PhD student Shreya Rana talks about her research into pregnancy.
Monday, 31 October 2016
Monash researchers recognised for world-leading kidney research
 |
| Kim O'Sullivan |
For the
eighth consecutive year, a member of a kidney research group at the Monash Centre for Inflammatory Diseases and Monash Health has won the highly prestigious
Young Investigator Award for basic science at the Australian
and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN) Annual Scientific Meeting.
Monash
University PhD student and research assistant Kim O’Sullivan received the highly
competitive award for her research into vasculitis, an autoimmune disease that
damages the kidneys, last month at the Asia-Pacific Society of Nephrology in
Perth.
Kim
presented her findings at the ANZSN Annual Scientific Meeting that an enzyme
called deoxyribonuclease 1 (or DNase 1) could be a potential therapeutic in
patients with anti-neutrophil
cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis.
“Current
treatment options for vasculitis include corticosteroids and chemotherapy drugs.
These drugs suppress the immune system and aim to control inflammation, but
have very significant side effects,” said senior investigator and Monash Health
nephrologist Professor Stephen Holdsworth.
“Kim’s work helps us better understand the mechanism of disease in ANCA
vasculitis in order to define specific, less toxic therapies for this disease.”
“Immune cells central to this disease—neutrophils—throw out web-like
structures called NETs,” said Professor Holdsworth.
“In infections, these NETs trap bacteria—making them very useful, but in
vasculitis they are bad, as they promote inflammation and cause kidney damage.”
“Kim’s work has shown that these NETs are prominent in humans with
vasculitis, and she has now found that DNAse 1, a natural enzyme already used
to treat humans with other conditions, can effectively limit kidney injury in
vasculitis.”
“Finding targeted treatments that produce fewer side-effects and greater
quality of life is a key aspect of our work,” said Kim.
Kim said it
was very satisfying to have her hard work recognised.
“Receiving
this award made the time spent away from my three children, conducting the
experiments, and preparing for the conference worthwhile,” said Kim.
“Being selected as a finalist enabled my research to
be heard at a national and international level as the conference was held this
year in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Congress of Nephrology.”
The four finalists
in this award were all from Monash University, with Monash Centre for
Inflammatory Diseases PhD students Megan Huynh and Sharmilla Ramassur also
receiving awards.
Professor Holdsworth
said the ongoing success of the Centre for Inflammatory Diseases in kidney
research is due both to the intelligent hard-working students in the Centre, as
well as the outstanding science being promoted by the Centre’s Chief
Investigators.
SCS graduate and Monash Health physician receives 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award
 |
| Dr Rupa Kanapathipillai |
Former Monash medical student and Monash Health trainee Dr Rupa
Kanapathipillai has been awarded the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award for the
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University.
The University acknowledged extraordinary contributions and achievements
with awards to 12 Distinguished Alumni, ten Fellowships to outstanding Monash
alumni and two Honorary Fellowships to non-Monash graduates at a Graduate
ceremony at Clayton last week.
Dr Kanapathipillai graduated MBBS from Monash in 2002, followed
by internship and basic physician training at Southern (now Monash)
Health, and then completed a Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at
the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
She worked for 2 years as Field Doctor/Clinical Research Coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontiers HIV program in Malawi, publishing on HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy.
Dr Kanapathipillai returned to complete advanced training in Infectious Diseases at Southern (now Monash) Health and the Alfred Hospital. She was first author on publications investigating the significance of low level viremia in Asian and Australian HIV cohorts.
After completing a Masters in Public Heath (Epidemiology) at Columbia University, New York, Dr Kanapathipillai was appointed as Editorial Fellow, New England Journal of Medicine, where she made a significant contribution to our understanding of the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
Dr Kanapathipillai is now Infectious Diseases advisor, Médecins Sans Frontiers based in New York City and continues working as a visiting Infectious Diseases physician, Monash Infectious Diseases at Monash Health.
She worked for 2 years as Field Doctor/Clinical Research Coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontiers HIV program in Malawi, publishing on HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy.
Dr Kanapathipillai returned to complete advanced training in Infectious Diseases at Southern (now Monash) Health and the Alfred Hospital. She was first author on publications investigating the significance of low level viremia in Asian and Australian HIV cohorts.
After completing a Masters in Public Heath (Epidemiology) at Columbia University, New York, Dr Kanapathipillai was appointed as Editorial Fellow, New England Journal of Medicine, where she made a significant contribution to our understanding of the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
Dr Kanapathipillai is now Infectious Diseases advisor, Médecins Sans Frontiers based in New York City and continues working as a visiting Infectious Diseases physician, Monash Infectious Diseases at Monash Health.
