Breakthrough opens door to safer lupus drugs

Fabienne Mackay's group. Lead author Dr Will Figgett seated
far left with Prof Fabienne Mackay next to him.

A ground-breaking discovery by Monash University researchers could revolutionise treatments given to lupus sufferers, saving thousands of people each year from serious illness or death caused by secondary infections.

Lupus is a vicious and widespread autoimmune disease that can attack any part of the body. It affects one in 1,000 Australians and 5 million people worldwide, and its victims are typically young women. Indigenous and Asian people suffer higher rates than other groups.

Current treatments for lupus essentially ‘switch off’ the patient’s immune system to stop it attacking their body, according to lead researcher Dr Will Figgett, from Monash University's Department of Immunology.

Nepal Earthquake reconstruction effort update: please contribute

BBC reporting on the reconstruction work of Abari, the NGO
for which Monash PhD student, Sewa Rijal, is raising funds.

Together, we have raised the total of the appeal to AUD $3,394 that will go a long way in helping the fighting endurance of people in Nepal post the earthquakes. This makes me realize the power that we have within each of us to make a difference by coming together in this time of great need. Thank you very much for your kindness and compassion!

Continue reading Sewa's story or donate here.

Nominations for ECR Publication Prize open now

Nominations for the Faculty ECR Publication Prizes are now open so it is a great time to take a look at your 2014 publications and decide which one to nominate.

New this year is that epubs published online in 2014 will be eligible for the 2015 Publication Prize and there will also be additional non-monetary prizes available for ECR's holding an externally funded Fellowship.

Please see access the Faculty ECR Gateway webpage for information and Frequently Asked Questions, check the Guidelines and Eligibility and complete the nomination form to nominate your publication.

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/intranet/research/ecrinformationgateway

Nominations close at 5pm on Monday 15th June, 2015.

Sleep apps: a toy or useful tools for assessing children’s sleep problems?

Smartphone applications are not the best tool to assess sleep problems, according to research by Monash University.

With up to 40 per cent of children experiencing a range of sleep problems, parents are turning to specialised devices and smartphone apps, although it is unknown if the information from such devices accurately reflects their children’s sleep.

Dr Sarah Biggs, Department of Paediatrics at the School of Clinical Sciences, said sleep problems could lead to poor daytime behaviour and learning difficulties.

“Gaining access to a clinical paediatric sleep assessment can be difficult due to limited availability in the public health system and recently there has been a surge in the public popularity of commercial sleep assessment devices which claim to provide users with a better understanding of their sleep,” she said.

Doctors are also taking an interest in these devices as they may provide a useful tool to screen for sleep disorders.

Dr Sarah Biggs, in conjunction with the Melbourne Children’s Sleep Centre, undertook a study of 80 children who attended the centre over a period of six months.

“We asked the children to wear a Jawbone UP® and an actiwatch, a device commonly used by sleep experts to assess sleep and wake patterns over time, during a diagnostic sleep study at the Centre.”

At the same time, a smartphone, with a sleep application activated (MotionX® 24/7), was also placed underneath the bottom bedsheet, near the child’s shoulder, for the entire night.

Read more

Save the date: Neuro Informatics 2015

The annual INCF Congress provides a meeting place for researchers in the emerging field of neuroinformatics.

Join us in Cairns, Australia on August 20-22, 2015 for:

• Keynotes from top neuroscientists

• Workshops and poster/demo sessions

• A one-day special session focused on networking, organised by the INCF Australia Node

We welcome researchers in all fields related to neuroinformatics, including data- and knowledge-bases of the nervous system from molecular to behavioral levels; tools for the acquisition, analysis, and visualization of nervous system data; and theoretical, computational, and simulation environments for modeling the brain.

This meeting is especially useful for anyone who is:

• developing neuroscience tools and methods

• working on better ways to handle neuroscience data

• looking for cross-disciplinary collaborations

The congress is organised by INCF and will take place at the Pullman Cairns International. The meeting consists of three days of presentations, workshops and demo- and poster sessions, held in a friendly and scientifically curious atmosphere.

