MAPrc where it's at: Mental Health Week launch 11 Oct 2016

The Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre team is going to be at the Mental Health Week launch, on Tuesday 11 October, 2016 from 5.00pm – 7.30pm at The Edge Theatre, Federation Square. The team will have a stall, and be able, ready and willing to answer any question you like to ask about mental health research, therapies and treatments. A variety of brains wanted for their research studies too! Links:

• Mental Health Week: www.mentalhealthvic.org.au/index.php?id=44
• MAPrc: www.maprc.org.au/

Recent CCS publications: Week ending 23 Sep 2016

Pain, depression and the post-operative stiff
shoulder. See article

Recent publications for Central Clinical School affiliated authors in the departments of ACBD, AIRmed, Gastroenterology, MSHC, MAPrc, Medicine, Surgery:

Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory medicine (AIRmed)

McCluskey J, O'Hehir RE. Editorial overview: Allergy and hypersensitivity. Curr Opin Immunol. 2016 Sep 9. pii: S0952-7915(16)30089-9. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2016.08.005. [Epub ahead of print]

Visual prostheses are moving from idea to reality

What can bionic eyes see? Image: SPIE

Since the 1950s, vision researchers have been working towards the ambitious goal of restoring a functional level of vision to the blind via electrical stimulation of the visual pathways. Groups based in Australia, USA, Germany, France and Japan report progress in the translation of retinal visual prosthetics from the experimental to clinical domains, with two retinal visual prostheses having recently received regulatory approval for clinical use.

Protecting the elderly with vaccines

The elderly are vulnerable to infection, and vaccines can help.
Image: www.newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org

Monash immunologists describe the global health challenge for an ageing demographic, and how developing better vaccines might help.

The world's population is ageing, posing a significant health burden on both the developed and less well-developed nations of the world. Maintaining a healthy aging population is now a major public health priority, and vaccination is an ideal means by which to do this.

Lung Health Promotion Update: AIRmed news no. 41

The Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory medicine has published issue 41 of its news. Highlights include recent publications, courses, awards to staff, etc. Featured here is the Lung Health Promotion update.

2016 has proven to be our busiest year yet as we update to meet the challenges of education delivery in the digital age. The Centre is on track with the rollout of updated website and material, with website release and switch to cloud based online booking, payment and customer management plan on course to be completed by year's end.

Opportunities: Grants, EOIs, funding

Recent grant and funding opportunities as notified from the Monash Research Office and with thanks to the Biomedicine Discovery Institute for compiling linked summaries. Deadline dates provided.

• 30 Sep 2016 Betty Laidlaw MND Research Prize (up to $250,000) - APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
• 17 Oct 2016 Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation - 2016 Dementia Grants Program (Round 2)
• 18 Oct 2016 Grand Challenges Grant Opportunities
• 27 Oct 2016 veski inspiring women fellowships - APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
• 1 Nov 2016 Australian Respiratory Council Harry Windsor Research Grants
• 13 Nov 2016 Monash Warwick Alliance Seed Fund 2016 - APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN  
• 30 Nov 2016 MPCCC Research Grant – APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN 

Congratulations to Alfred Health physician trainees!

Alfred Health physician trainees with A/Prof Anne Powell (back row, 3rd from left)

Alfred Health physician trainees have achieved an 89% pass rate (24 registrars passing) in the recent  Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) clinical exams.  This result compares with a 73.1% national and 80.9% Victoria state pass rate.  Victoria is the highest performing state in Australia with many of the hospital training sites being Monash University affiliated.

All Monash University associated clinical sites are to be congratulated for contributing to the excellent results for Victoria, with Mildura having five basic physician trainees from Alfred and Peninsula rotating through and Monash University's other main teaching sites of Box Hill, Monash Medical Centre and Peninsula Health also getting an additional 42 registrars through the exams.

The program for Alfred Health was coordinated and supervised by the Directors of Physician Education Associate Professors Anne Powell and Laila Rotstein who are also our Directors of Central Clinical School's (CCS) Medical Education programs.  The physician training program involves over 100 highly trained consultants and senior registrars, who also contribute to CCS's medical student teaching program.

A big thankyou and warm congratulations to everyone involved.