Photo of the week: Chief Scientist Alan Finkel visit to CCS Diabetes lab

Australia's Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel recently toured the Monash CCS diabetes laboratory. Pictured L-R: Prof Jenny Wilkinson-Berka, Dr Alan Finkel, Prof Paul Zimmet, Prof Mark Cooper (Head of the Department of Diabetes) and Prof Stephen Jane (Head of Central Clinical School (CCS)).

If you'd like to find out more about diabetes research and treatment for its complications, CCS is hosting a public lecture next week (Thursday 19 October 2017). All welcome! RSVP here

What's on at CCS 16-20 Oct 2017

Prof Mark Cooper is giving CCS's annual public
lecture on Thursday 19 Oct. All welcome! RSVP

Central Clinical School (CCS) has regular seminar series and postgraduate presentations. Event notices are posted on the CCS Events calendar.

CCS staff and students can see details of both public and local events (including professional development courses, trade fairs and Graduate Research Student calendars) and deadlines, at the CCS intranet's Announcements page

See CCS seminar index: www.med.monash.edu.au/cecs/events/seminars.html

What's on at CCS 16-20 October 2017

Mon	16/10/2017	►	12:30	Alfred Psychiatry Grand Round: A/Prof Simon Stafrace
Tue	17/10/2017	►	10:00	Department of Diabetes Student Journal Club
		►	12:00	ACBD seminar: Dr Josh Casan
Thur	19/10/2017	►	12:00	The Alfred Grand Round: David Ruschena
		►	18:30	CCS public lecture: Changing the way we manage diabetes and its complications - Prof Mark Cooper

Recent CCS publications: 23 Sep - 13 Oct 2017

David Tarlinton with his group. He and Simona Infantino are last
& first authors respectively on a Nature Communications article on
how an enzyme called PRMT1 keeps B cells going once activated.
See video of David explaining the research

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

• Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD)
• Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine
• Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE)
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology and Pathology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medicine
• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC)
• Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc) 
• Surgery 

Revealed: the enzyme behind immune cell activity

Prof David Tarlinton and some of his
group. L-R: Dr Simona Infantino, Mr
Nik Kocovski (PhD student) and Mr
Dean Low (PhD student)

by Anne Crawford

Monash University researchers have revealed the role played by an enzyme that is pivotal to the process of clearing infection in the body. Moreover, they suggest that the enzyme may be a potential target for drug development to block the types of inappropriate or excessive cell behaviour that occur in cancer and autoimmunity.

The production of antibodies – proteins secreted into our blood that neutralise invaders such as bacteria and viruses – is one of the immune system’s most important ways of protecting us from infections.

But the immune cells that ultimately make or secrete the antibody – a type of white blood cell called B-cells or B-lymphocytes – need to change significantly to do this. They have to be activated, proliferate and change their function, all of which requires significant remodeling of the machinery of the cell.

Potential new target for diabetic kidney disease

On the cover: Immunofluorescence staining of Nox5 (red) and SM22-α (green) on human kidney biopsy obtained from an individual with diabetes showing colocalization of Nox5 (yellow) in the vascular smooth muscle cells including glomerular mesangial cells (magnification ×20). Image courtesy of Jay C. Jha, whose article, “NADPH Oxidase Nox5 Accelerates Renal Injury in Diabetic Nephropathy,” appears in this issue of Diabetes (p. 2691).

by Anne Crawford

Researchers from Monash University’s new Department of Diabetes have shed light on a protein that may play an important role in promoting diabetic kidney disease.

In a study published in the journal ‘Diabetes’ this month, Professor Karin Jandeleit-Dahm and her team found that Nox5, a pro-oxidant enzyme, was highly upregulated in human kidneys affected by diabetes.
The finding builds on work by the researchers into the NOX family (NADPH oxidases) and their role in diabetic complications, which has led to a national clinical trial of a drug to potentially treat type 1 diabetes.

The Nox inhibitor, a compound produced by the biopharmaceutical company Genkyotex Inc, Switzerland, acts mainly on the Nox1 and Nox4 isoforms of NADPH-oxidase.

Immune cells discovered in the eye may help premature babies

Wilkinson-Berka group. L-R: Mr Jack Jerome,  Ms Osanna Wong, Mr
Saeed Alrashdi, Dr Devy Deliyanti, Professor Jenny Wilkinson-Berka.
Jack, Devy and Jenny are authors on the paper.

by Anne Crawford

Ground-breaking research by Monash University scientists has demonstrated the previously unknown existence of a disease-fighting immune cell in the eye and points to potential novel ways of treating eye disorders in premature babies and diabetic adults.

