 |
| Dr Poh Yi Gan |
Read article here.
Thursday, 14 May 2015
Cytokines: Names and Numbers You Should Care About.
Read article here.
Does fetal growth restriction lead to increased brain injury as detected by neonatal cranial ultrasound in premature infants?
Atul Malhotra, Graham Jenkin and Graeme Polglase published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.Read article here.
Monday, 11 May 2015
Monash-led research team announces latest advice about SIDS
 |
| Professor Horne |
The most up-to-date information for parents and healthcare
professionals about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and infant safety while
sleeping was published last month in the prestigious journal, The BMJ.
The international clinical review led by The Ritchie
Centre’s Deputy Director, Professor Rosemary Horne reveals the latest advice
and recommendations against a background of currently confusing guidelines.
“Although the incidence of SIDS has more than halved after
public health campaigns publicised the known major risk factors in the early
1990’s, SIDS remains the leading cause of unexpected death in infants in
western countries,” said Professor Horne.
According to most recent statistics, 2671 infants died from
SIDS in the United States in 2010 and there were 50 deaths in Australia in
2012.
“In the last thirty years it has become well known that
sleeping position (face down on the stomach) is the major risk factor for SIDS,
and parents have generally accepted this and sleep their baby on their backs”
said Professor Horne.
New Monash University Department of Imaging created at Monash Health
 |
| Professor Stuckey |
Established in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash
Health (SCS), the new Department of Imaging, will enhance existing Monash Health
and Monash University facilities and expertise.
Director Diagnostic Imaging and Head of MRI at Monash Health, Professor Stephen Stuckey will be the new Head of the Department of Imaging.
“The new Department brings Monash
Health imaging into line with the majority of other clinical departments in formalising
a relationship with the university,” said Head, School of Clinical Sciences at
Monash Health Professor Eric Morand.
“Furthering the imaging education of undergraduate,
postgraduate and vocational healthcare professionals will be a key focus of the
Department.”
"This exciting formal union of Monash Imaging with a
new University Department of Imaging is a major
milestone that will result in tangible benefits for patients, the
community we serve and researchers," said Professor Stuckey.
"Monash Imaging at Monash Health is a
premier academic department with abundant quality research talent," added Professor Stuckey, "the new
University Department of Imaging will facilitate, coordinate and augment Monash
Imaging teaching and research efforts."
“In collaboration with clinical colleagues, the Department
will also undertake research in advanced imaging technologies to aid the
understanding and treatment of a range of human diseases, including developing
and improving imaging practice,” said Professor Morand.
The combined imaging staff of Monash Health and Monash
University, including academic clinical researchers, industry partners and
support staff will be the first Australian facility of its kind or scale to be
located in both clinical and translational research facilities.
“By providing a unified platform, the new Imaging Department
will facilitate and recognise imaging and its multifaceted roles in today's
healthcare,” added Professor Morand, “assisting Monash Health and Monash University
to secure their positions as leaders in the field of imaging and healthcare.”
Dr Connie Wong receives "John Casley-Smith Travel Award"
Congratulations Dr Connie Wong, who won the "John Casley-Smith Travel Award" at the Australian and New Zealand Microcirculation Society (ANZMS) conference in Leura this month.
"It is now increasingly accepted that stroke results in
impairment of the immune system, and this contributes to the associated life-threatening
sequelae of overwhelming infection," said Connie.
"We were the first to directly image
and describe the activities of the peripheral immune system in living mice
after stroke."
Connie recently performed a pilot human study and revealed
similar stroke-induced immune impairment in stroke patients.
Based on her findings, she proposed a more selective modulation of
the immune system following stroke could be
beneficial.
"Indeed, identifying a new and better targeted approach
to reduce bacterial infection in stroke patients will bypass the growing
problem of antibiotic resistance, ultimately improving patient outcomes."
Connie will use the award ($1500) to present at the World Congress for Microcirculation in Kyoto, Japan this September.
Minister for Industry and Science visits MHTP
Industry-research collaboration making gains for
Australia.
Advances in Australia’s science and research infrastructure are laying
the platform for significant community and economic benefits, Minister for
Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane said last week while visiting three
cutting-edge facilities at Monash University and the Monash Health Translation
Precinct (MHTP), illustrating the advantages of greater research and industry
collaboration.
Mr Macfarlane said the Computer Aided Virtual Environment (CAVE2), the
Monash Centre for Additive Manufacturing, and the Translational Research Facility
(TRF) being constructed at the MHTP are examples of the diverse range of fields
in which Australian researchers have a competitive edge.
“These facilities at Monash University’s
Clayton campus and the Monash Health Translation Precinct provide crystal clear
examples of the type of collaboration the Australian Government wants to
encourage across all of the economy, because they are turning world-class
scientific research into real-world and commercial applications,” Mr Macfarlane
said.
Get your flu vaccinations
Influenza is a communicable
disease and about 3,000 people, generally very vulnerable, children or elderly
with compromised health die each year in Australia as a result of influenza. If
you get the flu, you can get sick and can spread the flu to others at home, at
work, and in the community.
