Neuroscience researcher a driving force in global women’s MS group

Dr Vilija Jokubaitis

by Anne Crawford

A Department of Neuroscience researcher has become part of the inaugural executive committee of the newly announced International Women in Multiple Sclerosis (iWiMS) network.

Dr Vilija Jokubaitis is one of 12 committee members in the iWiMS and is overseeing mentorship within it.

The organisation officially announced itself this month in The Lancet Neurology.

It has developed over the past 12 months into a group of more than 250 members representing 25 countries, drawing members from basic science through to clinical research, from medical and scientific trainees to specialist consultant-neurologists and senior principal investigators to those working in allied health.

China-Australia Joint Research Centre

Prof. Zhuang, the director of the School of Public Health,
signed a memorandum of cooperation with Prof. Fairley

Professor Christopher Fairley, director of the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Professor of Public Health at Monash University, was recently invited to join a collaborative meeting held at the School of Public Health,  Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU). The meeting was also attended by A/Prof Jason Ong (Melbourne Sexual Health Centre), along with representatives from other local institutions with a view to strengthen international cooperation in infectious disease prevention and establish the China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Infectious Diseases.

Alfred Research Week Poster Comp Winners

Jodie Abramovitch won the Prof. Daniel
Czarny Prize for Allergy Research.

It has been a busy time for research posters.  The recent Translational Research Symposium saw our Translational Research Doctoral students present their research projects with the prize going to Charinthani Keragala. Simultaneously, Research Week was taking place, an annual event in June showcasing research across Alfred Health.

We would like to congratulate the following CCS staff and students for their winning posters:

CCS Recent Publications 2nd - 8th July

A/Prof Menno van Zelm
is an author in two papers
published this week

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

• ACBD
• Immunology and Pathology
• Infectious Diseases
• Peninsula Clinical School
• Surgery
• MAPrc

5th Annual Translational Research Symposium

Prof. Alan Mackay-Sim, keynote speaker.

The Annual Translational Research Symposium was held recently on Friday 21st of June.  Now in its 5th year, the event is  a collaboration among the three Monash clinical schools, who mentor and train our future leaders in medical research.

The program offered a broad range of leading translational medical researchers. Attendees were privileged to hear 2017 Australian of the Year, Professor Alan Mackay-Sim, present on his inspiring stem cell research followed by Professor Gail Risbridger's study on prostate cancer in BRCA mutation carriers.

Male grief overlooked after miscarriage, study finds

Men report feeling devastated and powerless after miscarriage

by Anne Crawford

A Melbourne Sexual Health Centre study revealing how men feel after experiencing a miscarriage has attracted significant media attention.

The qualitative study, published recently in PLOS ONE, found that although most men described experiencing considerable grief following a miscarriage – with many reporting feeling devastated, shocked and powerless – they felt there was little acknowledgment of their loss from healthcare providers and social networks, and inadequate support.

Planned Giving as a source of funding for your research

Philanthropic donations are an important funding source for medical research at CCS.  Most philanthropic donations come in a form a cash gift or a pledge gift given over a number of years.  The ultimate philanthropic gift a person could give is through estate plans.  This video from Monash University's Planned Giving team showcases how making a bequest can be a
rewarding step to further a cause close to the donor's heart.