How (not) to communicate science

Senior researchers aren't necessarily the best communicators of their work.  Monash University received significant global media attention in the recent story about the discovery of gravitational waves - and not because they were the most senior scientists involved in the collaborative project (in fact, they weren't!).  

The Monash University researchers simply best communicated the science.  Watch this short video from The Project.

$6 million for research to reduce harm stemming from premature birth and birth asphyxia

Professor Hooper

Minimising harm to babies exposed to adverse early life events such as premature birth and birth asphyxia will be the focus of a $6.12M NHMRC-funded research program at Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Monash University.

Professor Stuart Hooper, head of The Ritchie Centre in the Hudson Institute and Monash University, and its co-head, Professor Euan Wallace as well as the Royal Women’s Hospital’s Professor Peter Davis, will lead the five year (2017-21) program.

It brings together 30 Australian and international experts in the fields of neonatology, physiology, obstetrics, as well as clinical and basic science, to find ways to minimise harm stemming from events that occur shortly before or after birth.

“Adverse early life events like premature birth, perinatal asphyxia and intrauterine growth restriction can cause death or permanent disabilities like cerebral palsy,” Professor Hooper said.

“What is less well known is that these events can have life-long effects, with the potential to contribute to diabetes, obesity, coronary artery disease, hypertension and mental health.

Monash research investigates better treatment regimens for paracetamol poisoning

Dr Wong and Prof Graudins

School of Clinical Sciences’ PhD student Dr Anselm Wong has been awarded a competitive NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship to support his research into paracetamol overdose, a significant public health issue.

A Monash Health emergency physician and clinical toxicologist, Dr Wong is researching the management and risk prediction of patients who have overdosed on paracetamol.

“These patients are at risk of liver toxicity if they don’t receive the antidote (acetylcysteine), and we are investigating the modification of antidote treatment regimens,” said Dr Wong.

Paracetamol overdose is a major problem in both developed and developing countries. As a single agent, paracetamol is the most common pharmaceutical agent ingested for deliberate self-poisoning in Australia and the rest of the developed world.

“In Australia, there are approximately 8,000 cases of paracetamol poisoning each year while the UK and Wales see approximately 70,000 cases every year.”

“For those patients requiring treatment, most will need to stay at least a day in hospital which can be problematic as many of these patients also suffer from mental illness,” added Dr Wong.

“Dr Wong is the first PhD student in the Monash Emergency Research Collaborative in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health undertaking clinical research in toxicology,” said supervisor and Director, Monash Clinical Toxicology Service Professor Andis Graudins.

“We are very proud of Dr Wong’s NHMRC scholarship achievement and excited about his research assessing modified treatment regimens with acetylcysteine, as well as validation of hepatotoxicity risk assessment tools in various types of paracetamol poisoning.”

Professor Graudins said that modification of treatment regimens based upon risk of developing liver toxicity will result in more individualised treatment for patients and have significant impacts on length of medical treatment and subsequent time to mental health assessment and treatment after deliberate self-poisoning.

Old before your time: Study suggests that ageing begins in the womb

Dr Beth Allison

The process of ageing begins even before we are born, according to an international team of researchers, including lead author Dr Beth Allison who has now returned to The Ritchie Centre at Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Monash University.

Researchers in the University of Cambridge-led study used rats to model pregnancy and fetal development, finding that providing mothers with antioxidants during late pregnancy meant that their offspring aged more slowly in adulthood.

However, the offspring of mothers with lower levels of oxygen in the womb – which, in humans, can be a consequence of smoking during pregnancy or of pregnancy at high altitude – aged more quickly in adulthood.

Dr Allison, from The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Monash University, who carried out her work while at the University of Cambridge, says the paper shows for the first time that the anti-ageing properties of antioxidants may extend to unborn children.

“Antioxidants are known to reduce ageing, but here, we show for the first time that giving them to pregnant mothers in the latter half of gestation can slow down the ageing clock of their offspring,” Dr Allison says.

“This appears to be particularly important when there are complications with the pregnancy and the fetus is deprived of oxygen. Although this discovery was found using rats, it suggests a way that we may treat similar problems in humans.”

