Bulletin
#86 SPRING 2016
Air quality app applauded for disaster resilience contribution
Breathe easy: Dr Fay Johnston and app developer Chris Lucani check on the pollen in Hobart’s Knocklofty Reserve.
HEALTH INNOVATION
The AirRater smartphone app, led by Menzies environmental health researcher Dr Fay Johnston, has been recognised for its contribution to disaster resilience. In September AirRater won the Tasmanian Community section of the State Emergency Services 2016 Resilient Awards and is now eligible for a national Resilient Australia Award. The awards recognise projects that make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to manage any emergency situation. AirRater assists people with hay fever, allergies, asthma and other lung diseases and is now used by more than 1300 Tasmanians. Data is gathered for the app from air-quality sensors installed across Tasmania and from real-time weather data and forecasts, giving users information about pollen, particulate matter and temperature in their immediate area.
We are excited about our future opportunities and can’t wait to see what else we can achieve in the next year
This helps people to plan ahead because they can build up a picture of the air quality changes that might trigger their symptoms. In a separate competition, AirRater has also received a Merit award in the Community Services category of the Australian Information Industry Association National iAwards, which celebrate innovation in the digital economy. Dr Johnston said the
PART OF A GLOBAL RESEARCH COMMUNITY One of the ways in which Menzies has grown over its 27 years is through attracting an increasing number of staff and students from overseas. The Institute was established in 1988 (as the Menzies Centre for Population Health Research). In 2000 it was still a small centre, with 36 staff and research
students, however since then Menzies has seen an average annual increase in staff and students of 47%, and at the end of June this year Menzies had 284 staff and students. Of the 96 postgraduate research students enrolled at Menzies at the end of June this year, about two-thirds have come from overseas to study with us.
recognition would help the team to extend the app into other areas in Australia and elsewhere in the world. At the moment it is only operating in Tasmania. “We are excited about our future opportunities and can’t wait to see what else we can achieve in the next year,” she said. AirRater is a collaboration between Menzies, the University of Tasmania School of Biological Sciences, the Tasmania Environment
Protection Authority, CSIRO, the Australian National University and the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services. It is funded by Sense-T, which is a partnership between the University, CSIRO and the Tasmanian Government. www.airrater.org
Menzies has an established collaboration agreement with Anhui Medical University in China which has led to 28 students coming to Menzies to undertake their PhDs, with a further six students arriving in October. Menzies also has a Memorandum of Understanding with X’ian Jiaotong University. Apart from the students, Menzies currently has two Visiting Fellows from China and in the past has hosted Research
Fellows from Anhui, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Kunming. We also have clinicianresearchers from overseas working with us and the Royal Hobart Hospital. Apart from China we have students from Vietnam, Mexico, Columbia, France, Sri Lanka, India, the United Kingdom, Russia and Japan. “We need to attract the best people in our research areas
The AirRater app can be downloaded from the Apple Store and Google Play.
Continued on following page
Menzies Bulletin Spring 2016 1
Director’s message Welcome to the Menzies Bulletin for Spring 2016. It has been wonderful to see so many of our supporters at our public events in the past few months – starting with all the school children who came through the Festival of Bright Ideas, and then our public talk on Stroke for Science Week, the Student Showcase for Research Week and then the Menzies Debate.
This allows us to take part in the global conversation on health
We also held our annual morning tea for scholarships donors, giving them the opportunity to meet the research students they are supporting and receive an update on the progress of their research projects. These events are an invaluable opportunity for us to meet you, the people who are central to our mission of medical research that will lead to healthier, longer and better lives for Tasmanians. I hope every one of you who
has come along to one of our events in the past couple of months has gone away feeling better informed about what we do at Menzies and about the progress we are making in the diseases that have the biggest impact in Tasmania. But as you can see from our story on the cover, we are not just focused on Tasmania. We are fortunate to be attracting talented researchers from around the world to work with us. This allows us to take part in the global conversation on
health while exchanging ideas and expertise and, importantly for our population health research, gaining access to large international data sets. Since the last Bulletin we have seen the release of the State Government’s Healthy Tasmania Five Year Strategic Plan. We welcome the commitments made to support Tasmanians in making healthy choices and also look forward to the Government’s continuing conversation with the community and key stakeholders on our health challenges, including the opportunity for input on evidence-based practice. I hope you enjoy our Spring Bulletin for 2016. Kind regards,
Professor Alison Venn
THE ART OF CHRISTMAS GREETING CARD COLLECTION Menzies’ 2016 card range includes original artworks donated by acclaimed Tasmanian artists. The proceeds from our Art of Christmas card collection go directly to medical research at Menzies. This beautiful card by local artist Cathy McAuliffe is just one of the images available this year. Simply order your Christmas and greeting cards by completing the enclosed order form and returning it to Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Greeting Card Orders, University of Tasmania, Reply Paid 77465, Hobart TAS 7000.
