Bulletin #0093
winter 2018
Health by stealth options in new transport project A new study will investigate ways to make Tasmania’s commuting habits healthier. Led by Menzies’ researcher Dr Verity Cleland, the “Health by Stealth” study will look at the most effective ways of encouraging people to leave their cars at home and instead incorporate physical activity into their travel. Working closely with three local partners: Metro Tasmania, the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services and the Local Government Association of Tasmania, the researchers plan to gain a better understanding of travel behaviours by examining existing local, state and national data sources. The project, which includes researchers from the Menzies, Deakin University and the University of Sydney, was recently awarded a $272,361 grant from the National Health
WINT E R Ap p ea l
and Medical Research Council. Dr Cleland hopes the study will identify incentives that will “help to make the healthy choice the easy choice” for commuters in Tasmania, where car dependency is high. With active commuters having significantly lower cardiovascular risk than passive commuters, and public transport users accumulating, on average, up to 33 minutes per day more physical activity than car drivers, there are a multitude of reasons why active transport is a good idea. “Apart from the physical health gains associated
There are a multitude of reasons why active transport is a good idea
Help us find better ways to respond to heart attacks
Heart attack is a life-threatening event, predominantly caused by coronary heart disease. Heart attack occurs when a blood vessel supplying the heart is suddenly blocked, threatening to damage the heart muscle and its functions.
Each year around 54,000 people suffer a heart attack and in 2016, an average of 22 Australians died from a heart attack every day. It is estimated
with additional [physical] activity, it also has the benefit of reducing traffic congestion and accidents, increasing social contact and connectedness and reducing air pollution,” Dr Cleland said.
430,000 Australians have had a heart attack at some point in their lives. When a heart attack occurs it requires immediate response
and intervention. Current methods are limited to “stent” and fibrinolysis. Dr Kaz Negishi, a Menzies cardiologist, senior lecturer and National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow, is proposing a world-first trial of a new technique called sonothrombolysis that, in small
How to donatE
The study will generate some of the first evidence internationally about the effectiveness of financial strategies to increase active and public transport use, and will provide crucial information for policy and planning, which will be particularly relevant for small cities and regional areas like Tasmania.
pilot studies so far, has been shown to dissolve clots with a much higher success rate than the current method. Our Winter Appeal is to support Dr Negishi’s work on this trial. Please consider a gift, no matter how small, to support this research.
Go to the Donate tab at menzies.utas.edu.au, or return the donation slip attached to this Bulletin. You can also call 1800 638 124 or 03 6226 7700.
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Director’s message Welcome to the 2018 Winter Bulletin Peer-reviewed research with impact never happens in isolation, and we are very aware at Menzies of the importance of partnerships in enabling us to take on and complete our best work. This Bulletin contains some excellent examples of this.
It reminds me of that quote from Aristotle... that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
It is wonderful to see the involvement of Tasmanian organisations from outside the research sector in Dr Verity Cleland’s ‘Health by Stealth’ NHMRC Partnership grant. Dr Cleland’s research brings together Menzies, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Metro Tasmania and the Local Government Association of
Tasmania. Together we are trying to understand what incentives and infrastructure will motivate people to leave their cars at home and build physical activity into their transport. Another example is Dr Shannon Melody’s research into the availability of cigarettes, which could not have happened without the
tobacco retail outlet data that was collected by DHHS. Our partnership with the community is evident in the May Measurement Month initiative and in all the studies that rely on community participation (see the list on page 6). It reminds me of that quote from Aristotle ... that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. With our research collaborators, our funding organisations and the community that supports us, we certainly believe that to be the case. Regards,
Professor Alison Venn Director
tobacco
Cigarettes most available to Tasmania’s disadvantaged Cigarettes are more readily available in Tasmania’s most regional and remote areas, and areas of socio-economic disadvantage, compared to other areas, a new study has found. Menzies public health researchers, working with the Department of Health and Human Services found that the density of outlets that sell cigarettes was 79% greater in suburbs or towns in outer regional, remote and very remote Tasmania than in inner regional Tasmania. Suburbs or towns in Tasmania with the greatest socio-economic disadvantage had more than twice the
number of tobacco outlets per 1000 people compared to areas of least disadvantage. Lead researcher Dr Shannon Melody said the findings were important because easier access to tobacco was likely to contribute to higher tobacco consumption and tobacco-related harm. She said international research suggested that tobacco outlet density and proximity are associated
greater density of outlets in outer regional, remote and very remote Tasmania than in inner regional Tasmania
with youth experimentation, smoking by young people and adults, and reduced success in quitting by established smokers. “We know that a greater amount of time, effort and cost in obtaining tobacco has an impact on the prevalence of smoking,” Dr Melody said, adding that the potential to address these inequities through licencing required further investigation.
