31 Mar 2014

Photo of the week

Prof Kit Fairley talking with the team
The Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) joined Central Clinical School in late 2013. The Centre is headed by Professor Christopher Fairley. The Centre's main activity is clinical, but there is a research component. Featured research from 2012 was on human papillomavirus (HPV) and the increasing frequency of associated mouth or throat cancer. See more about the centre at www.mshc.org.au.
See a selection of CCS images using Pinterest. Please see and/or follow at http://pinterest.com/CCSMonash/central-clinical-school-monash-university/.

Events calendar

What's on for the week

Mon Mar 3 12:30 PM Psychiatry Professional Grand Round
Tue Apr 1 1:00 PM PhD Confirmation of Candidature seminar - Ms Caroline Tuck

1:00 PM Mid-year BMedSc(Hons) Oral presentation #2.  Refer to Page 2 and 3 of the unit guide

3:00 PM Labtracks Training
Wed Apr 2 12:30 PM PhD Mid-candidature review - Dr Fabien Vincent
Fri Apr 4 12:30 PM MIDS seminar: Dr Zhiwei Chen

Forthcoming events

Mon Apr 7 9:00 AM 8th Annual AMREP World Health Day Forum
Tue Apr 8 12:00 PM Haemostasis/Thrombosis Clinical Cases and Journal Club
12:00 PM Issues in Research Translation Science - Prof Jeremy Grimshaw
3:30 PM PhD Mid-candidature review seminar - Miss Elyse Di Marco
Wed Apr 9, 12:00 PM Clinical Pathology Review (CPR)
12:30 PM PhD Confirmation of Candidature seminar: Mr Timothy Gottschalk

AMREP Early Career Researcher News - 12th edition now published.

AMREP EMCR newsletter
The EMCR Committee is pleased to launch the 12th edition of the AMREP EMCR newsletter! Everyone has heard of the The Australian Academy of Science but did you know AAS has an extensive EMCR support network? Find out more about the AAS EMCR Forum and what it's all about! You’ll also find reports on the AMREP ECR Retreat, and information about upcoming professional development seminars and the AMREP EMCR Conference. As usual, the ECR Spotlight is packed full of recent publications, awards and achievements by our AMREP peers. If all that science gets too much for you, flip to the photo pages to see the crazy rockstar costumes sported at the AMREP ECR Retreat networking night! (See more photos). More about EMCR on their web pages.

Research highlights

Discovering the genetic origin of craniofacial defects 

Dr Seb Dworkin on his scientific ‘fishing
expedition’ with zebrafish embryos,
teasing out the genetic origin of cranio-
facial defects
One in 25 children is born with some form of prenatal defect. Three quarters of those affected have a craniofacial defect, caused by poor bone formation in the face and skull. That is, 0.1-0.3% of all babies born present with a facial defect, which can vary from almost undetectable to such problems as a cleft palate or serious disfigurement. Surgery not being an option for all, the alternative is to prevent the defect from occurring in the first place. The problem stems from an error in the genetic instructions for the facial formation. But which genes? Which sequences? What affects the genes? Without knowing exactly which genes are involved in the process of embryo formation, it will not be possible to develop preventive gene therapies.

Media Mentions

27/03/2014, 26/03/2014 Professor Jennifer Wilkinson-Berka, Department of Immunology, has contributed to research that reveals the enzyme, NOX1, to be an important target in preventing cardiovascular and eye disease in diabetes.
Australian Life Scientist
http://lifescientist.com.au/content/health-medical/article/trialling-a-new-enzyme-inhibitor-1131148015

New: CCS research study database for participant recruitment

Image: Debbra Sweet
We have now created an index page of research studies at Central Clinical School which are seeking participants. Studies investigate a wide range of diseases, including allergies, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and gluten intolerance, schizophrenia and depression. The studies may seek both well and unwell participants. If you have a study you wish to advertise to recruit participants, you can login (from ribbon along the top) and create your entry at the following link: Research study index

Participants sought for new research studies in gluten, diabetes, depression, schizophrenia

Participants sought: An adjunctive pro-cognitive treatment in schizophrenia
This study by Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc) is being conducted in order to determine if two different doses of EVP-6124 improve mental function and are safe in people who have schizophrenia and are taking another medication for their illness. Contact: Mr Daniel Grice ph (03) 9076 6581 Email participate.maprc@monash.edu Website link: http://www.maprc.org.au/psychopharmacology.