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Monday 28 September 2015

CID Seminar Tuesday 29 September: Culling bad mitochondria: the molecular mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease proteins PINK1 and Parkin

Date: Tuesday 29th September
Time: 12:00-13:00
Venue: Medicine Seminar Room, Level 5, Block E MMC.
Invited speaker:  Dr Michael Lazarou
Presentation title: "Culling bad mitochondria: the molecular mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease proteins PINK1 and Parkin."
All welcome.

Forthcoming SCS events, seminars, public events, general notices

CID Seminar
Date: Tuesday 29th September
Time: 12:00-13:00
Venue: Medicine Seminar Room, Level 5, Block E MMC.
Invited speaker:  Dr Michael Lazarou will be presenting:
Presentation title: "Culling bad mitochondria: the molecular mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease proteins PINK1 and Parkin."
All welcome.

SCS Morning Tea & Staff Meeting
Date: Thursday 29th October 2015 
Time: Morning Tea at 10.15amfollowed by meeting at 10.30am 
Venue: Lecture Theatre 3, Monash Medical Centre Clayton
Nomination form for Quiet Achiever Award.


SCS-Hudson PhD Student Showcase Symposium
Date: Friday 20th November 2015
Time: 12.30pm - 5pm (lunch and afternoon tea provided)
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, Monash Medical Centre Clayton
All SCS-Hudson staff, please join us for a showcase of the best of 2nd/3rd year PhD students from different disciplines in 15 minute talks. 
PhD student attendance is compulsory.  Symposium flyer.


PhD Mid-Candidature Review - Rahana Abdul Rahman
Title: Future promising treatments for preterm pre-eclampsia
Date: 24th November 2015
Time: 9.00 - 10.30 am
Location: Board rooms level 3 Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Supervisors:
Prof. Euan Wallace
Dr Rebecca Lim
Dr Padma Murthi
Panel chair: A/Prof Eva Dimitriadis


IRTG Men's Health Symposium 2015
Date:        Saturday, 28th November 2015
Time:        8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Venue:       Main Lecture Theatre, Ground Level, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton
Plenary talk:     
Prof  Marilyn Renfree
Ian Potter Professor of Zoology
University of Melbourne
"Men and Marsupials"

Walk the Red Carpet SCS Year End Lunch & Trivia
Date: Friday 11th December 2015

Time: 12noon - 3pm
Venue: Monash Club, 32 Exhibition Walk (formerly Building 50), Main Clayton Campus
Come dressed as your favourite movie or TV character, and be ready for our school Manager Dr Eugene Fredericks's Trivia Challenge.  More details to follow soon.

The Monash University – Justus Liebig University International Research Training Group Men’s Health Symposium 2015

DATE:        Saturday, 28th November 2015
TIME:        8:30 am – 6:00 pm
VENUE:       Main Lecture Theatre, Ground Level, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton
Plenary talk:     
Prof  Marilyn Renfree
Ian Potter Professor of Zoology
University of Melbourne
"Men and Marsupials"


Invited speakers:

  • Jon Oatley – Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
  • Hans-Christian Schuppe – Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
  • Peter Ebeling – Monash University
  • Florian Wagenlehner – Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
  • Moira O’Bryan – Monash University
  • Wolfgang Weidner – Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
  • Robin Hobbs – Monash University
  • Vera Michel – Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany

Please direct any enquiries to Pianca Schwarz on med-irtg@monash.edu

The Victorian Cancer Agency's 2015 Funding Round is now open

The Victorian Cancer Agency's 2015 Funding Round is now open, with grants available in the following categories:
 Early Career Seed Grants  (Applications close 6 October 2015)
Clinical Research Fellowships (Applications close 6 October 2015)
Mid-Career Research Fellowships (Applications close 6 October 2015)
Translational Research Projects (Applications close 27 October 2015)
Health Services Research Projects Offered for the first time (Expressions of Interest Applications close 13 October 2015)

Further information is available at  www.victoriancanceragency.org.au/index.php/current-funding-opportunities-2015.  Administering organisations must be located in Victoria.

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

Congratulations Alison Browning on the award of PhD

The Monash Institute of Graduate Research is pleased to report that Alison Browning has been awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Alison's thesis titled: "A role for the inflammasome in STAT3-mediated gastric tumourigenesis" was ratified by the Graduate Research Steering Committee on  Tuesday 22nd September 2015 and will be conferred upon graduation.

Sincere thanks to all the academic and professional staff involved in assisting Alison achieve this wonderful result. 

