DPsych student developing smartphone app to prevent and treat anxiety and depression

Doctor of Psychology student, David Bakker, is developing a smartphone app, MoodMission, which uses an intuitive and engaging interface to help users learn better ways of coping with low moods and anxious feelings.

Mental health and well-being apps are being used ever widely with users of all ages and mental health needs. Melbourne-based app Smiling Mind has received international acclaim for bringing mindfulness meditation to over 300,000 users’ phones. It is now being used widely in schools and organisations around the country.

David, and supervisor Associate Professor Nikki Rickard, have been working on MoodMission for the past 18 months. The project is now seeking support from investors through crowdfunding site Pozible, to start coding the software with help from Spark Digital – the same app development firm behind Smiling Mind.

David and Nikki are part of a team that has developed another mental health app, MoodPrism, which is due for release on the app store in the coming months.

MoodMission is designed to be used by anyone, whether they have a clinically significant anxiety or mood disorder, or just want to find ways of coping with day-to-day feelings of anxiousness or low moods.

MoodMission is based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), as CBT shows the strongest evidence as an effective computerised treatment for anxiety and depression. Users report their low moods or anxious symptoms to MoodMission, which then recommends five useful, brief, easily achieved coping strategies to help them deal with negative thoughts, feelings, or behaviours. These could be relaxation strategies, cognitive reframing exercises, physical activities, or anything else that evidence shows can lift moods or reduce anxiety.

Users choose one of these “missions”, and when they have completed it MoodMission rewards them with points, badges, and other achievement acknowledgments. These rewards can promote positive psychological health through boosting self-esteem and feelings of mastery. To correspond to CBT practices, users also report how they feel after they have completed the mission. This enables MoodMission to suggest missions in the future that have had more past success. Psychoeducation is also employed throughout the app.

MoodMission will be experimentally validated via randomised controlled trialling to ensure that it is effective. No other mental health and well-being apps currently available on the app store have been validated by randomised controlled trialling. The app will be free to download when released, scheduled for next year.

For more information about the project visit:

www.moodmissionapp.com

www.pozible.com/moodmission

MPs visit FMNHS for the second time this year

Nick Staikos and Steve Dimopoulos learn aboutresearch at FMNHS 

Since the Victorian Government announced $15 million for the planning of Australia’s first heart hospital earlier this year, The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences have welcomed Steve Dimopoulos, Member for Oakleigh and Nick Staikos, Member for Bentleigh for the second time in less than six months.

Visiting Monash University Clayton last week where the new hospital will be built, the two MPs toured the Faculty of Medicine’s state of the art laboratories and met with researchers to learn about some of the work that is being undertaken at the Clayton campus and at our clinical sites.

For Mr Dimopoulos, the collaborative research in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences is an exciting part of the state’s future.

“It’s a whole collection of scientists with high energy, devoting time and resources to a multiple range of problems and challenges and I love the intensity of it. You can go in one door and out the other and research is always happening, and for me that’s so exciting”.

The Member for Oakleigh said that the Faculty of Medicine is an asset for his constituents, especially as the planning for the Victorian Heart Hospital begins.

“I don’t think people have any sense of the size, the scope and the depth of The Faculty of Medicine or of the opportunities for job creation, for medical discovery and for better health care. It’s nice to know that something like this is in your local community.

“I think the Monash Heart Hospital that will come on site is really good because you will get the scientists together with the clinicians in a live environment, collaborating and I think that can only be good for the constituents in Bentleigh, Oakleigh and the whole south east,” Mr Dimopoulos said.

Mr Staikos, Member for Bentleigh, agreed that the Faculty of Medicine provided an advantage for those who live in his area because it raises the standards of education in science and medicine and supports the state’s future.

“The Faculty of Medicine is world leading and cutting edge and at a time when our greatest challenge in Victoria is the loss of manufacturing it is a part of our future.

“By world standards we do have high standards in education but we are always asking how we can go forward and ensure that they continue to rise, and research here helps us do that”.

Postgraduate Publication Awards (PPAs) ‐ Round 3/2015

Applications for PPAs Round 3/2015 close on Wednesday 30 September 2015.

This quarterly round applies to candidates who will be submitting their thesis between 1 September 2015 and 30 November 2015.