PART OF A GLOBAL RESEARCH COMMUNITY…
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
INCOMING TALENT . . . Dr Kang Wang (left) and Dr Liutan Tu (second from left) have come from China and are working with Professor Changhai Ding on two different projects related to knee osteoarthritis. Dr Tomoko Negishi has come to Menzies from Japan and is working on the SUCCOUR trial, which is examining the possible increased risk of heart problems in people who have had chemotherapy for breast cancer or lymphoma. Dr Alexandr Kuzminov has
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Menzies Bulletin Spring 2016
come from Russia to undertake a PhD on revisional bariatric surgery, and is also working as a surgeon at the Royal Hobart Hospital. They are just four of many researchers and students who have come to collaborate and learn at Menzies.
from around the world to help us stay competitive,” the Menzies Director, Professor Alison Venn, said. “International collaboration is critical to our success and being able to attract staff and students from overseas encourages that collaboration and flow of ideas.” Professor Changhai Ding is Menzies Associate Director (International) and recently received the University of Tasmania Vice-Chancellor’s Award recognising an Outstanding Research Program. He said the appeal of Menzies for international staff and students was twofold: “We have a fantastic academic environment at Menzies and a beautiful natural environment in Hobart.”
THANK YOU
to our scholarship donors Our 2016 Scholarships Morning Tea celebrated the contribution of the many generous supporters who provide for scholarships at Menzies. This year we have donations towards 31 scholarships in total (including 12 Honours scholarships, 12 PhD top-up scholarships and seven PhD scholarships). Our supporters for these scholarships include TasNetworks, Parkinson’s Tasmania and the Tasmanian Police Charity Trust. Supporters at the morning tea were able to meet with students and their supervisors, who provided an update on the progress of their research. Scholarships at Menzies are crucial in nurturing the next generation of medical researchers and health professionals. They allow our student researchers to focus on their studies, knowing their costs of living are largely met. To find out about how you can support a scholarship at Menzies, please contact our Advancement Coordinator, Samantha Jackson, on 03 6226-7782 or email menzies. advancement@utas.edu.au.
STUDIES RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS COAST-1: Clinical Knee Osteoarthritis Symptom Treatment 1 Study to determine whether AXS02 (disodium zoledronate tetrahydrate) can relieve pain caused by knee osteoarthritis. Participants must be: aged 50 years or more; have moderate to severe knee pain most days; be able to have a knee MRI scan. Contact: Kathy Buttigieg 6226-6909 or Kathy.Buttigieg@utas.edu.au KAROAKE: A randomised trial of krill oil for osteoarthritis of the knee to examine use of krill oil to improve knee pain and slow progression of knee osteoarthritis. Participants must be: aged 40 years or more; have significant knee pain and swelling most days for at least six months; be able to have a knee MRI. Contact: Carole Goff 6226-4648, Carole.Goff@utas.edu.au INVEST: INvestigating obEsity Surgery in Tasmania. Participants need to have been referred to a surgeon for weight loss surgery. Contact: Dr Michelle Kilpatrick, obesitysurgery.study@utas.edu.au, or 6226-4630.