A greater amount of time, effort and cost in obtaining tobacco has an impact on the prevalence of smoking Smoke study: Lead researcher Dr Shannon Melody.
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MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Group effort: May was an important month in the MS calendar, with the MS researchers at Menzies donning red lab coats to show their support for the Kiss Goodbye to MS campaign and for World MS Day on May 30. For more information on our MS research visit www.menzies.utas.edu.au/ms
Nobel recognition for MS researcher One of Menzies’ many promising young researchers has been chosen for recognition at a global gathering of Nobel Laureates. Sharing knowledge and experience: Dr Yuan Zhou.
Dr Yuan Zhou, a postdoctoral researcher under the mentorship of Professor Bruce Taylor, is one of eight rising stars from around Australia selected to attend the highly prestigious annual international gathering of Nobel Laureates and promising young scientists. Dr Zhou said he was excited and proud to be attending the meeting in Lindau, Germany, which is setting a record for the most Nobel Laureates at a medicine meeting. “Like my colleagues, the work I do is not for personal recognition but it will be an excellent opportunity to meet other scientists from around the world and share our knowledge and experiences,” Dr Zhou said.
“The annual Lindau meeting furthers the reach and aims of scientific achievements and makes a lasting contribution to scientific knowledge by bringing together scientists of different generations, cultures and disciplines.”
This will be an invaluable experience The Director of Menzies, Professor Alison Venn, said this recognition from the Australian Academy of Science and the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings was a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity. “Yuan will be joining almost
600 other scientists under the age of 35 to present his research identifying genetic variants and environmental factors that influence the development of multiple sclerosis,” Professor Venn said.
“Not only will this be an invaluable experience for him personally to have access to some of the brightest research minds around the world, it also showcases the exciting developments Menzies has been making in MS research.” Since 1998 Menzies has been at the forefront of some of the most important MS research and advancements in the world. Dr Zhou is supported by an MS Research Australia Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and a Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation project grant.
IOOF Foundation’s generous support The IOOF Foundation has awarded $300,000 to Menzies’ MS WorkSmart Program. This innovative program is focused on providing evidencedbased information that people living with MS can use in their daily life and workplace. It is a web-based self-management tool and will include training modules, quizzes and multi-media elements. Menzies epidemiologist Associate Professor Ingrid van der Mei is leading this work.
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Researcher profile
Saliu Balogun Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
You have joined the Menzies staff relatively recently, what were you doing before this? I recently completed my PhD at Menzies examining the long-term risk factors for agerelated loss of muscle mass and function among older adults. I also investigated the impact of agerelated muscle loss on important health outcomes such as falls, fractures, health-related quality of life and mortality risk.
What is the current focus of your research? The overall aim of my research is to improve the independence and quality of life of older people. Among my current projects, I am investigating the interplay between
The overall aim of my research is to improve the independence and quality of life of older people
obesity and sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) in the prediction of adverse health outcomes such as knee structural changes and knee replacement surgery. I am also studying the lifestyle and modifiable risk factors, osteoarthritis, falls, multimorbidity and frailty in older people. What are some of the recent findings from your work? We recently published studies which showed, for the first time, that in addition to differences between individuals, fluctuations in physical activity, vitamin D, knee pain and functional limitation over time within the same individual is associated with muscle loss and falls risk. Using physical activity as an example,
this finding suggests that, irrespective of an individual’s usual level of physical activity, an occasional increase in physical activity can have additional beneficial effects on muscle mass, muscle strength and it also reduces the risk of falls. Nevertheless, the health benefit of an occasional increase in physical activity is smaller when compared to consistently high physical activity.
and organisations who make regular donations to support research at Menzies. What is the most interesting aspect of your work? The most exciting aspect of my work is that it is intellectually stimulating. Every research project presents different challenges and the process of addressing these challenges can help to uncover new knowledge. The joy that comes with finding something new or being part of a team that is the first to describe something is also very exciting.
