29 Oct Public lecture on epilepsy by Prof Terry O'Brien

Professor Terry O'Brien in The Alfred's Video EEG monitoring
 (VEM) suite

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: How translational research is finding answers 

You are invited to attend the annual CCS public lecture. In 2020, the lecture will be presented by Professor Terry O'Brien, Head of Central Clinical School, on epilepsy. Register here

Thunderstorm asthma season is rolling in

Monash clinical immunologists at Eastern Health and Alfred Health
warn of potential thunderstorm asthma risks. Image: Shutterstock

 

 

It's thunderstorm asthma season again, and  Monash researchers have just published a review on epidemic thunderstorm asthma (ETSA). 

Professor Frank Thien is first author and Professor Robyn O'Hehir is the senior author on the review. They write, "Epidemic thunderstorm asthma (ETSA) is due to a complex interaction of environmental and individual susceptibility factors, with outbreaks reported globally over the last four decades. Australia has been particularly susceptible with nearly half of episodes reported internationally, culminating in the catastrophic Melbourne 2016 event."

Applying the gendered lens to a post-COVID academia: an Australian perspective

Figure 1 reproduced from the British Society for Immunology article. Gendered trends in application and funding rates for two major Australian NHMRC schemes, Ideas and Investigator grants, for 2020. A) The number of applications from females is consistently lower for both schemes; B) the proportion of applications from females at each stage for the Investigator grants drops substantially from mid-career onwards; and C) the proportion of applications deemed fundable after removal of the structural priority (SP) scheme is markedly lower for female as compared with male applicants in both schemes. (See 'Outcomes of funding rounds')

At this moment, the value of immunology research couldn’t be more visible as our colleagues work tirelessly to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Nevertheless, the global academic job market is on the verge of collapse due to the pandemic and we risk reversing the significant gains made towards gender equity in the workplace. Here, Dr Jessica Borger, Dr Kate Lawlor and Dr Kylie Quinn consider how to dissipate the gendered impacts of COVID-19 with a coordinated effort across universities, funding bodies and professional societies. 

Gemma Sharp is a Eureka finalist for promoting understanding of science

Dr Gemma Sharp explains her science communication
strategies. See video. Follow @gemmasharp11

Dr Gemma Sharp from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, has been nominated as a finalist in the 2020 prestigious Australian Museum Eureka Prizes in recognition of her effective science communication.

22-28 Sept 2020 Central Clinical School publications

Meditators' brains show improved

attentional function: Study

Recent publications featuring research as notified by PubMed during 22-28 Sep 2020 from Central Clinical School affiliated researchers in the following departments. The below is not a comprehensive list:

• Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine
  
• Australian Centre for Blood Diseases
• Gastroenterology
• MSHC
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Surgery