Tuesday, 19 December 2017
SCS Superheroes & Villains Christmas Lunch 2017
Monash haematology leading new investigator research in Australia
 |
| Dr Danielle Oh, Dr Olga Motorna, Dr Allison Mo |
Monash Health haematology trainees Dr Olga Motorna, Dr
Danielle Oh and Dr Allison Mo each received prestigious scholarships worth $60,000
to support their PhD projects at Monash University and Melbourne University. Only seven scholarships are awarded across Australia and New Zealand.
Under the supervision of Professor Erica Wood, Dr Zoe
McQuilten and Associate Professor Jake Shortt, Dr Mo will undertake
epidemiological and clinical studies investigate anaemia in the elderly
Australian population.
“Although anaemia is common in the elderly (and rising
with an ageing population), and the elderly receive more blood transfusions for
treatment of anaemia than younger patients, we currently don’t have detailed epidemiological
data describing the burden of anaemia in the elderly Australian community, risk
factors or the consequences of anaemia on health outcomes,” Dr Mo said.
Consequently there is a lack of data to guide treatment
of anaemia and provide guidance on the appropriate use of blood transfusions in
the elderly.
Former SCS student receives Bryan Hudson Medal
 |
| Dr Kathryn Connelly |
Dr Connelly completed her BMedSc(Hons) at the
School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) in 2012 under the
supervision of Professor Eric Morand and undertook some of her rotations in
years 4 and 5 at Monash Health.
Dr Connelly said she was humbled to be the
recipient of such a prestigious award and sees it as a
special acknowledgement of the hard work and sacrifices that go into a
rollercoaster 18 months combining full-time work and study.
“I hope it is seen as a reflection of the fantastic
teaching and mentorship I have received throughout my medical training
from experienced, dedicated and enthusiastic teachers and the tremendous
support from my study group, other colleagues, family and friends,” Dr
Connelly said.
Currently a medical registrar at Alfred Health,
Dr Connelly will return to Monash Health next year as a trainee rheumatologist.
“I'm excited to begin advanced training in
Rheumatology next year, having had great experiences in the specialty at both
Monash and Alfred Health,” Dr Connelly said.
I'm looking forward to the breadth of clinical
exposure Monash Health offers in rheumatology and working in a unit with such a
strong reputation for teaching and research.”
Novartis pharmaceuticals exchange program success
 |
| Novartis ANZ Chief Scientific Officer Dr Simon Fisher, Novartis ANZ Clinical Research Medical Advisor Dr Mathew Cox, Novartis ANZ National Commercial Manager Mr Brett Roberts, Ms Paris Papagiannis, Mr Lachlan McMillan, Ms Kim O'Sullivan, Dr Genevieve Pepin, Professor Eric Morand |
Three PhD students and an early career researcher from the
School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) and the Hudson Institute
were competitively selected to participate in an exchange program at Novartis
Pharmaceuticals in Sydney last month.
Supported by the Department of Medicine, the second annual
researcher exchange program provided an opportunity for participants to gain
insight into possible career options in the pharmaceutical industry after
completing a PhD.
Professor Peter Ebeling AO, Head, Department of Medicine,
SCS, said that the researcher exchange program is an example of the Monash
University-Monash Health-Hudson Institute and Novartis memorandum of
understanding in action.
“The program is highly competitive and uniformly popular
with our research stars of the future, who greatly value the experience
obtained from their detailed insights into the pharmaceutical industry,”
Professor Ebeling said.
Dr Genevieve Pepin, Lachlan McMillan, Paris Papagianis and
Kim O’Sullivan spent a week at Novartis in Sydney learning about their
operations and becoming immersed in the Novartis culture to learn what drives a
global leader in developing improved health care.
SCS researcher aims to improve bone health in India
 |
| Dr Ayse Zengin |
SCS researcher Dr Ayse Zengin has been awarded an
Australia-India Early/Mid-Career Fellowship from the Australian Academy of
Sciences to further her research into the ethnic differences in musculoskeletal
health in the ageing population.