What is the biggest challenge in your area of research? A major challenge is securing funding to continue exciting research projects with the potential to improve the health and quality of life for older people. This challenge is alleviated by the kind generosity of individuals
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Cycling and watching sci-fi movies.
Thank you to all of our donors for your ongoing financial support and commitment to Menzies The following individual and community supporters donated for the first time between mid-February and late May. CWA – Bruny Island Dr Peter Flett Lodge Lindisfarne Branch Ms Patricia Hutchinson No 46TC
Mr Theron Russell Tea Tree Golf Club Ladies Committee
Ms Pam Von Stieglitz Mr Ryan Walker Ms Caroline Wells Ms Helen West
West Hobart Neighbourhood Watch Ms Margaret Worladge
Listed below are our Everyday Angels – our supporters who make regular gifts to Menzies. Mr Timothy Albion Mr Peter Cochrane & Mrs Judy & Mrs Teisha & Ms Miranda Harman Mr Trevor Grant Mr Aaron Archer Mr A M Cornish AO Mr Garth & Mrs Jennifer & Mr Robert & Mrs Brenda Haas Mr Lionel Banks Mrs Gloria Cotgrove Mrs Susan Haigh Mrs Jan Barren Mrs Diane & Mr Philip Hand Mrs Larissa & Mr Jonothan Davis Ms Tess Harvey-Mount Mr David Bartlett Ms Moya Deigan & Ms Judith Hastie Ms Janet Beadle Mr John Borojevic Mrs Shirley & Mrs Kathleen Bevis Ms Carolyn Dunnewijk Mr Frederick Heath Mrs Pamela Blunt Mrs Patricia & Miss Judy Ms Kathleen Mr Donald Edwards Hebblethwaite Brient Mr Josh & Ms Alison Ms Beverley Brown Mrs Felicity Ey Hennessy Mrs Jane Burrell & Dr Derek & Mrs Susan L Hinds Mr Lloyd Sokvitne Mrs Elizabeth Findlay Ms Di Hodel Ms Jill M Cassidy Mr Peter Fountain Mr John W Hudson Dr Susan R Cherry Mrs Beverley Geard Ms Shelley Hunter Mrs Emma & Mr Don & Mrs Ms Carol Hurst Mr Timothy Claridge Margaret Goff Mr Gary & Mrs Anita & Mr Mr Geoffrey & Mrs Susan Jacobson Michael Clarkson Mrs Julia Goss Mrs Wendy Jefferies
Mr Raymond & Ms Dianne Jones Mrs Margaret & Mr Alan Keogh Ms Margaret Knight Ms Sabina Lane Mrs Terry & Mr Ian Law Ms Anne & Mr Anthony Le Clerc Ms Rebecca Lipscombe Mrs Jane & Mr Nicholas Lovibond Mr David T MacLeod Mrs Marie Magill Mrs Betty M Marshall Mr Dugald McDougall Mr Marcus McEwan Mrs Helen McKibben Mrs Frances Joan McKinlay Ms Kate McQuaid Mrs Philippa Micklem
Dr Ken & Mrs Yvonne Milton Mr Sam Mollard Mr Peter Morgan Ms Wendy Noye Mrs Anita Nutting Mrs Astrid A O’Toole Mrs Sally Oakley Mrs Jennifer A Parsons Miss Alison Parsons Kim Paterson Mrs Glenda Paton Mr Andrew J Pitt Mr Nathan & Mrs Christabel Porter Mrs Pamela Rabbidge Ms Jillian Reade Mr Alan & Mrs Jancis Rees Mrs Margaret & Mr Brian Richardson Mrs Jill & Mr Eric Robinson Mrs Frances M Russon
Mrs June Scott Mrs Susan Sluce Mr Richard & Mrs Gwynneth Sperring Mr Alex Stanelos Miss Amber C Sturges Ms Carmel Taylor Mrs Cynthia Tennant Mrs Brenda Triffitt Mrs Rosemary Van den Berk Mr Walter & Mrs Robin Verth Mrs Anne Warren Mr Peter Weldon Mr John & Mrs Kathlyn Wheatley Mrs Kathryn Whitchurch Ms Barbara White Ms Mandy J Williams Ms Janice Wilson Mrs Elizabeth Woolley Hypertronics Tasmania
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Research highlights
Improving the heart of health care
Global effort to reduce blood pressure Menzies has once again taken blood pressure research into the community for May Measurement Month (MMM18) as part of one of the biggest public health screening exercises in the world.
