MHTP Research Week success

This year’s MHTP Research Week was an overwhelming success.  Nearly 200 posters were submitted and displayed throughout Monash Medical Centre and the Monash Children’s Hospital.  The two keynote speakers— Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC and Vice-President, Research & Development, CSL Dr Andrea Douglas—drew ‘standing room’ only crowds.

See full photo gallery HERE.

Winners of the poster competition were:

Poster Category	Abstract title	Best Poster Prize Winner - $500
Cardiovascular disease	Age dependent effect on post-stroke infection	Shu Wen Wen
Child and neonatal health	Differential effects of umbilical cord blood cells to reduce neuroinflammation following neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury	Courtney McDonald
Diabetes, obesity, men’s health & reproduction and endocrinology	Sarcopenic Obesity is Associated with Lower Proximal Tibial Cortical Bone Quality, Increased Intermuscular Adipose Tissue and Poor Physical Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults	David Scott
Emergency medicine, anaesthetics, intensive care and surgery	Determining an optimal skin closure technique for children undergoing elective surgical procedures	Sarthak Tandon
Inflammatory and infectious diseases	The role of dietary fibre on the progression of colitis	Kathryn Kumar
Mental health and neurosciences	Mesenchymal stem cells modulate brain inflammation after LPS administration in preterm fetal sheep	Madison Paton
Nursing and midwifery	Admission temperature of preterm infants – mitigating the effects of increased transportation time and distance to A new NICU	Kate Duthie
Oncology (First State Super corporate sponsor) Bill to thank First State super for their sponsorship.	Novel Therapeutic Strategies in Thyroid Cancer	Nalian Ibrahim
Public health and health services	Factors associated with stroke patients experiencing severe complications in acute hospitals in New South Wales (Australia)	Tara Purvis
Women’s health and female reproduction	The Effect of Partial Amniotic Carbon Dioxide Insufflation on the Fetus During Fetoscopic Surgery	Benjamin Amberg
Other	The Best Way To Go”; Navigating hospital end of life care research dilemmas”	Felicity Moon

Prof Eric Morand, Ms Brittany Croft, Dr Nitesh Nerlekar,
Mr Dinesh Giritharan, Ms Madison Paton, Dr Stacey Ellery

Winners of the PhD student showcase symposium were:

1^st place: Dr Nitesh Nerlekar (Epicardial Adipose Tissue – The link between inflammation, obesity and coronary artery disease)

2^nd place: Ms Madison Paton (Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for preterm brain injury in fetal sheep)

People’s choice: Ms Brittany Croft (Investigating the role of FGF9 in disorders of sex development)

Winners of the Best of ECR Oral Presentations were:

1^st place: Mr Dinesh Giritharan (Use of decision support tools for discharge planning in a general medical unit)

2^nd place: Dr Stacy Ellery (Creatine synthesis in fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia: potential implications for placental bioenergetics)

Prestigious Fellowship to improve outcomes for patients with autoimmune disease

Dr Joshua Ooi

Senior Research Fellow Dr Joshua Ooi has been awarded the 2017 Al and Val Rosenstrauss Research Fellowship to further his research into ANCA-associated vasculitis, a severe autoimmune disease that can destroy the kidneys and lungs.

The highly competitive fellowship, worth $400,000 over four years, will enable Dr Ooi to focus on understanding why the immune system sometimes targets self-proteins and causes autoimmune disease.

“Having already identified the precise autoimmune targets in ANCA-associated vasculitis, I will use this fellowship to translate that knowledge into new targeted therapeutics,” said Dr Ooi, from the Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health.

“Current treatments for this disease are mainly non-specific immunosuppressants that affect the beneficial parts of the immune system, leaving patients vulnerable to life-threatening infections.”

Professor Richard Kitching, Director of the Centre for Inflammatory Diseases and Monash Health nephrologist said the trouble with current treatments is they’re non-targeted and non-specific and have side effects that lead to significant and substantial morbidities.

“A better way of treating immune diseases would be to more specifically target the bad cells and antibodies—and it’s these rogue cells that direct the damaging autoimmune response that are the focus of Dr Ooi’s research,” Professor Kitching said.