Genetics of Eye Diseases for genetic studies in diabetic retinopathy (participants should have Type 2 Diabetes treated with medication for at least five years, or Type 1 Diabetes); keratoconus (participants should have keratoconus diagnosed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist); and advanced glaucoma (participants should have any type of glaucoma with severe vision loss treated by an ophthalmologist). Contact: maria.cooper@dhhs.tas.gov. au or 6226-4731 AirRater is recruiting Tasmanians with asthma, hay fever or other lung conditions, or carers of those with these conditions. Contact: 1800 322 102 or air.rater@utas.edu.au Using an activity monitor and smart device application to improve physical therapy after stroke – a pilot study is recruiting people in the Hobart region who have had a stroke in the past two years. Contact: Dawn.Simpson@utas.edu. au or Michele Callisaya 6226-4785 (Mon, Thur, Fri)
STAREE: STAtins in Reducing Events in the Elderly is investigating whether a statin can prolong good health and maintain independence among people aged 70 years and older. Contact: staree@monash.edu, Phone: 1800 770 664 Caught-CAD: Reducing Risk of Coronary Artery Disease in Families is looking for people who are between 40-70 years of age; have a close family member (parent, brother or sister) who has had a heart attack, stent or surgery under the age of 60, and are not currently taking a statin. Contact: Kristyn Whitmore 6226-4235 or Menzies.CAUGHT@utas.edu.au PPMS: Primary Progressive MS Study into risk factors for the onset and rate of progression of Primary Progressive MS. Contact: Susan Dobson 6226-4269 or ppms.study@utas.edu.au www.menzies.utas.edu.au/PPMS AMSLS: The Australian MS Longitudinal Study to provide data of practical use for improving the lives of Australians living with MS. Contact: Kirsty Hawkes 6226‑4739 or AMSLS.Info@utas.edu.au, www.msra.org.au/AMSLS
Menzies Bulletin Spring 2016 3
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Professor Peter Dargaville
You have recently become a staff member at Menzies ... Where have you come from? I have been a full-time specialist at the Royal Hobart Hospital for the past 11 years, working in the Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. Before that I was a Newborn Specialist at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. I’ve been involved in newborn lung research for just over 20 years. What is the current focus of your research? The main objectives of my research are to gain a more complete understanding of the lung diseases that trouble newborn infants,
and to refine and improve the treatments we apply. Even though we’ve come a long way, there’s a lot more to find out about what’s happening within the diseased lungs of a sick newborn, and how we can deal with it. The main themes of my research currently are a less-invasive approach to surfactant therapy, more refined methods of providing breathing support, and an innovative solution to the problem of controlling oxygen therapy.
What are some of the recent findings from your work? Around seven years ago we developed a less-invasive technique for giving a drug called
surfactant into the lungs of a premature baby (the ‘Hobart method’). In our first clinical studies we found this approach to be safe and potentially effective in the treatment of surfactant deficiency, which is the chief cause of respiratory failure in premature newborns. This has led on to a clinical trial (the OPTIMIST trial), which is now running in 20 centres in six countries. With a different research team, including University of Tasmania Mechatronic Engineers, we have developed a device to automatically control oxygen therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which was found to be highly effective in keeping oxygen levels in the desired range in our first clinical study. Further studies of this device are now being conducted,
a patent application has been made, and commercialisation opportunities are being pursued.
What is the biggest challenge in your area of research? I would say the biggest challenge is in trying to do world-class research from this relatively small base – it’s about having belief, and making sure there is a good team of people working on the right projects. And, of course there’s the challenge of getting the funding, and in that regard it has been wonderful to have support from the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation, which has been the springboard to NHMRC funding for numerous Tasmanian medical research projects, including one of mine.
In so many ways, I find babies perpetually fascinating
What is the most interesting aspect of your work? In so many different ways, I find babies perpetually fascinating. Premature babies in particular – an extraordinary mix of incredible resilience and extreme vulnerability in one small package. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I’m a tennis player, and have a golf club membership but haven’t been seen on the course for a while. I also like to take my family on the road less travelled, which has led to some great adventures over the years. And for a combination of relaxation and frustration, I support the Saints!
Listen to an ABC 936 interview with Professor Dargaville here: https:// soundcloud.com/936abc-hobart/tasmanianresearch-helping-premature-babies
SHOWCASE
A showcase of Menzies talent We celebrated the University of Tasmania’s Research Week (August 29 – September 2) this year with a display of student work including posters and short presentations.
For the first time in 2016 Menzies ran a competition for the best student poster, with the winner receiving $1000 in funds for conference travel. A team of 13 early-career researchers judged the
Communicating: Eight students gave short presentations on their research at the Student Showcase. From left, Hoang Phan, Johanna Jones, Brooklyn Fraser, Dean Picone, Ishanka Munugoda, Saliu Balogun and Tongcui Jiang. Ruth Pye is absent.
