Around the universities and research institutes

Five young South Australian medical scientists have been named as 2017 SA Tall Poppies of Science. Dr Kate Fennell, from the University of South Australia, works in behavioural medicine and psychological science, researching the health gaps between rural and urban Australians. Dr Fennell’s research strategies include the development of online peer support programs for rural cancer survivors who can’t access face-to-face cancer support groups, and an online self-help program to help improve farmers’ wellbeing and ability to cope with difficult situations beyond their control, such as drought or commodity prices. She works currently at the Sansom Institute for Health Research. Dr Lisa Beatty, from Flinders University, is exploring innovative ways of reducing distress for cancer patients, and has developed online self-help programs which have been shown to reduce distress and improve quality of life of cancer patients. Dr Beatty’s work helps improve the health and wellbeing of people suffering from cancer, overcomes a service gap, and also allows resources for existing face-to-face services to be directed to those patients with the most severe mental health concerns. Her research addresses real world patients’ needs and is shaped by community consultation and engagement at all stages – from successful development through to evaluation and implementation of the programs. Dr Ashleigh Smith, from the University of South Australia, uses cutting edge technology to measure physical activity and fitness, cognitive performance and brain blood flow to discover the underlying mechanisms of how exercise and physical activity modify the brains of older adults at risk of dementia. She hopes to determine the association between physical activity, aerobic fitness, brain health and cognitive performance. This research will help identify the optimal amount and types of physical activity to prevent or reduce dementia symptoms. Dr Frances Corrigan, from the University of Adelaide, focuses on understanding the role of inflammation following concussions. Her work suggests that inflammation can drive the accumulation of an abnormal brain protein and loss of brain tissue. By altering the inflammatory response, it is possible to have beneficial effects, even preventing the development of cognitive deficits. This potentially may lead to the development of the first drug intervention to prevent long term damage resulting from repeated concussion. Dr Zlatko Kopecki, from the University of South Australia, has identified a harmful protein in the skin that contributes to increased skin blistering. He is currently developing a therapy which neutralises the activity of this protein, and leads to improved healing, reduced infection and decreased incidence of cancer in pre-clinical models. It is likely that that the continued development of an active wound healing treatment such as this will improve the lives of many Australians, including the elderly, diabetic and obese.

http://www.aips.net.au/tall-poppies/sa-tall-poppies/past-sa-tall-poppy-winners/2017-south-australian-award-winners/

Deakin University has announced that it is establishing its fifth research institute, the Institute for Healthcare Transformation. The new Institute will “deliver cutting edge health systems research, nationally and internationally”, according to an official statement. “This outward facing, collaborative initiative will leverage the University’s research strengths in health, building the scale and scope to support world-class health systems research, eHealth and health innovation. The new Institute will link researchers from diverse disciplines with a common focus on health by establishing multi-disciplinary collaborative approaches both within Deakin and across external organisations. New and existing partnerships with government, NGOs, industry and the community sector will further enhance the impact of our research.” The new institute will draw on the core expertise of two key Faculty of Health strategic research centres, the Centre for Population Health Research and the Centre for Quality and Patient Safety, along with other Faculty of Health research groups. It will also align with the Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, and the newly-announced ARC Research Hub for Digital Enhanced Living that will be based at Deakin. Ms Rebecca Bartel has joined Deakin as Executive Lead of the new Institute, after several years as Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Healthcare Research. Initially, she will be responsible for setting up the necessary governance and operational processes, as well as strategic business and communication plans. The Faculty is in the process of appointing a Director for the Institute.

http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/research-news/articles/new-health-institute-seeks-better-systems-of-health

Curtin University has awarded the title of Emeritus Professor to Professor Michael Alpers from the Faculty of Health Sciences, in recognition of his distinguished service to the University. Professor Alpers is a Professor of International Health. His extensive research career has focused on infectious diseases, particularly tropical diseases. He has published over 300 peer reviewed articles, and he played a major role in unravelling the mystery of prion disease. Prions are proteins whose abnormal forms cause a group of diseases including mad cow disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). The title of Emeritus Professor is awarded to a Professor who is within six months of retirement and has demonstrated a distinguished service and commitment to the University.

http://news.curtin.edu.au/media-releases/curtin-university-honours-three-outstanding-academics/

Flinders University has announced the appointment of Professor Alison Kitson as inaugural Vice-President and Executive Dean in its new College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Professor Kitson has over 200 publications and brings more than 30 years of experience in academic leadership and innovation to the role. She joins Flinders from the University of Adelaide where she has been Dean and Head of the School of Nursing. Professor Kitson’s prior roles include Executive Director of Nursing (Innovation and Reform) for the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, and Executive Director of Nursing at the Royal College of Nursing in the UK.

http://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2017/08/08/inaugural-leader-joins-college-nursing-health-sciences/