In recent years, Dr. Ooi has made significant breakthroughs in understanding the cause of disease as well as the specific parts of the kidneys and lungs that are ‘attacked’ by the immune system.

His work has been published in prestigious medical and science journals including Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and The Journal of Clinical Investigation as well as in the top kidney research journal, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

“Thanks to this fellowship, I will be able to investigate how we might increase the effectiveness of treatment. I plan to develop new therapies that shut down the part of the immune system that is attacking self-proteins, while leaving protective immunity against invading pathogens intact,” Dr Ooi said.

One of Dr. Ooi’s recent discoveries, published in Nature, details how specific immune cells (known as regulatory T cells) that recognise proteins found in the kidneys and lungs can confer protection from autoimmune disease.

“Based on these findings, I’ve developed new experimental therapies that can induce this protective cell type in patients and I will use this fellowship to translate my experimental findings into a clinical treatment.”

Two Tall Poppies in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health

Two senior researchers from the Department of Medicine have been recognised for their outstanding research, each receiving prestigious Victorian Young Tall Poppy Science Awards last week.

Dr Connie Wong, Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow and Head of Neuroinflammation Research Group, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases and Dr David Scott, NHMRC Career Development Fellow, Bone and Muscle Health Research Group were presented with the highly competitive awards at Swinburne University last Thursday.

The annual Young Tall Poppy Science Awards recognise the achievements of Australia’s outstanding young scientific researchers and communicators. The Award winners (‘Tall Poppies’) participate in education and community outreach programs in which they become role models to inspire school students and the broader community about the possibilities of science.

Dr Wong said it was a great honour to receive such a prestigious Award and she will continue to thrive for scientific excellence and work towards better communication and community engagement to promote an understanding of science. 

Dr Wong received her Award in recognition of her novel research into stroke. 

“It’s been recognised for many years that stroke patients are prone to infections, but very little is known about where these infections come from,” Dr Wong said.  “Traditionally, infections were assumed to come about because of the patient’s immobility and the hospital environment they are in.”

“Research from my laboratory shows for the first time that stroke not only damages the brain but also directly weakens the immune system in such a way that the “bad” bacteria in the intestines have the opportunity to escape and travel to other organs to cause fatal infections.”

Dr Wong said that gut bacteria taking advantage of a patient’s weakened immune system after stroke is a huge concern, especially if the gut bacteria are antibiotic-resistant.

“Our research suggests stroke clinicians should stop giving unnecessary antibiotics to patients because they simply don’t work.”

“I believe our research will trigger a change in stroke patient management in hospitals and reduce the overuse of ineffective antibiotics.”

Importantly, now that Dr Wong’s research has revealed an important role for the gut in patients who develop infections after stroke, her lab is investigating an effective and targeted therapy to improve patient outcomes.

Meanwhile Dr Scott, also from the Department of Medicine, was deemed a Tall Poppy for his research into the link between sarcopenia, obesity and osteoporotic fractures.

“Australia has a growing obese older adult population and while obese older adults generally have reduced risk of osteoporotic fractures, my research has shown that obese older adults with sarcopenia (low muscle mass and strength) have higher rates of these fractures,” Dr Scott said.

Dr Scott’s research suggests that health professionals need to carefully monitor and treat declines in muscle and bone health in obese older adults in order to avoid preventable fractures.

“My team and I are trialling inexpensive exercise programs that can reduce fat mass, increase muscle mass and strength, and improve bone quality, with the ultimate aim of developing home- and community-based interventions for reducing falls and fracture rates in older adults with sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity.”

Dr Scott said that given the outstanding achievements of fellow and past winners, it was a great honour to be recognised with this Award.

“I'm excited to participate in the community outreach programs and use this opportunity to promote science to the community, particularly our future scientists,” he said.

Dr Wong and Dr Scott expressed their thanks and gratitude to Professors Eric Morand and Peter Ebeling for nominating them as well as their ongoing support.

SCS fellowship enables research to improve outcomes for children with brain injury

Dr Ali Crichton

Clinical neuropsychologist Dr Ali Crichton is a recipient of the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) 2018 Early Career Practitioner Fellowship, a scheme that gives young physicians protected time, enabling physician scientists to continue their clinical duties while remaining active in research.

