(Formerly known as Central Clinical School)
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| L-R: Dr Daniel Merlo , Prof Helmut Butzkueven and A/Prof Anneke Van Der Walt are first and senior authors on a paper describing a tool they have developed for assessing cognitive function in MS. |
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| Vaccination for people with MS needs to be planned: MJA. Image: Shutterstock |
“Determining immunisation status when commencing DMTs is key, as is an individualised approach to risk–benefit assessment when considering vaccinations,” wrote the authors, led by Dr Cassie Nesbitt, a neurologist at Alfred Health in Melbourne.
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| Multiple Sclerosis Neuroimmunology Clinic members. L-R: Robb Wesselingh, Kelly Glekas, Anneke van der Walt, Mastura Monif, Helmut Butzkueven, Louise Rath, Olga Skibina, Janene Richards, Cassie Nesbitt |
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that attacks the myelin sheath covering nerves. It can be detected on MRI scans as lesions present in the brain and spinal cord. It is a disease that is chronic, so treatment is required on an ongoing basis to prevent relapses or flares.
During 2020's COVID-19 lockdowns this proved to be a challenge, but one which the Monash-Alfred Health Multiple Sclerosis Neuroimmunology (MSNI) Clinic team met.
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| L-R: Dr Mastura Monif, A/Prof Anneke van der Walt, Dr Lisa Grech |
MS is a complex condition of the central nervous system, interfering with nerve impulses within the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. It affects over 25,600 people in Australia.
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| Associate Professor Anneke van der Walt |
Dear CCS Staff, Adjuncts and Students,
It is with great pleasure and pride that I can inform you that A/Prof Anneke Van Der Walt has been appointed to the joint Alfred/Monash appointment as Director Multiple Sclerosis Neuroimmunology Unit (MSNI), Alfred Brain, Alfred Health, and Associate Professor of Neuroscience, The Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University.
This is a key academic clinical leadership position for clinical neurosciences at Monash and The Alfred. A/Prof van der Walt will be responsible for clinical and research leadership, and ongoing strategic development, of the MSNI Unit at Alfred Health and Monash University. She is an outstanding clinical neurologist and researcher, with a national and emerging international reputation for her research in the fields of multiple sclerosis, neuroimmunology and neuro-ophthalmology.
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L-R: (top) Moderator Steve Jane, panellists Anneke van der Walt and Jane Fisher; bottom row Julian Elliott and Merlin Thomas. See the event video
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| L-R top row: Prof Helmut Butzkueven, Prof Paul Fitzgerald, Dr Emma Halmos. L-R bottom row: Prof Anne Holland, Dr Jason Ong, A/Prof Anneke van der Walt |
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Image: @MonashNeurosci tweet published 5 March 2020
Professor Anneke van der Walt recalls when she was working in a
department as one of two women consultants, only three years
ago. Times have changed for the better #IWD2020. This week's
publications roundup features a paper on early detection of gait changes
in MS, co-authored by Prof van der Walt. Follow her at @anneke_vdw
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| L-R: Professor Anneke van der Walt, Dr Wei Yeh and Dr Steven Petratos |