Our DNA is ‘written’ onto chromosomes, of which humans carry 23 pairs. The ends of each chromosome are known as telomeres and act in a similar way to the plastic that binds the ends of shoelaces, preventing the chromosomes from fraying. As we age, these telomeres become shorter and shorter, and hence their length can be used as a proxy to measure ageing.

In the study funded by the British Heart Foundation and published today in The FASEB Journal, scientists report a study that involved measuring the length of telomeres in blood vessels of adult laboratory rats born from mothers who were or were not fed antioxidants during normal or complicated pregnancy.

The most common complication in pregnancy is a reduction in the amount of oxygen that the baby receives – this can be due to a number of causes, including expectant mothers who smoke or who experience preeclampsia.  To simulate this complication, the researchers placed a group of pregnant laboratory rats in a room containing 7 per cent less oxygen than normal. 

The researchers found that adult rats born from mothers who had less oxygen during pregnancy had shorter telomeres than rats born from uncomplicated pregnancies, and experienced problems with the inner lining of their blood vessels – signs that they had aged more quickly and were predisposed to developing heart disease earlier than normal. However, when pregnant mothers in this group were given antioxidant supplements, this lowered the risk among their offspring of developing heart disease.

Even the offspring born from uncomplicated pregnancies – when the fetus had received appropriate levels of oxygen – benefited from a maternal diet of antioxidants, with longer telomeres than those rats whose mothers did not receive the antioxidant supplements during pregnancy.

Professor Dino Giussani from the Department of Physiology Development & Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, the study’s senior author, says: “Our study in rats suggests that the ageing clock begins ticking even before we are born and enter this world, which may surprise many people.

“We already know that our genes interact with environmental risk factors, such as smoking, obesity and lack of exercise to increase our risk of heart disease, but here we’ve shown that the environment we’re exposed to in the womb may be just as, if not more, important in programming a risk of adult-onset cardiovascular disease.”

Dr Ryan Hodges' reflection on his attempts to save baby Willow

Posted by 60 Minutes Australia on Sunday, March 6, 2016

Grand Rounds Immunology - TODAY

Unit: Immunology                    

Presenter: Professor Stephen Holdsworth

Topic: "Biological Therapies for Autoimmune Kidney Disease"

        

Date: Wednesday 9 March 2016

Time: 12.30pm to 1.30pm

Venue: Main Lecture Theatre, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton

The contrasting dynamics of human influenza viruses. 10 March

Presented by the Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Assistant Professor Vijaykrishna Dhanasekaran

Thursday 10 March, 12-1pm, Level 3 seminar room, 15 Innovation Walk, Clayton campus

Flyer here with details

SCS Social drinks for Easter, 18 March 4pm

Catholic Health Australia (CHA) Medical Research Symposium 5 May 2016

Catholic Heath Australia (CHA) has a long history of collaboration with Monash University via their hospital members, which include Cabrini, St Vincent’s, Mercy St John of God, Mater and Calvary. They represent Australia’s largest non-government grouping of hospitals, aged and community care services, providing approximately 10% of health services in Australia.

CHA is hosting their first Medical Research Symposium on 5 May 2016 in Melbourne, to showcase research achievements of CHA researchers, foster collaboration and discuss challenges facing Australian scientists in their goal to improve health outcomes. It may be of interest to Monash researchers as a good way to promote collaboration between the institutes. Sir Gustav Nossal, one of Australia’s most celebrated immunologists, is the Keynote speaker. He will be joined by Professor Chris Baggoley, the Chief Medical Officer from the Department of Health, and outstanding researchers and rising stars from within CHA's membership.  

Early bird registration is closing soon (14 March). A copy of the registration brochure/program is attached. Abstracts for posters are open to all delegates, with poster prizes.

If there is a group of researchers, students or delegates that are interested in attending please advise Dr Ellen Marks (ellenm@cha.org.au) and CHA can organise a group discount.

Flyer attached here.

Leadership and Innovation in Health 5-day Executive Education program, 15-19 August

Snapshots of the immune system – Day of Immunology photography exhibition - call for entries.

The Victorian Day of Immunology organizing committee is pleased to announce a call for entries to the inaugural “Snapshots of the immune system” photo exhibition 2016. This event is being held in April as part of international Day of Immunology.