Just before the meeting, the INCF arranges the two-day short course: Introduction to neuroinformatics; a very useful first introduction to the field and its challenges for students as well as more senior researchers.

Flyer

Visit http://www.neuroinformatics2015.org/. for additional information.

Animal Research Ethics update May 2015

Animal Research Ethics update May 2015

Updates 2015

Website

FMNHS learning and teaching research grant scheme project

FMNHS Learning and Teaching Research Grant Scheme Project: What happened on Grey’s Anatomy last night? Teaching medicine and medical ethics using popular culture.

Call for Chapters for Edited Collection.

This project aims to identify and engage with opportunities to use popular culture references in medical and health-related tertiary education. In pursuit of this goal the Medical Education Research and Quality unit (MERQ) will be running a seminar series focused on exploring the most effective methods of incorporating these references into the student learning experience at Monash. The location of the seminars will alternate between the Alfred Centre and Monash Clayton campus and will include guest speakers from various schools and centres at Monash.

In addition, for this project a peer-reviewed edited collection will be produced as an interdisciplinary teaching resource. Submissions are invited for chapters and reflective pieces on the broad topic of using popular culture in medical education. The call for chapters is attached (due 1 November, 2015). 

More information.

Those wishing to receive early feedback on proposed submissions are encouraged to attend the first seminar:

Date: 19 August, 2015
Time: 11:00am-12:30pm
Venue: Seminar Room 1, Level 5, Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne

For more information contact:
Evie Kendal
Email: evie.kendal@monash.edu
School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Invitation for your students and ECRs: Students of Brain Research Professional Development Dinner

The 2015 Students of Brain Research committee are proud to present the annual Professional Development Dinner, 'Bridging the Translational Research Gap.'

Keynote speakers include leading international researcher, clinician and advocate for mental health reform, Professor Patrick McGorry AO, and Dr Krystal Evans, Chief Executive Officer of the BioMelbourne Network, and leading advocate for merging science with technology and industry. Dr Andi Horvath, award winning science communicator, will return again this year to MC the dinner.

Date: Tuesday 23rd June, 2015 

Time: 6:30pm

Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, ANZ Pavillion, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004

Join your fellow brain research students and early-career researchers at this professional networking dinner. During a delicious two course meal (and drinks all night!) you will have the opportunity to listen to fantastic guest speakers, and discuss important topics in brain science.

Contact: events@sobrnetwork.org

Flyer

FMNHS best and brightest students awarded

The Faculty's Student Award Ceremony, held on the 12th of May was a fantastic evening celebrating the best and brightest students across the Faculty from the 2014 year.

With a change of location this year to our own Alexander Theatre, the awards ceremony was a great success, with the highest achieving students from across all disciplines receiving awards on the night.

It was great to see so many people supporting the award evening, from the friends and family of the winning students, FMNHS staff as well as the variety of prize sponsors from within Monash and the medical industry.

Guest speaker Professor Susan Davis provided the students with words of inspiration and experience during the evening.

Following the ceremony the students and other guests stayed for canape's and refreshments, with students being congratulated by staff and sponsors.

Lives could be saved with hepatitis C treatment

In a letter to the Medical Journal of Australia published on May 18, 2015, a Monash University-led team is asking for hepatitis C virus patients to gain improved access to drugs to prevent liver related deaths.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health burden in Australia, with estimates of 230,000 people chronically infected.

The research team are calling for the government to subsidise a new therapy which has high cure rates, known as direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy.

Monash University Professor William Sievert said a delay in access to DAA treatment means that thousands of HCV infected patients could die or develop advanced liver disease.

“If we delay just one year, there will be an extra 900 liver related deaths, 800 new cases of cirrhosis and 500 new cases of liver cancer. These staggering numbers double if we wait for two years,” he said.

“During this decade, the therapy should become the norm for the HCV-infected population. However, the high cost of DAA regimens and competing public health priorities may limit the potential impact of new HCV therapies.”

Currently, the cost of DAA treatment is out of reach for most HCV patients.