The scientists, led by Professor Jennifer Wilkinson-Berka in the Central Clinical School’s new Department of Diabetes, were investigating improved ways of treating retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which occurs in very small, prematurely born babies.

Event reminder: Changing the way we treat diabetes and its complications, CCS Public Lecture

Professor Cooper in the new Department of Diabetes

The CCS Public Lecture on diabetes and its complications, presented by Professor Mark Cooper AO, is coming up shortly on Thursday October 19.

Surgical Research Forum 2 November 2017

L-R: Geraldine Ooi (PhD student), Professor Wendy Brown (HOD Surgery), Mr Paul Burton (Senior Research Fellow)  and Ms Tiffany Tie (2017 BMedSc(Hons) student) Surgical Research Forum 2 November 2017 Date: Thursday 2 November 2017 Time: 1.30 pm – 5.30 pm Venue: AMREP Lecture Theatre, AMREP Education Centre, Alfred Health Purpose: To showcase the research activities of the Alfred Hospital Surgical Departments

D. S. Rosengarten Surgical Trainee Research Prize 2017

D.S. Rosengarten Surgical Trainee Research Prize 2016
Mrs Candice Rosengarten & the 2016 winner Enis Kocak

The annual D. S. Rosengarten Surgical Trainee Research Prize competition is now open for applications. It is being held on Saturday 2 December 2017 at 8am in the AMREP Seminar Room, AMREP Education Centre, The Alfred. Alfred Hospital surgical trainees encouraged to participate, and all are welcome to attend. See more:

• 2016 photo gallery: LINK
• More about the prize: LINK

Congratulations to A/Prof Kate Hoy on Telstra win!

Associate Professor Kate Hoy has won a Telstra award

Congratulations to neuropsychologist and NHMRC Fellow, Associate Professor Kate Hoy, who has won in the Public Sector and Academia category at the 2017 Telstra Victorian Business Women’s Awards!

Kate was the only Monash finalist in the Victorian arm of this year’s awards, and was one of four finalists in her category. She is Deputy Director of Therapeutic Brain Stimulation and heads the Cognitive Therapeutics Research Program at Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research centre.

See full story in Monash's 'Insider'.

Congratulations to Eric Chow for Early Career Researcher Fellows Publication Prize

Dr Eric Chow

Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and ECR Fellows from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences have been honoured with the Faculty’s annual ECR Publication Prizes.

Congratulations to Dr Eric Chow, Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic, Central Clinical School, who has won the Early Career Researcher Fellows Publication Prize for Non-Laboratory Based Research, for his article, "Quadrivalent vaccine-targeted human papillomavirus genotypes in human heterosexual men after the Australian female human papillomavirus vaccination program: a retrospective observational study" Lancet Infect Dis. 2017 Jan;17(1):68-77. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(16)30116-5. Epub 2016 Jun 6.

Monash Bioinformatics Platform at CCS

The Monash Bioinformatics Platform (MBP) have a team member based within the Central Clinical School, Dr Nick Wong. The MBP is a multi-disciplinary team that exists to facilitate researchers in all things bioinformatics.

Mental Health Week launch event - Mental health in the workplace

The Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc) is hosting a stand for the Mental Health Week Launch Event on Monday 9 October from 3.00-7.30pm. The event opens on Monday 9 October at 3 pm at the Deakin Edge theatre, Federation Square. Please drop by and say hello to the MAPrc team!

Would you like to donate blood for cardiovascular research?

Investigation of new anti-clotting approaches to prevent heart attack and stroke

At the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, we are studying the processes involved in the formation of blood clots.  

 

While blood clots normally form to prevent excessive bleeding following an injury, the same processes are involved in the formation of harmful clots that may block blood vessels, causing heart attacks or strokes.  A better understanding of how clots form will not only increase our knowledge of blood clot formation in healthy individuals and individuals with cardiovascular disease, but may lead to new preventative and therapeutic drugs for heart attacks and strokes.

 

We need human blood on a daily basis to ensure such vital research continues. Can you help? 

Media Mention: Five minutes with ... Professor Paul Zimmet

Medical Observer have published a feature interview with Professor Paul Zimmet, which includes a fine example of lateral thinking for figuring out a diagnosis. See interview at:
www.medicalobserver.com.au/medical-news/diabetes/five-minutes-with-professor-paul-zimmet
4 October 2017

Congratulations to "Top Gun" Gavin Horrigan

Gavin Horrigan shows off his winner's sash

When it comes to shooting, Gavin Horrigan doesn't subscribe to 'near enough is good enough' , or 'hit and miss' for that matter.

Gavin competed very successfully at the Ararat Clay Target Club’s most recent shoot on Saturday 7 October.