New blood clot buster discovered

Dr Justin Hamilton with one of his students,
Natasha Setiabakti (BMedSc(Hons)).

Researchers have made a discovery that could lead to new therapies for treating heart attack and stroke patients.

Published in Nature Communications, the study led by Monash researchers has uncovered a unique approach to prevent platelet function, responsible for forming blood clots.

Blood clots are the cause of heart attacks and most strokes, which are the most common cause of death and disability in the world.

Dr Justin Hamilton,  Head of the Platelet & Megakaryocyte Cell Biology Lab in the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD) at Monash University, said drugs that prevented platelet function were the leading approach for heart attack and stroke prevention. However, many patients do not respond to current therapies.

Dating and hook-up apps to combat sexually transmitted infections

Australian researchers have used the gay dating app Grindr to effectively combat a small outbreak of syphilis in Darwin. The study, carried out by the Northern Territory Department of Health and the Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council (NTAHC), was launched after a number of men tested positive for the infection between February and July 2013.

Capsule monitors gas inside gut, allowing wireless diagnosis of upset stomachs

Swallowable gas monitoring capsule. Image supplied by RMIT

With the help of colleagues from Monash's Department of Gastroenterology, Melbourne University and the CSIRO, Professor Kalantar-zadeh, lead researcher based at RMIT, has developed a capsule that reads the gas levels in a person's gut before passing out of the body.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-13/capsule-can-monitor-stomach-gas/6313538

Recent publications by AMREP EMCR researchers

Brew BJ, Robertson K, Wright EJ, Churchill M, Crowe S, Cysique L, Deeks S, Garcia-Martinez V, Gelman B, Gray LR, Johnson T, Joseph J, Margolis D, Mankowski J, Rausch D, Spencer B. HIV Eradication Symposium: Will the Brain be Left Behind? Journal of Neurovirology. 2015. Online published online 7 March 2015. Link

Cashin K, Gray LR, Harvey KL, Perez-Bercoff D, Lee GQ, Sterjovski J, Roche M, Demarest JF, Drummond F, Harrigan PR, Churchill MJ, Gorry PR. Reliable genotypic tropism tests for the major HIV-1 subtypes. Scientific Reports. 2015. 25; 5: 8543. Link

Interpreting Lung Function Tests: A Step-by-Step Guide

L-R: The authors with their book - Ms Brigitte Borg,
Professor Bruce Thompson and Professor Robyn O'Hehir

Lung function assessment is the central pillar of modern respiratory diagnosis, providing invaluable information to assist in clinical decision making and management strategies.
Interpreting Lung Function Tests: A Step-by Step Guide is a recently published practical “how-to” training manual, which provides the reader with the necessary skills to interpret lung function test results, and to write a concise and informative report on the outcome.
Reference: au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-111840551X.html

24 April 2015 Fundraising Trivia Night - The A to Z of Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre

MAPrc (Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre) is a not-for-profit organisation which carries out world class research to help make a difference to the lives of people suffering with serious mental health illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, major depression and major anxiety. Researchers work in a clinical environment, The Alfred Hospital, to connect their work with the real issues facing people with mental illness.

MAPrc are hosting a fundraising event on Friday 24 April 2015. All welcome and see details and registration links below.

March 2015 #EMCR Times No.15 now out!

March 2015 #EMCR Times No.15 now out! It features the new EMCR position holders, from all across AMREP; forthcoming events for 2015, including the Biennial EMCR Symposium, mentoring program, seed grants, recent publications and recent prize winners. For more information about the AMREP@EMCR group, see www.med.monash.edu.au/cecs/ecr/