Researchers at all levels are invited to apply and submit images featuring the amazing immune system. These can be histology, confocal, laboratory scenes, public health related, and everything in between.

The exhibition was conceived to not only display visually pleasing photos but to engage with the public and inform them of the cutting edge immunological research being conducted around Victoria.

Submission rules:

• Photos need to relate to immunology on some level- whether it is a microscopy image of an immune cell dividing or an immunization program occurring on the other side of the World - this is a diverse and flexible category.
• Open for researchers at all levels (students and staff).
• All submissions need to come with a sentence in plain English describing the photo and how it relates to the immune system.
• Entries close Monday 28^th of March at 5PM
• Submit to info@dayofimmunology.org.au with the heading, name and sentence of your submission

eg. Snapshots of the immune system – Kim Pham – Diverging roads of T cell development.

The photography exhibition will be held in Melbourne with an opening night event. Prizes will be awarded for best entries, including a people's choice award!

For further details see attached flyer.

On behalf of the Day of Immunology organizing committee we look forward to seeing your snapshots of the immune system!  

Twitter @DayofImmunology, #DoImmuno;

www.facebook.com/DayofImmunologyVic/

Instagram @doiaus

www.dayofimmunology.org.au

Position Vacant: Research Officer Level A

The Research Officer will initiate and conduct research in the areas of post transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in colon cancer and intestinal development. The position will use state-of the art technologies (genetically engineered murine models, CRISPR/RNAi, proteomic approaches) to identify and characterize novel oncogenes in colon cancer and dissect their therapeutic relevance.

The position will work with support, guidance and mentorship from senior research staff including Dr Ron Firestein with an increasing degree of autonomy as the researcher gains greater skills and experience.

Demonstrated abilities:

• Proven to work independently and have publications in peer reviewed journals

·        Technical skills in molecular biology, murine genetics, tissue cell culture, and gene expression analysis

·        Bioinformatics experience analyzing genomic and NGS (e.g. ChIP-seq or RNAseq) data sets are desired.

If you are have a Phd or M.D/PhD training in cancer bology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, or a related discipline with excellent communication skills , are extremely organised with innovative problem solving skills then we welcome your application.

Apply via https://form.jotform.co/60666965704870

Monash Abroad Exchange and Experience Expo, Wednesday 6 April

Wednesday 6 April, 11am - 2.30pm
Menzies Building Foyer and Lawn, Clayton Campus

■■ Meet with representatives from our partner universities and programs,
faculty exchange coordinators, and local students who have studied abroad
■■ Find out about scholarships and loans
■■ Go into the draw to win 1 of 10 Coles Group & Myer gift cards ($50)

2017 New Colombo Plan Mobility Grants

The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Australian Government, which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to study and undertake Internships in the region.

The Australian Government is committing over AUD $100 million of funding for the New Colombo Plan between 2013-2014 and 2017-2018. It involves a prestigious scholarship program for study of up to one year and Internships or Mentorships, and a flexible mobility grant program for both short and longer term study, Internships, Mentorships, practicums, clinical placements and research.

We now invite you to consider an application within the 2017 New Colombo Plan mobility grant funding round through the attached funding guidelines and a draft Monash internal template.

To support your application, information sessions will be held next week across campuses (and then a further set during the week 11-15 April).

1. Clayton campus Monday 14^th March (11:00am -12:00pm) and Tuesday 15^th March 2016  (11:00am -12:00pm) George Lush Room (3A), 27 Chancellors Walk

2. Caulfield campus Thursday 17^th March 2016 (10:00am – 11:00pm) and (1:00pm – 2:00pm) Building H, Room 220

3. Peninsula Campus Wednesday 16^th March 2016 (10:30am – 11:30am) Building A Room 1.17

4. Berwick campus Friday 18^th March 2016 (1:30pm – 2:30pm) Building 901 Room 133

Global Engagement look forward to supporting Faculty applications and collectively placing Monash in the most competitive position to be awarded funding for programs that mobilise students into the Indo-Pacific region.

