Recent CCS publications: 9-15 Sep 2017

Professor David Tarlinton, HOD Immunology and Pathology
has two articles in this week's publications roundup. Recently
published video of David describing the department's research

Recent publications for Central Clinical School affiliated authors in the following departments. Note, browse down this entry for details. Linked headings for each section are to the departments' home pages.

• Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD)
• Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine (AIRMed)
• Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine
• Diabetes
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology and Pathology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medicine
• Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc) 
• National Trauma Research Institute
• Surgery

Rapid measurement of platelet function moves closer to fruition

2017 Nandurkar group, three of whom are authors on the article
describing their device for measuring platelet function.

by Anne Crawford

Monash and RMIT scientists have edged closer to refining a device that will rapidly measure platelet function in the blood of people with von Willebrand's disease (vWD), the most common inherited bleeding disorder in Western populations. The device will also act as a high-throughput screening tool for other blood platelet disorders and new drug discovery.

Enzyme finding is good news for vegetarians with bowel disorder

Legumes, soy milk and nuts may be back on the menu for those
suffering from IBS, thanks to Monash University research.

by Anne Crawford

 A digestive enzyme supplement may hold the key to improving the symptoms suffered by patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) when they eat a carbohydrate commonly found in legumes, soy milk and nuts, according to Monash University research.

Researchers in the Central Clinical School’s Department of Gastroenterology have found that oral α-galactosidase co-ingested with foods high in galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) helps reduce symptoms. IBS is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder affecting one in seven Australian adults, characterised by chronic and relapsing symptoms including lower abdominal pain and discomfort, bloating, wind, distension and altered bowel habits.

Potential breakthrough in treating post-traumatic epilepsy in children

Dr Bridgette Semple researches children's epilepsy

Researchers have discovered that an anti-inflammatory compound may help improve cognitive function and reduce vulnerability to epileptic seizures in children who have suffered a brain injury. They have described a new animal model of epilepsy that develops after brain injury, particularly in young brains, that will hopefully enable doctors to better target treatment.

Published in The Journal of Neuroscience, the study was led by Dr Bridgette Semple from the University of Melbourne & Department of Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and Melbourne Brain Centre.  Bridgette will be moving to the Central Clinical School as part of the new Department of Neurosciences headed by Professor Terry O'Brien in October 2017.

Professor Terry O’Brien receives the Ambassador for Epilepsy award

Professor Terry O'Brien presenting at the
2017 Translational Research Symposium

Congratulations to Professor Terry O’Brien, who has been awarded the Ambassador for Epilepsy Award, for the Australian chapter, from the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE)! The award recognises international contributions to activities advancing the cause of epilepsy.

Professor O’Brien was presented the award on September 2, at a ceremony held in Barcelona.

CCS PhD student profile: Mahtab Parvaresh

Mahtab Parvaresh at the 2017 CCS 3MT heats.

 by Matt Jane                                                             
Mahtab Parvaresh is a PhD student in the Natural Killer (NK) Cell Biology Laboratory in the Department of Immunology. She is supervised by Dr Dan Andrews. Mahtab completed a Bachelor of Biotechnology at RMIT and then went on to complete her Honours at Monash University.

Congratulations to our new graduates!

Mr Gao Qian

Dr Mark Ward

Dr David McIlroy

Congratulations to our recent graduates, Dr Mark Ward, Dr David McIlroy and Mr Gao Qian! Good luck in all your future endeavours!