Gut microbe signatures may indicate adverse reaction to cancer treatments

A collaborative study involving Monash University has revealed specific gut microbiota signatures that may signal adverse body responses to cancer immunotherapy treatments.

Researchers studied a group of patients who were being treated for advanced melanoma with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) - the main immunotherapy drugs currently used to treat cancer - to identify biomarkers of response and toxicity.

The study’s first author, Dr Miles Andrews from the Monash Central Clinical School, said that higher levels of the bacterium Bacteroides intestinalis in the gut were associated with a greater likelihood of developing moderate to severe treatment-related side effects.

This Diversity & Inclusion Week, we want to find out how we can help you

Please complete the CCS GEDI diversity survey

by Drs Lenka Vodstrcil, Catherine Carmichael and Loretta Piccenna

The Central Clinical School’s Gender Equity Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) committee aims to support and advocate for all its staff and students and regularly provides guidance or recommendations to the CCS Executive.

This Diversity & Inclusion week we would like to learn more about you and your needs. See more below or take the survey now.

Congratulations to CCS NHMRC Investigator Grant recipients

L-R: Professor Paul Myles, Dr Shalini Arunogiri, Dr Andrew Neal, Dr Margaret Lam, Professor Mark Fitzgerald

Congratulations to our five successful National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grant recipients! Commiserations to our many researchers whose grants were ranked highly, but nonetheless missed out. See detail below of CCS recipients. 

 

Overall, Monash University was awarded over $43 million to support 30+ researchers, and our Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences won 26 Investigator grant fellowships worth $37.4M. See Faculty and Monash lists here. See detail of NHMRC funding round outcomes released 14 September.

World's largest study of frontline healthcare workers during 2020’s second wave report significant increase in workload

The largest study of the impact of COVID on workplace disruption to front line health care workers has revealed that almost half reported that they had altered paid or unpaid hours, with over one in six being redeployed and one in four reporting changes in work roles. Only 1 percent reported confidence in these new positions. That said, most felt supported by their workplace and this assisted in them having half the risk for severe anxiety, depression, burnout and PTSD than those who did not feel supported by their workplace, a finding the authors argue has relevance to the current crisis.

Read the story here.

Developing improved non-invasive imaging for assessing heart damage

Ex vivo scans of hearts from fibrotic (left) and control mice which
were administered a unique fluorescent peptide that targets collagen
type I. A striking enhancement of the damaged heart ventricles
is observed. Image: Figure 5 in study

A Monash University team has led the development of novel imaging tracers that could advance non-invasive assessment of heart damage. 

Cardiac fibrosis is a scarring process causing excess deposition of collagen in the heart, leading to distortion of its architecture and function. It is a significant disease feature in many cardiac conditions, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation (AF) and myocardial infarction (MI).

8-14 September 2021 Central Clinical School recent publications

20% to 30% of patients awaiting cardiac surgery are anemic.
A study has been designed to ascertain the benefits and risks of
 IV iron administration in anemic patients awaiting cardiac surgery.

Recent publications featuring research as notified by PubMed during 8-14 Sept 2021 from Central Clinical School affiliated researchers in the following departments. The below is not a comprehensive list. The most recent validated publications for the school and departments can be seen on their publications pages, linked to from the headings below. Otherwise, read down the entry for recent notifications.

Giving prominence to the patient perspective: Launch of the CARE webinar series

Register for the inaugural CARE seminar on 7 October featuring
Dr Durga Mithraprabhu, Dr Nick Bingham, Prof Andrew Spencer
(pictured L-R here), Dr Tiffany Khong and a patient advocate,
Mr Henry Blatman from the Spencer group.

by Drs Catherine Carmichael and Karen Alt

There is an increasing awareness within the health and medical research community that including the patient perspective in research design and implementation greatly enhances the significance, relevance and quality of research outcomes.  Patients, family members and carers (collectively termed “consumers”) bring their valuable lived experience to research teams and contribute to a shared goal of turning new discoveries into better patient outcomes.