Dr Crichton is a senior clinical neuropsychologist, Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Services, Monash Children’s Hospital and an adjunct lecturer at Monash University.  To date, her research has combined a focus on the neuropsychological consequences of brain injury and providing interventions to support children and families following brain injury.

“My PhD focused on a common clinical complaint with limited scientific study so far -  the measurement of fatigue after child brain injury, tracking this over time after injury and taking into account multiple factors including sleep, mood and pain,” Dr Crichton said.

“This fellowship will enable me to work with Professor Rosemary Horne to better understand the complex science of sleep and fatigue in children with brain injury, and I will trial new interventions to address these difficulties.”

“I also hope to continue to establish a foundation for paediatric neuropsychological research at Monash Children’s Hospital, and to use my clinical expertise to facilitate several existing clinical projects currently underway.”

Dr Crichton said she was grateful for the fellowship at key time in her career, and it will provide her with the opportunity to collaborate with paediatric sleep experts to better understand and treat sleep disorders and fatigue.

“I hope that findings generated through this research will support children and families to maximise their functional outcome from brain injuries.”

Monash medical students' research highlighted at ACEM annual scientific meeting

Joash Arnold

Two SCS BMedSc(Hons) students presented their work at this year’s Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting, held in Sydney last week. 

Joash Arnold delivered an oral presentation on the utility of CT scanning of the brain in patients with an altered mental state caused by drug overdose or alcohol intoxication, under the supervision of Prof Andis Graudins and A/Prof Robert Meek. 

"My study found that no patients without any signs of head trauma had any acute intracranial pathology on cranial CT and many patients received multiple CT scans for repeated pharmaceutical overdose," said Joash. 

Helen Huang

"CT scanning is not without harm and this study highlighted the need for further research in this area."

Fellow student Helen Huang presented an e-Poster 'Current management practices for suspected cervical spine injury in emergency departments: a prospective cohort study'.

Helen said her project had found that in Monash Health Emergency Departments, 70.1% of patients with suspected cervical spine injury had unnecessary imaging and 94.1% had unnecessary cervical spine immobilisation. 

"These results may help change clinical practice in our EDs," Helen said.

Helen was under the supervision of Dr. Gabriel Blecher and A/Prof Diana Egerton-Warburton, and assisted by A/Prof Robert Meek. 

Monash neonatologist recognised by Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health, UK

Dr Arvind Sehgal, Neonatologist at Monash Children’s Hospital and Professor of Pediatrics at Monash University has been appointed as a Fellow of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (United Kingdom). 

This is recognition of his academic and research contributions and achievements over past five years.

He will travel to London  next year for the ceremony.

Cate Bailey wins Excellence in Research Award

Cate Bailey has recently won the Excellence in Research on Improving Law Enforcement for Women’ Award category for the ACWAP Excellence in Policing Awards, Australasian Council of Women and Policing.

This was awarded “for the outstanding volume of research … aimed at informing and directing policing and policy formation that aims to protect Indigenous women and children from sexual abuse. The research makes a difference to many lives and forges a pathway for a better society.”

The award was sponsored by Tasmania Police, with Commissioner Darren Hine making the acknowledgement.  

Childhood Cancer Research Symposium, 7 February 2018

We are excited to announce the international guest speakers at the Childhood Cancer Research Symposium, hosted by Hudson Institute's Centre for Cancer Research.

Please see the finalised program HERE.

This event will take place on 7 February, 2018 at the Monash Health Translation Precinct in Clayton.

REGISTER NOW for this FREE event as spaces are limited.

