(Formerly known as Central Clinical School)
Today, Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino announced that all of Victoria will be subject to a “circuit-breaker” lockdown for seven days as a result of the most recent COVID-19 outbreak. The outbreak currently contains 26 known cases, with health authorities expecting more to roll in over the next few days.
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| This week we have a feature story on Dr Sonika Tyagi's research on multimodal analysis of potential targets for SARS-CoV-2 |
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| Dr Sonika Tyagi, Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Department of Infectious Diseases |
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| Around 80 attended the CCS 3MT heat - congratulations to all involved - the speakers, the MC, the judges, and Sharmila Ramesh! |
The HYPER2 study, published in Lancet Infectious Diseases, and led by Associate Professor Eric Chow, found there was a significant reduction in all four vaccine-preventable genotypes in gay/bisexual men aged 16-20 years following the introduction of the vaccine for boys in 2013.
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| A/Prof Jason Ong has received a Gilead 'Getting to Zero' grant for improving access to HIV PrEP for newly arrived overseas born men who have sex with men (MSM). |
The Mental Health Australia General Clinical Trial Network (MAGNET) will start as a five-year project that will be funded through the MRFF’s Million Minds Mission, as recently announced in the Federal Budget.
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| A brief mindfulness-based intervention delivered to a general medical team improves staff attention at a multi- disciplinary team meeting and team functioning is the conclusion of a study first authored by Matthew Kang, Psychiatry registrar at Alfred Health. |
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| James Lind conducted the first known clinical trial in 1747, on a scourge of the British navy, scurvy. Image: RCPE Heritage |
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Ms Céline Pattaroni has been awarded a Carty Signature grant of $300,000 for asthma research. |
With up to 1 in 9 Australians affected and an incidence on the rise, there is a clear need to understand the mechanisms driving asthma.
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| A/Prof Eric Chow checks longitudinal data. Image: Alfred Health |
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| A rainbow of solidarity: the Monash University rainbow lanyard shows support for LGBTQ(IA)+. |
See also Part 2: The lived experience of LGBTQ(IA)+ - Fredrik Appelgren's story
by Jessica Borger, Alex Dimitropoulos and Zhoujie Ding*
In 2004, 17 May was established as the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT). Since then, commemorations have taken place in more than 132 countries globally.
However, there is still a lack of full awareness of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and more (LGBTQ(IA)+) rights, or, more broadly, the acceptance of diversities, in our society.
See also Part 1: How CCS can support LGBTQ(IA)+ initiatives
by Jessica Borger, Alex Dimitropoulos, Zhouije Ding*
Here we share a real-life story from the LGBTQ(IA)+ community supporting why we need to ensure inclusivity and support diversity in the workplace. We would like to thank Fredrik Appelgren for sharing his story and opinion with us.
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| L-R: MRFF awardees David Kaye, Andrew Wei, Heather Cleland, Orla Morrissey and Joe Doyle |
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| 2nd year PhD students Jennaya Christensen (left) and Sabrina Salberg (right) |
Chronic pain is a costly public health issue that is highly prevalent and causes a great burden to people who are affected, their families, their workplaces and the health system.
New research from the Monash Trauma Group at the Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University shows that there is a difference both in gender and type of adverse childhood experience in the expression of specific biomarkers linked to chronic pain.
Additionally, early life stress such as maternal separation, and a high-fat, high-sugar diet lead to higher pain sensitivity, increased anxiety-like behaviour and changes in the neurobiology (structural and functional level) of the brain.
Chronic pain often occurs during childhood, with 1 in 5 children or adolescents having reported it and it being more prevalent in females than males.
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Dr Tim Gottschalk and Associate Professor Margaret Hibbs are first and last authors on a paper investigating drivers of lupus. |
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| L-R: Drs Waheed Khan & Matt Snelson |
Dr Waheed Khan's study is titled, "Role of WZH2 in atherosusceptible vascular endothelium in diabetes associated atherosclerosis".
Dr Snelson's study is titled, "Using dietary therapy to slow the progression of diabetic kidney disease".
Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson said, “Another interesting study is Dr Matthew Snelson’s research into the effectiveness of resistant starch, found in foods such whole grains and legumes, in slowing the progression of diabetes-related kidney disease.”
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| Habtamu Beyene |
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| 2021 Monif group. Back row (L - R): Dr Paul Sanfilippo, Dr Naril Seery, Ms Katrina (Liyen) Kan, Dr Robb Wesselingh, Mr William O'Brien, Ms Tiffany Rushen. Front row (L - R): Dr Mastura Monif (Group leader), Dr Tracie Tan, Ms Sher Ting Chim, Ms Sarah Griffith, Ms Andrea Moore. Photo by Loretta Piccenna |
The steroid drug, dexamethasone, is often given by anaesthetists during surgery. However, because of its effects on the immune system there has been growing concern that it may increase the risk of wound infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as patients with diabetes.
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| A citizen jury generates helpful ideas for improving care and rehabilitation for people with acquired brain injury. |
The idea of a jury – 12 impartial men and women hearing evidence, just like in a courtroom – isn’t absolutely new to medical research, but it is unusual.
The principle is to get ordinary people with no previous involvement or biases in an area of healthcare to get a crash-course in it, and report back.
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| This year's PhD students entering in the CCS 3MT heat being held 27 May: See CCS 3MT web page or read further down. L-R from top: Pia Campagna, Erskine Chu, Muhammad Javaid, Runxuan Lin, Jacques Ma, Rachna Ram, Jennifer Reilly, Akshita Rana, Nicola Sergienko, Marissa Sgro, Georgia Symons |
