Bulletin #0096
AUTUMN 2019
It takes a community to fight diseases Participation from the community continues to play a huge role in many Menzies studies, helping us gain a better understanding of disease causes, treatments and prevention. Since the 1980s and 90s, when more than 10,000 mothers and babies participated in one of Menzies’ first research projects – investigating the relationship between babies’ sleeping positions and SIDS – the Tasmanian community’s willingness to be involved in our research has helped to drive our success. More than 30 years later we still rely on research participation from the community for many of our studies. We are a bigger and more diverse institute now, and our partnership with the community is more vital than ever. Menzies has scores of projects running at any one time. Many of these are laboratory-based and don’t require participation from the community, but at the moment at least 15 projects are recruiting participants. Research projects are designed
CLINICAL TRIALS DAY
Helping hand: Some of the Menzies study co-ordinators who keep the many projects in our musculoskeletal area running smoothly - Gudrun Wells, Kate Probert, Lizzy Reid, Kate Butorac, Carole Goff and Kathy Buttigieg.
in a very specific way and therefore participants typically need to meet particular criteria relating to their age, health and medical history. In some cases people are connected to research projects for years or even decades. For example, Menzies’ Childhood Determinants of Adult Health study has followed up the same participants three times in the
Our partnership with the community is more vital than ever. past 30 years. In longitudinal studies such as this, our challenge is not to find new participants but to stay in touch with the cohort we have so that we can collect and correlate data over a lifetime. Another very significant study for us involving participants was the ASPREE study (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly), which involved more than 2000 Tasmanians.
Clinical Trials Day is celebrated on May 20 to raise awareness of the contribution made by volunteering for medical research. The date celebrates what is often considered the first randomised clinical trial, by James Lind, who trialled whether citrus fruits helped to prevent scurvy aboard a ship in May 1747.
Other projects require more regular contact between participants and study coordinators. Sometimes these projects are clinical trials that are testing a hypothesis through an ‘intervention’ such as a therapeutic drug or surgical technique. Other examples of ‘interventions’ are behaviour modification, health service changes or health education programs. Whatever the project, all research participants are contributing to better understanding of the prevention, treatment and curing of diseases. On Page 6 of this Bulletin you will find a full list of the studies that Menzies is recruiting for, including the contact details for the study coordinators. All Menzies research projects involving participants are subject to strict ethical approval guided by the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Statement of Ethical Conduct in Human Research.
For further information and the full list of studies, see Page 6.
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Director’s message Welcome to the Autumn Bulletin for 2019 Where would medical research be without the people who volunteer to participate in studies?
We are celebrating the contribution of people who participate in medical research
AUTUMN APPEAL FOR DEMENTIA RESEARCH Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia. It is a disease that has a large impact, not only on the individual living with dementia but their family, friends and carers. There is still no cure, nor clinical means to delay its progress. This year the Autumn Appeal is seeking donations towards our dementia research.
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Menzies Bulletin Autumn 2019
It would be a long way behind where it is right now, of that we can be sure. In this Bulletin, in time for International Clinical Trials Day on May 20, we are celebrating the contribution of people who participate in medical research. Without these people the amazing progress in disease prevention and treatment that has taken place since James Lind started what is believed to be the first randomised clinical trial (aboard
Understanding how neurons connect to each other to form our thoughts, memories and emotions is a challenge due to the extraordinary complexity of our brains. Within the past decade, scientists have developed sophisticated tools to begin to address this challenge. Although we now understand much of how dementia progresses and what some of the key risk factors and causes are, we do not fully understand the cascade of changes that happens in brain cells and eventually leads to their dysfunction and death. To date, much research has focused on brain cells and how cells interact. Building on this, Menzies researcher Dr Owen Marshall (pictured) and his team have developed a unique technique to further unlock our understanding of the genetic controls affecting cell changes. The technique allows us to look at how DNA within the cells in
a ship on May 20, 1747), could not have happened. This autumn we are also celebrating some very exciting news for Menzies and the multiple sclerosis (MS) community. The recent Federal Budget included $10 million for MS research at Menzies. This will make an enormous difference to our collaborative research, with the wider MS community, towards better prevention, treatment
and ultimately a cure for the disease. It is so pleasing that our capacity to secure this funding has come through our partnerships with MS organisations, MS researchers nationally and internationally, study participants and philanthropic donors.
Regards,
Professor Alison Venn Director
Research: Dr Owen Marshall
Your generosity will … lead to a better understanding of the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and its possible treatments.
HOW TO DONATE
the brain is packaged and how this packaging changes. Your support is needed to enable Dr Marshall’s team to undertake further research into the effects of changing DNA packaging in diseased brains. Your generosity will support the collection and analysis of samples, and lead to a better understanding of the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and its possible treatments.
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.