To reduce the risk of illness
for yourself and others Monash Health is offering free flu
vaccinations from Tuesday 5 May 2015.
Venue: Infection Control
Unit, Clayton hospital (on level 2 and through the corridor
beyond Seminar Room 3 and opposite the hospital Social Services Office).
Day/Time: Monday -
Friday/7:15am - 4:00pm*
If you have any questions
please contact the Infection Control Unit on 959 42623.
Australia's Biggest Morning Tea
You are invited to join the Centre for Endocrinology and the School of Clinical Sciences for the 2015 Australia's Biggest Morning in support of the Cancer
Council of Victoria.Thursday 28th May in the level 4 Seminar Room. Details attached here.
Grand Rounds- Emergency - 13 May 2015
Presented by Professor Andis Graudins, "Pharmacological management of acute behavioural disturbance: Old drugs - new evidence"
Date:
Wednesday 13th May 2015
Time:
12.30pm to 1.30pm
Venue:
Main Lecture Theatre, Monash Medical Centre,
Clayton
Details here.
MIMR-PHI seminar 14 May:Tyrosine kinase signalling networks in human cancer
 |
| Professor Daly |
This week's MIMR-PHI
Seminar will be held from 4pm-5pm, Lecture Theatre 1, Monash Medical
Centre. The speaker
will be Prof Roger Daly - Head, Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology, Monash University.
Talk title: "Tyrosine kinase signalling networks in human cancer".
More details here.
Light refreshments to follow presentation outside the Lecture Theatre.
Centre of Inflammatory Diseases (CID) Seminar - TOMORROW
Invited speaker Dr James Vince will be presenting:
"Dissecting the ripoptosome: a novel driver of inflammatory disease?"
Tuesday 12 May, 12-1pm in the Medicine Seminar Room
Level 5, Block E, MMC
NGS solutions for tiny amounts of starting DNA/RNA as well as the very latest targeted genomic, transcriptive & epigenetic approaches
The seminar will cover a range
of the very latest techniques using NuGEN’s innovative solutions for:RNAseq - SPIA using 500pg RNA
RNAseq - Selective depletion
Target enrichment, genomic, transcriptomic and epigenetic solutions
Attend for a chance to win a free NGS project! Flyer attached here.
WHEN: Thursday 14 May 2015
TIME: 12.30PM - 1.30PM. Lunch will be provided for registrants
WHERE: Board Room, Level 3, MIMR-PHI Building
So you want to get your story out there? How do I publish my news in the media?
The outlet
From the newspapers to Crikey, each news organisation has science writers trawling through dozens of story ideas each day. Science media
outlets like the Conversation, New Scientist and Cosmos will have a different
target audience, so choose your outlet wisely. Who are the readers - who do I
want to target? Is the editor going to give you final say over your article? Browsing through the science articles in these outlets will give an
indication of how they write.
The pitch
The pitch is just like an abstract submission, only cooler.
It's a couple of hundred words with an eye-catching title that will stop people
in their tracks. It has a brief outline, structured with the conclusion at the
beginning. Which is why scientists find it hard to write for the news!!!
The process
At SCS, Katherine Greenberg will take you through the whole
process, from writing the pitch to editing articles, if need be. Katherine will
also give you advice about how to handle a media interview and support
and guide you if you’re faced with TV crews chasing you down the corridor (when
you’ve discovered the next big cure).
Adding finesse
What jazzes up a news article is images, and people (and
anything else you can think of). Katherine can help you source or produce good
images to accompany your story. And by including a storyline in the article
about the researchers, or the students, or most importantly, the people
affected by the research, the article will gain a human angle making it much
more attractive to publishers.
By Clare Westhorpe, your ECR rep
Three Minute Thesis Competition Registration Deadline: TODAY at midnight
The Three Minute
Thesis (3MT) Competition is an opportunity to promote your research and
challenges you to develop skills in explaining your project succinctly and in
an engaging way to a general audience.All SCS students are encouraged to participate in this fantastic event. Participation by MIMR-PHI (Dept Molecular & Translational Sciences) students is mandatory unless supervisor permission to opt out is given (as per 2014); participation in all other Departments is determined locally. Heats are to be organised at Dept/Centre level, with 1-3 students per Centre/Dept proceeding to the School final*. Centre / Departments heats are to be completed prior to 30 July.
This year the MIMR-PHI Student Society will host a School of Clinical Sciences Final for all PhD students in week 1 or 2 of August, with the winner to compete in the Faculty final on August 21st (1-2:30 pm).
Great prizes will be on offer for students competing in the School Final, including a new SCS Travel Grant, additional cash prizes for the top ranked students (selected by supervisors) and a Peoples Choice Award of $100. There will be additional prizes for students ineligible to progress to the Faculty MNHS Final (those who have not completed their Confirmation milestone prior to the end of August 2015).
