New compound protects brain from degeneration after an early-life traumatic injury

Myelin is better preserved in TBI mice following LM22A-4 treatment.
Fletcher et al., (2021) Exp Neurol.

In young children under 5 years of age, there is a high risk of experiencing a traumatic brain injury, which can lead to death and life-long disability. Importantly, paediatric traumatic brain injury can be a life-long disability which often worsens over time into adolescence or adulthood, alongside ongoing brain development - making treatment more challenging.

A study led by Dr Bridgette Semple in the Central Clinical School’s Department of Neuroscience, has demonstrated that treatment with a novel compound was able to protect the brain from degeneration after an early-life brain injury. 

Unraveling the complex link between COVID and diabetes

Why might COVID-19 cause new-onset diabetes? @SciAm story
Image: Willie B. Thomas Getty Images

A Scientific American article by Claudia Wallis published 24 Feb 2021 explores five possible reasons why infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus appears to trigger diabetes. Amongst others, she interviewed the founders of the CoviDIAB registry to track these patients with new-onset diabetes, Professor Paul Zimmet, Department of Diabetes at Monash University and Professor Francesco Rubino, King's College London.

KIT body image chatbot even more chatty

More than one million Australians are living with an eating disorder, but less than one in four of them will seek help. Dr Gemma Sharp and the team which have created the KIT body image chatbot have a new campaign launched today as part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

Dr Sharp says, "Owing to the popularity of KIT's coping skills conversations, we've added even more skills! These are new mindfulness strategies which we know are helpful for a range of mental health issues including eating disorders. Come and chat to KIT today!"

Hear more from Gemma about her research & the KIT chatbot here: youtu.be/PuGZi6gF-Sk

Link: butterfly.org.au/chattokit/

9-22 Feb 2021 Central Clinical School publications featuring COVID-19 research

Burnout and psychological distress of Australian  health care 
workers during the COVID-19 pandemic has been high: Study

Recent publications featuring research as notified by PubMed during 9-22 Feb 2021 from Central Clinical School affiliated researchers in the following departments featuring research on COVID-19.

See the School and and its departments' recent validated publications at: 

• research.monash.edu/en/organisations/central-clinical-school/publications/
• www.monash.edu/medicine/ccs/research/publications