The list of international guest speakers can be found on the attached program, where you register, or read the details here:

Assoc/Prof Annie Huang (Canada)

Oncologist, Paediatric Brain Tumour Program

SickKids Hospital, Toronto, Canada

Principal Investigator

The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre

Dr Amos Loh (Singapore)

MBBS, MRCS (Edin), M Med (Surg), FAMS (Paed Surgery)

Consultant (Paediatric Surgical, Oncology)

KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore

Asst/Prof Angela Waanders (USA)

Attending Physician, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Director of Clinical Research, Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Asst/Prof Adam Resnick (USA)

Director, Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine (D3b)

Director, Neurosurgical Translational Research, Division of Neurosurgery

Director, Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium in Neurosurgery (CBTTC)

Scientific Chair, Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium (CBTTC)

Scientific Chair, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC)

Alexander B. Wheeler Endowed Chair in Neurosurgical Research

Assistant Professor, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Assoc/Prof Rishi Lulla (USA)

Attending Physician, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Executive Chair, Children’s Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium (CBTTC)

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Assoc/Prof Phillip B. Storm (USA)

Chief, Division of Neurosurgery, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Director, Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine (D3b)

Leslie N. Sutton Chair of Neurosurgery

Associate Professor, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Assoc/Prof Javad Nazarian (USA)

Scientific Director, Brain Tumor Institute, Children’s National Health System

Scientific Chair, Children’s Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium (CBTTC)

Associate Professor of Genomics and Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University

If you have any questions, please contact Naama Neeman, at: naama.neeman@hudson.org.au

2018 Advancing Women's Research Success Grant Program - APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

Applications are now open for the 2018 Advancing Women's Research Success Grant Program.  This funding is administered through the Monash University Gender Equity Programs.

Download Guidelines for Grant Applicants
Complete the Application Form

Advancing Women's Research Success Grant supports the career progression of early to mid-career high potential female academic staff with primary carer responsibilities and assists the university in fostering talent to progress women to senior roles within the academy.

By providing funding at a critical time in the careers of high potential female academic staff, this initiative aims to reduce the impact of career breaks and/or caring responsibilities on research productivity. Grant awardees receive funds to support a range of research activities so that they can maintain or enhance the momentum of their research productivity and strengthen their research profile.

Applications for the 2018 program close 11 December 2017.

For more information, please email gender-equity@monash.edu or call Staff Equity Programs on (03) 990 29915.

SCS & Hudson NHMRC and ARC Grant Review 2017 - Call for submissions for 2018 grant proposals

Attn all researchers:

You are invited to be part of the Hudson and SCS Grant Review process, which reviews NHMRC and ARC grant applications.  Through this process you will receive advice on the strategic direction of your grant and identifying reviewers to assist with grantsmanship.

Sessions to review early grant proposals have been shown to be particularly useful for new grant proposals and those that are to be substantially rewritten. 

At each meeting applicants are asked to speak about their proposed grant for approximately 5 minutes, clearly addressing the selection criteria. This is then followed by 15 minutes of discussion and feedback. All postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to attend.

To participate in this process, please send the following to grants@hudson.org.au by the deadlines:

• Wednesday 29th November - Number of grants, proposed CIs, granting body and preferred Panel - This will be used to allocate meetings and spokespersons

• Wednesday 6th December - Completed NHMRC or ARC proforma (Attached HERE) and track records for each CI

Meetings to review Grant Proposals will run from 11th to 21st December. You must be available to attend these meetings.

Ritchie Centre runs a separate review process. Those going through this process do not have to participate in the above process but may choose to do so, particularly if their grant crosses over into themes other than reproduction.

Please see attached HERE a summary of the review process and HERE a timeline for the review.  Do not hesitate to contact Hudson Grants Office (grants@hudson.org.au) or Dr Eugene Fredericks (eugene.fredericks@monash.edu) if you have any queries.

Universities Australia 'Pitch it Clever' Competition

Universities Australia are pleased to announce that the annual Pitch it Clever competition has been launched.  This competition challenges early to mid-career researchers to talk up their research in a 1-2 minute video.  The video should aim to persuade leaders from across the country to become champions for the research.

An information pack and associated media have been prepared to assist with this (attached HERE).

Three prizes are up for grabs:

- The Vice-Chancellors’ Award

- The Delegates’ Choice Award

- The People’s Choice Award

Videos will be shortlisted by a panel of Vice-Chancellors and then shown at Universities Australia’s annual Higher Education Conference, where conference delegates will vote for the Delegates’ Choice Award. The winner of the shortlisting process will receive the Vice-Chancellors’ Award, and members of the Thinkable community will vote to decide the winner of the People’s Choice Award.

If you require any further information please contact the organiser, John Nicholls, using the details provided in the information pack.

