Around the Precinct – 24 June 2021

The Alfred Research Alliance is one of Australia’s premier clinical trials precincts, with more than 670 trials running during 2019/20.

Our clinical trials capability received a significant boost this week with two of our partners – Monash University and Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute – successful in the most recent round of NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants.

This week has also seen a focus on the brain, as Alliance researchers examine the long-term neurological effects of concussion and use powerful imaging technology to detect early brain damage in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute was one of two Alliance partners to receive funding for vital clinical trials this week.

Alfred Health

Stringent processes in Victoria’s health hotel
Victoria’s health hotel has been the place of care for more than 230 COVID-positive residents since Alfred Health became involved in the quarantine program.
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Alfred staff recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours
Congratulations to our own Associate Professor Edwina Wright AM, Professor Flavia Cicuttini AM and Colonel Susan Winter OAM, who were named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list this week.
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Monash University

Over $17m secured in clinical trials cohort studies grant scheme
Monash Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences researchers have successfully secured $17,484,794 from the latest NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants.
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Congratulations to our 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours recipients
Congratulations to our Monash Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences colleagues, alumni, friends and supporters who have been recognised with a Queen’s Birthday Honour this year.
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Monash University Central Clinical School

Brain injury from concussion in young football players causes long-term damage, Monash study finds
Monash researchers have published the first study to report long-term physical damage to the brains of young adult Australian rules players, even six months after their most recent concussion, raising concerns about the long-term neurological health of these players.
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Powerful magnetic resonance imaging provides markers to detect early MS damage
Findings published in the journal Brain Communications have revealed that patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who had gait and lower limb motor control impairments also had corresponding axonal (parts of nerve cells) loss in major tracts in the brain which control sensing and movement response.
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Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Breaking down contraception barriers to empower all women
One-third of Australian women experience an unintended pregnancy in their lifetime, with rates of unintended pregnancy higher among the socio-demographically disadvantaged, and those living in rural areas.
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Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

Meet Dr Amera Halabi from our Imaging Research laboratory
We spoke with cardiologist Dr Amera Halabi, who is undertaking her PhD at the Baker Institute. Amera wants to understand the mechanisms that drive heart dysfunction, with a particular focus on preventing heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes.
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$4.8 million grant to help identify and prevent diabetes complications
A major grant announced today will help the more than one million Australians with type 2 diabetes and up to 500,000 people who are estimated to have silent, undiagnosed diabetes.
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