A Research Fellow in the Bone and Muscle Health Research
Group, Department of Medicine, Dr Zengin will spend five months in India
researching sarcopenia and osteoporosis.
“With the current social, economic, and environmental
transition in India, sarcopenia prevalence is estimated to rise,” Dr Zengin
said.
“Many studies demonstrate that sarcopenia is an important
predictor of poor functional ability and frailty, which in turn, are risk
factors for falls and fractures.”
The most common musculoskeletal injury in India is fracture,
with 15% of those incurring an open fracture.
Dr Zengin said the aim of her project is to determine the
prevalence of sarcopenia and investigate the effects on frailty, fall risk, and
bone health in ageing Indian men and women.
“The escalating burden of chronic non-communicable diseases
in low-middle income countries and disadvantaged populations requires the focus
of national health agendas,” Dr Zengin said.
“Determining the prevalence of sarcopenia and its subsequent
effects on bone health will encourage the formulation of public health
strategies to prevent these diseases.”
Monash wins national awards for teaching excellence
 |
| Professor Zlatko Skrbiš, Professor Christina Mitchell, Associate Professor Claire Palermo, Professor Margaret Gardner |
Monash President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret
Gardner AO gave the keynote address at last week’s awards, at which the
University was recognised with awards for teaching excellence.
Associate Professor Claire Palermo and Associate Professor
Simon Angus received Awards for Teaching Excellence, which were presented by
Federal Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham.
Claire leads the teaching and learning research theme in the
Department Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, is a Monash Education Academy Fellow,
and received at National government citation award for her contributions to
teaching in 2016.
An accredited dietician, Claire’s research is dedicated to
developing a workforce that’s equipped to address the complex nutrition issues
facing our populations.
Professor Rosemary Horne awarded Doctor of Science
 |
| Professor Rosemary Horne |
The Doctor of Science (DSc) is of a higher standing than a
PhD and is awarded for work that makes an original, substantial and
distinguished contribution to knowledge in a field with which the faculty is
concerned. The degree provides the recipient with authoritative standing in
their field and recognition by their academic peers.
Rosemary’s thesis incorporates 143 research publications, from
her PhD studies into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the early 1980s until
studies published in sleep disorders in infants and children up to 2015.
“The unifying theme throughout this Doctorate of Science
thesis is the development, refinement and utilisation of physiological
recordings during sleep, initially in preclinical models then subsequently in
infants and children,” Rosemary said.
Simple blood test could decrease risk of stroke, heart attack
 |
| Dr Jun Yang |
Australia’s largest study of a common yet underdiagnosed
cause of high blood pressure is starting at Hudson Institute, with the aim of
preventing heart attack and stroke.
Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a potentially curable cause of
high blood pressure (hypertension) caused by the over-production of the hormone
aldosterone from the adrenal glands. If left undiagnosed, it can get worse over
time, leaving sufferers prone to stroke and heart attack at a young age.
Dr Jun Yang, a Hudson Institute Research Fellow, School of
Clinical Sciences Early Career Research Fellow, and Consultant Endocrinologist
at Monash Health, has been awarded three new grants for research that could
change clinical management of Primary aldosteronism.
·
A Heart Foundation
Vanguard grant, $74,336, to fund the clinical component of the project,
primarily patient recruitment and assessment, over 2 years.
·
A Foundation for High
Blood Pressure Research grant (Early Career Research Transition Grant), $20,000,
to fund the laboratory-based component of the project, in particular, biomarker
identification.
·
A Collier Charitable
Fund grant, $26,000, for the purchase of specialised equipment.
“This project will be the largest study of PA in Australia
and aims to find out exactly how common this condition is in our community by
asking GPs to screen their hypertensive patients for PA using a simple blood
test,” Dr Yang said.
Monash Infectious diseases research recognised at national conference
 |
| Dr Carly Hughes |
An
Infectious Disease and Microbiology registrar at Monash Health, Dr Carly Hughes’
research aims to improve support and education for youth attending HIV
services.
