Monday, 27 February 2017
Lung cancer patients to benefit from clinical trials at Monash Health Translation Precinct
 |
| CTC Manager Ms Cheryl Coleman, Professor Eva Segelov
and oncology patient Ms Marnie Dalton |
Lung cancer is the
fifth most common cancer in Australia but the leading cause of cancer related deaths. Monash Health receives over 250 new referrals
of lung cancer each year, one of the highest patient loads in Victoria, as our
area serves a population equivalent to the size of the Adelaide.
“All lung cancer
clinical trials are being moved from the Monash Cancer Centre, Moorabbin to the
MHTP Clinical Trials Centre, the ‘home base’ for Monash Health and Monash
University clinician-scientists to conduct early, mid and late phase clinical
trials,” said Dr Muhammad Alamgeer, medical oncologist and lung trials clinical
lead at MHTP.
“Currently there are
eight clinical trials are being conducted in various subtypes of lung
cancer—of these, two trials are phase 2 and the rest are phase 3.
A number of other
patients with lung cancer are also participating in phase 1 clinical trials,
which are already running at MHTP.
Dr Alamgeer said the
Monash team of motivated and world-class clinicians and researchers strive to
ensure patients have access to the latest and most effective treatments, and
that further early and late phase clinical trials are planned to start in the
coming months.
“Participation in clinical trials gives our
patients the opportunity to receive novel and cutting-edge treatment
options,” said Monash University’s Associate Professor Arun Azad, oncologist
and Head of Oncology Clinical Trials at MHTP.
“Every cancer patient
at Monash Health who is either newly diagnosed or is requiring a change in
their treatment is considered for participation in a clinical trial,” said
Associate Professor Azad.
Associate Professor
Azad said that due to stringent entry criteria, not all patients are eligible
to participate in a clinical trial.
Director of Oncology
at Monash Health, Professor Eva Segelov said recent advances in medical
research have led to the discovery of novel and more effective treatments,
resulting in improvements in overall survival and quality of life for lung
cancer patients.
“We are very
fortunate to have the Clinical Trials Centre, a purpose-built facility supported
by dedicated staff with expertise in clinical trials, ranging from pharmacy to
nursing, data management and medical care, to our translational scientists who
work alongside us to better understand cancer biology,” said Professor Segelov
from the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health.
“Collaborative
initiatives at the MHTP bring together information and leading opinion from
clinicians and scientists on cancer treatment, prevention, diagnosis and cure.”
“We have planned to
move all cancer clinical trials to the MHTP, optimising translational research
opportunities, which will result in better outcomes for our patients,” said
Professor Segelov.
Monash Health acknowledged internationally as Myelodysplasia Center of Excellence
 |
| Associate Professor Jake Shortt |
Monash Health in affiliation with Monash University has been
approved as a "Myelodysplasia (MDS) Center of Excellence" by the
International MDS Foundation.
Associate Professor Jake Shortt said the application was
supported by publications from the Grigoriadis/Banerjee lab and from several
papers by Dr Zoe McQuilten and Associate Professor Erica Wood using data
linkage to ascertain patterns of MDS in Australia.
“We are also a frequent lead Australian site in recruitment
to MDS clinical trials, several of which are currently recruiting at the MHTP,”
said Associate Professor Shortt, Head of Haematology Research and clinical lead
for MDS and Leukaemia at the Monash Health Translation Precinct.
The
Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation was established by an international group
of physicians and researchers to provide an ongoing exchange of information
relating to MDS.
To be recognized as an MDS Center of Excellence, an institution
must have:
- An
established university (or equivalent) program
- Recognized
morphologic expertise in MDS
- Available
cytogenetics and/or molecular genetics
- Ongoing
research, including Institutional Review Board-approved clinical trials
- Documentation
of peer-reviewed publications in the field
Associate Professor Shortt said he looks forward to
progressing the acute leukaemia strategy as the next goal in the MDS and
Leukaemia program at MHTP.
World-first discovery in placental research receives Ferring Innovation Grant
 |
| Dr Padma Murthi |
School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health
(SCS) researcher Dr Padma Murthi has been awarded a highly competitive Ferring
Innovation Grant for her research investigating therapeutics to treat placental
function in preeclampsia.
The Ferring Pharmaceuticals grant worth
US$96,000 will enable Dr Murthi to investigate the role of novel peptides as an
effective target to improve placental function.
Often seen in first-time pregnancies and in
women over forty, preeclampia (PE) affects 5% to 10% of all pregnancies
globally.
“PE is caused by a functionally insufficient
placenta, and severe PE is associated with a placenta that doesn’t develop
properly, preventing the developing fetus from receiving enough oxygen, blood
and nutrients,” said Dr Murthi, senior research fellow in the Department of
Medicine.
“There are no therapies to improve placental
function and fetal growth in utero, and advances in the prevention of PE have
been hampered by our inadequate understanding of the critical regulators of placental
function largely due to the lack of appropriate model systems.”
Led by Dr Murthi, the Monash research group is
the first in the world to discover a placental growth control receptor (known
as FPR2) is involved in improving placental blood flow to the developing fetus.