Presenting the awards last week, Chancellor Simon McKeon AO said the
Alumni had made exceptional contributions in their fields and the stories and
successes could only inspire others to make their own impact.
Monash paediatric sleep researchers showcased at ASA conference
 |
| PhD student Knarik Tamanyan |
Researchers from the Ritchie Centre and Department of
Paediatrics attended the Australasian Sleep Association Annual Conference in
Adelaide last week.
The group demonstrated that they are leaders in this field
of research with their large number of presentations which showcased the
breadth of their research.
Associate Professor Gillian Nixon, Deputy Director
of the Melbourne Children's Sleep Centre gave two plenary talks on the
consequences of sleep disordered breathing in children while Professor Rosemary
Horne participated in a symposium on cardiorespiratory interactions and
the role of sleep, arousal and hypoxia from inutero to adulthood and from bench
to bedside.
The Monash researchers, including postdoctoral fellow Dr Lisa Walter, and
students Dr Moya Vandeleur and Ms Knarik Tamanyan presented 7 posters and
4 oral presentations. Knarik (pictured) was awarded a travel
grant to attend. Postdoctoral research fellow Dr Sarah Biggs chaired the conference.
Grand Round Presentation - Oncology Cutting Edge Research “Are Phase 3 trials obsolete?” - 02/11/2016
Unit:
Oncology
Presenters:
Dr Prudence Scott
Topic: “Are Phase 3 trials
obsolete?”
Rationally
designed targeted therapies to treat cancer have led to unprecedented
improvements in treatment outcomes compared with existing standards of care.
The resulting demand for earlier access from patients, clinicians and the
pharmaceutical industry has led to a paradigm shift in clinical trial design
and the evidence required for regulatory approval of medicines.
This has
brought challenges and opportunities, and these will be presented, both from a
global and Australian perspective, based on what was learnt during nearly 3
years as Director of the Oncology/Haematology Evaluation Unit at the
Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Date:
Wednesday 2 November 2016
Time: 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Venue: Main Lecture
Theatre, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton.
Genomics in the clinic: A workshop for health professionals, 25 November
This one-day workshop on 25 November will assist healthcare professionals to better understand and apply genomic sequencing in clinical practice.
The session will benefit specialist physicians, nurses, allied health workers and health executives with an interest in genomics in healthcare.
The workshop will cover:
* the principles underlying genetic and genomic sequencing
* the process of genomic testing (gene panels and whole exome sequencing)
* the importance of specialty input in variant interpretation and review of variant classification
* resources for researching and interpreting reported variants
* applying genomic results in patient care
* the principles underlying genetic and genomic sequencing
* the process of genomic testing (gene panels and whole exome sequencing)
* the importance of specialty input in variant interpretation and review of variant classification
* resources for researching and interpreting reported variants
* applying genomic results in patient care
Attendance is free for Monash Health staff, as a member organisation of Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance.
Workshop includes morning/afternoon tea, and lunch.
Places are limited. To express your interest in attending, please email: fiona.cunningham@melbournegenomics.org.au
Workshop on Shared Medical Appointments, 10 December
Traditionally, medical consultations have been
carried out in a 1:1 situation; an ‘expert’ (doctor) consulting with one
patient. This has served us well, and still does with injuries and infectious
diseases. But the rise in chronic diseases with the modernisation of society
has dramatically altered the clinical landscape.
Also known as ‘Group Visits’ or ‘Group Medical
Appointments’ in the US, an SMA is, “A series of consecutive individual medical
consultations in a supportive group setting where all can listen, interact, and
learn.” As such an SMA is a both an individual consultation and a group
education session.
The minimal ‘team’ for an SMA is a doctor and
a trained facilitator. In an SMA, the doctor carries out his/her doctoring, but
with other patients watching. The facilitator introduces the group,
writes records and questions on a board, assists the doctor with information,
controls the group dynamics, and in some cases writes the medical records.
If we can generate sufficient interest, the workshop will be hosted at MCHRI (at the Monash Health Translation Precint) and conducted in collaboration with the Australian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM).
Doctors, allied health practitioners, ancillary staff and researchers interested in new models of patient care will benefit from attending. 40 Category 1 points will be available for GPs and allied health CPD points should be available to most other practitioners.
The workshop price is expected to be $440 (inc gst) and includes one year of follow up which is especially relevant for those wishing to be registered as trained in the ASLM SMA protocol.
To express interest in attending this workshop, please contact Jophin Johnson: josphin.johnson@monash.edu
Read the full article at http://lifestylemedicine.org.au/content/the-doctor-will-see-you-all-now/
Watch a video of an SMA in action at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7tiCU0t5zc
Award open for nominations recognising an emerging leader within the healthcare industry (current student or early career professional).
