine.

The medal is named in honour of the late Dr Bryan Hudson AO FRACP, President of the College in 1982-1984. Dr Hudson was an outstanding physician, teacher and administrator.

Professor Peter Ebeling, Department of Medicine at Monash University, said it was both a singular honour and great distinction for Dr Brown to be awarded the medal.

“I am particularly delighted as the award is named in honour of Professor Bryan Hudson AO who was the inaugural Professor of the Department of Medicine at Monash Medical Centre, which I now lead as its fifth Head. Professor Hudson was also an internationally renowned endocrinologist; a brilliant teacher and researcher; and went on to become President of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians amongst many other prestigious career achievements.”

Dr Brown, who graduated from Monash in 2010, said receiving the award was a great honour.

“I feel overwhelmed and very blessed. This award really reflects the hard work that had gone into the BPT training program at Monash Health. It reflects the amazing teaching and support we receive from our consultants and the incredible people I have had the privilege to study with. I also praise God for the incredible support I have had from my family and friends who have encouraged me and prayed for me throughout the study process.”

The presentation of awards and medals will take place at the annual College Ceremony, which in 2015 will take place in Cairns QLD.

John Desmond Prize success

Benjamin and Alton

This week we congratulate two outstanding Year 3 MBBS students from our School for their notable achievements in the recent John Desmond exam.

Benjamin Chosich and Alton Hong placed equal first and equal third in the highly competitive exam earlier this month.

The prestigious John Desmond prize is the Faculty award for occupational medicine. A total of 327 students sat the exam this year across the entire Year 3 MBBS cohort, including all metropolitan sites, Victorian rural and Malaysian campuses.

Benjamin receives a half share of the $1000 prize money for his equal first place and Alton receives $200 for his equal third place in the exam.  

Congratulations Ben and Alton on your achievement, everyone at SCS wish you well for the future! 

NHMRC Standard Equipment Grants for 2014 - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

NHMRC Standard Equipment Grants are now open for application and we have been advised that a sum of $699,792.36 has been allocated to Monash University for 2014.  

The NHMRC has clearly defined objectives for awarding Equipment Grant funding, which are:

• The need for institutions to be strategic in the purchase of larger items of equipment that will benefit health and medical research in Australia; 

• Institutions are encouraged to support equipment that will be used collaboratively; and

• Where possible, Australian-made equipment should be purchased.

 Submission Process

All applications should be submitted electronically to the Faculty Research Office (medicine.research@monash.edu) by 11:55PM on Wednesday 19 November 2014.

LATE OR INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.  HARD COPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

ARC Australian Laureate Fellowships - Wednesday 26 November Closing Date Announced

Applications for ARC Laureate Fellowships will open in RMS this Wednesday 15 October and close 5pm on Wednesday 26 November.

  1.     Please find here the Funding Rules and Changes to Funding Rules document.

2. The MRO intranet page for Laureate Fellows (http://intranet.monash.edu.au/researchadmin/arc/arc-laureate-fellowships.html) will be updated asap. We will be posting any updates, certification and coversheet forms, as well as templates to assist you with completing your application on this page once Instructions to Applicants are released on Wednesday.
3. Updates will also be sent to the FL mailing list - sign-up here: http://intranet.monash.edu.au/researchadmin/arc/arc-updates.html
4. ​​Please direct any questions that you have to the ARC Pre-award team at arc@monash.edu

Partnership for Clean Competition - Grants and Fellowships

The Partnership for Clean Competition is a grant-making organization founded in 2008 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity by the United States Olympic Committee, United States Anti-Doping Agency, Major League Baseball and the National Football League. Every day, the PCC acts to protect the integrity of sport and public health by engaging and supporting the world’s top scientists and innovators in high-quality anti-doping research and development. The first two rounds have already awarded more than $3M to support anti-doping research. Funding decisions are made within 8 weeks and since 2008 have ranged from $10K to more than $400K, depending on the nature of the research and the funding needed. 

The PCC is accepting applications for grants and fellowships for the third funding round of 2014. Pre-applications are due on 1 November 2014, with full applications due a month later for those whose pre-applications are accepted.   