Dr Murthi said her group has developed
innovative tools, including appropriate in vitro, ex-vivo and in-vivo
model systems to demonstrate the usefulness of FPR2 as a therapeutic
target to improve placental vascular functions in preeclampsia.
“FPR2 has significant therapeutic
implications given that clinical trials for drugs targeting FPR2 in
inflammatory diseases have already been tested for safety and tolerability in humans,”
said Dr Murthi.
“The outcomes of this study have the
potential to improve placental growth and function in preeclampsia, one of the
major clinical disorders of contemporary perinatal medicine.”
Monash Ophthalmology’s Head of Department receives academic promotion
 |
| Associate Professor Chen |
Head of Ophthalmology Department at Monash
Health, Christine Chen has been promoted to Clinical Associate Professor in the
Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS).
Since joining Monash Ophthalmology as only the second female head of a surgical unit at
Monash Health, Associate Professor Chen has established a dedicated trial
clinic and made significant contributions to public eye health care delivery
and research.
Associate
Professor Chen’s research interests include new modalities of ocular imaging
such as spectral domain ocular coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography, and
how these advances further our understanding of age-related macular degeneration
and enable personalised treatment regimes.
She also has an
interest in ocular genetics, particularly in how the breakthroughs with
CRISPR/Cas-based editing could be applied to ophthalmic diseases as well as the
consent process and ethical implications for its therapeutic application.
Associate Professor Chen established
a number of subspecialty clinics, including Paediatrics, Cornea, Oculoplastics,
Medical and Surgical Retina clinics and increased elective surgical throughput
by 50%, cementing Monash Ophthalmology as the second largest ophthalmology
service provider in Victoria and Monash’s commitment to deliver accessible
tertiary public eye health care.
Associate
Professor Chen said she is very honoured and proud to have her achievements recognised.
“Surgery
is a selfish practice and requires generous support personally, professionally
and beyond,” said Associate Professor Chen.
“My
generation is extremely fortunate to have the choice of education and career, however,
there is a price associated with these choices that is not often talked about.”
“The
‘have it all’ image for the modern woman is unrealistic and places women in an unsustainable
position. Just as men have wives, women need to enlist the assistance of their
life partner,1 accept some difficult sacrifices particularly at the
home front and as a society, allow men to break the nursery ceiling,” said
Associate Professor Chen.
“The
Monash environment has allowed me to pursue a surgical and academic career as
well as starting a family. Whilst I struggle to find a balance between a 17-month-old,
marriage and work, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and am determined
to lean in to sit at the table.2”
Associate
Professor Chen acknowledges the entire Monash Ophthalmology team, particularly
Linda Santamaria, for her support both personally and professionally, and
Professor Julian Smith for being a ‘fantastic mentor’. And last but not least,
her husband.
1 Annabel Crabb. The Wife Drought: Why women need wives and men need
lives. Random House; 2014.
2 Sheryl
Sandberg (COO Facebook). Lean in: Women, work, and the will to lead. Random
House; 2013.
SCS social club welcome lunch, 10 March
Please join us for a free pizza lunch on Friday 10 March, 12.30pm - 1.30pm in the Medicine Seminar Room.
CID Weekly Seminar: "Toll-like receptors and their function in mycobacterial infections -a longitudinal translational study examining infected patients" Tuesday 28 February
Tuesday 28 February, 12:00 - 1:00pm, Seminar
Room 1, Level 2, TRF Building
Dr Sabine de
Silva
Infectious
Diseases Physician, Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash Health
Postgraduate
Student, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases
Thesis
Pre-submission seminar
Dr Sabine de Silva graduated from Monash
University in 2000, having completed MBBS (H) and BMedSci (H). Completed
Infectious Diseases training at Monash, Austin and Barwon Health and currently
an Infectious Diseases Physician at Monash Health. Interests include
clinical research, particularly in TB.
A light lunch is served prior to the seminar at 11:45am in the
seminar room foyer, level 2, TRF Building.
Further information, including the link to add the seminar series to your google calendar, is available from CID Weekly Seminar Series website [http://www.med.monash.edu.au/scs/medicine/cid/seminar-series.html]
Diabetes Unit Educational Meeting: “Optimizing Self-Management In Adults With Comorbid Diabetes And Renal Disease”, 2 March
All interested staff are invited to the weekly Diabetes Unit Educational Meeting.Thursday 2 March, 8am-9am, at the Diabetes Centre of the Special Medicine Building, MMC
Presenter: Edward Zimbudzi, Nurse Unit Manager and PhD candidate, Monash University
PhD mid-candidature review, Dilys Leung, 1 March
1 March at 3pm, seminar room, level 4, Block E, Monash Medical Centre
Thesis title: Characterisation
of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein in ovarian granulosa cell tumours
Synopsis: Granulosa cell tumours (GCT) represent a large subset of sex-cord stromal tumours which contribute to ~8% of all ovarian malignancies. The aim of my PhD project is to investigate PPAR gamma and XIAP as potential targets for combination treatment of GCT. I will also identify and manipulate the unusual and distinctive patterns of expression of key genes involved in cell survival, which will provide us with both prognostic information and potential new and novel therapeutic targets for treatment of these tumours.