Every working day in May our Blood Pressure Research Group took to the streets of Hobart. We had fantastic participation at our stalls in the Elizabeth St Mall, Salamanca, the Glenorchy City Council, Medical Sciences Precinct and Royal Hobart Hospital. Businesses such as Aurora Energy, Hobart City Council and IOOF also took part. The results will be pooled with millions of others to contribute to a global picture of the seriousness of high blood pressure. Deputy Director and leader of blood pressure research at Menzies, Professor
Our thanks to all those who contributed to medical research
James Sharman, said raised blood pressure caused approximately 9.4 million deaths each year worldwide, with Tasmania having the highest prevalence of high blood pressure among all Australian states and territories. “Sometimes there are no symptoms of high blood pressure and people only find out after suffering a heart attack or stroke, or after being diagnosed with something else, such as heart or kidney disease,” Professor Sharman said. Our thanks to all those who contributed to medical research (and to their own good health) by participating in MMM18. The first research paper from the global effort for MMM17 has been published in the prestigious Lancet journal. More research papers from MMM17 and MMM18 will follow.
A national policy to assist patients with heart failure after their release from hospital could reduce hospital re-admissions and save the health budget millions of dollars, new research has found. In Australia, about 30,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year, and the annual costs for heart failure re-admissions exceed $1 billion. The call for a national policy to address this follows a study of more than 900 patients with heart failure across the country. The study, by researchers at Menzies and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, showed differences in early re-admission rates after hospitalisation for heart failure could be primarily explained by differences in their post-discharge management. The lead author of the study is former Menzies Director and now Director of the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Professor Tom Marwick. “This study shows a strategic approach to the management of heart failure patients after they leave hospital could enhance their outcomes and reduce hospital costs, and supports the call by the National Heart Foundation for a systematic approach to chronic heart failure based on a uniform model of care,” he said. The study was published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
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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Genetics researcher helped forge our path It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Dr Michele Sale, a former Menzies staff member, colleague and mentor of several current staff.
Influential: Dr Michele Sale.
Her pride in the successes of her students is a continued source of inspiration for those who knew her
Michele joined the University of Tasmania in 1998 in the Department of Biochemistry and established a molecular genetics and genetic epidemiology research program. She joined Menzies in 2000 as a founding member of the laboratory-based genetics research program. In 2002, Michele moved to Wake Forest University in North Carolina and subsequently to the University of Virginia, where she continued to conduct leading research into the genetics of diabetes and heart disease. During her short time at the University she had a major influence on many people, supervising staff and students
who have since established independent research careers at Menzies and beyond. The passion with which Michele conducted her research, combined with her attention to detail, her pride in the successes of her students and her conviction that her work would improve the health and wellbeing of people with inherited disease is a continued source of inspiration for those who knew her. She died peacefully on Sunday 29th April following a long battle with cancer. Our thoughts go out to her family.
AirRater app’s interstate impact Menzies has successfully secured a contract with the ACT Department of Health to support the launch and ongoing operation of the AirRater smartphone app in the ACT. Menzies has also obtained a contract from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning in Victoria to work in collaboration with the CSIRO to use a modified version of the app to improve the tracking of smoke resulting from planned burns. Menzies researcher Associate Professor Fay Johnston’s AirRater team has developed the app to allow users to match asthma and hay fever symptoms with environmental conditions at the time, building a picture of potential environmental triggers Download from the App Store or Google Play.
