Congratulations to MRFF grant winners David Kaye, Andrew Wei, Heather Cleland, Orla Morrissey, Joe Doyle

L-R: MRFF awardees David Kaye, Andrew Wei, Heather Cleland, Orla Morrissey and Joe Doyle

Five researchers in the Central Clinical School had their Medical Research Future Funds (MRFF) grants announced in 2021's federal government budget. Congratulations to Associate Professor Heather Cleland (Surgery), Professor Orla Morrissey, Associate Professor Joseph Doyle (Infectious Diseases), Associate Professor Andrew Wei (Australian Centre for Blood Diseases) and Professor David Kaye (Medicine/Baker). See below for detail of projects.

Intergenerational and lifelong chronic pain starting in early life

2nd year PhD students Jennaya Christensen (left)
and Sabrina Salberg (right)

Chronic pain is a costly public health issue that is highly prevalent and causes a great burden to people who are affected, their families, their workplaces and the health system. 

New research from the Monash Trauma Group at the Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University shows that there is a difference both in gender and type of adverse childhood experience in the expression of specific biomarkers linked to chronic pain. 

Additionally, early life stress such as maternal separation, and a high-fat, high-sugar diet lead to higher pain sensitivity, increased anxiety-like behaviour and changes in the neurobiology (structural and functional level) of the brain.

Chronic pain often occurs during childhood, with 1 in 5 children or adolescents having reported it and it being more prevalent in females than males. 

4-10 May 2021 Central Clinical School recent publications

Dr Tim Gottschalk and Associate Professor

Margaret Hibbs are first and last authors on 

a paper investigating drivers of lupus.

Recent publications featuring research as notified by PubMed during 4-10 May 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.

• Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology and Pathology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medicine (including Alfred and Peninsula)
• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
• Psychiatry
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
  
• Surgery (including National Trauma Research Institute)

Congratulations to Matt Snelson and Waheed Khan on DARP grant

L-R: Drs Waheed Khan & Matt Snelson

Congratulations to Dr Waheed Khan and Dr Matthew Snelson, both in Central Clinical School's Department of Diabetes, on their successful Diabetes Australia Research Program (DARP) grants, each approximately $60,000.

Dr Waheed Khan's study is titled, "Role of WZH2 in atherosusceptible vascular endothelium in diabetes associated atherosclerosis".

Dr Snelson's study is titled, "Using dietary therapy to slow the progression of diabetic kidney disease".

Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson said, “Another interesting study is Dr Matthew Snelson’s research into the effectiveness of resistant starch, found in foods such whole grains and legumes, in slowing the progression of diabetes-related kidney disease.”

Congratulations to Habtamu Beyene on his PhD completion!

Habtamu Beyene

Congratulations to Habtamu Beyene on the completion of his PhD thesis, titled "Plasma lipidomics to define the relationship of lipid metabolism with cardiometabolic risk factors and type 2 diabetes". Habtamu was supervised by Professor Peter Meikle (Baker Research Institute) and Professor Dianna Magliano (School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine). The degree was conferred 5 May.

Save the date 18 June: Bill Johnson Farewell

SAVE THE DATE – Bill Johnson’s Farewell

Please save the date, Friday 18 June, for this important occasion.  We are taking the opportunity to farewell Associate Professor Bill Johnson and recognise his significant contribution to Alfred Health. Bill was Programme Director of Surgery, Perioperative Medicine and Ambulatory Care since 2010 at the Alfred.