Reducing the high rate of chronic kidney disease in First Nations communities

Why are First Nations people more vulnerable to developing CKD?
An MRFF funded study is finding out. Image: Shutterstock

Indigenous-led research is using advanced multi-omics technology to reduce the high rate of chronic kidney disease in First Nations communities.

In 2020 a team of Monash, Baker and SAHMRI researchers received MRFF funding of $2M to investigate chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Indigenous populations for their project entitled "Reducing the burden of chronic kidney disease in the Indigenous population - the PROPHECY CKD study" to investigate why First Nations Peoples have one of the highest rates of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the world. 

Two years on, they know more as they follow up on close to 1500 First Nations donors of blood samples.

See faculty story.

Participants sought for a survey on human monkeypox

What do people know and think about monkeypox?

We would love to hear from you (check eligibility below first!) We are running a survey to find out what people know and believe about human monkeypox. We also invite you to share with eligible people.

Monash University and Melbourne Sexual Health Centre are running an online anonymous survey to understand the current knowledge of monkeypox and the willingness to get vaccinated.

You are eligible if you:

• identify yourself as a man or trans woman who has sex with men; AND
• are currently living in Victoria, Australia; AND
• are 18 years old or above.

Fixing Australia’s home-based aged care system

Lens article featuring Professor Velandai Srikanth, Peninsula Clinical School, Director, National Centre for Healthy Ageing

We know the system of home-based aged care isn’t working well – it lacks integration, is mostly labour-driven and susceptible to workforce challenges, and uses limited technology that could benefit older people and the staff working to help them.

See full article on the Lens site.

B cell boost for hay fever therapy

L-R: Authors Dr Craig McKenzie, Prof Robyn O'Hehir and
Prof Menno van Zelm. See paper for full list of authors.

Grass pollen allergy is the leading cause of seasonal asthma and hay fever globally with up to 30 per cent of the world’s population allergic to grass pollen allergens.

In a discovery that may help scientists alleviate this global burden, Monash researchers have found that sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with a small tablet containing grass pollens, changed patient’s immune memory cells in unexpected ways.

See full faculty story.

Congratulations to MRFF grant awardees Michele Callisaya and Patrick Kwan

Congratulations to Central Clinical School's Associate Professor Michele Callisaya and Professor Patrick Kwan on their MRFF grants! See the missions and our projects below.

Participants sought: How does epilepsy affect control of blood pressure?

How does Vagal Nerve Stimulation reduce epileptic seizures?

The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute is seeking participants for a research study to compare how epilepsy affects the control of blood pressure. We want to find out how Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS), an effective treatment for drug- resistant epilepsy, works to reduce seizures and to reduce the elevated cardiovascular risk associated with epilepsy.

Who can participate? 

Magnetic Particle Imaging wins award

Jurie Tashkandi won best oral presentation award in Prato

Congratulations to Ms Jurie Tashkandi, PhD student supervised by Dr Karen Alt in the NanoTheranostics lab, who won the best oral presentation award at the international 'Antibody Technology and Therapeutics' Conference in Prato, Italy in September 2022.

The title of her presentation was "Magnetic Particle Imaging using Trastuzumab Targeted Nanoparticles for Cancer Imaging".