AWARDS
Aspirin research wins Menzies award A landmark paper looking at whether daily aspirin for people aged over 70 could prolong good health has won the Menzies ‘Best of the Best’ award for the outstanding journal publication from the Institute in 2018.
Recognition: Menzies Director Professor Alison Venn and the winner of the Best of the Best Award, Professor Mark Nelson.
Professor Mark Nelson is a lead author on the paper, which is one of three papers from the ASPREE trial (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) published in the New England Journal of Medicine in September 2018. The ASPREE study, led by Monash
University, involved 19,000 participants and 2000 Australian GPs, many of them from Tasmania. The ‘Best of the Best’ Award is given to the leading paper out of those judged to be the Institute’s 10 best papers of the
Best of the Best
year that have Menzies researchers as lead authors. The Executive Dean of the College of Health and Medicine, Professor Denise Fassett, presented the Menzies Excellence Awards at a celebration for academic and professional staff.
Rewarded: The Executive Dean of the College of Health and Medicine, Professor Denise Fassett, with award winners Dr Feitong Wu, Professor Graeme Jones and PhD student Guoqi Cai.
Professor Mark Nelson: ‘Effect of Aspirin on All-Cause Mortality in the Healthy Elderly’, published in The New England Journal of Medicine
Population health papers Professor Wendy Oddy: ‘Dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents’, in Brain, Behavior and Immunity Dr Marie-Jeanne Buscot: ‘Distinct child-to-adult BMI trajectories are associated with different levels of adult cardiometabolic risk’, in the European Heart Journal Dr Hoang Phan: ‘Factors contributing to sex differences in functional outcomes and participation after stroke’, in Neurology
Dr Feitong Wu: ‘Association of Youth Triponderal Mass Index vs Body Mass Index with Obesity-related Outcomes in Adulthood’, in JAMA Pediatrics
Clinical research papers Dr Dean Picone: ‘Discovery of New Blood Pressure Phenotypes and Relation to Accuracy of Cuff Devices Used in Daily Clinical Practice’, in Hypertension Guoqi Cai and Dr Laura Laslett: ‘Effect of zoledronic
acid and denosumab in patients with low back pain and Modic change: A Proof-of-Principle Trial’, in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research Jing Chen: ‘Effects of multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies on employment measures using patient-reported data’, in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry Dr Michele Callisaya: ‘Type 2 diabetes mellitus, brain atrophy and cognitive decline in older people:
a longitudinal study’, in Diabetologia
Economic Impact of Multiple Sclerosis in Australia in 2017. Senior author: Andrew Palmer
Laboratory research papers Dr Ruth Pye: ‘Immunization Strategies Producing a Humoral IgG Immune Response against Devil Facial Tumor Disease in the Majority of Tasmanian Devils Destined for Wild Release’, in Frontiers in Immunology
Academic Mentoring Award
Research Impact Prize
Miranda Harman Institute Marketing and Communication Manager
The Multiple Sclerosis Flagship Team for the report: Health
Professor Graeme Jones
Professional Staff Award Magdalena Lane Institute Advancement Manager
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RESEARCH THANKS TO YOU
Many ways of giving… Thank you to Mt Stuart Primary School in Hobart for a fantastic effort in raising $343.20 for multiple sclerosis research at Menzies. The fundraising was led by Grade 5 student Harry (below, centre), who later visited our research laboratory with some of his peers and asked many excellent questions. Well done students!
Once again an enthusiastic crowd gathered at Wilkinson’s Point in Glenorchy for Fred’s Walk, which is organised by the Fred Binns Parkinson’s Foundation to raise money for research into Parkinson’s disease. The foundation’s fundraising helps pay for a PhD scholarship at Menzies. PhD student Anastasia Salter is pictured at Fred’s Walk with Di Binns, who is Fred’s widow and an advisory board member with the foundation.