“The large number of liver-related deaths every year caused by HCV places an enormous burden on our health system,” said Professor Sievert, Department of Medicine at Monash Medical Centre.

“Our research team modelled how the HCV disease burden and associated health care costs in Australia will increase as the infected population ages.”

New Institute name honours the late Bryan Hudson

Professors David de Krester,
Bryan Hudson and Henry Burger

The MIMR-PHI Institute of Medical Research has been renamed ‘Hudson Institute of Medical Research’ to honour the late Professor Bryan Hudson. 

Hudson Institute Director, Professor Bryan Williams says Professor Hudson was a world-class medical researcher, innovator and a visionary leader.

“As both a physician and a scientist, Professor Hudson's legacy exemplifies the values of the Institute – excellence in cutting-edge research and ensuring its positive impact on the health of the community,” he said.

The MIMR-PHI Institute came about as the result of a 2014 merger between two of Melbourne’s most trusted names in medical research, Monash Institute of Medical Research (MIMR) and Prince Henry’s Institute (PHI).

Now, with a combined 75 years of research experience, more than 450 leading researchers and postgraduate students, an annual budget of more than $45m, and state-of-the-art research facilities, the merged Institute has taken its place as a leader in medical research and its translation into the clinic.

“The diversity of our research is our strength. Our multidisciplinary research environment fosters collaboration and creates opportunities for unique insights and innovation to improve health and prevent and treat diseases across the entire lifespan,” said Professor Williams.

The Institute’s new name recognises the shared histories of its two founding partners.

In the news: Dr Carolina Weller

Dr Carolina Weller from the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine has been featured in the news recently, promoting the Aspirin in Venous Leg Ulcer (ASPiVLU) study - a Monash led, multi-centre RCT.

The study looks at aspirin and its ability to improve venous leg ulcer healing.


Find out more...

Monash Computational – Biomedicine PhD Scholarships available

A new PhD scholarship is now available after a recent initiative between the Faculties of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences and Information Technology. 

A minimum of two supervisors, one from each Faculty is required.

Enquiries to:

A/Prof Martin Stone (Biomedical Sciences) 

Email: martin.stone@monash.edu 

Dr Melanie Pritchard (Biomedical Sciences) 

Email: melanie.pritchard@monash.edu 

Prof Falk Schreiber (Information Technology)

Email: falk.schreiber@monash.edu

More information

Short courses: Department of Forensic Medicine and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine

The Department of Forensic Medicine and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine will be offering two fantastic short courses in 2015. For details and information on each course please click below.

Postmortem CT Interpretation

Disaster Victim Identification

Enquiries:

Details on how to enrol will be available on www.vifm.org in early 2015.
For preliminary enquiries, please contact Course Administrator: Rosalie Clementson

Email: rosalie.clementson@monash.edu

PhD scholarship opportunity in sleep management and shift work

The Institute for Breathing and Sleep (IBAS) and Monash University, together with the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Alertness, Safety and Productivity, are seeking a qualified individual to undertake a PhD research degree in sleep management for healthcare shift workers. 

- Work with a world renowned and multifaceted research team who can open doors to fantastic future career opportunities

- Contribute to the development of an intervention for sleep in shift workers

- Apply your research to an operational setting 

- A PhD scholarship worth approximately AU$25,000 per annum for three years

- Individuals who qualify for an Australian Postdoctoral Award will receive an AU$5000 top up per annum. 

- Travel allowance to attend national / international conferences 

Prospective applicants must hold an honours degree (first class or upper second class) in nursing, psychology, psychiatry, physiology, social science or similar, OR be from a healthcare background (e.g., nursing, allied health, medical).

Ideal candidates will have an interest in shift work, sleep disorders and circadian rhythms, or be from a healthcare background.

Prospective applicants should send a CV and an expression of interest to the Associate Investigator Dr Pasquale Alvaro by the 27th of May 2015.