The PPA scheme is designed to encourage graduate research students to disseminate their research findings through publication in professional journals or books. The scheme provides an income equivalent to the APA rate for three months and is aimed at supporting students who, having submitted their thesis, wish to write up some of their research for publication whilst they await the result of their examination.

Full details (guidelines and application form) are available on the MIGR intranet – look under the ‘Scholarships/Grants’ section: http://intranet.monash.edu.au/migr/forms/graduate-research-forms/

Please note that Priority is given to students who submit their thesis within three‐and‐ a‐half years (42 months, effective full‐time) of commencing a doctorate or two years (24 months EFT) of commencing a master’s. Where this time limit is exceeded, the supervisor/department must provide a case of the exceptional circumstances affecting the student.

Applications must be submitted via email to the Faculty Research Office: med‐research.degrees@monash.edu

Closing Date: Wednesday 30 September 2015

International visit of health professions educators strengthen ties with Monash

In July, seven representatives of the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Profession Education (MGH-IHP) from various international locations spent an engaging week working with colleagues in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences. The interprofessional group, comprising faculty and scholars of the MGH-IHP Master of Science in Health Professions Education (MScHPE) course completed Level 1 Higher Degree Research supervisor training and participated in a unit of the Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education. MScHPE and Monash PhD and Masters in Health Professions Education (MHPE) students presented their research projects, and several research collaborations have ensued.

This visit was the first by the MGH-IHP group as part of a collaboration between the Office of the Deputy Dean Education, MNHS and the MGH-IHP. Student and academic exchange in education through the respective Masters in Health Professions Education courses, and in joint HDR research supervision are features of this collaboration. 

According to Dr Deborah Navedo, Course Director, MScHPE “The main purpose of the visit was to deepen the collaboration between our two organisations. Margaret Hay, through the Office of the Deputy Dean Education and HealthPEER has been very proactive in building this collaboration over a number of years.” 

The visit follows several years of visits to the MGH-IHP and the Harvard Macy Institute by MNHS staff. A/Prof. Margaret Hay is leading the collaboration, which was initiated during her sabbatical with the Harvard Macy Institute in 2011, and advanced through annual returns to Boston subsequently. A/Prof. Hay holds an adjunct appointment with MGH-IHP. Prof. Alan Leichtner, Dr Navedo and Dr Mary Knab hold adjunct appointments at Monash University. In June 2014, A/Prof. Hay, Prof. Wayne Hodgson, Deputy Dean Education, and A/Prof. Liz Molloy, then Director, HealthPEER, visited the MGH-IHP and Harvard Macy Institute as part of the collaboration. 

Dr Navedo was struck by the similarities between the two masters programs. 

“Each of our courses has very similar goals, and shared common learning needs. Ultimately, we face very similar challenges that we can solve much better working together than in our own silos” she said.

Students completing the Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education worked side by side with the visitors during their on campus study days. 

One student commented, “How wonderful it is to see the overseas exchange. I so enjoyed the variety of people and the experiences they shared. It made this unit feel extra prestigious. To hear how things are being done in other countries has planted a seed with me to now consider the idea of travelling to learn in different countries/cultures. I want to thank you for that new long term goal.”

A/Prof. Hay said “the next visit is already being planned, and we hope this will become an annual exchange of academics and masters students across both institutions well into the future”.

Student developing smartphone app to prevent and treat anxiety and depression

Monash University Doctor of Psychology student, David Bakker, is developing a smartphone app, MoodMission, which uses an intuitive and engaging interface to help users learn better ways of coping with low moods and anxious feelings.

Mental health and well-being apps are being used ever widely with users of all ages and mental health needs. Melbourne-based app Smiling Mind has received international acclaim for bringing mindfulness meditation to over 300,000 users’ phones. It is now being used widely in schools and organisations around the country.

David, and supervisor Associate Professor Nikki Rickard, have been working on MoodMission for the past 18 months. The project is now seeking support from investors through crowdfunding site Pozible, to start coding the software with help from Spark Digital – the same app development firm behind Smiling Mind.

David and Nikki are part of a team that has developed another mental health app, MoodPrism, which is due for release on the app store in the coming months.

MoodMission is designed to be used by anyone, whether they have a clinically significant anxiety or mood disorder, or just want to find ways of coping with day-to-day feelings of anxiousness or low moods.