For many years the Boat Harbour Surf Lifesaving Club has raised funds for motor neurone disease (MND) research through the Kirk
We are delighted the foundation’s fundraising helps pay for a PhD scholarship
Dicker Challenge. The money raised has helped to fund MND PhD student Emily Handley (above, left), who caught up with club organisers Ali Macrae and Donna Avery at the University of Tasmania Dinner in Burnie in April. This year the club won an Australia Day Award for the Kirk Dicker Challenge, which is named after the lifeguard and dedicated club member who sadly passed away from MND before Christmas.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR DONORS FOR YOUR ONGOING FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO MENZIES Listed below are our Everyday Angels, who make regular gifts to Menzies. Mr Timothy Albion Ms Juliet Allen Ms Anita Allie Ms Kylie Anderson Mrs T Archer & Mr A Archer Mrs Jennifer & Mr Lionel Banks Ms Jess Bannister Mrs Jan Barren Mrs Larissa & Mr David Bartlett Ms Janet Beadle Mrs Kathleen Bevis Mrs Pamela Blunt Ms Jess Bradley Ms Kathleen Brient Ms Beverley Brown Mrs Jane Burrell & Mr Lloyd Sokvitne Ms Jill M Cassidy Dr Susan R Cherry Mrs Emma & Mr Timothy Claridge Mrs Anita & Mr Michael Clarkson Mr Peter Cochrane & Ms Miranda Harman
Mr A M Cornish AO Mr Robert & Mrs Gloria Cotgrove Mrs Diane & Mr Jonothan Davis Ms Moya T Deigan Ms Carolyn Dunnewijk Mrs Patricia & Mr Donald Edwards Mr Josh & Mrs Felicity Ey Mrs Elaine & Mr Dennis Fairfield Dr Derek & Mrs Elizabeth Findlay Mr Peter Fountain Mrs Beverley Geard Mr Don W Goff Mrs Judy & Mr Trevor Grant Mr Garth & Mrs Brenda Haas Mrs Susan Haigh Mr Philip Hand Ms Miranda Harman & Mr Peter Cochrane Ms Judith Hastie Mrs Shirley & Mr
The following individual and community supporters donated for the first time. Frederick Heath Ms Judy Hebblethwaite Ms Alison Hennessy Mrs Susan L Hinds Ms Di Hodel Mr B & Mrs J Hortle Mr John W Hudson Ms Shelley Hunter Ms Carol Hurst Mr Darrin Irvine Mr Gary & Mrs Susan Jacobson Mrs Wendy Jefferies Mr Raymond & Ms Dianne Jones Ms Dianne & Mr Raymond 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 C Lipscombe
Mr Peter Bell Ms Merryn Gilham Mrs Patricia Langmaid
Mrs Kerrie Maxwell Mrs Frances McCarroll Mr Daniel Nolan
Wellbeing Club 13 Mr P & Mrs S Bell
Mrs Jane & Mr Nicholas Lovibond Dr Kenneth & Mrs Yvonne+:B82 Milton 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 Kenneth & 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 Jancis & Mr Alan Rees Mrs Margaret & Mr Brian Richardson Ms Hannah Richardson Mrs Jill & Mr Eric Robinson Mrs Frances M Russon Mrs June Scott Mrs Susan Sluce Mr Richard Sperring
Mr Alex Stanelos Ms Skye Stowe Miss Amber C Sturges Ms Carmel Taylor Mrs Cynthia Tennant Mrs Brenda Triffitt Ms Karen TwynamPerkins Mrs Rosemary Van den Berk Mr Walter & Mrs Robin Verth Mrs Anne Warren Mr Peter Weldon Ms Caroline Wells Mr John & Mrs Kathlyn Wheatley Mrs Kathryn Whitchurch Ms Barbara White Ms Mandy J Williams Ms Janice Wilson Mrs Elizabeth Woolley
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Dr Ruth Musgrave
Post-doctoral Research Fellow You have joined the Menzies staff relatively recently. What were you doing before this? I completed my PhD here at Menzies in early 2012 under the supervision of Professor Tracey Dickson. I then moved to Germany, where I spent six years at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Bonn. Most recently, I was working at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my experiences in Bonn and Jerusalem, I was happy to come back to Menzies and continue working with Professor Dickson to further develop the Parkinson’s disease research program.
What is the current focus of your research? The interesting thing about all neurodegenerative diseases is that each one has a distinct and predictable “pathway of pathology”. In other words, they tend to begin in one or two very specific brain regions and then gradually spread to affect more and more areas. What I find remarkable is that
Understanding these key factors will pave the way for therapeutic intervention
even in late stages, the “pathological hallmarks” of each disease are confined to distinct locations, whereas other areas are inevitably spared. The current focus of my research is to find out what factors dictate this “regional susceptibility” in Parkinson’s disease, and what causes the disease to gradually spread from the initial sites of pathology into other areas of the brain. Understanding these key factors will pave the way for therapeutic intervention that could halt or slow disease progression. What are some of the recent findings from your work? During my post-doc in Germany, I studied the brain region where Parkinson’s disease is thought to begin - the cell bodies of the vagus nerve. These nerve cells control gut function and motility and, critically, they can provide a physical link between the gut and the brain, representing a potential
OUR ENTERTAINMENT BOOK IS OUT NOW!
