Associate Professor Michael Franco |
A full time
member of senior medical staff at Monash Health since 2009, Associate Professor
Franco has clinical roles in medical oncology and palliative medicine. He is currently Deputy Head of Medical
Oncology, part of the EMR Council and has worked extensively in
undergraduate teaching at Monash University as well as Monash Health in
prevocational and vocational education and training.
“My promotion to Associate Professor feels like a validation of the
work that I've done at Monash Health and Monash University, particularly in
relation to teaching and mentoring health care professionals,” said
Associate Professor Franco.
Associate
Professor Franco’s research projects are in the field of cancer pain (assessing a monoclonal antibody
against nerve growth factor for the treatment of pain from bone metastases)
and looking at the novel use of methadone for treatment of
cough.
“Whilst it's long been known that the opioid receptor is
key, the NMDA receptor has recently been strongly implicated in the physiology
of the cough reflex.”
“Methadone is unique as it blocks both of these receptors
and thus may be a useful treatment for patients with troubling cough.”
Associate
Professor Franco is also a representative on the Australian Lung Cancer Trials
Group’s Specialist Advisory Committee.
Beyond
his clinical research interests in the nexus of palliative medicine and
oncology,
Associate
Professor Franco is the Chair of Accreditation and a Board Member of the
Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria, as well as an advisor to the
Australian Medical Council.
“I've always been a firm believer that the best way to help
as many patients as possible, is to advocate for, foster and provide excellence
in teaching, encouragement and inspiration to others.”
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