Prof Ingrid Scheffer: Find out more on 30 Sep 2015

Professor Ingrid Scheffer is a physician-scientist whose work as a paediatric neurologist at the University of Melbourne and Florey Institute has led the field of epilepsy genetics over 20 years, with Professor Samuel Berkovic and molecular geneticists. This resulted in identification of the first epilepsy gene and many genes subsequently. Professor Scheffer will be speaking at the forthcoming 30 Sept Translational Research symposium hosted by Central Clinical School. See detail below.

Congratulations to Dr Kate Hoy for her research excellence, recognised by the NHMRC

Dr Kate Hoy with a research study participant

MAPrc’s Dr Kate Hoy was recognised for her outstanding research this week at the NHMRC Research Excellence Awards and Biennial Awards.

Dr Hoy received the award for the highest ranked Career Development Fellowship – Biomedical, Level 1 for her research which looks at developing new treatments for cognitive impairment.

Welcome to Fulbright scholar, Mary Ajamian, in Dept of Gastroenterology

Ms Mary Ajamian, Fulbright scholar,
Department of Gastroenterology, CCS.
Photo: Alex Bogatyrev

Welcome to Mary Ajamian, a visiting Fulbright scholar from Columbia University, USA, being hosted by the Department of Gastroenterology.

Mary’s Fulbright project will investigate gluten and casein’s role in the neurobehavioral and extra-intestinal symptoms of non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). Mary will perform immunoassay-based experiments as well as analyze data from experimental dietary and drug interventions conducted by Dr. Peter Gibson, MD and Dr. Jane Muir, PhD ‘s team at Monash University Central Clinical School/The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

Mary’s Fulbright experience will allow her to continue exorphins-related research that she started for her master’s thesis as well as connect two leading research groups at the forefront of characterizing an emerging disease entity.

Similar to the US, Australia experiences a deficit of women in STEM fields, especially at higher levels of academic or institutional seniority. Australian students of indigenous descent also experience difficulties. As part of her community engagement, Mary seeks to mentor students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, particularly female students and those of indigenous descent.

Mary can be contacted at mary.ajamian@gmail.com. 

Registration for the 2015 AMREP EMCR retreat closes this Friday (25 Sep)

Kalorama, the retreat location in the Dandenongs

Registration for the 2015 AMREP EMCR retreat closes this Friday! Places are filling up fast, so get in quick to avoid disappointment!

The retreat was a standout success in 2013, and will once again be held in the beautiful surrounds of Kalorama (Dandenong ranges), with overnight accommodation available for retreat attendees.

EMCR news & views in the September issue of EMCR times

See all the recent Early & Mid Career Researcher news from the AMREP precinct in the September issue of EMCR Times.  Please visit the EMCR webpage for further information on AMREP EMCR activities.

Their major forthcoming event is the EMCR Retreat, 8-9 October 2015.

1,000,000+ views for CCS Monash Google+ channel = ++Good!

Central Clinical School's Google+ channel has reached over a million views. What this actually means is moot, but it's a fun vanity figure. We host our photo galleries of our researchers, research students and research activities, which apparently get a lot of views, and all our news items get posted through this channel.
Link url: https://plus.google.com/+CentralClinicalSchoolMonashUniversity1/posts

Odd spot: Heart donation & when is dead not dead?

The Medical Journal of Australia recently published an article entitled "Transplantation of the heart after circulatory death of the donor: time for a change in law?" Prof Frank Rosenfeldt, Department of Surgery, (pictured with a patient) said that the article will increase both medical practitioners and the general public's confusion about the legal point of death and possibly affect donor rates, already low in this country. The Age has subsequently published a critique, which can be read in full here:
Surgeons hit back at claims heart transplants are against the law.

See also: Push for Australia to introduce opt-out system for organ donation