Study suggests ‘stealthing’ – non-consensual condom removal – a common practice

by Anne Crawford

A Monash University researcher has conducted the first study globally into the prevalence of ‘stealthing’ or non-consensual condom removal, finding that one in three women, and one in five men who have sex with men (MSM) have been subjected to it.

Stealthing can lead to unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV, and to emotional distress.

The Melbourne Sexual Health Centre’s Rosie Latimer became interested in the phenomenon after an article about it appeared in the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law in April 2017. The article, by Yale Law School graduate Alexandra Brodsky and based on anecdotal evidence, attracted international attention. It raised the question of whether stealthing should be considered sexual assault.

CCS Recent Publications 19th Feb - 4th March

Throughout February and going into early March we will be posting two backdated weeks of publications at a time, until we catch up from the Summer break.

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

• Medicine
• Peninsula Clinical School
• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
• Surgery
• Australian Centre for Blood Diseases
• Neuroscience
• Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine
• National Trauma Research Institute
• Immunology and Pathology
• MAPrc
• Diabetes
• Infectious Diseases
  

Brain Awareness Week lecture

Central Clinical School and Alfred Health are teaming up to help celebrate Brain Awareness Week between March 11 - 17th. The annual week is hosted internationally by the Dana Foundation, and aims to draw attention to the value of brain research.

All staff are invited to a lecture in the former AMREP lecture theatre between 2-3pm on Thursday 14th March.

Save the date! 21 June 2019 Translational Research Symposium

We invite you to join us for the 5th annual Monash University Translational Research Symposium, to be held at the A+ Education Centre lecture theatre, The Alfred.

Monash University's three heads of its metropolitan based
clinical schools, Prof Eric Morand, Prof Stephen Jane and
Prof Ian Davis, discuss translational medical research and
the opportunities it offers for graduate students. Video: 4:31m

Significant findings in the lab can often get lost in their conversion to clinical practice and everyday medical treatments. As such, translational research skills have become a significant part of life at Monash’s three metropolitan clinical schools.

Personalised medicine investigation for rare thyroid cancers

Dr James Lee

Dr James Lee from the Department of Surgery was recently awarded a $120,000 philanthropic grant from the The Aftershock Foundation, a not-for-profit  organisation in the rare cancer space. The gift agreement includes a further $100,000 in 2020, bringing the total to $220,000.

The group was founded by Suzanne Neate, following the loss of her mother to metastatic medullary thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer is now the 7th most commonly diagnosed cancer in women overall, and is on the rise.

Welcome Professor Kumud Dhital

Prof Kumud Dhital

CCS would like to welcome Professor Kumud DHITAL who has recently joined the Alfred Hospital as the  Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery & Transplantation as well as Program Director of Alfred Heart & Lung.

Following a science degree in Physiology and Biochemistry with a subsequent PhD in Anatomy at the University of London, Kumud Dhital qualified in medicine at the University of Oxford with Cardiothoracic surgical training in the UK at various institutions including John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, the Royal Brompton and Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals in London, before a transplant fellowship at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge.

More Powerful Together: Making our Mark for International Women's Day

Friday 8 March, is International Women’s Day.  To acknowledge this day, the CCS GEDI Committee (Gender Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee) interviewed some of the exceptional female academics within CCS to find out what they do, why they chose a career path in science/medicine and what their words of advice are for younger/future female scientists/researchers.

Women are significantly under-represented in STEM related fields, thus the GEDI committee are using this day to bring exposure to some of the many successful women in CCS as well as to foster and encourage more women to enter the STEM fields.

Lakshanie Wickramasinghe

Lakshanie Wickramasinghe 

PhD Candidate  - Department of Immunology and Pathology

The first words that come to mind when I think of my career so far are: exciting scientific journey. As I am approaching the third year of my PhD, I am gaining a greater understanding of medical research and the translational significance of our work in the lab with the goal of improving the quality of life of patients who suffer from debilitating disease. 

I have always been curious about how different physiological systems function within the body and in particular how the respiratory and immune system operate in synergy to provide continuous protection against airborne insults. To be able to investigate how the body responds to diseases and to discover novel treatment solutions is what makes me excited about coming into the lab every day.

Words of advice: Learn to become comfortable with making mistakes because science truly requires both dedication and resilience to succeed.