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Menzies Bulletin Spring 2016
students’ posters on the criteria of presentation, data quality, impact and verbal response to the judges’ questions. Posters are regularly used as a way of communicating research at academic conferences and as such are an important part of PhD training. The Menzies Student Showcase poster prize for 2016 went to Yi Yang, who is researching musculoskeletal conditions with Professor Graeme Jones. We also had eight students give short verbal presentations on their research areas as part of the Student Showcase. Another highlight of Research Week for Menzies was the
success of PhD student Hoang Phan in winning the People’s Choice Award in the University of Tasmania Three Minute Thesis (3MT) finals. Hoang’s presentation was on Sex Differences in Long-term Mortality and Disability of Stroke in the INternational STroke oUtComes sTudy (INSTRUCT): a Meta-analysis of Individual Patient Data. Now a multinational event, 3MT cultivates research students’ academic, presentation and research communication skills. Candidates must effectively explain their research in three minutes and in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
2016 Menzies Debate … Were you one of the 220 people who came along to the 2016 Menzies Debate on September 7?
If not you can still see the debate online – just go to www.menzies. utas.edu.au and scroll down to the video section at the bottom of the homepage. This year our debate asked the question of whether the stem cell revolution in medical science was more hype than hope. The majority of the audience voted for
The hope team: Dr Joy Rathjen (School of Medicine), Dr Kaylene Young (Menzies) and Associate Professor Alex Hewitt (Menzies/School of Medicine).
the ‘hope’ team, both before and after the debate. But the hype team picked up more votes after the debate than before, meaning that they won the discussion on the night. Thanks to all those who came along, to our panel of expert debaters and also to the debate moderator, Bernie Hobbs.
The hype team: Associate Professor Tracey Dickson (Menzies), Professor Dominic Rowe (Macquarie University) and Professor Martin Pera (University of Melbourne).
Above: Bernie Hobbs was back to moderate her third Menzies Debate.
EXHIBITION
‘Memories’ art exhibition helps Alzheimer’s research An evening of art and performance has raised $10,000 for Alzheimer’s Disease research at Menzies. The organiser of the event, Mrs Diane Casimaty, knows firsthand how devastating Alzheimer’s Disease can be, with her husband Theodore living with the disease.
Alzheimer’s researchers at Menzies are focused on understanding what happens at a cellular level in the brain of people with the disease. The generosity of the Casimaty family and those who attended the fundraising evening has enabled the purchase of equipment that will help researchers to work out
the types of memory that are compromised in the disease. This is a critical step toward the development of early intervention strategies to slow disease progression. If you are thinking about how to raise money for medical research in Tasmania, contact
This is a critical step towards early intervention
our Advancement Coordinator, Samantha Jackson, on 03 62267782 or Samantha. Jackson@utas.edu.au to find out how we can help.
Community: Diane Casimaty (centre) and other family members at Menzies with Alzheimer’s researchers Associate Professor Tracey Dickson (far left) and Dr Kaylene Young (far right).
Would you prefer to receive our publications and invitations by email? If so, simply let us know by sending an email to enquiries@menzies.utas.edu.au. Alternatively, to update postal details please tick the box on the tear-off slip attached to the Bulletin and return it to us. If you use the Reply Paid address at the bottom of the tear-off slip you won’t need a stamp.
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GALA BALL
Seconds Count Gala Ball raises another $67,000 for breast cancer research The Seconds Count Gala Ball, was held again in June and raised $67,000 for research into secondary breast cancer, taking the tally for the events over two years to $130,000. The leader of the Cancer, Genetics and Immunology research theme at Menzies, Associate Professor Jo Dickinson, said the ultimate research aim in this area was to find new therapies to treat secondary cancers. “We are working on understanding the changes in important molecules on the surface of cancer cells, and how these molecules control how the cells spread.” The Seconds Count Gala Ball organiser Kim Upton said the willingness of so many to make
Seconds Count organisers Kim Upton and Nicole Tyson in the Menzies research lab with Associate Professor Jo Dickinson (centre).