Online registration required for Monash students entering (only eligible students can enter) closes at midnight Monday, 11 May 2015.
http://intranet.monash.edu.au/migr/seminars/events/3-minute-thesis/
Preparing competitive PhD student scholarship applications
Dr. Jen Scott, Faculty Manager,
Research Degrees, will run a H1E and scholarship (RASSA) training session for
supervisors on Thursday May 14th at 9:30-10:30 am in the MIMR level 2 meeting
room.
This is particularly relevant for staff intending to support
student applications in the mid-year (deadline 30 May) and end-of-year
(deadline 30 October) application rounds.
Postgraduate Meeting (Open Forum) - Weds 20 May at 4pm
 |
| Prof Loveland |
Prof Kate Loveland will hold several 'Open House' sessions each year for all graduate research
students to discuss issues or to come and hear from an invited speaker.
The first session will be held:
Date: Wednesday 20th May
Time: 4.00-5.00pm
Location: MIMR-PHI Level 2 Meeting Room, 27-31 Wright Street Clayton
Kate will speak for half hour on matters relating to Preparing for Milestone meetings and Thesis preparation (structure) followed by an open discussion forum.
Date: Wednesday 20th May
Time: 4.00-5.00pm
Location: MIMR-PHI Level 2 Meeting Room, 27-31 Wright Street Clayton
Kate will speak for half hour on matters relating to Preparing for Milestone meetings and Thesis preparation (structure) followed by an open discussion forum.
GSK Award for Research Excellence 2015 – Nominations NOW OPEN
The 35th GSK
Award for Research Excellence (ARE) is now open for nominations. The award
acknowledges outstanding Australian researchers and their work and provides an $80,000
(tax free) independent research grant to the award recipient’s employing
organisation to further the recipient’s work and knowledge.The award targets high calibre mid-career clinicians and researchers undertaking human medical health research predominately in Australia.
The judging criteria are weighted as follows:
· 40% - potential for the
researcher’s contribution to science to directly or indirectly lead to
improvement in human health
· 30% - potential for the
nominee to continue to make research contributions in the field of human
health; and
· 30% - nominee’s
accomplishments based on academic and employment record, research grants and
awards received, cited publications and other examples of research
productivity.
Further information about the award and the online nomination form are available at GSK Award for Research Excellence website.
Nominations close on 3 July 2015. The award will be presented at the Research Australia Awards Night on Wednesday 18 November 2015.
Queries regarding the award should be directed to are.arenominations@gsk.com
DoD Funding Oppotunities for the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program
The FY15
Defense Appropriations Act provides $50 million (M) to the Department of
Defense Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) to support innovative, high-impact cancer research.
FY15
PRCRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the
following award mechanisms are posted on the Grants.gov website.
Congressionally Directed Topic Areas: To
be considered for funding, applications for the FY15 PRCRP must address at
least one of the Topic Areas as directed by Congress. Research applications in
the areas of breast, prostate, lung (excluding mesothelioma), or ovarian cancer
will not be accepted.
The FY15 PRCRP Topic Areas are listed below:
Academic Promotion round 2015 now open
Further to the announcement in the Monash Memo that the Academic Promotion Round is
now open, here is some further
information for staff intending to apply this year.
If you have not
already done so, please make the necessary arrangements with your performance supervisor
and Head of Unit, ensuring that they have adequate time to complete their sections
of the Case for Promotion form by the due date.
You are strongly
encouraged to make an appointment to meet with the relevant Associate Deans to
discuss your application.
Internal
Faculty Deadlines
Please note that faculty specific deadlines apply before
the close of the round on 26th June 2015.
Biosafety and Radiation Safety Officers and Floor Wardens URGENTLY needed
Josh Ooi has been the Biosafety and Radiation Safety
Officer for several years and we need to find replacements for both these
roles. Josh will continue to perform both roles in the interim and will be
happy to assist anyone interested in either position for a transition period.
Monash training will also be provided for both roles. Neither are terribly
onerous but are absolutely required to be filled for the Research that we
undertake.
Additionally, we need to find another 2 floor wardens for
the 5th floor of E-Block. There are 4 emergency zones on the floor and each one
should be manned in an emergency. This is not a time consuming task and would
involve initial training of 1-2hrs and an annual refresher taking about 1hr.
Please contact Dale if you would like to assist in any of the above.
Risk management training
As outlined at previous School meetings, by the end of
2015, the Head of School is required to sign-off on the SCS OHS Plan and submit
to Faculty. One element of this plan requires all Risk Assessments and SOPs
(Standard Operating Procedures) to be updated, which must only be done once
every three years. There are currently approximately 80s Risk Assessments to be
updated in total across the School. The University policy identifies
Research and Lab Group Heads with the responsibility of ensuring that all Risk
Assessments for their areas are current.
Symptom attribution and symptom reporting in Australian Gulf War veterans
 |
| Professor Clarke |
Read article here.
Smartphone app to improve sleep
Dr Sarah Biggs,
Department of Paediatrics, presented concerns around new smartphone
technology that is designed to monitor and improve sleep at a conference in New
Zealand. Listen to Radio National interview here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)