Contact details: 

Dr Mark Howard 

Primary Investigator

Email: mark.howard@austin.org.au

Bowen Centre, Austin Hospital 

145 Studley Road

Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084 

Department of General Practice seminar

Title: “Developing innovative responses to alcohol and drug and mental health issues in the community: opportunities for general practice”

Speaker: Professor Dan Lubman

  

Time: 12.30pm – 1.30 pm

Date: Wednesday 27 May, 2015

Venue: Meeting Room 4, Building 1, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill
(check room location at reception)

Enquiries: josefine.antoniades@monash.edu

Phone: 9902 4512

The Department of General Practice, Monash University, runs a weekly Wednesday seminar which might be of interest to anyone working in primary health care or a related field. You are welcome to attend, without registration (and sandwiches are provided).

Participants sought: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome study

Title: Women’s perceptions of diet and physical activity in relation to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Study: The study involves participating in a focus group to discuss how women with PCOS think and feel about their diet and physical activity recommendations.

Venue: The Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation , 43-51 Kanooka Grove, Clayton

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have been diagnosed with PCOS

Participation duration: 1 hour.

*Dates to be finalised.

This research will be useful in the development of lifestyle programs specifically for PCOS and help health professionals to improve delivery of lifestyle management options.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Miss Amanda Binny.

Email: atbin1@student.monash.edu 

Phone: 9594 7559

This project has been approved by the Monash Health Human Research Ethics Committee

Save the date: AMREP early-mid career researcher obesity, energy balance behaviours and public health symposium

Date: Wednesday 12 August, 2015

Time: 9:00am – 4:30pm

Venue: Level 4 Seminar Room, Baker IDI, Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne.

Register your interest in attending and/or giving an oral or a poster presentation

This symposium is aimed at Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (AMREP) early-mid career researchers (EMCRs) who have research interests in obesity, its risk factors and public health. The symposium will enable AMREP EMCRs to showcase their current and future research in this area and provide opportunities for networking and collaboration. The first half of the symposium will include several keynote presentations from experts in the field of obesity and public health, as well as oral and poster presentations by EMCRs. The second half of the day will include a workshop aimed at identitying potential areas of collaboration and synergy, as well as a workshop on ‘mind mapping’ facilitated by Thinkwell, an organisation which runs workshops designed specifically for high-achieving EMCRs.

Attendance at the symposium is free and prizes will be awarded for the best oral and poster presentations!

For more information contact:

Dr Sara Holton

Email: sara.holton@monash.edu

Telephone: 9903 0294

Jean Hailes Research Unit
School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine

2015 PAG Round 2 Results

The results of the 2015 Platform Access Grants (Round 2) scheme were released on Monday 4 May, and the successful applications are listed in the attached document.

Successful Applicants

Monash-led research team announces latest advice about SIDS

Professor Horne

The most up-to-date information for parents and healthcare professionals about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and infant safety while sleeping was published last month in the prestigious journal, The BMJ.

The international clinical review led by The Ritchie Centre’s Deputy Director, Professor Rosemary Horne reveals the latest advice and recommendations against a background of currently confusing guidelines.

“Although the incidence of SIDS has more than halved after public health campaigns publicised the known major risk factors in the early 1990’s, SIDS remains the leading cause of unexpected death in infants in western countries,” said Professor Horne.

According to most recent statistics, 2671 infants died from SIDS in the United States in 2010 and there were 50 deaths in Australia in 2012.

“In the last thirty years it has become well known that sleeping position (face down on the stomach) is the major risk factor for SIDS, and parents have generally accepted this and sleep their baby on their backs” said Professor Horne.

Applications now open: 2015 Victoria Prize for Science & Innovation and Victoria Fellowships

The Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, Adem Somyurek has opened two of Victoria’s most prestigious science and innovation programs in the life and physical sciences.

2015 Victoria Prize for Science & Innovation

The Victoria Prize for Science & Innovation celebrates leadership, determination, endeavour and creativity. These prestigious prizes are for a scientific discovery or technological innovation, or a series of such achievements that significantly advances knowledge. The clear potential to produce a commercial outcome or other substantial benefit to the community will be highly regarded.

Download the nomination guide, nomination form and referee report here.