pathway of disease progression. I found that vagus nerve cells are particularly susceptible to certain environmental toxins. When they are exposed to these toxins (i.e., through the gut), they develop pathology relevant to Parkinson’s disease. Not only do these specific neurons become sick, but neurons in connected brain regions are also affected. What is the biggest challenge in your area of research? I would suggest that the greatest challenge in research for all chronic and age-related conditions, is accurately modelling these complex disease processes in experimental systems. This is of critical importance, as our experimental models are used as a platform to test the effectiveness of new treatments. I think the past failure of numerous drug trials for chronic diseases links back to the lack of experimental models that accurately
replicate the disease process. Having said that, the development of new models is a key focus of current research, and due to the implementation of new genetic tools, this is one of the fastest-evolving aspects of current research. What is the most interesting aspect of your work? It is difficult to define a single aspect of my work that stands out as the most interesting. I do not think I will ever stop appreciating the number of intricate processes that are required for neurons to function as individual cells and within the context of complicated cellular networks. What do you do in your spare time? I really enjoy mountain biking. When I was in Israel I would go mountain biking in the Judaean Desert every weekend. I am happy to be a part a thriving mountain biking scene here in Tassie!
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Menzies Bulletin Autumn 2019
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STUDIES RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS Here to help: Our clinic waiting area within the Medical Science Precinct is staffed by Menzies volunteers.
JOINT PAIN Methods: A randomised controlled trial of methotrexate to treat hand osteoarthritis with synovitis is seeking participants aged 40 -75 years with moderate to severe hand joint pain. This 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 KARAOKE: 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 older, have had significant knee pain and swelling most days for at least six months, and be able to have a knee MRI. Contact: Carole.Goff@utas. edu.au or (03) 6226 4648. Parkrun for knee pain: Seeking people aged 45 and over who are not currently very active but interested in taking part in a weekly walking group for four weeks. This is a short feasibility study to determine the use of parkrun as a strategy to promote physical activity in people with knee osteoarthritis. Contact: Laura.Sutton@utas. edu.au or phone (03) 6226 5513. DICKENS: A randomised controlled trial of diacerein to treat knee osteoarthritis with effusion-synovitis. Seeking participants aged 45-64 with significant knee pain and localised swelling to participate in a 24-week trial to test this anti-inflammatory drug to improve knee pain, reduce swelling and slow down the progression of knee osteoarthritis. Participants must be able to have a knee MRI and have access to email and web browsing. Contact: Kathy Buttigieg on (03) 6226 6909 or Kathy.Buttigieg@utas.edu.au
The WALK study is seeking people aged 45 and over who are currently suffering from knee pain. We are looking for people who are not currently very active, but who are interested in taking part in a free supervised walking program (twice a week for six months). Contact: Kate Probert on (03) 6226 7746 or katherine.probert@utas.edu.au Knee pain? Seeking people aged 45 years and older who have received a diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee to take part in a short interview. Contact: Jen Makin on (03) 6226 4267 or Jen.Makin@utas.edu.au Seeking GPs and orthopaedic surgeons for a short interview. The interview will focus on your perspective about the causes and progression of osteoarthritis; your experience in the diagnosis and management of patients with osteoarthritis; and your perspective on the role of other health professionals in the management of osteoarthritis patients. Contact: Jen Makin on (03) 6226 4267 or Jen.Makin@utas.edu.au CARDIOVASCULAR 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 QUARTET: A trial to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of ultra-low-dose quadruple combination therapy (‘LDQT’) in patients with hypertension. Contact: Helen.Steane@utas. edu.au or (03) 6226 4803. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PPMS: Primary Progressive MS Study into risk factors for the onset and rate of progression of Primary Progressive MS. Contact: Alice Saul on (03) 6226 4269 or ppms.study@utas.edu.au; or for more information visit 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 on (03) 6226 4739 or AMSLS.Info@utas.edu.au; or visit msra.org.au/AMSLS OTHER DISEASE AREAS Sedentary behaviour in primary care. We are seeking GPs to give their opinion on sedentary behaviour assessment and management in primary care. This will involve a choice of a 30-minute interview over the phone or in person. Contact: Jen Makin on (03) 6226 4267 or Jen.Makin@utas.edu.au
Standing Tall – Cognition and Gait: Randomised control trial involving a six-month home balance and cognitive training program is seeking people 60 years and older who have noticed decline in memory or thinking or have been diagnosed by a health professional with mild cognitive impairment. Must live within 50km of Hobart and not have Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or dementia. Contact: Standing.Tall@ menzies.utas.edu.au or phone (03) 6226 7766 and please leave contact details. 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 (03) 62264731 AirRater is recruiting people in Tasmania, the ACT 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
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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 Barbara Reardon Estate of the late Carol A Davenport Estate of the late Elizabeth Joy Smith Estate of the late Neil Ashdown Estate of the late Rex Ernest Morriss Estate of the late Rosemary Agathe Heinrich We gratefully acknowledge gifts made in honour of: Janice L Bowerman Yvonne M Chitty Barry J Cook Pauline E Cruse Brian D Maxwell Denis M McCormack Mary P McNeill Nicholas I Ricketts Amanda J Rooke Melissa A Slater