the event a success by helping, donating or custom-making items was overwhelming. “The truth is, everyone is affected by cancer in some way, shape or form and it touches people’s lives very deeply. The idea that we can make a difference to the quality or longevity of life of those diagnosed with metastatic cancer is our ultimate aim and with the help of Menzies we
think this can be achieved. We hope the proceeds from this second event will move things one step closer to this goal.” We would like to say thank you for the generosity and hard work of all those who organised, attended and donated to the Seconds Count Gala Ball. Further donations can still be made through secondscountgalaball.com.au
WINTER APPEAL A primary goal at Menzies in 2016 is to attract and retain the highest quality medical researchers. Recently we asked you to donate to our Winter Appeal and help us achieve our goal of appointing a second Menzies Institute for Medical Research Community Fellowship. Through your generosity, $85,000 dollars was donated to this appeal. Your contribution will enable us to support a second Menzies Institute for Medical Research Community Fellowship, following the appointment of neuroscientist Dr Catherine Blizzard as our first Community Fellow thanks to the 2015 Winter Appeal.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR DONORS FOR YOUR ONGOING FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO MENZIES Listed below are individual and community supporters who donated for the first time in May, June, July and early August. Denis Alcen Almameeters Greg Arnold Iris Blumer Patricia Bradley Sabatino Cesile Claremont Gardens Village Life Social Committee Barry Cox Cameron G Crawford d’Antoine Family Foundation Alice D’Costa Kimberley Davis M Dunstan Marc Furmage
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Stan Goodman Glen Goodwin Catherine Jennings Chris Lloyd-Bostock Alison Lovett Wendy Macdonald Sharon Mangleson Con Margaritas Linda Osborne Willem Overeem David Owens Gudrun Peters Jerome Plunkett Kay Potter Matysje Riske Sabita Roy Anthony Shadforth Stowport Morning Tea Group John Townsend Upper Derwent Anglers Club David Vautin Dagobert Vonier Margaret Wilson Gaye Worladge Patricia Young
Menzies Bulletin Spring 2016
Listed below are our Everyday Angels – our supporters who make regular gifts to Menzies. Tim Albion Teisha Archer Jennifer B Banks Jan Barren Larissa Bartlett Janet Beadle Kathleen B Bevis Pamela K Blunt Kathleen Brient June E Butler Susan R Cherry Emma Claridge Anita Clarkson Peter Cochrane Noela Copeman Don Cornish Robert D Cotgrove Brendon Davidson Diane and Jonothan Davis
Moya T Deigan Matty J Doering Carolyn Dunnewijk Patricia M Edwards Josh and Felicity Ey Derek Findlay Peter Fountain Beverley J Geard Don W Goff Geoffrey Goss Judy Grant Garth and Brenda Haas Susan H Haigh Philip C Hand Tess Harvey-Mount Judith Hastie Shirley Heath Susan L Hinds John W Hudson Carol J Hurst Hypertronics Tasmania Samantha J Jackson Gary and Susan Jacobson
Wendy R Jefferies Raymond and Dianne Jones Margaret K Keogh Margaret Knight Sabina Lane Terry and Ian Law Anne L Le Clerc Jane Lovibond David T MacLeod Marie L Magill Betty M Marshall Ian McConnelly Dugald G McDougall Marcus McEwan Helen I McKibben Frances J McKinlay Philippa R Micklem Sam Mollard Peter Morgan Wendy E Noye Astrid A O’Toole Sally Oakley Alison E Parsons Jennifer A Parsons Glenda J Paton
Andrew J Pitt Cleone M Probert Pamela Rabbidge Frances Russon June T Scott Susan Sluce Gwynneth Sperring Richard Sperring Alex Stanelos Amber C Sturges Carmel D Taylor Cynthia J Tennant Brenda Triffitt Rosemary Van den Berk Walter and Robyn Verth Anne L Warren John and Kathryn Wheatley Kathryn Whitchurch Barbara White Patricia A Williams Janice Wilson
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More than flowers In Memoriam May 2016 – August 2016
One sentence in your Will can fund life-saving medical research. If you would like more information, please contact the Institute Advancement Manager, Magdalena Lane, on 03 6226 4236 or email menzies.advancement@utas.edu.au. Bequests save lives by funding research. Thank you.
We gratefully acknowledge gifts made in honour of: Alan Morriss Benjamin Marthick Bruce Rayner Carleen Crawford Don Foster Donald Arnold Doug Beltz Edith Hall Edyth Langhan-Goodwin Elizabeth Harper Geoffrey Deacon Gloria Dart Graeme Rainbird Ian C Stevens Ian Stephen Janet Townsend Jennie Casson-Medhurst Maureen Maloney Maxwell Weeding Robert Budzul Sandra Fenton Stephanie Ivic Theodorus Riske Tony Jennings Winifred Broderick Bramich