2015 Victoria Fellowships

Victoria Fellowships provide a travel grant of up to $18,000 to undertake a short-term overseas study mission to assist in developing a commercial idea; undertaking specialist training; or career development not available in Australia. Additionally, Fellows can apply for the Australian French Association for Science and Technology (AFAS) Associate Award valued at up to $5,000.

Download the application guide, application form and referee report here.

Applications and nominations must be received by 2:00PM on Thursday 25 June 2015 via the veski website.

Vale Professor Alan Louis Arthur Boura

It is with sadness that the Department of Pharmacology and Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences announces the recent passing of Professor Alan Boura (1927-2015). 

Professor Boura was the Foundation Professor of Pharmacology at Monash University (1975-1990) and integral in establishing and championing the discipline of pharmacology at Monash and within Australia. He was an engaging lecturer, enthralling medical and science students with his anecdotes and passion for research and learning. Professor Boura was educated at University College, London where he obtained his BSc (1954) and PhD (1967). He also had a distinguished research career publishing more than 130 manuscripts on the pharmacology of analgesics, the treatment of high blood pressure and reproductive biology.

Professor Boura was Head of the Pharmacology Department at the Reckitt & Colman Research laboratories (1965-1969) and Principal Scientist and Head of Pharmacology at the Wellcome Research laboratories (1970-1975). Professor Boura was awarded a Doctor of Science from the University of London in 1979, honorary life membership of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists in 1996, a Fellow ad eundum of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1997 and an honorary Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society in 2000. 

41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Title: “Women’s Health, Sex and Society… Are We Really Victorian?”

Date: 31 July - 1 August 2015 

Venue: The Royal Women's Hospital 

Click here for more information

Neuroscience seminar series

Title: Development and regeneration of oligodendrocytes in the mammalian brain

Date: 5 June, 2015

Time: 3.00pm - 4.00pm, followed by nibbles

Venue: S1 Lecture Theatre, 16 Rainforest Walk (formerly Building 25), Clayton campus

Click here for flyer

Department of General Practice seminar

Title: PhD presentation - Developing a new model of care to reduce infertility in general practice

Speaker: Dr Kerry Hampton

The Department of General Practice, Monash University, runs a weekly Wednesday seminar which might be of interest to anyone working in primary health care or a related field. You are welcome to attend, without registration (and sandwiches are provided).

Time: 12.30 – 1.30 pm

Date: Wednesday, 20 May, 2015

Venue: Meeting Room 4, Building 1, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill
(check room location at reception)

Enquiries: josefine.antoniades@monash.edu

Phone: 9902 4512

Call for applications: ​Ramaciotti Foundations Health Investment Grants

The Ramaciotti Foundations Health Investment Grants are now open.

The grants support individuals in undertaking health or medical research with a potential path to clinical application within five years. Grants are aimed at autonomous early-career investigators, who are taking or have recently taken a substantive position.

Under the guidelines, Monash ​University ​may submit a maximum of three applications and no more than one from any given department. Therefore there will be an internal ranking process.

In order to facilitate the ranking process all intending applicants will need to:

• Confirm matching university support with HoS/HoD (this is a condition of application)
• Complete (but don't submit) an application in Perpetual Trustee's online application system
• Create a PDF of the application and send this to the Medical and Health Sciences Team mhs@monash.edu by COB 19 May​ 2015​.

Key dates
19 May - all applications due to MRO

25 May - applicants notified of shortlisting outcome
29 May - shortlisted applicants submit to Ramaciotti Foundations

Key links
Guidelines
Online application system 

Applications will then undergo a ranking and the three top applicants will be informed so that they can finalise and submit the online application via the Perpetual’s system (please note that Perpetual has advised that any applications made directly to them and not endorsed via the MRO will be deemed ineligible and removed from their system).

 

M​RO​ contact for this scheme
Dr Anh Chau (mhs@monash.edu)
990 24427

Click here for more information

Drugging the undruggable free lecture

The next lecture in the Biomedicine Discovery Series has been sponsored by The Bert L & N Kuggie Vallee Foundation.