Please find attached the 2017 DFAT NCP guidelines for the mobility grant scheme and the draft Monash internal template for your use in beginning to prepare applications. The Monash internal process will require submission to Global Engagement by Friday 6th May 2016 to allow an internal panel to rank applications against the strategic objectives of the New Colombo Plan and for applications to then be entered into the Government portal.

Please note that the Monash internal template is still in draft mode prior to Government releasing the confirmed final application form for this 2017 round. As soon as this is available (we anticipate it will be released and ready prior to the second round of information sessions) we will distribute a finalised template. In the meantime the criteria and program logistic detail sections of the template will assist you in commencing a draft.

Timeline

14 March - 18 March campus information sessions

11 April - 15 April campus follow up information sessions

6 May Final applications due for submission on the internal template to Global Engagement via monash.abroad@monash.edu

11 May -24 May Panel review and internal ranking process

25 May -3 June Ranked applications uploaded and submitted via the government portal

Induction for new PhD/Masters students - Friday 18 March

1. Induction for new PhD/Masters students and Student Society BBQ

Compulsory attendance for all new Graduate Research students.  Induction will be followed by Professional Photographs and a BBQ lunch in Courtyard (Ground Level) of Hudson Institute.

9.00am - 12.00pm

Friday 18 March

Level 3 Boardrooms, Hudson Institute of Medical Research

27-31 Wrights Street Clayton

2. Preparing for Confirmation / Milestone meetings

ALL Graduate Research students are invited to attend this session that will cover preparing for milestone review meetings and Faculty/School requirements.

11.30am - 12.00pm

Friday 18 March
Level 3 Boardrooms, Hudson Institute of Medical Research
27-31 Wrights Street Clayton

3. Professional Photographs of Graduate Research Students

All Graduate Research students who would like to have their photo taken or if you would like an update.  Copies of photos will be available to students.

12.00pm

Friday 18 March
Level 3 Boardrooms, Hudson Institute of Medical Research
27-31 Wrights Street Clayton

MAP attached here.

ASMR Victorian Student Research Symposium - Friday 3 June

The ASMR Victorian Student Research Symposium (SRS) Committee would like to inform you of the upcoming annual ASMR Student Research Symposium to be held on Friday 3^rd of June 2016 at the WEHI.

Its a great opportunity for science research students (Graduate, Post-grad, UROP, Honours) to present their work to their peers in a friendly and supportive environment. Full length orals, a rapid-fire 3-minute thesis session (3MT) and posters will be presented on the day with prizes and awards for the best presenters in each category.

The symposium is also a great way to meet and get yourself known by your peers around Melbourne. You never know where that next collaboration or invite to contribute to grants or papers might come from. The conference is attended by a broad spectrum of researchers working in different fields. We also have the pleasure of a keynote address from Dr. Jee Hyun Kim, a renowned public speaker on a diverse range of scientific issue.


Further details regarding registration and submission will be released soon.


Flyer attached here.

PhD Confirmation Review, Charlotte Nejad (23 March) "Investigation of the regulation of miRNA turnover in mammalian cells"

All staff and students are invited to Charlotte Nejad's PhD Confirmation of Candidature Review on 23 March, 9.30 - 11.30am, Board Room 1a and b at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Level 3.

Synopsis:  Previous reports indicate that the intracellular levels of selected miRNAs can be rapidly down regulated by innate immunity. In this project we investigated the global stability of miRNAs in activated mouse macrophages. We made several novel observations demonstrating the degradation of several abundant miRNAs by IFN-β, likely impacting the innate immune program in these cells.

- Supervisors: Dr. Michael Gantier (Main supervisor), Dr. Jonathan Ferrand (Co-supervisor)

- SAC: Prof. Michael Hickey

- Two independent assessors: Dr. Ina Rudolff, Dr. Ashley Mansell

PhD Confirmation seminar, Sultan Alhayyani "Investigating the Role of STAT3 Serine Phosphorylation in Lung Cancer Development" 15 March

Investigating the Role of STAT3 Serine Phosphorylation in Lung Cancer Development

March 15, 2016 at 2:00pm

Hudson level 2 - seminar room

Supervisors: Dr. Saleela Ruwanpura, and Prof. Brendan Jenkins

SAC/Panel chair: Dr. Ashley Mansell

Two independent assessors: Prof. Philip Bardin, and Dr. Paul King

All welcome

Congratulations Dr Jimmy Zhen Long Shen on completion of his PhD

Graduate Research Services is pleased to report that Dr Jimmy Zhen Long Shen has fulfilled the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. 