Funding Rules for ARC Discovery Program Now Available

The Funding Rules for ARC Discovery Program have been released and are attached.  These include rules for the following schemes:

• Australian Laureate Fellows
• Discovery Projects
• DECRA
• Discovery Indigenous

Applications for Australian Laureate Fellows will open in RMS2.0 on Wednesday 15 October and close on Wednesday November 26.  Dates for all other schemes are TBC.Further information available here.

Please also note that we have no information on when the Future Fellowships rules will be released.

Due to Linkage Projects currently open, we would prefer that questions regarding any of the Discovery Program schemes be directed by email to arc@monash.edu and one of the team will respond to you as soon as possible.  

Funding opportunity: VicHealth Innovation Challenge - Alcohol

VicHealth have announced the opening of the VicHealth Innovation Challenge  - Alcohol. Through the Challenge, they are ​ hoping to improve the drinking culture in Victoria by funding bold new ideas that aim to either:

• Reduce the amount of alcohol Victorians drink, particularly those that drink heavily, or
• Increase the social acceptability of moderate drinking

There’s up to $300K in funding to share among a handful of successful projects. 

CID presentation 21 October at 12pm: 'Cancer immuno-therapy: inflammation reactive Treg and non-inflammatory nanovaccines.'

Presented by Professor Magdalena Plebanski, Department of Immunology, Monash University

Medicine Seminar Room located on Level 5, Block E MMC

Monash Care- Doctors` Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Wednesday 22 October, 12.30pm

Special guest, the Hon. Jeff Kennett AC, Chairman of Beyondblue

Special presentation by Dr Steve Ellen on work-life balance.  Details here.

Wednesday 22 October 2014, 12.30pm -1.30pm 

Main Lecture Theatre, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton

Light lunch served from 12pm

NHMRC third annual Research Translation Faculty symposium, 12-13 November in Melbourne

NHMRC is holding its third annual Research Translation Faculty symposium in Melbourne on 12 and 13 November.

The theme of the symposium is “Achieving better health outcomes for Australians living with chronic conditions through more effective research translation”. It will feature presentations and workshops delivered by leading researchers and clinicians with the shared goal of better translating the results of research to help with the ever-increasing burden on the health care system that chronic conditions can generate.

Visit the RTF symposium website for further information and to register. You can also find the full program for the RTF symposium online. 

Scream Healthy Bones for Halloween Appeal

Osteoporosis Australia is running an Appeal in October – Scream for Halloween - to raise funds for osteoporosis prevention and increase bone health awareness in Australia. 


To donate, please go to: http://screamhealthybonesaustralia.gofundraise.com.au/

OHS update

1. Essential OHS Training for Staff in Supervisory and/or Management Roles

Essential OHS (OHS for Managers and Supervisors is mandatory for all staff with management and/or supervisory responsibilities. All staff have the responsibility to ensure that the work they oversee and participate in is carried out in ways that safeguard the occupational health and safety (OHS) of themselves and others in their charge including students and contractors they are supervising or managing.  This course provides managers with an understanding of OHS legal requirements and the principles of effective management of this function. For the convenience of the staff in these roles, this course will be held on site. Please watch this space for details.

2. Victoria WorkCover Authority’s Health and Safety Week

Thought-provoking speakers will join industry leaders to explore a range of issues challenging workplaces as part of VWA Health and Safety Week, beginning in Melbourne on 20 October.

BeyondBlue chairman Jeff Kennett, explosives expert Darren Flanagan - who helped save miners trapped in Tasmania’s Beaconsfield mine disaster in 2006 - and cultural and demographics commentator Bernard Salt will provide keynote addresses at the event.

All Victorian employers and workers are encouraged to reserve a seat now.

For further details about VWA Health and Safety Week events, or to register your attendance, please visit www.healthandsafetyweek.vwa.vic.gov.au. 

MMC Site Alerts: New pedestrian walkway/Bus stop relocation

Please note the following changes at MMC Site due to constructions works.

New Pedestrian Walkway- Northern Entry (Block B)
A new pedestrian walkway has been created linking Browns Road North Car park, the New Multi-Deck car park to the Hospitals Northern Entry (Block B)


What is happening? A pedestrian walkway has been created to link the Northern Entrance with the existing pathway leading up to the CRC and Browns Road North car park.
The new walkway has been installed to provide an off-road path for staff and visitors, segregated from vehicles parked in this area and travelling on the roadways.