Professor Nicholas K Tonks of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory will giving a free lecture entitled "Drugging the undruggable: Targeting PTP1B for novel therapeutics".

Date: Thursday 14 May 2015

Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Venue: New Horizons G29/30

20 Research Way (Building 80), Clayton campus

As places are limited, registration is required for those wishing to attend - the registration form is available here.

Further information can be found in the attached flyer or on the Events page of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

New Monash University Department of Imaging created at Monash Health

Professor Stuckey

Education and research in the field of imaging will benefit from the creation of a new Monash University Department of Imaging based at Monash Health.

Established in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS), the new Department of Imaging, will enhance existing Monash Health and Monash University facilities and expertise.

Director Diagnostic Imaging and Head of MRI at Monash Health, Professor Stephen Stuckey will be the new Head of the Department of Imaging.

 “The new Department brings Monash Health imaging into line with the majority of other clinical departments in formalising a relationship with the university,” said Head, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health Professor Eric Morand.

“Furthering the imaging education of undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational healthcare professionals will be a key focus of the Department.”

"This exciting formal union of Monash Imaging with a new University Department of Imaging is a major  milestone that will result in tangible benefits for patients, the community we serve and researchers," said Professor Stuckey. 

Monash study shows benefits of high intensity exercise for older adults

Dr David Scott

A world-first study led by researchers at the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health sheds light on the health effects of vitamin D and high physical activity levels among older adults.

Published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, the research is the first to show that having both high vitamin D and high physical activity levels reduces gains in body fat over five years in older adults.

However the reduction in weight gain is probably not explained by a direct benefit of vitamin D alone, said lead author Dr David Scott from the Department of Medicine.

“Rather, the finding appears to be related to ​the fact that older adults with high vitamin D and physical activity levels perform more moderate and vigorous intensity activity,” said Dr Scott.

“While both high vitamin D and high physical activity levels have been linked to lower body fat and better muscle strength during ageing, it is not clear whether these effects are independent of each other, or whether high vitamin D enhances physical activity benefits in older adults.”

The research team measured vitamin D levels and physical activity (steps per day) in 615 community-dwelling older adults.

“Five years later, we examined the study participants’ muscle strength and changes in their body composition using specialised X-rays.”

Minister for Industry and Science visits MHTP

Industry-research collaboration making gains for Australia.

Advances in Australia’s science and research infrastructure are laying the platform for significant community and economic benefits, Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane said last week while visiting three cutting-edge facilities at Monash University and the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP), illustrating the advantages of greater research and industry collaboration.

Mr Macfarlane said the Computer Aided Virtual Environment (CAVE2), the Monash Centre for Additive Manufacturing, and the Translational Research Facility (TRF) being constructed at the MHTP are examples of the diverse range of fields in which Australian researchers have a competitive edge.

“These facilities at Monash University’s Clayton campus and the Monash Health Translation Precinct provide crystal clear examples of the type of collaboration the Australian Government wants to encourage across all of the economy, because they are turning world-class scientific research into real-world and commercial applications,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“These facilities all have capabilities to make both a local and global impact in their essential fields."

“By providing cutting edge research facilities in disciplines such as big data visualisation, aerospace and biomedical engineering and bench-to-bedside health research translation they offer significant opportunities for connections between industry and researchers in these fields."

“Collaboration is essential to realise the full benefit of our international standard universities, enabling Australia to move towards higher value-added industries that based on innovation and research.”

Participants sought: back pain and driving

The Allied Health Research Unit at Monash Health is seeking volunteers who have back pain and who drive for about two hours per day as a part of their job to assist in a study investigating the association between lower back pain and prolonged driving.

Who can be involved: 

To be a part of this study you need to have back pain and drive for about 2 hours per day as a part of your job. This does not need to be in one session but may be spread over the day. Unfortunately you cannot be a part of the study if you have an allergy to tape as we need to attach movement sensors to your skin.

