Congratulations to Merlin Thomas on MRFF grant

Central Clinical School's Professor Merlin Thomas has been
awarded funding for investigating inhaled treatments for COVID-19

Four Monash University projects investigating treatments for COVID-19, including a potential inhaled treatment, have been awarded funding by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

Federal Health Minister, The Honourable Greg Hunt, announced more than $1.3 million for four Monash research projects as part of a $66 million fund to contribute to global efforts to control and eliminate the virus. The MRFF’s Coronavirus Research Response is part of the Australian Government’s $8 billion Coronavirus (COVID-19) National Health Plan. See all four at www.monash.edu/news/articles/more-than-$1.3-million-awarded-for-new-covid-19-research-at-monash

Central Clinical School's Professor Merlin Thomas has been awarded funding for investigating inhaled treatments for COVID-19.

Congratulations to endometriosis research team on MRFF grant award!

L-R: The team members are A/Prof Jane Muir (CIA), Dr Rebecca Burgell, Dr Jane Varney and Dr Judith Moore of Central Clinical School's Department of  Gastroenterology; Prof Jane Fisher in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine; and Prof Mark Morrison at University of Queensland.

Congratulations to Associate Professor Jane Muir on the award of an Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant, announced 28 May by Minister for Health, Greg Hunt. This particular round of grants is intended to address the health problem of endometriosis.

The title of A/Prof Muir's grant is "Creating an evidence base for clinical care: A randomised controlled study examining the efficacy of the low FODMAP diet for the relief of gastrointestinal symptoms in endometriosis", and has received funding for 2021-2025.

A/Prof Muir said, "We have a great team of Chief Investigators, who have all done a huge amount of work to get this project over the line!"

Predicting the pandemic’s psychological toll: why suicide modelling is so difficult

Prof Jayashri Kulkarni explores why suicide modelling is so difficult
in her Conversation article

by Professor Jayashri Kulkarni
reproduced from The Conversation 29 May 2020

We’ve recently heard experts raise concerns about a looming mental health crisis, warning COVID-19’s psychological toll on Australians could be like a second wave of the pandemic.

Elderly people with Type 2 diabetes are at higher risk of cognitive dysfunction

Elderly people with diabetes are more prone to cognitive decline
than those without diabetes. Image: NIH-NIA

An ageing population with diabetes suffers from a variety of problems, very often simultaneously.

Professor Velandai Srikanth and Dr Chris Moran are Geriatricians with expertise in diabetes and dementia research based at Peninsula Health, and are part of its Academic Unit. They see elderly people with what clinicians call 'comorbidities' - that is, two or more coexisting conditions - on a regular basis.

In a recently published Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology paper, they and colleagues explore the intersection of two common disorders, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cognitive dysfunction. They have found that people with diabetes tend to also have reduced cognitive performance, and a high proportion - one fifth - of those over 60 with T2D might have dementia.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the increase: NEJM review

A/Prof Marcus Chen

Prof Deborah Williams

Professor Deborah Williamson (Doherty Institute) and Adjunct Associate Professor Marcus Chen (Melbourne Sexual Health Centre) are authors on a New England Journal of Medicine review article providing an overview of how both established and emerging sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the increase, and their recommendations for controlling the spread of STIs.

26 May - 1 June 2020 Central Clinical School recent publications

Dr Dimitra Zotos is first author on a study
looking at the role of humoral immunity 
in lung transplantation 

Recent publications as notified by PubMed during the week 26 May - 1 June 2020 from Central Clinical School affiliated researchers in the following departments. This is not a comprehensive list:

• Anaesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine
• Australian Centre for Blood Diseases
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology and Pathology
• Medicine - Alfred
• Medicine - Peninsula
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Department of Diabetes researchers Paul Zimmet and Mark Cooper star in Google rankings

Central Clinical School has world-leading researchers and we're not just saying that. CCS Department of Diabetes researchers Professors Paul Zimmet AO and Mark Cooper AO (Head, Department of Diabetes) do well in Google Scholar rankings, Prof Zimmet ranking 4th in the world for diabetes citations, and Prof Cooper 28th. Prof Zimmet says that's because he's had a head start!
scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=search_authors&hl=en&mauthors=label:diabetes

Congratulations on our recent PhD completions!

