Professor Robyn O'Hehir: InSPIREd Therapy for Allergies (Synthetic Peptide Immuno-Regulator Epitopes). Find out more on 30 Sep 2015

A key scientist in international allergy research for over 25 years, Professor Robyn O’Hehir is an academic clinician-scientist who successfully combines a strong basic research record with a continuing commitment to clinical medicine at a senior level. She is Professor and Director of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine at the Central Clinical School, Monash University, and The Alfred hospital. Professor O'Hehir will be speaking at the forthcoming 30 Sept Translational Research symposium hosted by Central Clinical School. See detail below.

She graduated BSc and then MBBS (Hons) from Monash University and completed her clinical postgraduate training at Royal Brompton Hospital, University of London, specialising in both Clinical Immunology/Allergy and Respiratory Medicine.

Professor O’Hehir has a sustained record of success in competitive grant funding, including Wellcome Trust and NHMRC, and was Monash Director of the Co-operative Research Centre for Asthma and Airways for 12 years. She has more than 235 publications, including three books and 16 patents. 

Professor O’Hehir’s research culminated in demonstration of CD4+ T cell anergy induction by high dose CD4+ T-cell epitope peptides, focusing initially on house dust mite allergens. Her approach of using dominant T cell epitope peptides for hypoallergenic allergen-specific immunotherapy was developed by Imperial College London spinout company Circassia® with successful phase 3 trials for cat allergy. Recently house dust mite data generated by Professor O’Hehir during her Wellcome Trust postdoctoral research, and grass pollen IP generated by her Monash Allergy Team (O’Hehir and Rolland) and assigned to Circassia®, successfully completed phase 2 clinical trials for house dust mite and grass pollen allergy. 

Professor O’Hehir’s Team has now identified the critical sequences of peptides of the two major peanut proteins that interact with T cells and build immunological tolerance, but do not bind allergy antibody (IgE) and cause anaphylaxis. These “dominant fragments or peptides” are the best candidates for a safe peanut allergy vaccine. This research, supported by Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation, NHMRC and Alfred Trusts, has recently been granted A$2 million from the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund, Australia, for phase 1-2 trial in persons affected by peanut allergy.

Prof O'Hehir will be speaking at the Central Clinical School's Translational Research Symposium Wednesday, 30 September 2015, on the topic of " InSPIREd Therapy for Allergies (Synthetic Peptide Immuno-Regulator Epitopes)"

All welcome, see details:

• Time: 8.00 am registration for 9.00 am start. Drinks and canapes from 6-8 pm
• Venue: AMREP Lecture Theatre, adjacent to the BakerIDI Institute at 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne 3004, 200 metres east of the main Alfred Hospital entrance. See map.
• Cost: Free
• RSVP by Friday 25 September for catering purposes
• Enquiries: Catherine.Wong@monash.edu ph +61 3 9903 0640

Professor Suresh Sundram and psychiatric neuroscience: Find out more on 30 Sep 2015

Professor Suresh Sundram at Monash Health

The School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health welcomes Professor Suresh Sundram, Unit Head for adult psychiatry at Monash Medical Centre. Prof Sundram will be speaking at the forthcoming 30 Sep Translational Research symposium hosted by Central Clinical School. See detail below.

Prof Sundram plans to establish a psychiatric neuroscience research program in the Department of Psychiatry at SCS, focussing on psychotic disorders. “I have a particular interest in schizophrenia, with a broad translational approach,” he says.

“We study cellular and molecular aspects of post-mortem human and animal brain relevant to psychotic disorders; animal behaviour studies using transgenic models of psychosis; and biomarker studies in clinical samples using genetic, protein and electrophysiological measures.”

Prof Sundram will also establish a clinical trials research group evaluating new treatments for these disorders. He says, “I hope to build a unique translational research program in psychotic disorders that utilises clinical and biomarker data to understand the molecular bases of psychotic disorders, and in turn generate novel treatments and diagnostics for this patient group".

Of his decision to join Monash, Prof Sundram says, “It was the opportunity to integrate my research vision into one space and the exceptional platform technologies that are available through the Monash Health Translation Precinct.”

Beyond his research and clinical work, Prof Sundram has a strong interest in asylum seeker mental health and mental health service system development in low and middle income countries. “In addition to running a pro bono psychiatric clinic for asylum seekers, I provide and have provided expert advice to national governments and human rights and non-government organisations.”

Prior to joining Monash Health and Monash University, Suresh was Director of Clinical Services for Northern Area Mental Health Services, Head of Molecular Psychopharmacology and the Psychotropic Drug Advisory Service at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, and the Director of the Northern Psychiatry Research Centre.