MoodMission is based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), as CBT shows the strongest evidence as an effective computerised treatment for anxiety and depression. Users report their low moods or anxious symptoms to MoodMission, which then recommends five useful, brief, easily achieved coping strategies to help them deal with negative thoughts, feelings, or behaviours. These could be relaxation strategies, cognitive reframing exercises, physical activities, or anything else that evidence shows can lift moods or reduce anxiety.

Users choose one of these “missions”, and when they have completed it MoodMission rewards them with points, badges, and other achievement acknowledgments. These rewards can promote positive psychological health through boosting self-esteem and feelings of mastery. To correspond to CBT practices, users also report how they feel after they have completed the mission. This enables MoodMission to suggest missions in the future that have had more past success. Psychoeducation is also employed throughout the app.

MoodMission will be experimentally validated via randomised controlled trialling to ensure that it is effective. No other mental health and well-being apps currently available on the app store have been validated by randomised controlled trialling. The app will be free to download when released, scheduled for next year.

For more information about the project visit: www.moodmissionapp.com www.pozible.com/moodmission

New location of Faculty Research Office

The MNHS Faculty Research Office (FRO) has relocated physical office space to the top of the Menzies building on the Clayton Campus:

Level 11, East Wing
Menzies Building
20 Chancellors Walk
Monash University VIC 3800

Telephone numbers and email addresses will remain the same for all FRO staff. The teams should be operational in the new location by 9am on Wednesday 23 September 2015.

Come and visit us!

17th International Congress of Endocrinology to be held in China

For the very first time, China will host an international scientific meeting in Beijing next year.

Head, Department of Medicine Professor Peter Ebeling AO has recently returned from China where he was a member of the scientific program organising committee of the 17th International Congress of Endocrinology.

“We’ve been fortunate to hold the 2016 Congress together with the Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Endocrinology, who usually have around 5000 people attend,” said Professor Ebeling.

“We anticipate next year’s International Congress to be a very big meeting, in the region of 7000 to 8000 people.”

Until now, international scientific organisations have resisted holding meetings in China due to infrastructure limitations, however Beijing can now cope with large international meetings thanks to the 2008 Olympics.

“The convention centre is just near the Olympics’ Birds Nest stadium and there are many hotels within close proximity,” added Professor Ebeling.

“We are planning a very exciting program to attract delegates to China next year.”

The Chinese Society of Endocrinology is more than 50 years old and there is particular expertise in endocrinology in China—approximately twenty per cent of the speakers at the Congress will be from China. There will also be many speakers from Australia with MHTP being well represented.

“Because of their population, the Chinese also bring significant clinical experience with large numbers of cases.”

“In China, I’ve seen a whole ward of patients with a very unusual pituitary tumour that we would only see 2 or 3 cases of each year.”

Professor Ebeling said the meeting will be an ideal opportunity to foster future research collaborations in China.

SCS medical student’s research provides insight into infectious disease

A history of chicken pox is very likely to predict immunity to varicella zoster, according to latest research from Monash University.

Published last week in the high impact journal AIDS, the research study was led by School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) medical student Greta Gurry.

The findings from this study suggest that blood testing for varicella serology (chicken pox or shingles) in HIV patients with a history of these diseases is not necessary as these patients already have protective antibodies.

“While this correlation has previously been demonstrated in healthy populations, Greta’s study is the first to show this in an immunocompromised cohort,” said Dr Ian Woolley, Deputy Director Infectious Diseases and Director HIV Medicine at Monash Medical Centre.

“As well as avoiding unnecessary blood tests, this study provides us with the evidence that we don’t need to expose people with weakened immune systems to the chicken pox vaccine.”

Because the chicken pox vaccine is a live vaccine, there are risks associated with administering it to HIV patients.

A fourth year medical student, Greta undertook a Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSc) in 2014 with Monash Infectious Diseases under the supervision of Infectious Diseases Physician and SCS Clinical Dean Dr Claire Dendle and Dr Ian Woolley, and has already achieved two publications in prestigious journals.

“The results of Greta’s thesis—whether evidence of latent infections common in resource-poor countries was present in a cohort of patients living with HIV—were published in the Medical Journal of Australia in March this year,” said Dr Dendle.

“Greta also showed that systematic screening in our population for schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis was justified and should be included in Australian guidelines as it is in European guidelines,” added Dr Woolley.

In addition to her publications, Greta was invited to speak at the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting in Auckland.

