Perdita Cheshire: her PhD research is puzzling out Parkinson's Disease

Perdita is a Research Assistant in the Burns Unit at the Alfred Hospital, and she has just completed her PhD in the Van Cleef Roet Centre for Nervous Diseases on Parkinson's Disease and how patients react with some of the treatments for the disease. Her supervisors were Associate Professor David Williams and Professor Elsdon Storey. To read more about Perdita go to: http://www.med.monash.edu.au/cecs/education/profiles/cheshire.html

Jay Jha: PhD research investigates diabetes and kidney disease

Jay is a PhD student at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and his research is based on the complications of diabetes, especially in relation to kidney disease. Jay's supervisor is Professor Karin Jandeleit-Dahm. To read more about Jay go to: www.med.monash.edu.au/cecs/education/profiles/jha.html

Nitasha Kumar: PhD student and researcher into HIV

Nitasha is a PhD student at the Burnet Institute and her research looks at the interaction between two immune cells in the HIV virus. Her supervisors are Professor Sharon Lewin and Associate Professor Paul Cameron. To see her full profile go to: www.med.monash.edu.au/cecs/education/profiles/kumar.html

Explainer: what is the immune system?

Department of immunology's Dr Fabien Vincent , Prof Fabienne Mackay (Head of the Department) and Dr Kim Murphy speak on the importance of the immune system and its two interwoven components: the innate and adaptive immune systems, and what happens when the immune system goes wrong.  Article link

Congratulations: Dr Steven Petratos

Dr Steven Petratos' publication was chosen as the Best Basic Science Paper on Multiple Sclerosis for 2012 by the Multiple Sclerosis Journal. Steven is a Senior Lecturer (Pathology) in the Central Clinical School.
See link
Petratos S, Ozturk E, Azari MF, et al. Limiting multiple sclerosis related axonopathy by blocking Nogo receptor and CRMP-2 phosphorylation. Brain 2012; 135:
1794–1818.

Monash FODMAP research in prestigious Gastroenterology journal

The most recent issue of U.S. based Gastroenterology, the top and most influential journal in the field, has three articles and one reply by Department of Gastroenterology researchers. Prof Peter Gibson is Head of Department, Dr Jane Muir is Head of Translational Nutrition research group, and Emma Halmos has recently submitted her PhD thesis. 

References

• Emma P. Halmos, Victoria A. Power, Susan J. Shepherd, Peter R. Gibson, Jane G. Muir. A diet low in FODMAPs reduces symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Link.

Immunology: Ten of the Best Research Projects 2013, NHMRC

L to R: Ms Melanie Le Page, Dr William Figgett, Professor Fabienne Mackay, Mr Damien Saulep-Easton, Ms Pin Shie Quah, Dr Fabien Vincent, Ms Indzi Katik. Photo: NHMRC

A Central Clinical School research team led by Professor Fabienne Mackay, Head of Department of Immunology, has been recognised by the National Health and Medical Research Council as one of its 'Ten of the Best Research Projects 2013' from among the thousands of NHMRC funded medical research projects underway in Australia. Prof Mackay and her team have been recognised by the NHMRC for their work towards understanding the complexities of the autoimmune disease Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).  Monash story link. NH&MRC  link