Tell them how you've contributed to leading positive change in Australian healthcare, and
win prizes valued at over $1000!!!
Applications
close on the 6th of November.
Applications and questions can be directed to hello@futurehealthleaders.org.au
More information here.
More information here.
MRO ARC Information Session - Discovery Projects/Discovery Indigenous, 10 November
The Monash Research Office will be holding an information
session for researchers intending to apply to the Discovery Projects or
Discovery Indigenous rounds early next year.
The information sessions will provide an overview of the ARC
Funding Rules, as well as providing advice on funding trends and the features
of successful proposals. There will also be an opportunity for you to ask
questions and clarify any confusion regarding the Funding Rules, the structure
of the proposals or the submission process.
MRO ARC Information Session - DP18/IN18
Thursday, 10 November 2016
This session will be video linked to:
- Berwick Boardroom
- Caulfield VCF (H7.82)
- Peninsula VCF (W3.01)
- Parkville tbc
- Hudson Seminar 1. Level 2
TRF Building (10 Nov)
- Hudson Seminar 3, Level 2
TRF Buidling (22 Nov)
- Alfred Centre, Boardroom 1
MRO ARC Information Session - DECRA, 22 Nov
The Monash Research Office will be holding an information
session for researchers intending to apply to the DECRA in 2017, for funding in
2018.
The information sessions will provide an overview of the ARC
Funding Rules, as well as providing advice on funding trends and the features
of successful proposals. There will also be an opportunity for you to ask
questions and clarify any confusion regarding the Funding Rules, the structure
of the proposals or the submission process.
MRO ARC Information Session - DE18
Tuesday, 22 November 2016
Clayton: 16 Rainforest Walk, Room S9
Clayton: 16 Rainforest Walk, Room S9
2.00pm - 3:00pm
Please click to REGISTER.
This session will be video linked to:
- Berwick Boardroom
- Caulfield VCF (H7.82)
- Peninsula VCF (W3.01)
- Parkville tbc
- Hudson Seminar 1. Level 2
TRF Building (10 Nov)
- Hudson Seminar 3, Level 2
TRF Buidling (22 Nov)
- Alfred Centre, Boardroom 1
Please direct all queries to mro-arc@monash.edu.
Seminar: Applying for US Federal Funding - 24 November 2016
Monash
Research Office (MRO) has announced the forthcoming seminar on Applying
for US Federal Funding to encourage Monash researchers to apply for
international funding. Date: Thursday 24 November 2016
Time: 11:00am to 12:00pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre E1, 21 College Walk (formerly Building 32)
Professor Jian Li from the Department of Microbiology, a holder of many large grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) USA, has kindly agreed to share his extensive experience in applying for US funding.
MRO will demonstrate how to go about obtaining information and application forms for the Funding Opportunities available. They will provide tips on completing the application and information about the assistance provided by MRO.
For queries about the seminar, please contact the MRO Research Grants & Contracts team (adm-researchgrants.contracts@monash.edu).
Administration Officer (0.8) Professor Kate Loveland
The
Administrative Officer will
provide a range of secretarial and administrative support services to the
Program Co-ordinator, Program Investigators, and students involved in the joint
PhD program between Monash University and Justus-Liebig University
(JLU)/Giessen, known as the IRTG (International Research & Training Group)
in the Molecular Pathogenesis of Male Reproductive Disorders.
In addition, you will liaise with
the JLU administrative team and work closely with the Monash University
administrative team that supports PhD training at the MHTP.Training and Development Opportunities
To
register, complete an on-line application form located on the relevant program
web page.Occupational Health & Safety
Breathing Apparatus - 7 November
CPR Refresher - 3 November, 18 November, 30 November, 9 December
Emergency Warden Training - 16 November, 6 December
Ergonomics & Manual Handling - 1 December
Essential OHS (OHS for Managers & Supervisors) - 1 December
First Aid Level 2 - 7 & 8 December
First Aid Management of Anaphylaxis - 28 November
Risk Management & Risk Management Specialised - 12 December
Workplace Safety Inspections - 23 November
Self-care and Wellbeing
Working Parent Resilience Program - 10 November
Performance Management
PD Professional (supervisor training) - 2 December, 6 December
Performance Conversations - 8 December
Writing a Performance Development Plan - 8 November
Staff Development would like to advise that 2016 workshop dates are available on the website.
We are here to support your work and welcome your feedback (staff.development@monash.edu).
How fat can destroy your liver
Diagnosis and Management of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy
Read article here.
BNP, troponin I, and YKL-40 as screening markers in extremely preterm infants at risk for pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Read article here.
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