“This a terrific demonstration of our BMedSc students making a meaningful contribution to clinical science as well as learning how to undertake research and finding out whether it could be part of their future career.” said Dr Dendle.

“Undertaking a BMedSc at SCS was a fantastic experience and one that I highly recommend,” said Greta.

“A BMedSc is an excellent opportunity to learn skills in research without the added pressure of working or studying concurrently, allowing you to take the time to comprehend numerous aspects of research.”

“The support I received from my supervisors Dr Ian Woolley and Dr Claire Dendle, along with the entire ID department, allowed me to expand my knowledge in this area as well as enjoy my year immensely!”

Head of Haematology Research starts at MHTP

Monash University and Monash Health are excited to announce renowned haematologist Associate Professor Jake Shortt will lead haematology research in a newly created role at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP).

Associate Professor Shortt is clinical lead for leukemia and myelodysplasia at Monash Health and principle investigator on a number of leukemia and bone marrow disorder studies within the clinical trials unit.

“My scientific research focuses largely on lymphoma, leukaemia and myeloma and with our increased understanding of what drives these diseases at a molecular level, we can now rationally target the survival pathways and abnormal genetic programs operating within cancer cells,” said Associate Professor Shortt.

Most recently, Associate Professor Shortt’s research has involved combining drugs that work on epigenetic pathways with immune-modulators.

“If the DNA of a cell is its hardware, epigenetic pathways constitute the software, and software is re-programmable with drugs,” he explained.

“Epigenetic drugs can change or kill cells in such a way that they become more visible to the immune system and therefore you can prime a patient’s tumour and immune system concurrently to gain major therapeutic responses.”

“It is no exaggeration to say we have seen miraculous responses in the clinic at Monash, using approaches gleaned from our laboratory-based research.”

Until recently a Senior Research Fellow at Peter Mac, Associate Professor Shortt has relocated to MHTP to be at the ‘coal face’ of translational research, allowing him to conduct basic scientific research in tandem with clinical trial activity.

“It is a very exciting time in haematology and cancer biology at the moment,” said Associate Professor Shortt.

“We are seeing a revolution in our understanding of tumour biology at the genomic and epigenetic level. Concurrently there has been a paradigm shift in the therapeutic application of immuno-oncology.”

In his new role at MHTP, Associate Professor Shortt plans to further develop his pre-clinical and translational research rationally, applying targeted therapies within appropriate genomic and epigenetic contexts.

“This new role will better allow me to link these concepts with clinical trial activity and from a broader perspective I would like to develop Haemato-Oncology at Monash into an internationally competitive program, building the academic reputation of both the Haematology department and Haematology research at the School of Clinical Sciences.”

“The major advantage Monash Health and the MHTP has over other cancer hospitals is its proximity to patients, and I feel I am taking my science to where the patients are, in an area of real growth and potential.”

“I’m really excited about the prospects at Monash—being embedded in a state-of-the-art facility with a really positive and progressive group of clinician scientists is a recipe for success,” added Associate Professor Shortt.

“We have an unprecedented opportunity to stake a claim in the future of haematology and cancer medicine in Victoria.”

Peter Ebeling and Helena Teede appointed to the NHMRC Research Committee

Congratulations to two Monash leaders on their appointments to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Research Committee.

Head of Department of Medicine, Professor Peter Ebeling AO and Professor Helena Teede, Executive Director of Monash Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre, Head of the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School Public Health and Preventive Medicine and an Endocrinologist at Monash Health have both been appointed to the 

NHMRC Research Committee.

Covering the spectrum of health and medical research, the NHMRC Research Committee is the principal national health and medical research committee and awards grants on the basis of scientific quality as judged by peer-review.

It also provides research support through a variety of mechanisms, including support for individual research projects, broad programs of research, training awards and fellowships and special research units.

“It’s a great honour to be nominated to the research committee and a great honour for Monash University and the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health for me to be their representative on the committee,” said Professor Ebeling.

“As a research committee member I will push for the importance of translational research, and particularly the research we are able to undertake at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) with our new facility.”

Professor Teede has served two recent terms on the NHMRC Health Care Committee and now transfers to the principal research committee.

“It is an honour to be able to contribute to the health and medical research sector through this vehicle,” said Professor Teede.

“This is a challenging time for health and medical research and the strategies that emerge from the NHMRC over the next three years will be vital in shaping the future of this sector in Australia.”

