ASPIRE award to support blood cancer research

Associate Professor Ross Dickins is one of the first two
Australian recipients of The Mark Foundation's ASPIRE award.

Monash University’s Associate Professor Ross Dickins has been awarded a USD $232,000 (approximately $325,000 AUD) ASPIRE Award to support his research into preventing relapse following acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapy from US-based philanthropic organisation The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research.

Welcome to Associate Professor Yet Hong Khor

Associate Professor Yet Hong Khor starts with
Central Clinical School on 1 Jan 2022, in the
Department of Respiratory Research@Alfred

Professor Terry O'Brien, Head of Central Clinical School, writes:

It gives me great pleasure and excitement to announce the recruitment Dr Yet Hong Khor to the academic Monash University appointment as Associate Professor and NHMRC Investigator Grant Emerging Leadership Fellow in the Respiratory Research@Alfred section of the Department of Immunology and Pathology in the Central Clinical School. 

Yet is an outstanding early career clinical respiratory researcher, who has a rapidly emerging research trajectory and profile for her clinical research into chronic lung disease.

Helminths, immune response and gut microbiota: Prof Nicola Harris featured in The Scientist

The Scientist features Prof Nicola Harris's research on intestinal
parasites in an article,"Return of the Worms"

Professor Nicola Harris works on the complex relationship between our gut microbiome, intestinal parasites - helminths - and our immune system. Her research has been featured in The Scientist.

Catherine Offord writes:

"Increasingly seen as a mediator of human health in its own right, with hypothesized effects on everything from intestinal inflammation and immune development to cancer progression and mental health, the gut microbiome could also be an important piece of a worm’s relationship with its host.

16-29 Nov 2021 Central Clinical School recent publications

Is the FODMAP diet more than just a symptomatic therapy?
BMJ commentary by Peter Gibson and Emma Halmos

Recent publications featuring research as notified by PubMed during 16-29 Nov 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.

In the media: LivaNova device 'SenTiva' helps epilepsy sufferer

Professor Patrick Kwan commenting on the SenTiva device: 7News

SenTiva is a small device developed by LivaNova PLC which will now be available at comprehensive epilepsy centres across the nation in both public and private medical facilities, including The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. Epilepsy sufferer Morgan Adams describes the positive effect it has had on her life since its implantation in September 2020.  

See more: 7News and the Herald Sun.

Department of Neuroscience launches 'Find a Friend' collaborative seed grants

The Department of Neuroscience is the frst university academic department in Australia dedicated to developing and providing solutions for patients with neurological conditions. Established in early 2018, the Department partners closely with Alfred Health.

In 2022, the Department will provide a collaborative seed grant for Early Career Researchers or PhD students in their fnal year.

Dr Matt Snelson wins international award in the nutrition field

Congratulations to Dr Matthew Snelson, who is one of two winners of the Nutrients journal 2021 Young Investigator Award. Dr Snelson is a Research Fellow in Associate Professor Melinda Coughlan's group.

This award is for early career scientists who have produced ground-breaking research and made a significant contribution to the advancement of Nutrition and Dietetics. The evaluation committee wrote that he is "a rising star in the field with an outstanding record of achievement for a young investigator at this stage of his career".

See full story: www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients/awards/1422

Congratulations to physican trainee Laura McArthur on Rhodes Scholarship win

Laura McArthur, Basic Physician Trainee at Alfred Health,
has won a Rhodes Scholarship

by Shelly Scott
Program Manager, Physician Education, Alfred Health 

In September 2022 one of The Alfred’s very own, Basic Physician Trainee (BPT), Laura McArthur will leave our shores to take up residence in the hallowed halls of arguably the most prestigious University in the world, Oxford University in England. 

Laura has been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and will be leaving us next year to take up this life-changing opportunity. Our hopes are that she returns to BPT training with tales of snowy winters, brilliant minds and international inspiration. 

We had a chat with Laura and asked her about what this opportunity may bring.  

Imaging competition winners announced!

Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) of Xenograft Mouse
by Ms Jurie Tashkandi

The 2021 Monash Biomedical Imaging (MBI) image competition celebrated outstanding scanner images obtained at MBI and Alfred Research Alliance – Monash Biomedical Imaging (ARA-MBI).

Congratulations to the winners: Ms Jennifer Tinston (PhD student in the Epilepsy and Behaviour group, Department of Neuroscience), Ms Jurie Tashkandi (PhD student in the Nanotheranostics group in the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases), Dr Bianca Jupp, Dr Karen Alt and Dr Chao Suo. 

View the winning entries on the MBI website with additional information about each image.

And the 2021 CCS graduate symposium winners are...!

Neuroscience scooped the pool for the poster presentations.
L-R: Robb Wesselingh, Erskine Chu and Marisso Sgro (2x!)

The Central Clinical School's 2021 Graduate Symposium was held last Friday, 26 November. It was well attended with fascinating presentations. Congratulations to all of our winners! See details of their presentation titles in the CCS graduate symposium program.

New THRIVE@Monash survey, closing midnight Sunday 12 December

THRIVE@Monash wants to hear from you!
Take the survey

As part of the recent THRIVE@Monash week a new THRIVE@Monash survey is being released to staff. This survey is to understand how staff are finding the transition to onsite work and their mental health and general wellbeing.  

The survey will help the Monash Thrive team at the Turner Institute identify what additional resources are needed for resilience and adaptive coping throughout the COVID-19 global health crisis, as we continue on our path to COVID normal.