“My
project compared adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Australia to
older adults and found they had higher CD4 counts and lower viral loads at
diagnosis, and were more likely to be lost to follow up and interrupt treatment,”
Dr Hughes said.
Dr
Hughes said she appreciated receiving the prize, as she had prepared the
majority of the paper and presentation while on maternity leave after having a
baby in July.
“Professionally,
it is an honour to receive a prize at a national and well respected conference
in the HIV field,” Dr Hughes said.
Dr
Hughes acknowledges the ongoing support of Head of Infectious Diseases
Professor Tony Korman, her supervisor Associate Professor Ian Woolley and her
co-authors Samar Ojaimi, Rainer Puhr, Kathy Petoumenos, Adam Bartlett, David
Templeton, Catherine O'Connor and Manoji Gunathilake. She also thanks the participants of AHOD whose data was used for the study.
eSolutions end of year shutdown
As you prepare for your end of
year break make sure you turn off your computers, monitors and printers etc.
Shutdown your computer via the usual methods (ie. choose shutdown rather than
sleep) then turn off the power at the wall.
Remember to set your vacation
message too.
Big-hearted investment: $470m funding boost brings Victorian Heart Hospital to life
Effect of aorto-ventricular angulation on procedural success in transcatheter aortic valve replacements with the Lotus Valve system
Hashrul Rashid et al. published in Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions.
Read article here.
Three-dimensional ultrasound cranial imaging and early neurodevelopment in preterm growth-restricted infants
Read article here.
Monday, 11 December 2017
Monash researcher receives VicHealth Award for alcohol harm in emergency departments research
 |
| Associate Professor Diana Egerton-Warburton |
Associate Professor Diana Egerton-Warburton was recognised for her
significant work in the prevention of alcohol related harm, winning a
prestigious VicHealth
Award last week.
Associate Professor Egerton-Warburton’s research project, Preventing
harm from alcohol, measured the number of emergency department visits
caused by alcohol harm.
Emergency departments (EDs) in
Australia and New Zealand are at the forefront of dealing with the harmful
effects of alcohol consumption. However, ED alcohol-related presentation data
is not routinely collected in patient data sets in Australasia.
Associate Professor Egerton-Warburton
said the primary objective of the project was to provide an evidence base to
advocate for alcohol harm reduction measures in our communities, by quantifying
the level of alcohol harm presenting to Australasian emergency departments.
 |
| The Hon. Jill Hennessy MP and Associate Professor Egerton-Warburton |
“This survey quantifies that on weekends, one
in eight patients in emergency departments in Australia is there because of
alcohol,” Associate Professor Egerton-Warburton said.
“This is the third such snapshot survey which
has demonstrated the impact of alcohol on ED presentations.”
Australasian College for Emergency Medicine President Dr Simon
Judkins said the Award is recognition of the hard work Associate Professor
Egerton-Warburton and her team have done with The
Alcohol Harm Snapshot Survey, exposing the true extent of alcohol abuse and its effect on our communities and
healthworkers – particularly in Australian EDs.
Associate Professor Egerton-Warburton said the award was a credit
to the many clinicians who had compiled the data in EDs across the country.
The fourth Alcohol Harm Snapshot Survey in Australian and New
Zealand EDs will take place at 2am (local time), on 16 December 2017.
“This goes to all the ED clinicians who completed those 2am
surveys and we are looking forward to a record response in this December’s
Snapshot Survey,” Associate Professor Egerton-Warburton said.
“I’d like to acknowledge the incredible efforts of the emergency
departments over the past four years to do these surveys at a busy time.”
“These surveys do lead directly to advocacy around the issue and
an attempt to influence culture, so I think it’s a very powerful thing for
emergency clinicians to do.”
The awards were announced last week at VicHealth’s 30th
anniversary event at Melbourne Museum by Health Minister Jill Hennessy, Shadow Health Minister Mary Wooldridge, Leader of the
Victorian Greens Samantha Ratnam and VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter.
Information about the research project is HERE.