The thesis titled: "Macrophage mineralocorticoid receptor regulate cardiac remodelling and blood pressure" was ratified by the Graduate Research Steering Committee on  Tuesday 23rd February 2016 and will be conferred upon graduation. 

Dr Shen's thesis represents a significant contribution to our knowledge and understanding of the role of macrophages in mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)-mediated cardiovascular injury. This is an important area of research as excess MR activation is implicated in cardiovascular injury in multiple diseases in humans including hypertension, heart failure, stroke, atherosclerosis, obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and renal disease.

ECR event: The Strategic Academic (11 March 2016, 9.30am to 4.30pm)

Monash University are running the following ECR Strategic Career Management Event on 11 March 2016, 9.30am to 4.30pm.

The Strategic Academic 

Presenter: Dr Shelda Debowski 

11 March 2016, 9.30am to 4.30pm

Getting established as an academic can be challenging and confusing: so many demands and so little time. You may struggle to identify what matters and to plan for a long-term future. This workshop offers early career academics and researchers a simple road map to success. It guides you through the process of clarifying your career priorities, identifying your critical goals and addressing your time wasters. Take a more strategic approach to academic career success.

Please see the Monash ECR Events page for registration details.  This event is free to attend.

Monash Histology MHTP update

The MHP-MHTP Histology Node officially opened last week in our new (temporary) location on Level 3 of the MHRP (Rooms 3.23 & 3.24). For users who were unable to attend our Introductory Seminar, we would like to let you know of some important updates.

The new Histology site is available for both Professional Services and DIY, with designated areas and equipment in each space.

DIY users can now use new ergonomic benches for added comfort and safety when using the embeddor,  3 microtomy work stations, cryostat, staining area and new Vibratome.

Our range of Professional services have also been expanded to include access to Immunohistochemistry (chromogenic & fluorescence), antigen retrieval, digital slide scanning (brightfield & fluorescence), Tissue Micro Array production and resin & EM processing, sectioning and staining.

All samples need to please be delivered directly to the MHTP Histology Node on Level 3 of the MHRP with drop off sites in Hudson stores and MMC B Block no longer operational.

To ensure safety, there is a need for users to please register using ARIN and be briefly inducted to access BOTH the Professional Services and/or DIY equipment. Please note that registration fees DO NOT currently apply as they are fully subsidised by your respective Institutes. Professional and DIY services may also be subsidised and will shortly be confirmed. For current LIST prices refer to platforms.monash.edu/histology

Please refer to the flyer attached for further instructions regarding registration and access . Training sessions can be booked with our staff if required.

We understand that it is an extremely busy time of year for researchers and for those that were unable to attend, our Introductory Seminar we will be holding another session early April, date to be advised later this month.

We look forward to supporting you with any Histology requirements, either DIY or Professional and staff will be on site full time to answer any questions, discuss projects or provide advice to support your research. We hope you will take the opportunity to meet our Histology node Supervisor here at MHP-MHTP Histology - Angela Vais.  Angela has very long and varied experience in all aspects of histology spanning 16 years and will be available to provide advice as requested on staining protocols etc.

Please feel free to contact Angela Vais or Camilla Cohen should you have any further queries.

Animal Research Ethics Update - March 2016

View newsletter here.

Summary of Contents:

1. Animal Ethics Information Sessions – New dates released 

2. 2015 Annual Reporting 

3. On-Line Animal Ethics Applications – Ethical Research Management, Infonetica 

4. MARP & MMC Animal Ethics Committee Submission Deadline 

5. Changes to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (Victoria) 

6. Victorian Government Audits & Monitoring / Training Records 

7. Reminders 

8. ANZCCART Conference 

9. Animal Ethics Regulations, Guidelines, Codes, Training & Information

Previous Animal Research Ethics Updates

http://intranet.monash.edu.au/researchadmin/animal/moreinfo/updates.html

NHMRC – National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaborative Research Grants opportunity

NHMRC has joined with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in the UK to co-fund Collaborative Research Grants as part of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme.

