New compound protects brain from degeneration after an early-life traumatic injury

Myelin is better preserved in TBI mice following LM22A-4 treatment.
Fletcher et al., (2021) Exp Neurol.

In young children under 5 years of age, there is a high risk of experiencing a traumatic brain injury, which can lead to death and life-long disability. Importantly, paediatric traumatic brain injury can be a life-long disability which often worsens over time into adolescence or adulthood, alongside ongoing brain development - making treatment more challenging.

A study led by Dr Bridgette Semple in the Central Clinical School’s Department of Neuroscience, has demonstrated that treatment with a novel compound was able to protect the brain from degeneration after an early-life brain injury. 

Unraveling the complex link between COVID and diabetes

Why might COVID-19 cause new-onset diabetes? @SciAm story
Image: Willie B. Thomas Getty Images

A Scientific American article by Claudia Wallis published 24 Feb 2021 explores five possible reasons why infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus appears to trigger diabetes. Amongst others, she interviewed the founders of the CoviDIAB registry to track these patients with new-onset diabetes, Professor Paul Zimmet, Department of Diabetes at Monash University and Professor Francesco Rubino, King's College London.

KIT body image chatbot even more chatty

More than one million Australians are living with an eating disorder, but less than one in four of them will seek help. Dr Gemma Sharp and the team which have created the KIT body image chatbot have a new campaign launched today as part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

Dr Sharp says, "Owing to the popularity of KIT's coping skills conversations, we've added even more skills! These are new mindfulness strategies which we know are helpful for a range of mental health issues including eating disorders. Come and chat to KIT today!"

Hear more from Gemma about her research & the KIT chatbot here: youtu.be/PuGZi6gF-Sk

Link: butterfly.org.au/chattokit/

9-22 Feb 2021 Central Clinical School publications featuring COVID-19 research

Burnout and psychological distress of Australian  health care 
workers during the COVID-19 pandemic has been high: Study

Recent publications featuring research as notified by PubMed during 9-22 Feb 2021 from Central Clinical School affiliated researchers in the following departments featuring research on COVID-19.

See the School and and its departments' recent validated publications at: 

• research.monash.edu/en/organisations/central-clinical-school/publications/
• www.monash.edu/medicine/ccs/research/publications

Discovery for turning on cell repair in tissues and organs

Model of demethylation mediated reprogramming

Monash University researchers have uncovered the barrier to β-cell (beta cell) regeneration that could pave the way for improved treatments for diabetes and diseases that involve organ and tissue damage.

The human body doesn’t repair itself very well, with our liver the only organ that can regenerate efficiently.  We have limited capacity to regenerate new cells or tissue after birth as the genes involved in development are switched off.

CCS Honours and Bachelor of Medical Science Honours cohorts starting in 2021

L-R from top: Honours coordinators in 2020:
General Honours: Justin Hamilton, Margaret Hibbs,
Vilija Jokubaitis, Christoph Hagemeyer, Natalie Thomas,
Menno van Zelm, Catherine Carmichael:

BMedSc Honours: Merlin Thomas, Karin Jandeleit-Dahm

57 students have enrolled this year in the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Biomedical Science Honours program at Central Clinical School. It is CCS's largest cohort of Honours students to date. Their orientation session is taking place next Tuesday, 23 February. Please make them feel welcome.

The Bachelor of Medical Science Honours cohort of 13 students will be also receiving their orientation next week.

Dr Joanne Mouser is CCS Student Services Officer for all Honours student administration. Her contact details are:

• Email: ccs.honours@monash.edu
• Phone: +61 3 9903 0784
  
• Web: www.monash.edu/medicine/ccs/education/current-students/current-honours
  

Participants sought: The use of prebiotics to lower blood pressure

Participants wanted for prebiotic fibre dietary study

Do you have high blood pressure but are not taking medication? We are looking for you to participate in a study investigating the effect of prebiotic fibre on blood pressure!

Diet has been long known to influence the levels of blood pressure. The body is incapable of digesting some types of fibre, so they are fermented in the gut, where they feed the body's community of ‘good’ microbes. This results in the release of substances that may be beneficial in lowering blood pressure. This study will test if a modified high fibre supplement could be used to lower blood pressure.