Prestigious Heart Foundation Fellowship awarded to Dr Sarah Zaman
 |
| Dr Sarah Zaman |
Dr Sarah Zaman has been awarded a highly competitive Heart
Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship to continue her research into the prevention
of sudden cardiac death.
An interventional consultant cardiologist at MonashHeart and
Post-doctoral Early Career Research Fellow in the School of Clinical Sciences
at Monash Health, Dr Zaman was awarded the fellowship (worth $75,000 per annum
for two years) from 376 applicants, all of extremely high standard.
Sudden cardiac death is the cause
of approximately 20,000 deaths in Australia every year and the majority of
deaths occur in heart attack survivors with impaired heart function.
Dr Zaman’s research is trying to
identify patients at risk of sudden death.
“I’m one of the lead researchers on
the PROTECT-ICD Trial, an Australian-led, international, multi-centre study
targeting prevention of sudden death in patients who have suffered a heart
attack,” Dr Zaman said.
The PROTECT-ICD Trial targets the
important issue of prevention of sudden death after a heart attack through the
use of an electrophysiology study, a type of electrical test of the heart.
“In particular, the trial is
focused on identifying patients early (within a month) after a heart attack, as
the risk of sudden death is much higher during this time period,” Dr Zaman
said.
Over 1,000 patients with impaired
heart function following a heart attack will be recruited and randomly assigned
to either early electrophysiology study with a defibrillator implanted if fast
abnormal heart rhythms are seen, or standard care.
“Standard care involves waiting
1-3 months for the heart to recover, with a defibrillator implanted only if
there is persistent severe heart function impairment,” Dr Zaman said.
Dr Zaman said this study has the
potential to change national and international guidelines for selection of
patients for a defibrillator for sudden death prevention.
“Importantly,
it has the potential to save lives both in Australia and globally through
prevention of sudden death in heart attack survivors.”
Dr Zaman is grateful for the support and mentorship of Associate
Professor Pramesh Kovoor, (University of Sydney) and Professor James Cameron
(Monash University). She also acknowledges
the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) for the Early Career
Practitioner Fellowship that has supported her research until this time.
Outstanding grant success at Monash University and the MHTP
 |
| Professor Marcel Nold and Dr Claudia Nold |
Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) researchers from the
School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) and the Hudson Institute of
Medical Research together were awarded 23 NHMRC Project grants,
totalling almost $18M. Our success rate
of 25% was well above the national average of 16.4%.
For the first time, MHTP researchers were awarded total
funding greater than any other school of Monash University. SCS and Hudson Institute grants together amount to 30% of the Faculty’s total grants in this latest
round.
Professor Marcel Nold, recently appointed as Monash
University’s inaugural Professor of paediatric immunology, and Dr Claudia Nold
received three grants for their team.
Professor Nold has previously found that the immune system
molecule interleukin 38 disables several signalling pathways essential for
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) progress.
“This project grant will enable us to explore regulation and
function of this molecule in cells from healthy people and SLE patients and in
models of the disease,” Professor Nold said.
Head of Rheumatology Research Group in the Centre for
Inflammatory Diseases, Professor Eric Morand is a co-investigator on this
grant.
Professor Nold’s other project will explore interleukin 37,
a powerful anti-inflammatory cytokine.
Cytokines are messenger proteins that function as master
regulators of biological processes, playing central roles in many diseases.
“We will evaluate interleukin 37’s mechanisms of action and
its efficacy against several severe diseases, including cancer,” Professor Nold
said.
Colleague and partner Dr Claudia Nold is also investigating
Interleukin 37 as a novel therapy for necrotising enterocolitis, a disease that
develops when the tissue in the inner lining of the intestine becomes damaged
and begins to die.
Associate Professor Suzie Miller’s project will investigate
new and improved treatment strategies for neonatal seizures.
 |
| Associate Professor Miller and Professor Hickey |
“Seizures are the most distinctive
and frequent indication of neurological abnormalities in newborn infants and
are more common in the neonatal period than at any other stage in life,” Associate
Professor Miller said.
“Despite evidence of the limited
effectiveness and potential neurotoxicity of current anti-seizure medication,
treatment has not changed for decades.”
