Neuroscience researchers support Brain Cancer Awareness month

by Dr Loretta Piccenna, Department of Neuroscience

(L-R): Ms Katrina Kan, Dr Mastura Monif (group leader) and
 Mr Matthew Drill. Dr Monif did a podcast for The Aftershock,
and explains more about her research in a video. 

This month is Brain Cancer Awareness Month, a time of the year for raising awareness of brain cancer or tumours and the need for greater research to discover safe and effective new treatments. 

Brain cancers may be rare, but there are more than 100 different types of brain cancer. This requires a collective effort by lots of researchers, clinicians, patients and their families to understand brain cancers at a molecular level to help find a cure. 

Dr Mastura Monif and her research team (pictured) from the Department of Neuroscience within the Central Clinical School study the most common form of primary brain cancer or tumour, called glioblastoma. She said, 

“We must ensure that every person who develops cancer is given the best possible chance of surviving and living well”.

"Is research for me?" Growing Pains podcast interviewing Ingrid Scheffer and Jackie French

Sarah Barnard hosts the Growing Pains podcast where she talks to fellow students and medical professionals about the challenges they face navigating their personal and professional lives as future medics.

In this 4 October episode, "Is research for me?" Sarah shares an interview she did with Professors Ingrid Scheffer and Jackie French this month about life as a clinician-scientist.

Aftershock: Wendy Brown, surgeon, talks about her work and her patients

Professor Wendy Brown in theatre

The Aftershock team write, "We're joined by Professor Wendy Brown, Director of Surgery at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. We go behind the masks and gloves, and get into Wendy's operating theatre regime, and the connection she makes with her patients."

Wendy Brown says, displaying characteristic empathy, "You've got to be always vigilant and always think, this is the most important operation I'm ever going to do, because, for this person, it is the most important operation you're going to do."

Listen to the Aftershock Wendy Brown podcast.

The ketogenic diet for super refractory status epilepticus – Why and how?

L-R: Dr Joshua Laing and Ms Neha Kaul

Super refractory status epilepticus carries up to a 40% mortality rate and controlled clinical trials of any treatment are severely limited. Ms Neha Kaul is a dietitian and Dr Joshua Laing is a PhD student in Central Clinical School's Department of Neuroscience explain how the ketogenic diet is emerging as a potential treatment option for SRSE, and their recent article provides practical considerations on using the diet in these cases. 

• Read more details 
• Listen to the podcast (13:06 mins)

Until We Tweet Again: What Happens Next? podcast on social media and mental health, part three

This episode of What Happens Next? features all the best tips and guidance from our experts about how to help young people manage their social media use for mental health and wellbeing, and how it can be used to build communities and share stories. Gemma Sharp is one of three interviewees in this podcast, speaking on how to be aware of when social media use is becoming unhealthy.

People You May Know: What Happens Next? podcast on social media and mental health, part two

Every generation faces its own moral panic over new technology. Even right back to Socrates when the use of written text in books was seen as something that would negatively impact our lives. In the 20th century, wireless radio and television was thought or assumed to bring about the downfall of civilisation.

COVID-19 update from Prof Allen Cheng: MJA podcast 9 March 2020

Image: Coronavirus (MJA)

COVID-19 in Australia, with Professor Allen Cheng

MJA Podcasts 2020 Episode 8:  Vol 212, Issue 5: 9 March, 2020.

Professor Allen Cheng is Director of the Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology Unit at Alfred Health in Melbourne. He discusses how COVID-19 may behave in Australia and how doctors can protect themselves as well as patients. With MJA news and online editor Cate Swannell. 16 mins, 0 secs.

Link: www.mja.com.au/podcast/212/5/mja-podcasts-2020-episode-8-covid-19-australia-prof-allen-cheng

Dr Emma Foster on epilepsy seizures: American Academy of Neurology podcast

Dr Emma Foster

Dr Emma Foster of the Department of Neuroscience, has had her work on epilepsy seizures featured on the October issue of the American Academy of Neurology Podcast.