This week at Alfred Research Alliance, we continue to tackle some of the world’s leading health challenges including epilepsy, stroke, malaria, syphilis and other STIs. A number of new appointments strengthen our team, while others are recognised for their excellence. We debunk furphies, help tackle challenges to the COVID vaccine rollout, and take the results of our research to where it will create real and positive impacts for patients.
ALFRED HEALTH
Major grant to tackle rise of syphilis
Researchers at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) have been granted more than $1.25M in NHMRC funding to develop new strategies to detect and control syphilis. Prof Marcus Chen, who will lead the research, says rates of syphilis have climbed dramatically in most high income countries including Australia, with heterosexual populations increasingly affected for the first time in decades. Read more…
Searching through seizures
Alex has suffered from epilepsy since he was 16 years old and has up to three seizures a week, usually while sleeping. He spent last week in The Alfred’s neurology clinical trials ward, the only one of its kind in Australia – to try get to the bottom of his seizures by taking part in a Video Electroencephalogram Monitoring Test (VEEG) reverse sleep study. Read more…
MONASH CENTRAL CLINICAL SCHOOL
Surprising finding following infection after paediatric brain injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability in young children. Patients who experience a TBI are highly susceptible to infections originating in hospitals, and it has been thought this may influence recovery. Now, a study led by 3rd year PhD student Rishabh Sharma has found that TBIs may not necessarily lead to adverse outcomes. Read more…
Dispelling the furphies in stroke prevention treatments
A/Prof Anne Abbott tackles misunderstandings about how to best prevent stroke in a recently published review in Nature Reviews Cardiology. Her review outlines two broad classes of furphy relating to procedures and drugs used ostensibly to help reduce risk. She is calling for better understanding of the evidence base, to ensure safer and more effective treatment. Read more…
Screening warning over stubborn STI
New research from the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre has shown screening asymptomatic patients for Mycoplasma Genitalium (MG) could be counterproductive. A/Prof Jason Ong saying the study, conducted with international experts in MG research, showed it could in fact contribute to building resistance to antibiotics, making it harder to control the infection in men who have sex with men. Read more…
Welcome Prof Paul Lawton
Prof Paul Lawton has been appointed Professor & Director of Renal Medicine with Alfred Health and Monash University. Currently a consultant nephrologist, general physician and senior research fellow at the Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University and the Top End Health Services (Royal Darwin Hospital), he will commence his new role after Anzac Day. Welcome, Paul.
New Appointment for Dr Elspeth Hutton
Dr Elspeth Hutton has been appointed Deputy Director of Neurology, Alfred Health, taking over from A/Prof Richard Stark, who has provided invaluable support and guidance for the major transitions in Alfred Neurology and Alfred Brain over the last 4 years. Read more about Dr Hutton…
DEAKIN UNIVERSITY
Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Announced
Sharon Kramer, postdoctoral researcher at Deakin University, has been awarded the Executive Dean Health Research Fellowship in the latest round of Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowships. Sharon will be joining the Deakin QPS team at Alfred Health, which is working towards helping solve challenges in creating healthy food systems and patient safety. Read more about Sharon here…
Recognition for Deakin QPS leaders
Several Awards at Deakin’s Centre for Quality & Patient Safety recently, with Dr Anna Ugalde awarded Young Tall Poppy for 2020, Prof Andrea Driscoll inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, A/Prof Melissa Bloomer awarded the European Association for Palliative Care Researcher Award in the Post-Doctoral category and Prof Trish Dunning receiving the inaugural Diabetes Victoria Trish Dunning Research Scholarship. Congratulations! Read more QPS news…
BAKER HEART AND DIABETES INSTITUTE
New clinical trial facility takes Baker expertise & research ‘where the need is’
The Member for Werribee & Victorian Treasurer, Tim Pallas (pictured with Baker CEO Prof Tom Marwick), opened the Baker Institute’s new clinical trial and research centre at Hoppers Crossing last Friday. With more people dying of heart attacks in Melbourne’s west than anywhere else in the metropolitan area, this new facility run by Baker researchers & clinicians, will trial innovative interventions to reduce soaring rates of diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Read more…
Why gender equity is an important issue to men
Baker’s Gender Equity and Diversity Committee was formed in 2014 to establish initiatives to address female under-representation at senior levels in science at the Institute, and more broadly across the medical research sector. The number of men joining has grown in the past few years and we want to share some of their thoughts on why gender equity is an important issue to men, and much more than just a female issue. View the video…
BURNET INSTITUTE
New cells harnessed to ambush and kill malaria
A change in the plan of attack against malaria – to target the infection as soon as it enters the bloodstream – has yielded exciting results for Burnet Institute scientists seeking to accelerate the development of a highly protective malaria vaccine. Burnet’s study, led by postdoctoral scientist Dr Gaoqian Feng set out to discover the potential for human immune cells to attack malaria from the first moment the infection is transmitted by mosquito bite. Read more…