“We will examine novel treatments
that are less toxic and more effective, specifically designed and assessed for
neonates.”
Meanwhile, Dr Joshua Ooi, Professor Stephen Holdsworth and
Professor Michael Hickey received project grants to further their research into
kidney disease—affirming MHTP as a world leading precinct in kidney research.
Dr. Ooi's research will investigate targeted
therapies for autoimmune kidney disease.
"I aim to develop treatments that
will switch off the part of the immune system that is causing disease while
leaving protective immunity intact," Dr Ooi said.
SCS Project grant recipients are:
Name
|
Grant Title
|
TOTAL
|
|
 |
Professor
Marcel Nold
Department of Paediatrics |
Interleukin
38: Uncoupling Innate Inflammation from Interferons in lupus
|
$1,048,668
|
Exploring
and Targeting the Anti-Inflammatory Signalling Mechanisms of Interleukin 37
|
$1,018,306
|
||
Dr Claudia
Nold
Department of Paediatrics |
Interleukin
37 – a novel cytokine therapy for Necrotizing Enterocolitis in the preterm.
|
$748,848
|
|
Professor
Michael Hickey
Department of Medicine |
Conventional and unconventional T cells in interstitial kidney disease
|
$480,531
|
|
 |
Dr Rebecca
Lim
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology |
Amniotic
Exosomes - Nanomedicine for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
|
$647,057
|
 |
Professor Peter
Ebeling
Department of Medicine |
Fractures
and bisphosphonates: reviving osteoporosis treatment uptake by identifying
the genetic, material, and microstructural risk factors of atypical femur
fractures
|
$1,053,094
|
 |
Professor
Euan Wallace
|
A Cell
Therapy for Necrotising Enterocolitis
|
$659,428
|
 |
Associate Professor
Suzie Miller
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology |
New and
improved treatment strategies for neonatal seizures
|
$883,209
|
 |
Professor
Stephen Holdsworth
|
DNase I as
Treatment for MPO-ANCA Vasculitis
|
$868,340
|
Generating
endogenous antigen specific T regulatory cells to treat autoimmune MPO-ANCA
GN
|
$873,340
|
||
 |
Dr Joshua
Ooi
Department of Medicine |
Treatments
for glomerulonephritis that harness antigen specific regulatory cells
|
$610,005
|
 |
Dr Nadine
Andrew
|
Evaluation
of enhanced models of primary care in the management of stroke and other
chronic diseases
|
$556,183
|
The mental health of refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island
 |
| Professor Suresh Sundram |
Professor Suresh Sundram published in The Lancet.
On October 31, 2017, the Governments of Australia and Papua
New Guinea ended support for the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre, an
Australian immigration detention facility on Manus Island, Papua New
Guinea. Instead, currently incomplete
and substandard facilities without adequate service provision have been hastily
constructed to accommodate people. 379 refugees and asylum seekers refused to
leave the centre stating fears for their security. The physical and mental health of these
people is precarious.
Read full article HERE.
Professor Sundram is from the Department of Psychiatry,
School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University and Unit Head,
Adult Psychiatry at Monash Medical Centre.
SCS lecturer recognised for teaching excellence
 |
| Dr Simone Gibson and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner |
A senior lecturer in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and
Food, Dr Gibson teaches clinical dietetics, and engages work-based educators and promotes teaching excellence
for work-integrated learning.
Dr Gibson said she helps prepare students to reach clinical competency
and to gain employment in the fast-paced and often stressful hospital
environment.
“My teaching and learning strategies are multi-faceted and include
simulation and real-life patient interactions,” Dr Gibson said.
“I use a range of evaluation techniques including student learning
and cost-effectiveness measures.”
Dr Gibson has published and presented internationally in clinical
educational research and is an Associate Fellow for the Australia and New
Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators. She has received over
$70,000 in grants for educational research and initiatives which she uses to
improve students and graduate outcomes.
“It is a great honour to receive this award and I am so pleased
that teaching is so valued at Monash,” Dr Gibson said.
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