The NHMRC plays a key role in advising government on the future direction of research and on facilitating knowledge exchange to translate evidence into policy and practice. Professor Teede said she looks forward to contributing to this vital agenda moving forward.

“Another key opportunity for health impact is our newly NHMRC accredited Academic Health Sciences Centres, including Monash Partners,” added Professor Teede.

“These will play a key role in the integration of health and medical research and are ideally placed to innovate and to drive pace and scale in both research and translation, with measurable impact on practice and policy.”

Professor Ebeling said he also intends to lobby for more research funding overall in Australia.
“The future medical research fund does create an opportunity although it is uncertain how this funding will be administered,” added Professor Ebeling.

“I think the NHMRC should have a role in the peer review of fund distribution from this new research fund and it’s important to push that agenda with government.”

The Happiness & Wellbeing project - request for proposals

The Happiness & Well-being Project are pleased to announce an interdisciplinary grant project on happiness and well-being, Happiness and Well-Being: Integrating Research Across the Disciplines, supported by The John Templeton Foundation and Saint Louis University. It will run for 3 years, with about $5M in funding. Information can be found in the press release and on the website. The website includes registration for automated email updates.

The funding agency are interested in a wide range of topics relating to happiness and well-being, and will be awarding a number of sub-grants of up to $310,000+ for empirical research, and up to $200,000 for projects in philosophy or theology/religious studies. There will also be several conferences and a number of other activities. The Request for Proposals (RFP) is now available. Letters of intent are due 15 October, 2015.

For further information, please contact Dane Muckler, Research Assistant, The Happiness & Well-being Project (wellbeing@slu.edu).

PhD scholarship call for EOI's: STAtins in reducing events in the elderly trial (STAREE)

Monash University full time 3 year Medical PhD scholarship - call for expressions of interest

Faculty: Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
School: School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine 

Location: Alfred Hospital Campus, Prahran

The Opportunity

The scholarship is being offered as part of the research activities of the STAtins in reducing events in the elderly trial (STAREE), with an anticipated start date in January/February 2016.

The scholarship provides an opportunity to undertake a PhD project that will comprise a component of the NHMRC funded STAREE project. STAREE is a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled primary prevention trial designed to assess whether daily active treatment of 40 mg atorvastatin will prolong good health and maintain independence amongst men and women over 70 years of age who are free from cardiovascular disease, diabetes or dementia.

The activities of the STAREE team include a broad range of tasks related to community-based clinical trials such as recruitment of general practitioners (GPs) and patients, monitoring, data management, and ethics (www.staree.org.au).

The program of study will be determined in consultation with the successful applicant.

Candidate Requirements

• Medical degree (MBBS or equivalent) and further degree with first class honours or specialist medical training
• Evidence of research experience
• Well-developed statistical skills
• Australian citizenship or permanent residency
• A candidate whose first language is not English should have a minimum IELTS score of 7 with no band less than 6.5

Remuneration

AUD $25,849 per annum for living expenses, tax exempt for three years and exempt from tuition fees. An additional $1,200 (total) is available from the School for conference attendance. The successful applicant will be encouraged to apply for an APA, NHMRC, Monash, or other scholarship.

Enquiries and Expression of Interest

Professor Sophia Zoungas (sophia.zoungas@monash.edu) 03 9594 7500

or Dr Andrea Curtis (andrea.curtis@monash.edu) 03 9903 0171

Submit EOI electronically, including a letter of application (maximum one page) that addresses the requirements (above) and your research interests, and CV.

Closing date

Friday 9th October 2015 by 5pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.

Frontiers of single cell genomics put scientists on the path to developing inflammatory drugs

A husband and wife team, Associate Professor Marcel Nold and Dr Claudia Nold, from the Hudson Institute and Monash University, are using innovative single cell technologies to develop new drugs to control potentially-deadly inflammation.

Earlier this year they discovered the crucial mechanisms of a protein called Interleukin 37 (IL- 37), in regulating immune responses and controlling inflammation in the body.

The Nold team is now working to harness the powerful functions of this protein to create new drugs that could be used to control the body’s immune system’s inflammatory responses.

Assoc. Prof. Nold says inflammation is an important response to infection or injury but, if not carefully controlled, can cause conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

“If we can control the mechanisms of IL-37 to block or mimic the body’s inflammatory responses, it could have far-reaching effects on any number of diseases,” said Assoc. Prof. Nold.