Supervisors: Prof. Peter J Fuller and Dr Simon Chu
Panel chair: Dr Peter Stanton
Independent assessors: A/Prof Tim Cole and Prof Vincent Harley
Synopsis: Granulosa cell tumours (GCT) represent a large subset of sex-cord stromal tumours which contribute to ~8% of all ovarian malignancies. The aim of my PhD project is to investigate PPAR gamma and XIAP as potential targets for combination treatment of GCT. I will also identify and manipulate the unusual and distinctive patterns of expression of key genes involved in cell survival, which will provide us with both prognostic information and potential new and novel therapeutic targets for treatment of these tumours.
Supervisors: Prof. Peter J Fuller and Dr Simon Chu
Panel chair: Dr Peter Stanton
Independent assessors: A/Prof Tim Cole and Prof Vincent Harley
Bioinformatics: Core Service and Clinical Pipelines at Peter MacCallumCancer Centre, 15 March
Seminar Room 2, TRF building, level 2
Presenter: Jason Li, PhD
Bioinformatics Core Manager, Cancer Research
Peter MacCallumCancer Centre
There has been a growing demand for bioinformatics as a service in genomics research and clinical sequencing. In this seminar, I will talk about some of the current activities at the Peter Mac Bioinformatics Core, including the development of whole-genome sequencing pipelines, clinical pipelines and variant call validation workflow. I will also discuss the challenges and opportunities in running a Core Facility, and talk about how our services and business models have evolved over the last ten years.
Enquiries: Vivien.Vasic@hudson.org.au
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER: CELL BIOLOGY OF MAMMALIAN OOCYTES AND EMBRYOS
A position as postdoctoral researcher is available to study the mechanisms of cell divisions in mouse oocytes and embryos at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM). Our lab uses live imaging approaches, along with genetic interventions and micromanipulation approaches to study the mechanisms of chromosome segregation in the oocyte and early mammalian embryo, in order to understand the cellular basis of fertility. Previous experience in any of the following would be a benefit for the role: cell and molecular biology approaches, cell division, live cell imaging, oocyte and embryo handling, micro-manipulation and microinjection. The position is available for three years in the first instance. CRCHUM is a new state of the art research facility located in the heart of downtown Montreal, close to the Old Port.For representative examples of the labs recent work please see: Vazquez-Diez et al., 2016. PNAS 13(3):626-31. Tsichlaki and FitzHarris, 2016. Scientific Reports 6:28040. Shomper et al., Cell Cycle, 2014. 13(7):1171-9.
For more on the lab see fitzharrislab.com
Interested candidates are encouraged to send a current CV and cover letter to Dr Greg FitzHarris at greg.fitzharris@umontreal.ca before March 31st 2017.
GRADUATE STUDENTSHIP – CELL BIOLOGY OF MAMMALIAN OOCYTES AND EARLY EMBRYOS
A graduate studentship is available to study the mechanisms of cell divisions in mouse oocytes and embryos at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM). Our lab uses live imaging approaches, along with genetic interventions and micromanipulation approaches to study the mechanisms of chromosome segregation in the oocyte and early mammalian embryo, in order to understand the cellular basis of fertility. The studentship would particularly suit someone with a strong background in cell/molecular/developmental biology, who has an interest in cell division and/or reproductive biology, and is available either for a masters or a PhD student. CRCHUM is a new state of the art research facility located in the heart of downtown Montreal, close to the Old Port.For representative examples of the labs recent work please see: Vazquez Diez et al., 2016. PNAS 13(3):626-31. Tsichlaki and FitzHarris, 2016. Scientific Reports 6:28040. Shomper et al., Cell Cycle, 2014. 13(7):1171-9.
For more on the lab see fitzharrislab.com
Interested candidates are encouraged to send a current CV and cover letter to Dr Greg FitzHarris at greg.fitzharris@umontreal.ca before March 31st 2017.
myDevelopment: Now available for graduate research students
Monash
Graduate Education is excited to enhance the graduate research student
experience of the Monash Doctoral Program through the launch of the
myDevelopment system. Visit the myDevelopment web page for information, user guides, and support for students and staff. A link to GRAMs has been provided on the myDevelopment webpage, to allow students who commenced prior to 2017 to cross check against their GRAMS training record.
Postgraduate Publications Award (PPA)
Nominations for Round 2 due 1st April, 2017.
Student due to submit their thesis for examination between 1 April - 30 June are encouraged to apply for the PPA. Recipients of the PPA receive a living allowance for up to 8 weeks. More information about this award can be found at this website.
Macrophage-to-Myofibroblast Transition Contributes to Interstitial Fibrosis in Chronic Renal Allograft Injury
David Nikolic-Paterson et al. published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.Read article here.
Treatment of preeclampsia with hydroxychloroquine: a review
Read article here.
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