In 2016 NHMRC has committed up to $3 million to support the Australian components of projects that address the following two commissioned research topics:

16008095 Primary research - Prophylactic antibiotics to prevent recurrent lower respiratory tract infections in children with neurological impairment.
16008241 Mixed methods - Smoking cessation interventions in children of school age.

Key dates and application processes for the NHMRC component will be provided in the near future. Further information regarding this initiative can be found on the NHMRC website.

Applicants requiring assistance should contact ​the Medical and Health Sciences (MHS) Team at MRO ​(mhs@monash.edu) ​in the first instance, before contacting NHMRC’s Research Help Centre at help@nhmrc.gov.au or on 1800 500 983. Please note that Research Help Centre assistance is unavailable on weekends.

Lyall Watts Mesothelioma Research Grant - further funding available

Applications are invited for this special category research grant commencing in July 2016, to support research in Victoria, at both laboratory and clinical levels, into the pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis or treatment of mesothelioma. Pure epidemiology studies are not eligible for this grant.

Applications are now open and close on Thursday 31 March at 2pm.

Further funding has been made available for this grant, and two awards up to a total combined value of $700,000 are now available.  We invite applications for between $300,000 and $400,000 for projects to run over 1,2 or 3 years.

Information about this funding opportunity is available at:

http://www.cancervic.org.au/research/biomedical/mesothelioma-grants

Information session - Lyall Watts Mesothelioma Research Grants

There will be a meeting at the Cancer Council Victoria offices on Thursday 10 March at 6pm for researchers interested in applying for these grants, specifically, to:

  

·         Discuss possible mesothelioma projects
·         Review funding guidelines and timelines for submission; and
·         Network with other researchers or clinicians active in this area.

  

The Cancer Council Victoria office is located at 615 St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Parking will be available. If you would like to attend, please send RSVP to Cathy Schapper (Cathy.Schapper@cancervic.org.au) by COB Wednesday 9 March.

Interdisciplinary Research (IDR) Support Programs 2016 – CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

The Senior Vice-Provost and Vice-Provost (Research), Professor Pauline Nestor, has announced that the Interdisciplinary Research (IDR) Support Programs are open for 2016. Nominations for the following central grants are due by 25 May 2016:

· IDR Major Project Grants

​ - $100,000 - $250,000​ per project

· IDR Seed Project Grants

​ - $25,000 - $50,000​ per project

Program information, guidelines and nomination forms can be accessed via:

​ 

http://intranet.monash.edu.au/research/research-strategy/interdisciplinary-teams/idr-support-programs.html 

If you have any questions, please contact Narot Bahar (99029467; narot.bahar@monash.edu)

Australian Bicentennial Scholarships and Fellowships

Monash University would like to draw your attention to this year’s Australian Bicentennial Scholarships and Fellowships, offered by the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies at King’s College London (KCL).

The Scholarships and Fellowships are one-off awards of up to £4,000 to enable UK postgraduate students or academic staff to undertake a period of study/research in Australia. These schemes are also open to Australian postgraduate students and academic staff wishing to study in approved courses or undertake approved research in the UK.

An applicant for a Scholarship must be registered as a post-graduate student at an Australian or UK tertiary institution. He/she should have lived in that country for at least three years and have at least an upper second class honours degree.

An applicant for a Fellowship should have a good post-graduate degree or equivalent experience, and should be seeking to further his/her education or professional experience but not through taking a further degree.

Further information for applicants and application forms can be found at http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/ahri/centres/menzies/scholarships/absf/index.aspx. 

Applications are now being accepted and the final date for submission is Friday 29 April 2016.

Telematics Trust Grants (Round 1, 2016) for Telematics Course Development Fund

T​he Telematics Trust is now inviting grant applications for theTelematics Course Development Fund.  The applications are due with the Trust on Tuesday 29​

March 2016.