The study, published in the prestigious journal, Nature Immunology, in February revealed how the body uses IL-37 as a molecular signal to regulate and control inflammation.

The team found that, to achieve its protective effects, IL-37 uses a pair of very specific receptors on target cells. Binding of these two receptors triggers IL-37 to instruct target cells to execute a cascade of events, which subdue some of the molecular pathways by which the body mounts inflammatory responses.

To do this, they will use technology from the Institute’s Single Cell Genomics Centre to analyse activity of genes controlling the receptor’s function, by which stage they anticipate significant interest from pharmaceutical companies in using the results to develop anti-inflammatory drugs that modulate the body’s immune responses.

Chief Investigator on the Single Cell Genomics Centre project, Professor Paul Hertzog, says the research into IL-37 demonstrates how these state-of-the-art technologies can accelerate scientific findings.

“Single cell genomics research is emerging as a driving force for discovery in life science, allowing scientists to isolate each individual cell from a diseased organ or tumour to establish which cells are actually causing the disease, or responding to a treatment,” Professor Paul Hertzog said.

“By allowing scientists to analyse the transcription of thousands of genes at the single cell level, the technology enables researchers to identify different cell types that have until now, remained out of reach. We are now able to discover new principles of how our organs function and how drugs work.”

On Friday 4 September, the centre was awarded Australia’s first Single Cell Centre of Excellence by internationally-renowned biotechnology company Fluidigm, making it the first in the southern hemisphere.

Parliamentary Secretary for Medical Research, Mr Frank McGuire MP, will officially launch the centre before touring the state-of-the-art facility to learn about the ground-breaking research being enabled by the single-cell technology.

The MHTP, a partnership between Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University and Monash Health, brings together clinicians and scientists to directly translate research discoveries into greater prevention, diagnosis and treatments for the community’s greatest health challenges.

Hudson Institute Director, Professor Bryan Williams, says the Single Cell Genomics Centre was established through funding from an Australian Research Council LIEF (Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities) grant, through a partnership between Monash University, University of Melbourne, University of Newcastle and Hudson Institute of Medical Research.

“This collaborative partnership with our partner universities and Fluidigm is providing our scientists with access to breakthrough developments in Fluidigm’s technology and increasing the opportunities for them to become world leaders in the field of genomics medicine,” said Professor Williams.

The Nolds’ research also received a boost from the inaugural $50,000 Fielding Innovation Award, which was established as part of a gift agreement between the Hudson Institute and Melbourne businessman Peter Fielding, to boost commercial activity for the Institute’s scientists, especially while a record-low number of research projects are funded by the government.

MHTP’s $87.5 million Translational Research Facility, funded by the Federal Government, is scheduled to open in October.

Head to tail: the molecules that tell you how to grow a backbone

Growing the right number of vertebrae in the right places is an important job – and scientists have found the molecules that act like ‘theatre directors’ for vertebrae genes in mice: telling them how much or how little to express themselves.

The finding may give insight into how the body-shapes of different species of animals evolved, since the molecules under scrutiny are present in a wide range of animals – ranging from fish to snakes to humans.

An international team led by Dr Edwina McGlinn of EMBL Australia [1] at Monash University found that de-activating a small group of microRNA (miRNA) molecules sent things awry for different parts of the backbone.

They already knew that ‘Hox’ genes were crucial in determining vertebrae patterns – as well as playing an important role in the spinal cord and wider nervous system. But how these genes were regulated was still unclear.

Edwina’s team ‘knocked out’ molecules of the miRNA family miR-196.

They used fluorescent markers to light up cells where the miRNA molecules would have otherwise been located, and where the miRNAs have the potential to control the levels of tens to hundreds of genes.

This caused a ‘flow-on effect’ for many genes, the most significant of which were the Hox genes.

A segmented vertebral column – a backbone – is a defining characteristic of vertebrate animals.

Different species have different numbers of vertebrae in different areas of their spine – for example in their neck (cervical spine), middle-and-upper back (thoracic spine), or lower back (lumbar spine). Remarkably however, individuals of the same species show almost no variation in their spine.

This suggests that each animal has adapted just the right number and types of vertebrae for its environment.

“What we have found is a mechanism that controls the correct transition from one area of the spine to another as it is forming,” says Edwina.