What do you need to do:

You will be emailed questionnaires about your back pain for you to complete in your own time. We will then make a time to meet with you (at a place convenient for you) and fit the Vi Move three dimensional movement sensors (this will involve adhering four sensors smaller than a mobile phone to your lower back below the level of the waist, half way up the back and in-between these two points) (15 minutes): have measurements of your sitting posture and leg length taken (10 minutes): have measurements of your existing car seat taken including a photograph of your existing car seat (10 minutes). You then wear the Vi Move movement sensors while driving the car as a part of your job for the remainder of the day and communicate via telephone to research personnel regarding any pain you experienced whilst driving that day. 

Monash staff experiences 100 years of ANZAC

The harsh terrain that our soldiers
 had to traverse while under fire

Having recently returned from Gallipoli, Chris Kelly from the Faculty Research Office writes about attending the dawn service to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings at ANZAC Cove.

My husband and I were lucky enough to have had the chance to attend the dawn ceremony at ANZAC Cove and to take part in remembering our fallen soldiers, as well as those who participated and survived.

We were led by an expert war historian from the Australian War Memorial who walked with us through the tracks that Sir John Monash took during his time as a military commander in Gallipoli. The experience not only highlighted the bravery and strength of the ANZAC soldiers but it also showed us how highly regarded Sir John Monash was as a soldier himself.

Though some believe the commemoration to be glorifying war, I felt that it was an important show of respect for those who gave their lives. Lest we forget.

Looking down from Plugge's Plateau to Monash Gully,
where Sir John Monash was under constant fire. 

Mental health research - call for participants

Mental illness is commonly diagnosed when people are young. The impact of mental illness is profound not only for the individual but also family members involved as well. Being a brother or sister of a person with mental illness brings with it many issues.

What do you have to do?

Attend an individual interview for around 60 minutes at Monash University Clayton Campus to tell us about your experience of life having a brother/sister with a mental illness.

MSF Scientific Days

'Medecins Sans Frontieres' (Doctors without Borders) will be hosting their annual conference: 'The MSF Scientific Days', from London, UK and New Delhi, India.

When: May 7 and 8

There will be LIVE streaming the FIRST day of this event on Thursday 7th May at: Lecture Theatre E2.09 - Nursing Building - Peninsula Campus.

Time: 18:20 - 02:15

Academics, Staff and Students interested in the research behind emergency medical humanitarian assistance are encouraged to attend.

Click here for more information

Nepali student appeals for earthquake relief

Dear friends and colleagues,


My name is Sewa Rijal and I am a Monash PhD student at Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (AMREP). Nepal, my beloved home country, was recently struck by a massive 7.9 earthquake causing a terrible loss of life and leaving millions of survivors without proper shelter, food and water. It has been a week since the incident and I am still unable to sleep at night. Being so far away, I feel utterly helpless, combined with a sense of guilt, because I am OK when others in my country are suffering so much.

Although there have been no personal tragedies for me, I have been told of horrific stories around my neighbourhood which absolutely break my heart. A mother lost her child and couldn’t reach her despite the screams that eventually faded into the depths of the rubble. A father’s body was recovered, after he had gone to pray at a nearby temple that succumbed to the tremors. An orphanage was completely destroyed leaving a dozen children without a proper home.

I have started an online fundraising campaign for our community and their friends so funds collected can go to a local NGO working in remote areas at the grassroot level. Every penny you give will go directly to the victims and will be accounted for with updates.

Read more

Nominations now open: GSK Award for Research Excellence 2015

The 35th GSK Award for Research Excellence (ARE) is now open for nominations. The award acknowledges outstanding Australian researchers and their work and provides an $80,000 (tax free) independent research grant to the award recipient’s employing organisation to further the recipient’s work and knowledge.

The award targets high calibre mid-career clinicians and researchers undertaking human medical health research predominately in Australia.

The judging criteria are weighted as follows:

· 40% - potential for the researcher’s contribution to science to directly or indirectly lead to improvement in human health

· 30% - potential for the nominee to continue to make research contributions in the field of human health; and

· 30% - nominee’s accomplishments based on academic and employment record, research grants and awards received, cited publications and other examples of research productivity.