STUDIES RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS
METHODS: This randomised controlled trial of methotrexate is seeking participants aged 40 -70 years with moderate to severe hand joint pain. The study aims to reduce pain and swelling and slow joint damage in people with symptomatic hand osteoarthritis and synovitis. Contact: Kathy Buttigieg on (03) 6226 6909 or Kathy.Buttigieg@utas.edu.au. CurKOA trial: A randomised trial of turmeric (Curcuma Longa) for treating symptoms and effusion-synovitis of knee osteoarthritis is seeking participants aged 40 years or more who have significant knee pain and swelling on most days, are able to have a knee MRI, and have access to email and web browsing. Contact: Gudrun.Wells@utas. edu.au or (03) 6226 4369. Tasmanian Chronic Kidney Disease Study is seeking people over 18 years of age who have severe chronic kidney disease (eGFR less than 30mls/ min/1.73m2) AND who are not receiving dialysis or a kidney
transplant. Participation requires an appointment for one to two hours. Contact: Hannah. RobertTissot@utas.edu.au or (03) 6226 7761. QUARTET: An investigator initiated and conducted, multicentre, randomised double blind controlled trial to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of ultra-low-dose quadruple combination therapy (‘LDQT’) in patients with hypertension. Contact: Kirby.Donaldson@ utas.edu.au or (03) 6226-4802. The Menzies Blood Pressure Clinic is a community service offered to improve the care of people with problems related to high blood pressure. The clinic uses the latest methods dedicated to the investigation and management of high blood pressure. People referred to the clinic undergo various blood pressure tests, as well as comprehensive risk assessments. A report is then sent to the referring GP. All services are bulk-billed. Contact: Adam Kane (03) 6226-4710 or Menzies.BPclinic@utas.edu.au.
PPMS: Primary Progressive MS Study into risk factors for the onset and rate of progression of Primary Progressive MS. Contact: Alice Saul (03) 6226-4269 or ppms.study@utas.edu.au or 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 (03) 6226 4739 or AMSLS.Info@ utas.edu.au, www.msra.org.au/ AMSLS KAROAKE: A randomised trial of krill oil for osteoarthritis of the knee to examine use of krill oil to improve knee pain and slow down 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; able to have a knee MRI. Contact: Carole.Goff@utas.edu.au or (03) 6226 4648.
Genetics of Eye Diseases for genetic studies in diabetic retinopathy (participants should have Type 2 Diabetes treated with medication for at least 5 years, or Type 1 Diabetes); keratconus (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 (03) 6226 4731 AirRater is recruiting people in Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory 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 STAREE: STAtins in Reducing Events in the Elderly investigating whether a statin can prolong good health and maintain independence among people aged 70 years and older. Contact: staree@ monash.edu or 1800 770 664
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Menzies Bulletin Winter 2018
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More than flowers In Memoriam
One sentence in your Will can fund life-saving medical research. If you would like more information, please contact the Institute Advancement Manager on 03 6226 4236. Bequests save lives by funding research. Thank you.
We gratefully acknowledge gifts made from the following estates: Estate of the late Alice Ann Coombs Estate of the late Janet Mary Patterson Estate of the late Joseph Henry McCormack Estate of the late Douglas Bleath Estate of the late Olive Ruth Atherton We gratefully acknowledge gifts made in honour of: Mr Roger A Bradburn Mr Barry J Cowen Mr John E Dean Mr Alan Denholm Ms Margaret D Griffin Mrs Heatherbell Harvey Mr Gordon Noel Kerrison Mr Anthony (Tony) E Long Ms Irene M Martin Mr Edward C Mayne Mr Chris Peachey Mrs Margaret Phillips Mrs Barbara Sattler Ms Mary E Semple Mr George Seyfried Mr Brian D Sly Mr James A W Swan Ms Kerry J Thompson Mr Norman Watson Mr Derek Wise