The finding is part of a project by the McGlinn Group to build a more complete road-map of how the size, shape and number of bones form within the early vertebrate embryo. This knowledge will contribute to the basic understanding of developmental processes, which in turn may assist in the treatment of a number of diseases and in regenerative medicine applications: for example altered Hox gene expression is important in some forms of leukaemia—so it’s critical to know all we can about how these genes are regulated.

“The research is still in its early stages, but you’ve got to understand how an embryo forms before you can use that knowledge for medical or regenerative purposes,” Edwina says.

Paper and links to background available at: www.scienceinpublic.com.au/media-releases/head-to-tail ‎

For interviews: Edwina McGlinn (scientist), edwina.mcglinn@emblaustralia.org, +61 3 9902 9721

Media: Lydia Hales (Science in Public, for EMBL Australia), lydia@scienceinpublic.com.au, +61 457 854 515

World-first simulation training improves management of home birth emergencies

Dr Kumar

While home births are a safe and appropriate choice for healthy women with low-risk pregnancies, the small risk of an emergency requires immediate and skilled management by midwives.

A home birth simulation workshop developed by Monash University and Monash Health has shown to enhance the clinical skills of midwives and paramedic staff to support home birth practice with hospital back up.

Results of the world-first training program were published last week in the Australian College of Midwives’ journal, Women and Birth.

When a publicly funded home birth program was introduced at Casey Hospital in 2011, in collaboration with Monash Women’s at Monash Health, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology designed an in situ home birth workshop to upskill midwives.

“With limited resources available to clinicians who aim to enhance the management of home birth complications, we developed the home based Practical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training (PROMPT) workshop,” said lead study author Dr Arunaz Kumar, a Monash Senior Lecturer and an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Monash Health.

“Midwives and emergency paramedic staff who participated in the simulation workshops had to manage birth emergencies in real time with limited availability of resources in a home based setting.”

To enhance the realism of the simulation, workshops were delivered in a community home (in situ) and the equipment used for training was the home birth kit used by midwives in a real home birth.

Workshop participants included home birth midwives, paramedic staff from Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) Victoria and an obstetrician (available on phone).

“A simulated patient, a birthing model for pelvic examination, and a SimBabynewborn model were used in training scenarios that involved intrapartum, postpartum or neonatal complications,” said Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University and Director, Obstetric Services at Monash Health, Professor Euan Wallace.

“Workshop tasks required participants to identify and manage the emergency and stabilise the mother or baby in real time, using the equipment provided in the home birth kit.”

Most scenarios culminated with the transfer of the mother and/or baby to the hospital in the ambulance.

“Our analysis, based on six workshops conducted from 2012 to 2014, assessed the participants’ perceptions of usefulness of a home birth emergency training workshop,” said Dr Kumar.

“The workshops enabled participants to practice and reflect on a simulated home birth, making direct links to real practice.”

Although technical skills were important, participants reported value in the opportunity to communicate effectively with colleagues and the support person at home, as well as being prepared with a back-up plan if complications occurred.

Professor Wallace said it was important to optimise psychological fidelity in the workshops such that participants needed to communicate effectively and use available resources efficiently, as required in real home birth practice where home birth emergencies occur.

“Even if the absolute numbers of women requesting home birth are small, an effort should be made to ensure the safety of women with adequate training, education and provision of a back-up support system,” added Professor Wallace.

“The joy of childbirth often goes hand in hand with its unpredictability,” said study co-author and Professor of Midwifery at Monash University, Christine East.

“We have shown how midwives and paramedics working together to anticipate the intricacies of such situations reinforce the safety of home birth and help maintain this option for women.”

“Our study shows these workshops benefit midwives and paramedic staff in enhancing their clinical skills and in training together as a team, with a common objective of improving maternal and perinatal outcomes of home birth,” said Dr Kumar.

Dr Kumar acknowledges the assistance and contributions of Ms Colleen White, midwifery lead in this project.

New therapy offers hope for halting the progression of diabetic kidney disease

Monash University and Monash Health researchers have identified a possible new therapy for diabetic kidney disease, the major cause of chronic kidney failure in Australia and many other countries.

Researchers Dr Greg Tesch and Associate Professor David Nikolic-Paterson from the Chronic Kidney Disease and Transplantation Group at the Monash Centre for Inflammatory Diseases have shown that a novel drug inhibiting ASK-1 can halt the progression of diabetic kidney disease.

The world-first study was published last month in the prestigious journal Diabetes.

