Improving stroke care nationally

A new report across six states and territories shows data from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (AuSCR) is improving clinical outcomes for patients with stroke. The registry encompasses a range of targets in line with international best practice. Professor Dominique Cadilhac, custodian of the Registry said, “These targets are designed to improve access to life-saving stroke care in Australia, by 2030, including in remote and rural areas.”

One such target is to treat people eligible for clot-busting treatments within 60 minutes of arrival to hospital. The data shows that in 2022 only five of the 61 Australian participating hospitals were able to meet the target with at least half of their patients. However, two leading hospitals achieved marked improvements over a short period of time.

The registry plays a vital role in monitoring progress, and the researchers involved use the data to lobby governments and support hospitals to improve their stroke care.

Keep up the good work, Dominique and team.

NHMRC grant announcements

Several SCS staff were awarded National Health and Medical Research Council grants. Congratulations to everyone involved.

Investigator Grants

• Professor Stuart Hooper from our Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology for his work on assisting infants transition at birth.
• Dr Gareth Gregory for his work on improving outcomes for patients with central nervous system lymphoma.
• Dr Jessica Biesiekierski for her work on changing the way diet is used in gut disorders.
• Associate Professor Daniel Lorber Rolnik for his work in preventing pre-eclampsia.

Ideas Grants

• Professor David Nikolic-Paterson for his work preventing hypoperfusion-induced acute kidney injury.
• Dr Shayanti Mukherjee for her work transforming treatment for pelvic organ prolapse with nanotechnology.

Pictured: L-R: Top row - Jessica Biesiekierski, Gareth Gregory, Stuart Hooper Bottom row - Shayanti Mukherjee, David Nikolic-Paterson, Daniel Lorber Rolnik

See here for a full list list of Investigator grants winners.

See here for a full list of Ideas grants winners.

SCS end of year party rocks. And rolls.

There was a plethora of celebrities and characters in attendance at the end of year party. Food and ambience were great and our in-house band were superb. Thanks to Jin Graham for her tireless hard work as party planner extraordinaire. 

Stellar Student

Final year PhD student, Brendan Gillespie, is the first author of a paper accepted in Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews.

This is a systematic review of the impact of maternal infection during pregnancy on the developing inhibitory (GABAergic) neurons of the infant. 

Brendan is a translational and clinical researcher working under the supervision of Rachel Hill and Suresh Sundram in the Department of Psychiatry, Brendan’s research is focused on understanding how infections in pregnancy impact early brain development and contributes to the development of autism and schizophrenia later in life. Brendan has performed a variety of behavioural assessments in rodents considered relevant to both conditions, and has attempted to link these behavioural changes to differences within the brain using a range of biochemical techniques.  

Great job, Brendan!

Tan, Coffee - Coffee Tan

Join a SCS walk around the Tan on Saturday 30 December at 11am. Meet at Oak Lawn Gate (AKA Entrance F) on Birdwood Avenue for a walk around the Tan and perhaps a coffee and a bite afterwards. Any queries, contact Karen Sims, Communications Manager, on 0438 310 866. [Caveat: it’s a no go if heavy rain is forecasted.]

Tools of the Trade

Prof Melissa Southey

Professor Melissa Southey is to receive $50,000 from NHMRC Equipment Grant funding to go towards purchasing a TubeWriter 400, which is a full-feature labelling system for printing on curved surfaces, including tubes, vials, slides, plates, and custom labware. The TubeWriter 400 is used in labs all over the world, including in police investigations.  

Dr Sarah Marshall

Dr Sarah Marshall is also to receive $50,000 from NHMRC Equipment Grant funding. Sarah will purchase a wire myograph, which is the gold standard in measuring the function of isolated blood vessels with high precision and sensitivity. The equipment is extremely versatile and allows for the investigation of endothelial and smooth muscle mediated constriction and relaxation. Sarah said, “I will use the myograph to investigate the vascular dysfunction underpinning common pregnancy disorders including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, and use it to assess potential therapeutics to protect and improve blood vessel function.”

Congratulations Melissa and Sarah.