Updated Quality Check toolkit

Please find attached HERE the updated quality check toolkit incorporating the additional question and explanation relating to providing information on career outcomes to potential students undertaking a research degree.

CID seminar, Dr Tin Soe Kyaw and Dr Alberta Hoi, 28 November

Tuesday 28 November, 12-1pm, TRF Seminar Room 1

CD8αβ+ T cells Promote Cardiac Fibrosis in Hypertensive Hearts

Dr Tin Soe Kyaw, Senior Research Fellow, Baker Institute

Dr Tin’s research focuses atherosclerosis and cardia fibrosis. Using different animal models, he studies how lymphocytes influence vulnerable plaque generation and plaque rupture as heart attack is leading cause of deaths globally and locally. Current projects investigate the mechanisms by which B cells, gamma-delta T cells and cytotoxic T cells contribute to vulnerable plaques and plaque rupture and roles of cytotoxic T cells in cardiac fibrosis.

Cardiac fibrosis (CF) is an important contributor to heart failure, increasing cardiac stiffness and thereby reducing cardiac performance. CD8+T cells have been associated with CF but their exact role has remained elusive. Here we aim to define the role of CD8αβ+ T cells in CF and identify molecular mechanisms by which these cells influence fibrosis. Antibody-mediated depletion of CD8αβ+ T cells in TAC- or 2K1C-mouse models greatly attenuated CF.

Monash Lupus Research 2017 update: Collaborative effort with national, international and industry partners

Dr Alberta Hoi, Head of Lupus Clinic, MMCSenior Research Fellow, Department of Medicine, Monash University

Dr Alberta Hoi is a consultant rheumatologist and senior research fellow at Monash Health and Monash University. She leads projects relating to the Australian Lupus Registry & Biobank, jointly chair for the Australian Lupus Registry & Biobank steering committee. Her clinical research interests focus on registry design, impact of high disease activity state in lupus and effects of healthcare quality on disease outcome. She is also the chair for the Australian Rheumatology Association SLE Interest Group (SLESIG) and a steering committee member of the Asia-Pacific Lupus Collaboration. In addition to research, Dr Alberta Hoi is committed to excellence and innovation in patient care and medical education. 

 Ongoing effort to expand the Australian Lupus Registry has been in place over the last year, putting Monash firmly on the center stage of national and international lupus research. We have continued our model of integrated clinic providing care for lupus patients in Melbourne, and continued clinical and biosample data collection as part of our routine clinic visit. Our collaborative effort with the Asia Pacific Lupus Collaboration group has continued to be productive, forming one of largest lupus cohorts in the world. We have identified common interests with industry groups who are investing significantly into R&D in the lupus space, as new therapeutic targets are fast becoming real therapy that could improve clinical outcomes for patients. We have mutual goals in better understanding the impact of lupus as well as its unmet needs on patients. The infrastructure that we have built at Monash allows us to effectively collaborate with our industry partners

Presentation by National Foundation of Medical Research and Innovation (NFMRI): Medical Research and Innovation Strategies for Success, 30 November

Thursday 30th November 2017, 11am - 12pm
S4 Science Lecture Theatre, 16 Rainforest Walk, Clayton campus

Presenter: Dr Noel Chambers

Dr Noel Chambers CEO of the National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation (NFMRI) will be visiting Monash University Clayton Campus on Thursday the 30th of November to present to our research community. 

This is a significant opportunity to meet an NFMRI funding expert. The NFMRI's primary objective is to support innovative areas of biomedical research to help benefit mankind through the prevention or eradication of diseases. This presentation will be of particular interest to biomedical researchers at all career stages.

Some examples of the types of research that the NFMRI funds include:

·  Concepts, discoveries and innovations;

·  Strategic Collaborations;

·  Bridging the “Valley of death”

There will be the opportunity for questions at the end of the presentation.

