No images? Click here
6 March 2024
Naa Marni,
It’s March already, which is certainly a fabulous time to be in Adelaide. Among other cultural events, there’s lots happening in research.
The Centre for Cancer Biology is achieving impressive outcomes. Natasha Harvey shares a few recent highlights in this month’s From the desk of (below).
Winners of the 2023 Premier’s Excellence Awards will be announced on Friday 8 March. Four CALHN finalists have been selected for consideration, in acknowledgement of their considerable achievements in research, innovation and mental healthcare. You can read more about their work here.
Dr Liz Sutton
Director, Research
Did you catch the recent Adelaide Faculty Debate “mentoring is a luxury”? Living the university/hospital collaboration, I was ably teamed with Associate Professor Dom Thewlis and Dr Rhiannon Pilkington to argue the affirmative against Professor Danny Liew and his crew. It was a great afternoon – if you missed out this year, put it in the diary for 2025.
In the coming weeks, keep an eye out for calls for Expressions of Interest for CALHN's World-Class Care Showcase. While the title gives a care-based vibe, we are seeking to highlight projects and approaches that improve the safety and quality of our care – which often involve research. Research takes many forms. Across the sites I frequent as part of my job, I am singing the song that research is multi-faceted, can involve many professions and results in improved patient care. There are many ways to get there.
Remember to get in touch if you want to see anything featured in the newsletter – details at the bottom.
Have a great couple of weeks.
Centre for Cancer Biology news
An alliance between CALHN (SA Pathology) and the University of South Australia, the Centre for Cancer Biology (CCB) makes discoveries in the fundamental causes of cancer and translates these into new strategies for prevention and treatment.
Our recent work has explored the therapeutic potential of molecules known as circular RNA. Greg Goodall and colleagues have discovered how circular RNAs made in the nucleus of cells are actively transported to their site of action in the body of the cell (the cytoplasm). This work brings us a step closer to new cancer drugs.
Professor Natasha Harvey
Director, CCB
Lead by Claire Homan, Hamish Scott and Anna Brown, another study focussed on blood cancers that run in families – known as hereditary haematological malignancies. Though identifying common genetic factors linked with disease progression in patients, the research will inform clinical screening and could pave the way for genetic monitoring of disease progression. This work may lead to new therapeutic strategies to combat evolution of blood cancer.
Our scope of research extends beyond cancer at times – for example, improving management of asthma. We’re recently seen a spike in asthma-related deaths in Australia, a statistic that highlights the need for new drugs to manage complex cases. Co-lead by Damon Tumes, our recent collaborative research has examined mechanisms behind lung inflammation that accompanies severe, steroid-resistant asthma. This study could provide the key to treat and control complex and severe chronic airway disease with a single drug called trabikihart.
Rebuilding muscle after time in intensive care
Associate Professor Lee-anne Chapple's research aims to help intensive care patients recover muscle mass, allowing them to be safely discharged and go home sooner.
Pregnancy after a kidney transplant
More women are now able to successfully have a baby following kidney transplant.
In this episode, we speak to Associate Professor Shilpa Jesudason, Staff Specialist Nephrologist and Chair of the Clinical Research Group at the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s Central Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplant Service (CNARTS).
Conference: Autonomic Dysfunction and Chronic Complex Conditions
The Australian POTS Foundation will present its 2024 conference ‘Better Together’ in Adelaide on 22-23 March 2024.
The conference will explore the latest research and practical ways of living with invisible conditions such as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Long COVID.
In-person attendance at U-City, Adelaide with plenary sessions live streamed via Zoom and on demand.
Visit the POTS Foundation website for more information and to book tickets.
Grant opportunities: MRFF and NHMRC
The following Australian Government grant opportunities are now live:
- MRFF – Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission – 2024 Mental Health Research Grant Opportunity (closes 7 August 2024)
- MRFF – Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission – 2024 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Grant Opportunity (closes 7 August 2024)
- MRFF – Stem Cell Therapies Mission – 2024 Stem Cell Therapies Grant Opportunity (closes 24 July 2024)
- MRFF – PPHRI – 2024 Enhancing Medical Device Surveillance Through Registries Grant Opportunity (closes 14 August 2024)
- MRFF – Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative – 2024 Maternal Health and Healthy Lifestyles Grant Opportunity (closes 07 August 2024)
- NHMRC-GACD 2024: Management of Multiple Long-Term Conditions Grant Opportunity (closes 08 October 2024).
Funding to support nursing and midwifery research
The Rosemary Bryant Foundation first round of funding for 2024 is now open, until 29 March. Through funding nursing and midwifery research, the Foundation aims to create a more informed and productive workforce that can provide optimal care to the community.
Visit the Rosemary Bryant Foundation website for further information, or contact wendy.foster@rbf.org.au
EndNote Training – Beginner Level Online Workshops
SA Health Library Service are delivering six EndNote 20 training workshops across 2024.
These sessions are designed to support EndNote 20 beginners and are available to all CALHN staff.
The first workshop is scheduled for Thursday 21 March and registration is now open.
Review the full program and register now to reserve your place.
This newsletter is developed by the CALHN Communications and PR team.
Know someone who might be interested in this newsletter?
Forward this email to them, and they can subscribe here. If you wish, you can unsubscribe here.
We can help you share your research
Do you have research findings to share? We can help with podcasts, videos, articles, and pitching your work to mainstream media. Get in touch, we’d love to help.
For details on submitting newsletter content, approvals and deadlines, CALHN staff can refer to the intranet, and external stakeholders are welcome to email the CALHN Communications and PR team.
