Novel radiotherapy technique may advance fight against cancer

A/Prof Sasha Senthi led the study with
colleagues at the Australian Synchotron

by Anne Crawford

Microbeam radiation therapy (MRT), a novel technology delivering small beams of radiation 50 times stronger than standard treatment safely, is a step closer  following a study led by a Monash University researcher.

Associate Professor Sasha Senthi, radiation oncologist at the Alfred Hospital, was senior author on a study determining the best use of MRT against cancer at the Australian Synchrotron. MRT delivers an array of ultra-high dose beams of radiation a few microns wide – the size of some human cells – while maintaining low doses in between.

“Standard radiotherapy is delivered in an equal, homogenous dose throughout the patient,” Associate Professor Senthi said. “With MRT it is heterogenous and you have these peaks and valleys. Within the peaks, almost no cell survives. In the valleys, the normal cells that survive repair their damage and heal damaged areas, which tumour tissues cannot do,” he said.

CCS Recent Publications: 11th June - 17th June

Recent publications for Central Clinical School feature affiliated authors in the following departments:

Dr Anna Kalff is first author
on a myeloma study with
fellow Spencer Group members

• Surgery
• Infectious Diseases
• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
• ACBD
• Peninsula Clinical School
• MAPrc

Congratulations to staff awarded Queen's Birthday Honours!

Central Clinical School had a number of staff awarded Queen's Birthday Honours over the long weekend. We're exceedingly proud of them and the service they've provided to the School and the community through their research, clinical practice and teaching.

Clot-busting drug may affect stroke patients’ immune system: study

by Anne Crawford

A study by Monash University’s Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD) into a drug commonly used to remove blot clots in stroke suggests it may weaken the immune system.

The study, published in Frontiers in Immunology, found that t-PA (tissue-type
plasminogen activator) affected several aspects related to the immune system in a mouse model of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Ischemic stroke is caused when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is obstructed by a clot, and accounts for 80 per cent of all types of stroke. It is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide.

3MT Comp Winners!

CCS Competition winner Lakshanie Wickramasinghe

The School's annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition took place here on May 27, pitting seven brave young researchers against each other in a bid to explain their research in plain English, and in only three minutes. The competition is a wonderful opportunity to practice sharing complex but vital research with a lay audience.

CCS Recent Publications: 27th May - 10th June 2019

Recent publications for Central Clinical School feature affiliated authors in the following departments:

• MAPrc
• ACBD
• Anaesthesia & Perioperative Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Diabetes
• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
• Immunology & Pathology
• Gastroenterology
• Surgery

Translational Research Symposium Speaker Spotlight: Professor Gail Risbridger

Professor Gail Risbridger

Monash University's 5th annual Translational Research Symposium is being hosted by its three metropolitan clinical schools on 21 June 2019. The symposium will host a diverse group of medical researchers presenting their work into translational research. RSVP here.

The Plenary speaker for the event is Professor Gail Risbridger, Deputy Dean, Special Projects, Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium and Research Director, Prostate Cancer Research Program.