Please register your attendance here 

Dr. Noel Chambers was appointed as the CEO of the NFMRI in April 2013. Noel has a PhD in pharmacology/medicinal chemistry from the University of Sydney. His work experience includes positions in research, research translation, commercialisation, start-up companies, biotechnology and philanthropy. In the early 90’s his patented discoveries in type II diabetes led to a commercial partnership where he lead a team of researchers at the University of Sydney and for which he was presented the Royal Australian Chemical Institute’s Biota Award for Medicinal Chemistry. Noel then moved into industry where he held senior management positions in research and business development before becoming the CEO of a number of listed (ASX) and unlisted biotechnology/health related companies. In 2009, Noel’s attention turned to philanthropy where he led the establishment of Research Australia’s successful philanthropy program as the Director of Philanthropy. He was a member of the Federal Government’s Advisory Council for Intellectual Property (ACIP) from 2009-2014, advising the Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research and was Chair of the ACIP review into collaborations between Publicly Funded Research Organisations and Industry.

​Please direct queries about the seminar to the MRO Medical ​and Health Sciences team (mhs@monash.edu).

Confirmation milestone, Nicola Rivers, Germ line surrogacy in native fish species for improvement of conservation and aquaculture practices, 6 Dec

All staff and students are invited to Nicola Rivers' Masters of Reproductive Science confirmation milestone.

6 December, 2-3pm, The Ritchie Centre Seminar Room, level 5, Monash Medical Centre

Title: Germ line surrogacy in native fish species for improvement of conservation and aquaculture practices  

Synopsis: Fish populations are declining and  there are limited methods available to develop breeding programs for these species. By combining the cryopreservation of germ line progenitor cells with cell transplant techniques it is possible to preserve the biodiversity of Australian fish and potentially improve offspring production using a surrogate species. Developing assisted reproductive techniques in fish has widespread applications to conservation and aquaculture.

Supervisor name: A/Prof Peter Temple-Smith (primary), Dr. Peter Currie, Dr.Jon Daly, Dr. Rob Jones 

Grand Rounds "State of the Art Management of Delirium”, 29 November

29 November, 12.30-1.30pm
Lecture Theatre 1, Monash Medical Centre

Supportive and Palliative Care presents Dr Fiona Runacres

Monash Ageing Research Centre (MONARC) seminar, 29 November

Wednesday 29^th November, 12:30-1:30pm (lunch from 12:15pm)

Education Centre – Room A

(Kingston Centre, Warrigal Road, Cheltenham)

Presentations from Lions John Cockayne Memorial Fellowship Trust Grant Recipients

Chair: Dr Mel Farlie

Thanh Huynh:

Report on the 4^th AHLA International Health Literacy Conference in Vietnam.

Jeremy Austin:

HOME – Putting the ME back into medication adherence at HOME – A novel approach.

Sarah Milne & Kate Henderson:

Early aquatic physiotherapy following total hip or knee replacement – a pilot randomised controlled trial.

Chee Boon Sung & Mary Danoudis:

Efficacy of liquid sinemet in the management of complex motor fluctuations in advanced Parkinson’s disease – preliminary analysis.

Chris Plakiotis:

Can family members help overcome the barriers to deprescribing psychotropic medications in aged residential facilities through their knowledge of residents’ medication histories?

Please join us for a light lunch and stimulating discussion!

For more information/RSVP:

Dr Rosa Gualano, Acting MONARC Manager

t: 9265 1268 e: rosa.gualano@monashhealth.org

www.med.monash.edu.au/sphpm/monarc/

Monash Haematology Journal Club, 29 November

7.30am Breakfast & 7.45am Presentation

Monash Medical Centre, Level 2 - Lecture Theatre 3

“The Christmas Quiz”

Presented by:  The Registrars

PhD confirmation seminar, Tayla Penny: The use of stem cells to treat perinatal brain injury, 11 December

All staff and students are invited to Tayla Penny's confirmation seminar:

Monday 11 December, 1pm, Seminar Room 1, TRF

Presentation title: The use of stem cells to treat perinatal brain injury

Synopsis: Hypoxic ischemic brain injury is detrimental and leads to debilitating conditions such as Cerebral Palsy. This study aims to characterise hypoxic ischemic brain injury in the long term and to investigate the use of umbilical cord blood cells as a potential therapy for this condition.