Prof Sundram will be speaking at the Central Clinical School's Translational Research Symposium Wednesday, 30 September 2015, on the topic of "Evidence for biomarker development in schizophrenia sub-groups".

All welcome, see details:

• Time: 8.00 am registration for 9.00 am start. Drinks and canapes from 6-8 pm
• Venue: AMREP Lecture Theatre, adjacent to the BakerIDI Institute at 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne 3004, 200 metres east of the main Alfred Hospital entrance. See map.
• Cost: Free
• RSVP by Friday 25 September for catering purposes
• Enquiries: Catherine.Wong@monash.edu ph +61 3 9903 0640

Professor Eric Morand: The curse of steroids in Lupus - and a way forward. Find out more on 30 Sep 2015

Professor Eric Morand is Head of the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University. He is a Professor of Medicine and Rheumatic Diseases, research group leader in the Monash Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, the Director of Rheumatology at Monash Health and Founder of the Lupus Clinic at Monash Health. Professor Morand will be speaking at the forthcoming 30 Sept Translational Research symposium hosted by Central Clinical School. See detail below.

Trained as a specialist physician in rheumatology in Australia and at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases UK, Professor Morand has led the rheumatic diseases group of the Monash Centre for Inflammatory Diseases since the mid 1990s. He has held Program and Project grants from NH&MRC, NIH, and Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and served on the Council of the Australian Rheumatology Assocation and chaired its Scientific Program and Research Committee. He has published over 120 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and patents. The main focus of his research has been the actions of glucocorticoid-regulated proteins in inflammatory processes relevant to rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Professor Morand founded the Monash Lupus Clinic in 2006. This is Australia's only multidisciplinary clinic focussed on SLE, and hosts the Monash Lupus database, Australia's largest longitudinal collection of clinical data and matching serum/DNA bank. In 2012 he became the Director of Rheumatology at Monash Health.

Professor Morand is Head of the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, now the largest site for clinical teaching in Australia's largest medical degree. Prior to becoming Head of School in 2011, Eric chaired the Clinical Skills Theme of the Monash MBBS degree and served as Year III MBBS coordinator at Southern Clinical School.

Prof Morand will be speaking at the Central Clinical School's Translational Research Symposium Wednesday, 30 September 2015, on the topic of "The curse of steroids in Lupus - and a way forward".

All welcome, see details:

• Time: 8.00 am registration for 9.00 am start. Drinks and canapes from 6-8 pm
• Venue: AMREP Lecture Theatre, adjacent to the BakerIDI Institute at 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne 3004, 200 metres east of the main Alfred Hospital entrance. See map.
• Cost: Free
• RSVP by Friday 25 September for catering purposes
• Enquiries: Catherine.Wong@monash.edu ph +61 3 9903 0640

Prof Nip Thomson AM: The Department of Medicine, from the ridiculous to the sublime.

Professor Napier Thomson AM was Head of the Monash University Central Clinical School based at The Alfred Hospital in Prahran 2001-2011. His research history and current activity is in renal (kidney) medicine. He has been teaching medical students in Monash University since 1976. Professor Thompson will be speaking at the forthcoming 30 Sept Translational Research symposium hosted by Central Clinical School. See detail below.

Professor Thomson was Director of Renal Medicine at The Alfred and until 2007 was also Director of the Department of General Medicine (which Department he developed). Until 1998 he served as the Faculty’s Associate Dean (Clinical). He has also mentored many early career doctors through the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and became President of the RACP in 2006.

Since Professor Thomson’s appointment as Professor of Medicine at the Medical School at the Alfred, the Department has developed its research program to include the major areas of respiratory medicine and lung transplantation, infectious diseases, diabetes, neuroscience, haematology (ACBD) pharmacology of heart failure allergy, and renal disease. See Medicine PhD, Honours Science and Bachelor of Medical Science students enrolled through the Department at the CCS HDR Student page.at the forthcoming 30 Sept Translational Research symposium hosted by Central Clinical School. See detail below.

In June 2009, Professor Thomson was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to medicine, research, medical education and professional associations and in 2010 he received the David de Kretser Medal, awarded for outstanding contributions to the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University.

Professor Thompson will be speaking at the Central Clinical School's Translational Research Symposium Wednesday, 30 September 2015, on the topic of "The Department of Medicine 1992-2010. From the ridiculous to the sublime"

All welcome, see details:

Time: 8.00 am registration for 9.00 am start
Venue: AMREP Lecture Theatre, adjacent to the BakerIDI Institute at 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne 3004, 200 metres east of the main Alfred Hospital entrance. See map.
Cost: Free
RSVP by Friday 25 September for catering purposes
Enquiries: Catherine.Wong@monash.edu ph +61 3 9903 0640