These ​grants ​support innovative and educational information and communication technology initiatives within Victoria, for the social, economic and cultural wellbeing of Victorians. The trust aims to create a more level playing field by providing support to projects that empower people from diverse backgrounds to learn new things and build their capacity to contribute to society. The trust targets and funds learning processes which:

•would be assisted by seeding grants;

•are not likely to be supported by other funding bodies;

•focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, women in STEM careers, information communications technology, coding in schools and rural education.

Individuals, educational institutes, government organisations, businesses and non-profit organisations that have an Australian business number, may apply. All projects must be based in Victoria and be for the benefit of Victorians. The projects must also be education or training driven and market-oriented and have applicant partnership funding in either cash or in-kind.

Grants are worth up to AU$30,000 over one to three years. Interest-free loans of up to AU$100,000 are also available.

​The MRO closing date is Friday 18 March 2016 for this round. For your information, the updated application form and the guidelines are available in Research Professional (RP) which is located at  https://www.researchprofessional.com/funding/opportunity/250667/​

US - Australia Enabling Technologies Meeting 23-24 May, Sydney

The US-Australia Enabling Technologies Technical Exchange Meeting will be held in Sydney on 23-24 May 2016. This meeting is held under the auspices of the US-Australia Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology, the major civil science dialogue between the two countries which is held every two years.

The purpose of this Technical Exchange Meeting is to explore and potentially build basic research collaborations in enabling technologies between the US and Australia and will comprise of three overarching technical thrusts: Materials Science, Physics and Biomedical Sciences.

US participation will include the Department of Defense, other US science agencies, and academic researchers.

Australian researchers are invited to submit abstracts for consideration in the program and should be submitted to info@anff.org.au no later than 25 March 2016.

Once biographies and abstracts are submitted, efforts will be made by the Co-Chairs to identify possible new areas of potential collaboration with the agenda being finalised based on both US and Australian responses.

Selected Australian researchers will be notified, most likely by the third week of April, if they have been chosen for inclusion in the Program and encouraged to attend. Please note that, if selected, attendees are responsible for funding and making their own travel arrangements including lodging.

Further information on the meeting in the attached document and flyer with relevant contacts listed.

This meeting will provide a valuable opportunity for Australian researchers to engage with a wide range of US research agencies and academics and maximise US research collaboration and partnerships. 

2017 Australian Academy of Science Awards and Oxford Nuffield Medical Fellowships

The Australian Academy of Science (AAS) Awards for 2017 are now open and Monash University has been invited to nominate candidates.  Please refer to the attached flyer.

There is also an opportunity to nominate researchers for the Oxford Nuffield Medical Fellowship.  Please consider the strategic benefits of the scheme and provide names of appropriate nominees to the Faculty Research Office (medicine.research@monash.edu) by no later than Thursday 17 March 2016.

The closing date for nominations for honorific awards is the 30 April 2016 and that nominations/applications for research conferences, research awards and travelling fellowships are due by the 15 June 2016.

National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) Research Funding Grants Round Calendar 2016

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (​NBCF​)​ will soon be opening the Grants Round for 2016 and we encourage researchers to submit applications for breast cancer research projects that align with our goal of achieving zero deaths by 2030 through better detection, prevention, treatment and support for women with breast cancer. Please be aware that there are changes to the opening and closing dates of some grant schemes.

​

​

Opening dates for NBCF grants

In 2016 NBCF has committed over $12 million to fund more than 30 research projects that will contribute towards our goal of zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030. This year we have continued to fund innovative projects that investigate new avenues for treatment, and new applications for existing treatments to improve outcomes for breast cancer patients. The researchers will explore promising areas of investigation, some of which include more effective immunotherapies for hard to treat breast cancers, targeted treatment delivery systems, and predictive tests for relapsing cancer. 

In total, since 1994, NBCF has awarded more than $127 million to around 430 Australian-based research projects to improve the health and well-being of those affected by breast cancer.

Calendar attached here.

AAS Falling Walls Lab Australia 2016 - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Australian Academy of Science (AAS)  invites applications from Australian researchers, postdocs and students, entrepreneurs, engineers and innovators to attend Australia’s first Falling Walls Lab in 2016.  Deadline for applications is 5pm (AEST) 23 May 2016.

Up to 25 contestants will be invited to participate in this challenge with each required to give a 3 minute presentation on their research, business model or initiative based on the “Which walls will fall next” concept.