LabArchives - Roll-out in 2016 for all NEW graduate students

What is LabArchives?
LabArchives is an electronic lab notebook (ELN). It is a secure, password-protected online software application that replaces the traditional paper notebook, and is used as a recording system for research data, meeting notes, and other relevant material.

How LabArchives will assist PhD supervisors in their role
Adoption of LabArchives will aid the supervisor in monitoring and directing PhD research. The student ELN is platform independent and viewable by web browsers and mobile devices. Results are accessible to both students and their supervisors anywhere in the world at any time. Moreover, LabArchives supports off-site co-supervision by enabling supervisors to access their student’s results and more effectively engage in the supervision process. LabArchives will also act as a repository of supervisory sessions, work plans, manuscripts and presentations.
The pilot program
A pilot program to trial the use of LabArchives has been undertaken in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (FMNHS) in 2015. The pilot has been a great success and has generated much positive feedback from its users.

Roll-out in 2016
The Faculty will be rolling-out LabArchives from 2016 onwards. As part of this process, it is expected that all enrolling graduate students adopt the use of LabArchives from 2016 onwards. Current graduate students will be encouraged to use LabArchives, particularly if their lab migrates to its use over the course of their PhDs.

How will we support you in the roll-out?
We are currently in the process of appointing a full-time ELN Coordinator who will lead and facilitate the adoption of LabArchives and to support the roll-out within FMNHS during 2016. This process is being supported by e-Solutions and the Monash Library.

Training workshops will be provided at local School levels, so that there is a clear understanding of the platform and how it works. Although LabArchives is quite an intuitive product to use, supervisors will be offered training in the first half of 2016 to ensure that they have full access to their student’s research.

We understand this will be a change in process; however, our aim is to ensure that firstly our students are trained in processes they will encounter in the work place over the course of their careers. Secondly, LabArchives serves as a support for research integrity and data security.

We thank you in advance for your support of this initiative. Any questions or concerns should be addressed to Nellie in the first instance.

Zoe Marks takes out 'runner up' in Monash 3MT final!

The 3MT race against the clock for graduate researchers to present the most engaging, inspirational and concise summary of their research finals, was held at Alexander Theatre on Wednesday 16 September, 2015.
Our Congratulations goes to Ms Zoe Marks in taking out runner up in the 3MT-Monash final competition and was presented with a $2000 cheque.
Zoe presented her Three Minute Thesis (3MT) titled 'Cancer 'signatures' in blood. Reading the fine print!'

 See more at: http://fmnhsebulletin.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/3mt-competition-monash-final-2015.html#sthash.R5nZ8Klb.dpuf

Australian Friends of Tel Aviv University - Monash University ('AFTAM') Research Collaboration Awards - Deadline Extended to 9 October 2015

Kindly note that the deadline for submissions for the AFTAM Research Collaboration Awards 2015 has been extended to Friday 9 October 2015 (previously Friday 25 September 2015).

Applications are currently being invited for the Australian Friends of Tel Aviv University - Monash University (‘AFTAM’) Research Collaboration Awards 2015/2016.

Applications are welcome within these broad priority areas:  
  • Health and Wellbeing (including Biomedical Research)
  • Future Technologies (including Renewable Energy)
  • Sustainable Environments
  • Resilient Cultures & Communities
  • Business Administration
  • Humanities & Social Sciences
  • Law

A copy of the Guidelines and Application Form can be downloaded at this link:  http://intranet.monash.edu.au/international/tel-aviv/
​​
Ms Ranmalee Mendis
Project Officer, Office of the President & Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement)
Email: ranmalee.mendis@monash.edu
Phone: 
​(03) ​
990 55932
Please direct enquiries to:
Up to four awards will be announced in 2015 for projects to be taken up in 2016. Each award is up to AUD12,000, to be taken up in projects committed to the establishment or furthering of joint research programs, or joint programs in teaching and learning. Awards are open to academic staff on a permanent or fixed-term appointment from all disciplines at both Monash and Tel Aviv Universities (excluding adjunct staff).  

NuGEN Next-Gen Sequencing Grant Program

NuGEN and Integrated Sciences in partnership with MHTP Medical Genomics Facility are pleased to offer a Next-Gen Sequencing Grant to facilitate translational research.
NuGEN NGS grant program application information is here: www.integratedsci.com.au
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED TO OCTOBER 30, 2015

Application attached here.



Intrathecal Clonidine Pump Failure Causing Acute Withdrawal Syndrome With 'Stress-Induced' Cardiomyopathy

Andis Graudins et al. published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology.