“We tested a selective inhibitor of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1 (ASK1) in mice with pre-existing diabetic kidney disease and discovered it completely halted the progression of the disease,” said Dr Tesch.

“And in some cases the disease actually improved.”

Significantly, studies by our group and others have shown that ASK-1 drives multiple mechanisms of kidney injury including inflammation, cell injury and fibrosis, which are all important factors in the progression of diabetic kidney disease.

“Unlike current therapies that target hypertension and glycemic control and generally slow down the progression of disease, blockade of ASK-1 appears to stop the progression of diabetic kidney disease,” said Dr Tesch.

“Interestingly, ASK-1 blockade does not target hypertension so it’s possible that combining this novel drug with hypertension drugs may lead to even better outcomes for patients.”

Diabetes is the single biggest cause of end-stage renal failure in most countries—and over a million Australians have some level of chronic kidney disease.

“If we can halt the progression of diabetic kidney disease, we may avert millions of people from requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation to survive,” said Dr Tesch.

Based on Dr Tesch’s findings, a phase 2 clinical trial has now been established to examine the safety and efficacy of an ASK-1 inhibitor in patients with diabetic kidney disease.

Monash Animal Research ethics update

August 2015 edition

Contents:

1. Animal Ethics Information Session – Thurs 29 Oct 2015
2. Updated Form - Minor Amendment
3. Updated Form - Non-Compliance Report
4. Time Extensions – Research / Teaching and Breeding Colony Applications
5. NHMRC Well-being Guidelines
6. New Monash University Veterinarian, MARP
7. Submission of Documents to MARP AECs
8. Reminders – Rodent Monitoring Sheet & Gavage
9. Animal Ethics Regulations, Guidelines, Codes & Information

Full copy available on staff intranet.

For our researchers: Pocket science – putting current research into consumers’ hands

An innovative new website called Uprosa showcases current research taking place at leading labs across the globe. “Our mission is to translate these breakthrough discoveries into new and exciting scientific imagery-based products,” said Hind Kraytem, chief technical officer. They do this by taking submissions of stunning imagery, incorporating those images into consumer products and sharing profits with the researchers.

Hind, along with the company’s other founders Nikolaus Wenzl and Dominique Piché, met while studying for their master’s degrees at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Cambridge.

“The three of us became friends as we shared department and college for a year,” Hind explained. They took the initial concept and made it a reality – now, Nikolaus and Hind work full-time on the venture, with Dominique supporting the endeavor part time while she pursues a PhD at Oxford.

Nikolaus, CEO of Uprosa, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business and administration from the University of St Gallen and a master’s in bioscience enterprise from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Cambridge.

Creative Director Dominique also received a master’s in chemical engineering and biotechnology at Cambridge and now is a PhD candidate in advanced nanoscale engineering at the University of Oxford.

Hind is Chief Technical Officer, having graduated with a MEng in biomedical engineering from Imperial College London and master’s in bioscience enterprise at Cambridge.

To see what Uprosa has to offer or to submit your own work, visit the company’s website at http://uprosa.com/

[Text sourced from http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/news/pocket-science-putting-current-research-consumers-hands]

Central Clinical School 3MT

The CCS 3MT presenters. L-R: Dominik Draxler, Shanzana Khan (winner),
Andrew Guy, Ashlee Conway (runner up and People's Choice winner),
Paddy Dempsey, Waled Shihata.

The Central Clinical School 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) heat was held Tuesday 4 Aug. There were six strong contenders on a range of subjects. 

The winner was Ms Shanzana Khan, and runner up and winner of the 'People's Choice' vote was Ms Ashlee Conway. Shanzana spoke on the influence of the Y chromosome lineage on blood pressure regulation. 

Ashlee had great fun with porphyria, otherwise and attractively known as 'Dracula's Disease'.

Shanzana will be competing at the Faculty final on Friday 21 August at 1 pm, Clayton. Please go along and support her!

See photo gallery

More about the event and presentation videos

Helen Truby appointed to Chair of the Monash University Health and Wellbeing Sub-Committee

Congratulations Professor Helen Truby on her appointment to the Chair of the Monash University Health and Wellbeing Sub-Committee, which has oversight of staff wellbeing programs.

The committee will focus this year on developing healthy eating initiatives including creating and supporting eating environments and making healthy food choices easier for university staff.