L-R: Sung Kai Chiu, Jonathan Hiller, Gauri Mishra, Mitchell Moon

Congratulations to our four recent PhD graduates - Sung Kai Chiu, Jonathan Hiller, Gauri Mishra and Mitchell Moon - on their thesis completions! The degree was conferred 28 May 2020. A big job done and we wish them well for their futures! See detail of the students, their theses and supervisors below:

Healthy participants sought for brain imaging study

Healthy participants sought for brain imaging 
study. Contact: Louisa.Selvadurai@monash.edu

Molecular neuroimaging of oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases

We are seeking healthy individuals to participate as controls in a brain imaging research study investigating the measurement of oxidative stress in neurodegenerative disorders. See detail below.

Crazy Socks for Docs Day 5 June 2020

The Crazy Socks for Docs day celebrates how our doctors are human beings just like the rest of us, with stresses, anxieties and illnesses just like other mortals. It's held on the first Friday in June, which is, in 2020, Friday 5 June. Wish our doctors well, especially if you notice that they're wearing odd socks

See more here: https://www.crazysocks4docs.com.au/our-story/
and be part of the mental health movement by following and participating in their various channels:

• @crazysocks4Docs
• Facebook group
• Geoffrey Toogood, Crazysocks4docs founder on LinkedIn  
• Instagram

Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) evening 1 June 2020

2020 Central Clinical School research projects

2020 Bachelor of Medical Science (Hons) Virtual Information Night for 2021

• Date: Monday 1 June, 2020
• Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm

See detail & register to receive Zoom link via email: bmedscihonsinfonight.eventbrite.com

See CCS research projects in the SupervisorConnect database, or our 2021 CCS project booklet.

For more information about the event:
MNHS Events Team, email med-events@monash.edu

Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) contact information:
E: med-bmedsc-hons@monash.edu
W: www.monash.edu/medicine/som/bmedsc-hons

Congratulations to our 3MT heat participants!

Alex Dimitropoulos not selling Glyoxalase anti-ageing snake oil!

The Central Clinical School 3MT heat went very well, with a good Zoom turnout to support the CCS 3 Minute Thesis event.

A very big congratulations to our 2020 CCS 3MT winners!

First place: Ms Alexandra Dimitropoulos (Diabetes). Alex will go on to the Faculty heat, the winner of which will be announced 14 July. Heats will take place from 3-10 July, and links to view videos and vote to be advised.
Second place: Mr Rishabh Sharma (Neuroscience)
People's choice award: Ms Nurul Zainal Abidin (ACBD)

Many thanks to CCS Graduate Research Coordinators, Profs Nicola Harris and Helmut Butzkueven, judges Profs Steve Jane, Helmut Butzkueven and Ms Julia Veitch (CCS Communications Manager), and our Graduate Research Senior Student Services Officer, Ms Sharmila Ramesh, who coordinated the event.

A/Prof Tom Oxley on looking after COVID-19 patients in New York

See video: vimeo.com/422321780/da80d8f5cd

Associate Professor Tom Oxley is Vascular & Interventional Neurologist, Director of Innovation Strategy, Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, USA. He presented on 21 May 2020, hosted by the General Medical Unit, Alfred Health with Central Clinical School Medical Education Unit.

A/Prof Oxley is a Monash University graduate and alumnus resident of both the Alfred and Royal Melbourne hospitals. He spoke about his recent 'front line' experience managing COVID-19 patients at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, USA, sharing his clinical insights, and covering neurological and thrombotic complications which were encountered.

The talk was recorded by Associate Professor Anne Powell, director of CCS Medical Education, and can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/422321780/da80d8f5cd