Department of General Practice seminar

Title: “The Journey of a Medical Writer”

Speaker: Clinical Associate Professor Sanjiva Wijesinha

 

The Department of General Practice, Monash University, runs a weekly Wednesday seminar which might be of interest to anyone working in primary health care or a related field. You are welcome to attend, without registration (and sandwiches are provided).

Time: 12.30 – 1.30 pm

Date: Wednesday, 13 May, 2015
 

Venue: Meeting Room 4, Building 1, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill
(check room location at reception)
 

Enquiries: josefine.antoniades@monash.edu
 

Phone: 9902 4512

ARMI external speakers series: Dr Jacob Hanna

Title: Mechanisms for Inducing, Maintaining and Resolving Natural Pluripotency

Speaker: Dr Jacob Hanna, The Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

When: Thursday 14th May

Time: 1:00 - 2:00

Venue: 3rd Floor Seminar Room, No 15 Innovation Walk (formerly Building 75)

Click here for Flyer 

Invite a scientist to dinner

In conjunction with The Australian Society for Medical Research Week (May 28 – June 5), ASMR Victoria invites you to join Professor Wayne Phillips (oesophageal cancer researcher) and Associate Professor Lara Lipton (medical oncologist) and their team of researchers for a three course dinner to talk about their research to understand the causes of Barrett’s oesophagus and oesophageal cancer and their search for better treatments.

When: Thursday 14th May, 2015,

Time: 6 pm

Where: William Angliss Restaurant, 550 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne 3000.

Cost: $40 per person. Book tickets here

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Careers in science and medical research

When: 5th May 2015 (Undergraduate & Honours Night)
            7th May 2015 (Postgraduate Night)

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Venue: The Melbourne Brain Centre, Kenneth Myer Building (KMB) Auditorium, University of Melbourne, Parkville

Free pizza following the event

This event is free but please register as seats are limited. Register here.

For any queries about the event please contact Kiera Flynn at krf@deakin.edu.au.

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School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Short Courses 2015

The School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine have an array of fantastic short courses available in 2015. For details and information on each course please click the links below.

Qualitative Research Methods

Data Management and Analysis Using SPSS Syntax short course

Australian Certificate of Civil Aviation Medicine Short course

Biostatistics for Public Health and Clinical Researchers

Introduction to Systematic reviews of Health Interventions 
Introduction to Stata
  
Survival Analysis with Stata
   
Overview & Update in Travel Medicine
   
SPSS without tears

For further information on the SPHPM Short course offerings please visit their website.

Kissing goodbye to MS

Dr Petratos and his colleagues at Central Clinical School


To launch the Kiss Goodbye to MS campaign on May 1, MS research teams around Australia have been swapping their white lab coats for red ones and sharing their photos on Twitter.

A research team at the Central Clinical School has vowed to help 'kiss goodbye' to Multiple Sclerosis, donning bright red lab coats and brightening their work area with stick-on 'kisses' to mark MS Research Australia's inaugural Red Lab Coat Day.

The 'Kiss goodbye to MS' campaign aims to raise awareness and funds for Multiple Sclerosis research. The Monash CCS team - headed by Dr Steven Petratos - was one of twelve participating nationally.

Zap my brain

When: 13 May, 2015

Time: 6:00pm -7:30pm (with light refreshments from 5:30pm)

Venue: Melbourne Brain Centre auditorium, Kenneth Myer Building, 30 Royal Parade, VIC 3010

This is a free event but please register for a ticket as seats are limited, register now.

• See a demonstration of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and hear about the physical experience
• Learn how scientists are using TMS and transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to study the brain
• Hear from DIYers, amateur scientists experimenting with tDCS in the comfort of their own homes — is it safe? is it science?
• Discuss the ethics of electrodoping
• Learn about neuroplasticity and how brain stimulation works …or doesn’t
• Discover how brain stimulation is currently being used to treat disorders like depression

Start sending in your questions via Twitter #braindialogueor email thebraindialogue@cibf.edu.au
with questions or for more information. We will also take questions live on the night.

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