Read article here.

Mast Cell Stabilization Ameliorates Autoimmune Anti-Myeloperoxidase Glomerulonephritis

Poh-Yi Gan et al. published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Read article here.

'Post-deployment appraisal' and the relationship with stress and psychological health in Australian veterans

David Clarke et al. published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.

Read article here.

The Accucinch transcatheter direct mitral valve annuloplasty system

Ian Meredith et al. published in EuroIntervention.

Read article here.

Practical guide: How to pitch to a science editor

Successfully pitching a story to a science editor requires a wide range of skills, from researching their outlet to communicating with them in a professional way.

 SciDevNet have compiled a practical guide taking advice from six different science editors with extensive experience in commissioning pieces for a number of different outlets including Science, BBC Focus Magazine, New Scientist, the Mail and Guardian and SciDev.Net.  

 This guide (link here) will help increase the chances of getting your story accepted by an editor.



Monash study shows Girls on the Go! Program improves self-esteem

Professor Helen Truby
A world-first study at Monash has shown a group-based targeted intervention improves self-esteem in teenage girls.

Low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction in girls is related to disordered eating, obesity, depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses.

Published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, the collaborative Monash University and Monash Health study is the first randomised trial to demonstrate that a group-based intervention improves protective health factors among girls at risk of developing negative mental, physical, and social health outcomes.

Professor Helen Truby, Head of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Monash University and Laura Tirlea from Monash Health led the study evaluating an intervention known as ‘Girls on the Go!’ (GoG), a ten week program designed to improve self-esteem, body image and confidence.

“This is the first large trial of a gender-specific community-based program that has shown to effectively increase self-esteem,” said Professor Truby.

“GoG is a novel intervention targeting girls with a range of issues with eating such as overweight or underweight and in both primary and secondary schools.”

Delivered by health professionals outside the school environment from a community health venue to preadolescent and adolescent girls, the GoG program uses an empowerment model that involves interactive and experiential learning approaches.

“Using a stepped-wedge randomised controlled trial, we tested the effectiveness of the GoG program on the outcomes of self-esteem, impairment induced by eating disorders, body satisfaction, self-efficacy, and dieting behaviours,” said co-author Professor Haines, Director, Allied Health Research Unit at Monash Health and Monash University.
“The GoG intervention had a positive impact on participants’ self-esteem, self-efficacy (including mental and physical health), and dieting behaviours.”

The GoG intervention was provided to schools in the culturally diverse City of Greater Dandenong, an area of high social disadvantage.

In small group sessions, health professionals motivated and supported GoG participants to change their attitudes and behaviours, and embrace change for better health outcomes.

“Over the ten week period, interactive activities and discussions took place around goal setting, body image, self-esteem, personal safety and assertiveness, health eating and healthy minds, involvement in physical activities that are fun, trust, confidence, and making community connections,” said Ms Tirlea.

“Our findings are important, particularly given our study sample included a high proportion of girls from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and was set in a community with lower socioeconomic status.”

“These groups can be difficult to recruit into research programs and are often underrepresented in research of this nature.

“Previous meta-analyses have found that similar health promotion interventions have had only a small, short-term effect whereas the gains in GoG participants were retained after six months and up to nine months of follow up.”

Significantly, this evaluation provides an evidence base for the effectiveness of the GoG program at a time when preventive approaches are timely and desperately needed.

“Focussing on self-esteem as a general protective factor is a safe approach and leads to overall health and well-being in at-risk preadolescent and adolescent girls,” added Ms Tirlea.


‘Girls on the Go!’ research is funded by the Butterfly Foundation, a philanthropic trust committed to the prevention of eating disorders.

Group based therapy boosts self-esteem among teenage girls

Prof Helen Truby
Read Leader story here.

Health Hack: a data hack for medical research problems

Health Hack is a FREE weekend dedicated to solving problems that medical researchers face, whether you have a challenge yourself or want to donate your skills to the hack.

Teams work on problems that have been submitted by Problem Owners - typically medical researchers, medical organisations, hospitals or government— but they could come from anyone who has a health-related problem they want to solve. The HealthHack kicks off on Friday 23rd October at 6pm and continues all day and night on Saturday 24th concluding in the evening on Sunday 25th. Festivities wrap up on the Sunday at 4pm with judging and prizes. 

Where:  Thoughworks, 23/303 Collins Street, Melbourne

See the Health Hack website for details: http://healthhack.com.au/