Supervisors names: Dr Courtney McDonald & A/Prof Suzanne Miller

DEAN’S LECTURE SERIES Is digital technology ruining the mental health of our teenagers?, 7 December

THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER, 6pm – 8pm (Refreshments on arrival,
lecture begins at 6.30pm)

Monash University, Clayton Campus

CONTACT:  Monash Education Tel: +61 3 9904 4273
Email: edu-events@monash.edu
REGISTER:  monash.edu/education/dls-jacobs

Live streaming also available


PRESENTED BY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR NICKY JACOBS (MONASH UNIVERSITY)

Associate Professor Jacobs will discuss the impact of digital technology, including smartphones and
social media on the mental health of Generation Z.
Born between 1995 and 2012, members of this
generation are growing up with smartphones, have Instagram, WhatsApp and Snapchat accounts before they start high school, and do not remember life before the internet.

Practical guidance and strategies to mitigate risk will be presented.

PhD milestone review, Lachlan McMillan, 13 December

All staff and students are invited to attend Lachlan McMillan's PhD milestone review.

13 December, 10am, Medicine seminar room, MMC

Title: May The Force Be With You: Driving Osteogenesis for Improved Bone Health

Synopsis : Physical activity and exercise may be beneficial for bone health, we aim to understand how various forms of activity can benefit bone health, and the role that physical activity trackers play in this relationship

Supervisors: Prof Peter Ebeling, Dr David Scott, Dr Ayse Zengin

Monash University Household Food Security Research Forum, 7 December

2pm- 4pm, Thursday 7th December
16 Rainforest Walk / S1 Science Lecture Theatres Monash University, Clayton Campus

Monash University Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food invites you to a FREE BASE Seminar Series Special Event :

“Raising the profile of food insecurity in Australia:  Using evidence based decision support systems and

the voices of food insecurity”

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Unfortunately, legal and moral obligations to guarantee the human right to adequate food in Australia are not been fulfilled and household food insecurity remains a significant issue throughout our country.

How can we effectively raise the profile of household  food insecurity as an issue in Australia?

How can we influence decision-makers to take action?

Our international speakers will describe:

(1) how the power of maths can help us in our mission to achieve food security in Australia and

(2) how we can support people with a lived experience of food insecurity to have their voices heard loud and clear.

This seminar will showcase two international examples of tools which could effectively raise the profile of Household Food Insecurity in Australia:

	​1. Bayesian Modelling: Creating an Evidence Based Decision Support System on Food Security in Victoria Dr Martine Barons, University of Warwick, UK
	​2. The Voices of Food Insecurity: Witnesses to Hunger is a research and advocacy project partnering with mothers and caregivers of young children who have experienced hunger and poverty Professor Mariana Chilton, Drexel University, USA

​Afternoon tea will be provided. REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL - please register HERE by the 1st December.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Mid-candidature review, Ke Tang, "The mechanistic role of TLR2, TLR9 and AIM2 in gastric cancer ", 12 December

All staff and students are invited to Ke Tang's mid-candidature review.

3:30pm-4:00pm, Tuesday, 12th December
MIMR building Level 3 - Board Room 

Synopsis: Gastric cancer (GC) is the third most lethal cancer worldwide, and one of the classic examples of chronic inflammation-related carcinoma. The interaction between host innate immune system regulators (e.g. pattern recognition receptors, PRRs) and pathogens (e.g. Helicobacter pylori) contributes to gastric tumorigenesis. We focus on the mechanistic role of three such PRRs, TLR2, TLR9 and AIM2, in GC, and their relationships with hyper-activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3, to identify new GC molecular targets to serve as personalised biomarkers for early detection and/or treatment strategies.
Supervisors: Professor Brendan Jenkins, Dr Daniel Gerald Croagh

PhD Training Program: Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Program
Panel members and independent advisors:
Panel Chair: Dr Anthony Sadler
Independent Assessor: Dr James Harris
Independent Assessor: Dr Michael Gantier

Postdoctoral Scientist position available in Cancer Precision Medicine (Ron Firestein's lab)

The Firestein laboratory in the Centre for Cancer Research seeks an experienced Research Officer to 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 (CRISPR/RNAi, proteomic approaches) to identify and characterise the role of non-coding RNAs and enhancer RNAs in colon cancer and dissect their therapeutic relevance.

More information HERE.