Candidates should be research active in any field of the natural sciences, including technology, engineering and medicine​,​ as well as social sciences and humanities.

Please see the website for further details.

​Queries should be directed to grants@science.org.au or (02) 6201 9412.

Grange & Cottman Endowment Funds (Round 4) - GRANTS TO SUPPORT VISITING INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS

The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences is pleased to be able to offer a limited number of grants to support visits to the Faculty by recognised internationally renowned academics from overseas. Applications for Round 4 of this scheme are invited from the sponsoring Department or Centre, and should outline a visit of at least three weeks, which will develop and facilitate collaborative projects in the future.


General Information

· The Paul Grange and Walter Cottman Endowment Funds provide support for visits to the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University by overseas academics of international renown.  Applicants must provide enough information about the proposed visitor to establish their international standing.

· Proposed visits should be of at least three (3) weeks duration, and may be to one, or more than one, Department or Centre in the Faculty.

· One of the objectives of the visit must be to build on an existing collaboration, or to develop a new collaboration.  Applicants are required to address this objective. 

Level of Funding

· Up to AUD5,000 will be provided to support each visit. 

· Up to two grants will be offered per round.

· Only visits by academics of international significance will be supported, and so it is possible that one or no grants may be awarded in any particular round.

Submission Procedures

· Closing Date for Applications:  Monday 2 May 2016 [5:00PM AEST]

· An electronic version of the completed and signed application form (and attached documents) must be emailed as a single merged PDF file to medicine.research@monash.edu by the submission deadline.

· LATE OR INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 

Advice to Applicants

· Competitive applications in the previous round of this scheme were those that addressed the primary objective of the scholar’s visit, which is to build on an existing collaboration, or to develop a new collaboration.  

· In order to maximise the value to the Faculty of the visiting scholar’s visit, host departments will be encouraged to arrange opportunities for the academic to present a lecture or seminar to which all interested staff and students of the Faculty can be invited. The Faculty Research Office can arrange for the presentation to be advertised in advance on the Monash Events site.

Please find the Guidelines and Application Form attached.  Any queries about this scheme should be directed to the Faculty Research Office at medicine.research@monash.edu or (03) 990 29143.

ATSE - Australia-Japan Emerging Research Leaders Exchange Program

Opportunity Name:   Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) - Australia Japan Emerging Research Leaders Exchange Program (ERLEP). 

Opportunity Description:

·  A total of eight Australian emerging leaders will travel to Japan to establish and develop personal and institutional linkages. 

·  Successful applicants will be selected by ATSE via a peer nomination process with merit-based assessment. 

·  ATSE closing date is 9am Wednesday 6 April 2016.

Eligibility: 

·  Mid-career researchers (<20 year post PhD) who are emerging leaders in the Science and Technology community. 

·  Must be Australian Permanent Residents or Citizens.

·  Must be employed in an Australian research institute including universities, publicly funded research organisations and R&D intensive industries

·  Additionally, applicants must be available to go to Japan from 21 November 2016 to 2 December 2016

The Priority Topic Areas for the 2016 Exchange are:

1.     Technologies for the promotion of healthy ageing and wellbeing

2.     New materials, biotechnology, nanotechnology

3.     Emerging power systems in the changing environment and the needs of the power system transition process

4.     Capturing the benefits of ICT

Organisational Submission Restrictions:

One application per topic area per eligible research or industry organisation.

Monash Application Process:

·  Faculties are asked to consider potential applicants and submit a maximum of one application per topic area to mro-arc@monash.edu, using the ATSE application form by 5pm Wednesday 30 March 2016.  Applicants are requested to advise the Faculty Research Office (medicine.research@monash.edu) by 9 March 2016 of their intention to apply.

·  Should there be more than one application per topic from across the university, MRO will initiate a selection process.

·  MRO will be responsible for the submission of applications to ATSE by the scheme deadline.

Further information about the Program, including the guidelines and application form is available at: https://www.atse.org.au/content/international/australia-japan-emerging-leaders-program.aspx

For any enquiries, please contact mro-arc@monash.edu or Helen Partridge (990 59895).