Figuring out why diabetes affects the kidneys

L-R: Professors Karin Jandeleit-Dahm,
Mark Cooper and Dr Jakob Oestergaard

Dr Jakob Oestergaard is a Danish physician, who is currently visiting Central Clinical School's Department of Diabetes for one year from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark to pursue his interest in diabetes research and clinical treatment.

In particular, he’s interested in the mechanisms which lead to diabetic nephropathy and other complications from diabetes. This represents a major health issue, as type 2 diabetes is on the increase, now affecting almost 10% of the world’s population. Up to 40% of these patients will develop diabetic kidney disease.

Improving the lives of people with Primary Immune Deficiency

Dr Emily Edwards

Dr Emily Edwards is committed to helping people, in particular those living with a disorder called 'Primary Immune Deficiency', or PID. Her research, in Monash University's Department of Immunology and Pathology, is on the impact of genetic mutations on B cell differentiation and function in patients with primary immunodeficiencies.

She has recently been elected Vice-President of Australia Patient Immunodeficiency Patient Support (AusPIPS) Inc., a not-for-profit registered charity, formed by a collective of people who either suffer from or care for others with PID, to provide advocacy, medical advice and support for PID patients on a voluntary basis.

Monash researchers in consortium granted $1million for lung disease research

A/Prof Christoph Hagemeyer and 

Dr Karen Alt

by Anne Crawford

Associate Professor Christoph Hagemeyer and Dr Karen Alt from the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD) together with other researchers from Monash University, the University of Melbourne, the Alfred Hospital and Austin Health have been awarded $1 million* to conduct translational research into idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

IPF causes scar tissue (fibrosis) to build up in the lungs, progressively diminishing lung function and the transportation of oxygen into the bloodstream. The heterogeneous disease is progressive, fatal and incurable.

New stroke exercise technology popular with remote patients

Associate Professor Michele Callisaya

by Anne Crawford

A new technology system helping stroke patients perform vital rehabilitation exercises remotely, developed by a Monash researcher, has proved not only feasible but successful. Stroke survivors participating in the feasibility study performed more exercises than they were asked – a mean 125% of prescribed sessions – and rated the system highly.

The study, led by physiotherapist/researcher Associate Professor Michele Callisaya from the Peninsula Clinical School, was conducted in collaboration with her PhD student Dawn Simpson from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, and other institutions. It was published in the journal Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation late last year.

Waist circumference rather than BMI best indicator for obesity risk in surgery

Waist circumference rather than BMI is the
best indicator for obesity risk in surgery.
The high risk 'apple belly' profile is best
picked up by measuring the waist.

by Anne Crawford

BMI (body mass index), a widely used measure of “healthy” weight and of obesity, has been the subject of controversy for some years, criticised as a flawed concept that doesn’t distinguish between weight from body fat and weight from muscle or bone, among other matters.

The concept was put to the test – and found inferior – as part of a major clinical study of almost 3000 people led by Central Clinical School’s Professor Paul Myles. Professor Myles is the Director of the Department of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The Alfred and Monash University.

28 Jan - 3 Feb 2020 Central Clinical School recent publications

Preparation for bariatric surgery by psychoeducation on

cognitive restraint for eating improves outcomes. Study

Recent publications as notified by PubMed from Central Clinical School affiliated researchers in the following departments. This is not a comprehensive list:

• APOM (Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine)
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology and Pathology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medicine - Alfred
• Neuroscience
• Surgery

Professor Karin Jandeleit-Dahm acknowledged by Leibniz Institute

Professor Karin Jandeleit-Dahm with her
Leibniz award

Professor Karin Jandeleit-Dahm was awarded the Leibniz chair at the German Diabetes Centre, University of Dusseldorf in December last year, in recognition of her contribution to the Leibniz Centre at the German Diabetes Institute (DDZ), Dusseldorf). See more about Karin's research here.

A delegation from the Leibniz Institutes is visiting Australia, and will be visiting Monash University next week. They will also visit Central Clinical School's Department of Diabetes.

BMedSc(Hons) student Jessica Garzarella wins Colin Ingram Travel Award

2020 Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours)

student Jessica Garzarella with her Monash

supervisor, Professor Karin Jandeleit-Dahm

A brand-new Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) student at Central Clinical School's Department of Diabetes, Ms Jessica Garzarella, is off to a flying start with her win of a Colin Ingram travel award.

Jessica said, "My BMedSc(Hons) project focuses on the NOX5 enzyme and explores its potential role in pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction in diabetes.

Congratulations to Wing Yu Man, Ho Hin Yau and James Farag on their graduate research degrees!

Ms Wing Yu Man

Congratulations to our recently completed graduate research students, Ms Wing Yu Man, Mr Ho Hin Yau and Mr James Farag, on the award of their degrees on 21 January 2020.

Wing Yu Man was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree for her thesis, "Investigating the role of CD45 in the pathogenesis and disease progression in Multiple Myeloma". She was supervised by Professor Andrew Spencer and Dr Tiffany Khong, both from the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases.