Download 2006 Annual Report - Department of Medicine

2006
Annual Report
Department of Medicine
(Royal Melbourne Hospital / Western Hospital)
>
Striving for Excellence in Medical
Education and Research...
...from the interface of basic science and clinical medicine, through
novel approaches to research, through the training of high-quality
undergraduate, Honours and postgraduate students, and through
leadership in the provision of outstanding evidence-based teaching and
clinical practice.
>>
Welcome
Heading
The Department of Medicine (RMH/WH) aims
to:
Contact
• provide a unique mix of research and clinical capabilities
in a clinical department of a research-led university.
4th Floor, Clinical Sciences Building
Parkville, Vic. 3050 AUSTRALIA
• conduct innovative disease-oriented and patient-oriented
research, and to test the relevance of findings for
improved care of patients.
T: +61 3 8344 6252
F: +61 3 9347 1863
• provide leadership and role models for high-quality clinical
teaching in the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
program.
• train Honours and postgraduate students to think
critically and to equip them with excellent organisational
and problem-solving skills.
• interpret and disseminate research findings to the
scientific and general communities.
• provide leadership in collaboration and cooperation
between the Department of Medicine (RMH/WH) and its
host hospitals and their staff, other research institutions
both nationally and internationally, and partners in
industry.
• ensure a well-equipped, safe and supportive working
environment for staff and students that stimulates
creativity and novel approaches to problem solving.
• facilitate timely and relevant professional development
opportunities for all staff.
Cover photographs (clockwise from left): Dr Philippe
Boeuf and Alex Umbers, Dr Nigel Jones and Dr Stefanie
Dedeurwaerdere (background), Dr Damian Myers.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital:
E: [email protected]
W: http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au
Western Hospital:
Cnr Eleanor and Marion Streets
Footscray, Vic. 3011 AUSTRALIA
T: +61 3 8345 6252
F: +61 3 9318 1157
E: [email protected]
W: http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au
© Department of Medicine (RMH/WH) 2007
Head of Department's Report Awards
Visitors Education
Postgraduate Program
AMS Projects 2006-07 Honours Projects 2006
The Richard Larkins Prize
RMH/WH Clinical School Report
Research and Knowledge Transfer Arthritis and Inflammation Research Area
Cooperative Research Centre fo Chronic Inflammatory
Disease
Lung Disease Research
Malaria Research International and Immigrant Health Research
Genetics Research
Hepatitis Molecular Virology Research and Travel Medicine
Service
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Contents
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Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Infectious
Diseases
Bone and Mineral Research Epilepsy and Neuropharmacology Research
Centre for Rheumatic Diseases
Rheumatology Research Endocrinology Research, Western Hospital
Gastrointestinal Cancer Research, Western Hospital
Gastric Cancer Research
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Research: Honorary Fellows
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Department Activities
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Environment, Health and Safety
DoMSA Report Department Seminar Series
Celebrating 50 Years
Staff and Students
Research Staff
Administrative Staff CRC-CID Administrative Staff
Honorary Appointments
Students
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Publications 2006
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http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH) Annual Report 2006
Research Cont'd
<
Professor Graham Brown
James Stewart Professor of
Medicine
Head, Department of Medicine
(RMH/WH))
Head of Department's
Report
It is a great pleasure to be able to report on the numerous
activities undertaken during 2006 in the Department of
Medicine (RMH/WH). This report describes some of the
efforts of the large number of individuals and the groups
who contribute to research and teaching of clinical medicine
and biomedical research in our Department, and the wide
range of collaborations we have with colleagues outside
the Department. We are very fortunate to have excellent
relationships with the Royal Melbourne Hospital and
Western Hospital where our work is based. Hospitals
also provide the environment for academic activities of
many Fellows of the Department who play such a critical
role in all aspects of our work. Fellows of the Department
offer excellent programs in neurosciences, oncology,
gastroenterology, cardiology and most of the clinical
disciplines represented in our Hospital.
The Melbourne Model of Education
At the University of Melbourne, 2006 will be remembered
as the year of planning for implementation of the first stage
of the Melbourne Model of education that is part of a new
strategy that sets three priorities for the University - a
continuing focus on research, learning and teaching and an
expanded commitment to knowledge transfer. The change
is symbolised by a "triple helix" in which the three strands of
research, learning and teaching and knowledge transfer are
closely bound, each reinforcing the other.
Under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Glyn
Davis, the Melbourne Model will mean a radical departure
from the University's current model of curriculum delivery.
A large number of undergraduate specialist degrees will
be removed and replaced by seven general undergraduate
degrees that will lead to graduate programs in a range of
disciplines. Many students of the Faculty of Medicine,
Dentistry and Health Sciences will first complete a Bachelor
of Biomedicine degree over three years, to be followed
by professional courses in graduate schools leading to
postgraduate qualifications, in such disciplines as Medicine,
Dentistry or Physiotherapy. Students can also opt instead to
>
follow their undergraduate degree with a Masters, Honours
or PhD program.
The change to the postgraduate programs of education will
alter the mix of students undertaking our courses and with
the drive to privatisation of Australian higher education, we
need to ensure equity of access to our programs.
Many Faculty members have been involved in the
Curriculum Commission to design the new undergraduate
courses that will begin in 2008. The new courses have
breadth and depth, and we are delighted that the
department’s suggestion for a core subject bringing together
the spectrum of biomedicine. From Molecule to Malady has
been accepted as a capstone core subject for the Program.
Campus clusters for greater
collaboration
The Faculty is also seeking greater collaboration and synergy
with other University Departments on campuses such as
the Royal Melbourne and Western Hospitals through the
formation of clusters of academic activity.
As the activities in research, education and knowledge
transfer associated with Western Health grow, they will be
better served by independence from the Royal Melbourne
Hospital. The Victorian State Government is committed to
re-development of Sunshine Hospital and a new biomedical
cluster will develop in a purpose designed building for
teaching, training and research on the Sunshine campus to
replace facilities at Western Hospital.
Research Quality Framework
Another critical area for the University is the proposed
change to the way in which funding is allocated for research
infrastructure. Under a new framework proposed by the
Federal Government, support will be allocated in different
ways, but we are yet to understand the fine details of
these proposals. In other countries, these changes have
lead to increased focus on selected areas of excellence,
a consequence that creates challenges for clinical
Our role in medical education
The Royal Melbourne Hospital/Western Hospital
Clinical School for undergraduate medical students is
organisationally separate from the Department but we
are key partners in the shared goal of ensuring the best
education experience for our medical students. The head of
the Clinical School, Associate Professor Geoff McColl plays
an extremely important role in managing this program and
the results have been outstanding. We acknowledge the
enormous contribution of Departmental Fellows and others
who assisted in the design of the current curriculum and can
now see the successful outcomes for the graduates of this
program. We recognise that there may be considerable call
on the time of all our colleagues as the University changes
to the Melbourne Model with the requirement to develop a
new four year postgraduate course to begin in 2011.
The Department continues to host interactive sessions
for undergraduates and postgraduates in the context of
a learning organisation for continuing education and the
practice of medicine.
New Professors
We are absolutely delighted that Professor Edward Janus
has joined the Department at Western Hospital and
Professor Ingrid Winship has been appointed as the first
Professor of Adult Genetics at the University of Melbourne
with her placement at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. In her
other role as Director of Research at Melbourne Health, she
makes an enormous contribution to the intellectual life on
the Royal Melbourne Hospital Campus.
We are also delighted that long-serving academic staff
Andy Giraud, Gary Anderson and Stephen Jane have
been promoted to full Professors within the University of
Melbourne.
Research successes
Our research retains the same major themes with
groups devoted to arthritis, inflammation, infectious
diseases, gastroenterology, bone disease, epilepsy and
neuropharmacology.
Our scientists have had continued success in attracting
competitive research grants and this will be recognised
as one component of assessment of our research output
described above. It is a testament to our research strengths
that we are associated with 12 new NH&MRC Project
or Program Grants. Continuity of funding is a critical
factor in team building and increased research output.
In particular, I would like to congratulate Dr Louise Judd
who was appointed a CR Roper Fellow in the Faculty of
Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. I would also like to
congratulate Mark Rosenthal and Jeff Szer who have been
appointed to positions as Professor/Directors in their roles
as Head of Oncology and Clinical Haematology respectively
following a redesign of cancer services at Melbourne
Health.
Readers should note that publications by staff and
fellows listed in this report may have arisen from research
performed as part of their roles as members of other
organisations.
Partnerships with our host Hospitals, Royal Melbourne
Hospital and Western Hospital are extremely important
to us. I wish to thank Michael McCambridge, Sue Ralph
and their infrastructure support teams as well as Professor
Ingrid Winship, Dr Gad Trevaks, Dr Angela Watt, Ms Michelle
Clemson, and teams in the RMH Research Directorate for
their support.
Members of the Department contribute to the Committee
work of the Research Directorate and I acknowledge the
excellent work of the Human Ethics Research Committee,
headed by Professor Peter Colman, a departmental Fellow,
and the leadership of the Animal Ethics Committee by the
Chair, Professor Colin Chapman. In particular we thank the
Animal Ethics Committee for their work over a number of
years as the Research Directorate has made a decision to
bring this Committee to an end. The Department will now
submit projects to an Animal Ethics Committee within the
University of Melbourne.
At Western Hospital, I would particularly like to thank the
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Arlene Wake, the Chief Executive
Officer, Mr Jon Evans and Ms Denner from Infrastructure
for their help in achieving the renovations that have been so
important in the past year.
We are very pleased to continue our interaction with
Western Health to assist in the development of the new
medical facility at Sunshine Campus. This will be an
excellent opportunity to plan a superb new centre for the
cluster of activities that will become a University biomedical
precinct in association with the University of Melbourne at
that campus.
Professor's Report
Once again, our research and teaching have been of the
highest quality and our staff members have made great
contributions to knowledge transfer, the third strand of the
University's triple helix. These are represented in many of
the projects described in this report.
Continuing Partnerships
2006, a successful year for the
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The success of the Department in 2006 has been the result
of hard work from many people, but in particular I wish to
thank the administrative and technical support staff under
the leadership of Mr Nick Christopher who as Departmental
Manager is responsible for the smooth running of education
and research activities. Ms Lorraine Parker and Ms Lynette
Kalms once again performed wonderfully well in ensuring
that we met the requirements for SafetyMAP and continue
to do so. We have been well supported by Mr Tim Byrne
and Mr Paul Masendycz during absence of some of these
individuals. We congratulate Ms Jenny Davis and her team
for the smooth move to a new facility in the Dental Hospital.
The Department at both campuses has been greatly
improved with infrastructure. Renovations have taken
place at the Western and Royal Melbourne Hospital for
better facilities for our research and teaching including
the installation of airconditioning. All staff deserve
congratulations for meeting our responsibilities under
SafetyMAP and the Environmental Health Programs and
I am grateful for the work of so many people in achieving
these aims.
Our IT Managers, Ms Gina Barri-Rewell and Ms Ann
McIntyre have once again provided superb support for
the increasing number of staff and students within our
Department and we also wish to thank Mr Bruce Elmer
and Ms Lana Makarov from Human Resources who
have assisted in our staff employment and development
activities.
We thank Mr Dominic DeNardo for his work as President
of the Students’ Association and encourage them in their
activities to welcome newcomers to the Department.
I acknowledge Professor Peter Ebeling for his work as
Research Higher Degrees Coordinator while Dr Sharon van
Doornum was on leave, and thank Dr Alex Boussioutas for
taking on this role for next year.
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
departments that aim to provide breadth in research-led
teaching across the majority of disciplines.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Dr Megan Brooks should be congratulated for the role she
plays for the Department in managing the activities of the
Centre for Clinical Research in Infectious Diseases, including
an excellent Annual Symposium and report to our Scientific
Advisory Committee.
A straightforward list of events and outputs does not do
justice to all those who contributed to our success or our
sense of community. Special thanks go to those who
recognised meetings, morning teas, Cup Day fun, bake-offs
and charity fundraising events.
Awards and Achievements
Staff and Honorary Fellows
Dr Ilana Ackerman
Postdoctoral Travel Grant, CASS Foundation
Professor Gary Anderson
In concluding, I would like to pay special tribute to my
colleagues in the department executive who set the
standards and create momentum for a learning organisation,
my executive assistant, Heather Saunders for her
contribution to the department over so many years, and
Kate Hannah for preparing the Annual Report and upgrading
our website: www.medrmhwh.unimellb.edu.au
Research Medal, Thoracic Society of Australia and New
Zealand
Dr Alex Boussioutas
Grant-in Aid (Astrazeneca) for travel to Cambridge, UK,
Gastroenterology Society of Australia
Dr Felix Clanchy
Australasian Post Doctoral Fellowship in Translational
Research, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London
Dr Sharon van Doornum
Australian Rheumatology Association/Barbara Cameron
Fellowship
Associate Professor Andrew Grigg
Robert Pitney Travelling Fellowship, Haematology Society of
ANZ
Dr Louise Judd
C.R. Roper Fellow, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health
Sciences, University of Melbourne
Professor Yean Lim
Gary Roubin Life Achievement Award, 2nd APIA Conference
Associate Professor Terence O’Brien
Dreifuss-Penry Epilepsy Award, American Academy of
Neurology
Dr Richard Osborne
Solander Fellowship, Lund University’s Department of
Orthopaedics, Sweden
BJD Scholarship, Bone and Joint Scientific Committee for
Awards
Allied Health prize, Melbourne Health Medical Research
Week. Melbourne Health
Population Health Career Development Award Fellowship,
National Health and Medical Research Council
Dr Caroline Marshall
Siew Min Gan
National Health and Medical Research Council Medical PostGraduate Scholarship
Anastasia Hutchinson
Victor Hurley Award, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Dr Chris Lemoh
Victor Hurley Award, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Rink-Jan Lohman
Best Poster Award, Epilepsy Society of Australia Meeting
Awards
Sandra Nolte
Victor Hurley Award, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Sylvia and Charles Viertel Clinical Investigatorship
Professor Ingrid Winship
David Danks Oration
Dr Raju Yerra
Warren Holmes Fellowship, The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Neuroscience Foundation
Adrian Achuthan
Endeavour Fellowship, Department of Education, Science
and Training
Best Abstract, Australian Disease Management Association
(ADMA), 2nd Annual National Disease Management
Conference, Melbourne
Sophie Adams
Epilepsy Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting,
Scientific Achievement Award
New Investigator Award, Best Oral Presentation,
International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL),
Lisbon, Portugal
Gaurav Kumar
Regional Award (Onshore), RMIT Research Awards
Sandra Petty
James Lance Young Investigator Award (Best Poster),
Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurology
Louise Rose
Victor Hurley Award, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Evelyn Tsantikos
Richard Larkins Prize, Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
Thao Nguyen
Dora Lush Postgraduate Scholarship, National Health and
Medical Research Council
Thomas Zheng
Scientific Merit Award, Epilepsy Society of Australia Meeting
Young Investigator Award, American Epilepsy Society
Meegan Howlett
Early Investigators Forum Award, Best Oral Presentation,
Western Health Research Expo, Western Hospital, Footscray
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Students
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Visitors
Ashild Bjornerem, has been a visiting specialist in
gaenacology and obstetrics from Tromsø, Norway with the
Genes and Environment in Common Diseases laboratory.
Ashlid researched the potential hormonal mechanisms in the
effects of smoking on bone health.
Associate Professor R. Edward Hogan, from the
University of St. Louis, USA visited the Epilepsy and
Neuropharmacology group for two weeks to facilitate
collaborative studies using high resolution structural
mapping of hippocampal structure on MRI in patients
and animal models of epilepsy. Professor Hogan is an
international expert in neuroimaging and epilepsy.
Jeanine Brok, a masters student from Radboud University
Nijmegen, The Netherlands visited the Gastric Cancer
Research laboratory at Western Hospital for six months. She
completed a project looking at the expression of candidate
markers of gastric cancer progression and has now
successfully completed her Masters of Biomedical Science
at Radboud University.
Professor Paul Dieppe, Director of MRC Health Services
Research Collaboration at the University of Bristol, UK
visited the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases in April 2006. The
visit was sponsored by the Victorian Department of Human
Services and the Commonwealth Department of Health and
Ageing.
Professor Peter Fayers, Professor of Medical Statistics
in the Department of Public Health at the University of
Aberdeen Medical School in Scotland, visited the Centre for
Rheumatic Diseases in August 2006.
Sten Libregts from the Netherlands spent four months
towards his Masters studies working with Dr Cook in the
Arthritis and Inflammation Research Centre.
Ms Kanuengnuch (Nuch) Muenphon was a visiting PhD
student from Royal Golden Jubilee Program in Thailand.
Nuch was supervised by Professor Andy Giraud and
began her six month visit in September 2006. Based at
the Western Hospital, she studied molecular mechanisms
of cancer biology and the development of new cancer
therapeutic strategies, particularly as it relates to
cholangiocarcinoma.
Dr Rintis Noviyanti, a scientist from the Eijkman Institute
for Molecular Biology in Jakarta was supported by Aus Aid
to spend five weeks with Dr Michael Duffy and Associate
Professor Stephen Rogerson. She continues her studies
investigating pregnancy associated malaria and examining
diagnosis and prevention strategies. She will return in 2007
for six months to undertake further post doctoral studies.
Dr Tim Von Oertzen, St. Georges Hospital, London, UK
visited the Epilepsy and Neuropharmacology group for two
weeks to facilitate collaborative studies of SPECT imaging in
patients with medically refractory epilepsy. Dr Oertzen is an
international expert in epilepsy and functional imaging.
Dr Tran Quang Phuc was a visiting scientist from the
Vietnam National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology
and Entomology in Hanoi. Dr. Phuc spent one week with
Associate Professor Bev Biggs and Mr Gerard Casey
working on statistical analysis of data and in discussions
with project staff and consultants as part of the ongoing
collaboration with NIMPE for strengthening research
capacity and control of parasitic diseases in Vietnam.
Dr Cleo (Cleofé) Romagosa is a clinical pathologist and
PhD student from the Centre for International Health at
the University of Barcelona. She spent six months in the
Malaria Laboratory, learning laboratory techniques including
molecular analysis of parasite gene expression and assays
of immune response to malaria-infected cells. She also
contributed her pathology expertise to Dr Boeuf’s studies on
the role of hypoxia in placental malaria. Marie Strandlund was a visiting student for four months
from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. She
completed a Masters Thesis on lung lesions in a mouse
model of gastric cancer at Western Hospital. Her work here
will contribute to a Master of Science In Pharmacy.
Ms Anna Tostevin and Ms Lucy Vivash, Masters of
Neuroscience Students, Nottingham, UK. Each visted for a
year to work on projects related to 'Benzodiazepine receptor
mapping in-vitro and in-vivo serially during epileptogenesis in
animal models of epilepsy.'
Doctor of Philosophy
The Department of Medicine at Royal Melbourne and
Western Hospitals offers PhD programs to suitably qualified
Science (with Honours) and medical graduates. We offer a
wide variety of biomedical research ranging from molecular
biology to clinical epidemiological research. PhD projects are
also undertaken in affiliated research units working on such
diverse areas as critical care and rehabilitation medicine.
Grant Peck ‘Molecular interactions with insulin regulated
aminopeptidase’
In 2006 there were 49 PhD students actively enrolled with
the Department. Our students are supported by 13 senior
academic staff members and 20 post-doctoral fellows, as
well as a large number of academic associates. Our location
close to on-campus departments and neighboring institutes
allows us to offer collaborative projects and students have
the opportunity of attending seminar programs.
Postgraduate Coordinators
(MD and PhD): Dr Sharon Van Doornum
([email protected])/ Professor Peter Ebeling
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
The Department offers the degree of Doctor of Medicine to
medical graduates as either a supervised research program
or via non-attending candidature. The research program is
a two-year full-time or four to five year part-time course
undertaken in a relevant field of research and a thesis is
submitted at the end of the supervised period of research.
Non-attending candidature of six months is available to
University of Melbourne medical graduates who have
already completed their research and wish to prepare a
compilation of published work to be used as a basis for the
award of the degree. Approval to enrol as a non-attending
student is only for the purpose of preparing the compilation
of published work with the assistance of an approved
advisor.
Master of Medicine (MMed)
The Department offers a Master of Medicine (Internal
Medicine) course for overseas students. This is a two-year
course, the first year consisting of a lecture or tutorial
program combined with clinical attachments and with a
written examination at the end of the year. The second year
consists of a further clinical attachment in the area of subspecialty interest chosen by the student, combined with a
research dissertation. Clinical attachments can be arranged
in the following areas: Dermatology; Endocrinology and
Diabetes; Gastroenterology; Haematology; Immunology /
Allergy; Infectious Diseases; Intensive Care; Nephrology;
Neurology; Oncology; Respiratory Medicine; Rheumatology.
Completed Programs
Masters of Medicine (MMed)
Anna Braue, ‘Molluscum contagiosum virus: swimming pool
flotation aids as a mode of transmission’
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Louise Allport, ‘Disordered physiological parameters in
acute ischaemic stroke: a study of hyperglycaemia and
haematological variables’
Felix Clanchy, ‘Properties of macrophage-lineage precursors’
Christopher MacIsaac, ‘Superantigens and the innate
immune response in human sepsis’
Rosemary Masterson, ‘Endogenous and pharmacological
antagonists of renal fibroblast function’
Gabriela Minigo, ‘Modulation of immunity by malaria
parasites - implications for vaccine development’
Paul Wraight ‘Improving clinical outcomes for patients with
diabetes-related foot complications’
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Monica Slavin, 'Prevention of infection in patients
undergoing treatment of haematological malignancies'
Education
Postgraduate Program
Rajna Ogrin/Rimac, ‘The use of low frequency
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to improve
wound healing and sensory nerve function’
(MMed): A/Professor Geoff McColl
([email protected])
The 2007 Coordinator is Dr Alex Boussioutas
([email protected]).
Current Programs
PhD Students, Topics and Supervisors
Adrian Achuthan, 'Molecular regulation of macrophage
proliferation and activation', (Supervisors: Glen Scholz and
Matthew Sweet)
Christen Barras, 'Imaging based prediction in the evolution
and prognosis of stroke', (Supervisors: Stephen Davis and
Brian Tress)
Lucy Busija, 'The avoidable burden due to arthritis in
Australia', (Supervisors: Richard Osborne and Rachelle
Buchbinder)
Dr Sabina Ciciriello, 'Multi-media education provision to
people recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis',
(Supervisiors: Ian Wicks, Rachelle Buchbinder [Monash],
Richard Osborne)
Margaret Chang, 'Monocyte/macrophage gene regulation
in atherosclerosis', (Supervisors: John Hamilton and Caryn
Elsegood)
Ben Cowie, 'The seroprevalence, molecular characterisation
and mathematical modelling of hepatitis B virus infection in
Australia', (Supervisors: Heath Kelly and Graham Brown)
Dominic De Nardo, 'Molecular dissection of the regulation
of macrophage activation by Toll-like receptors' (Supervisors:
Glen Scholz and John Hamilton)
Hang Dinh, 'Analysis of gene expression in macrophage
differentiation', (Supervisors: John Hamilton and Glen
Scholz)
Natalie El Haber, 'Genetic and environmental determinants
of gait/balance in adult female twins' (Supervisors: John
Wark and Keith Hill)
Karen Fang, 'Mechanisms of sex dimorphism in heart
disease', (Supervisor: Yean Leng Lim)
GaoQian Feng, 'Effects of antibodies to pregnancy
associated variant surface antigens of P.falciparum and HIV
infection in intrauterine growth retardation' (Supervisor:
Stephen Rogerson)
Andrew Fleetwood, 'Macrophage subpopulations in
inflammation', (Supervisors: Andrew Cook and John
Hamilton)
Theo Gouskos, 'Mutations in the overlapping reading frames
of hepatitis B virus producing altered virus antigenicity and
replication', (Supervisors: Graham Brown and Joe Torresi)
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Education
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Haris Haqqani, 'Mechanisms of ventricular arrhythmias
in cardiomyopathy', (Supervisors: Jonathan Kalman and
Joseph Morton)
Kurt Roberts-Thomson, 'Electrical and structural remodelling
of the atrium in atrial arrhythmias', (Supervisors: Jonathan
Kalman and Prash Sanders)
Meegan Howlett, 'Regulation of gastric cancer development
and metastasis by cytokines that signal through GP130',
(Supervisors: Andrew Giraud and Louise Judd)
Rebecca Rose, 'Warning Readiness Assessment in the
Australian Intensive Care Setting', (Supervisors: Jack Cade
and Jeff Presneil)
Anastasia Hutchinson, 'Self-management strategy,
microbial infection patterns and biomarkers in patients with
exacerbations of COPD', (Supervisors: Jim Black, Gary
Anderson and Lou Irving)
Jessica Salmon, 'Functional significance of the interaction
between the T-cell oncoproteins SCL and LMO-2 in T cell
leukaemia', (Supervisors: Stephen Jane and David Curtis)
Cameron Jackson, 'Implications for gastric cancer initiation
and development of dysregulation of IL-6 family cytokine
signaling pathways', (Supervisors: Andrew Giraud and
Louise Judd)
Bianca Jupp, 'PET hypometablism and MRI perfusion
changes in a rat kindling model of mesial temporal epilepsy',
(Supervisors: Terry O'Brien, Simon Foote and Sandra Rees)
Gaurav Kumar, 'Stress, Limbic Epileptogenesis, Affective
and Cognitive Disturbances', (Supervisors: Terry O'Brien and
Margaret Morris)
Roya Lari, 'The development of the macrophage lineage',
(Supervisor: John Hamilton)
10
Murray Leikis, 'Effects of anaemia and erythro on kidney
and muscle function in acute and chronic renal failure',
(Supervisors: Lawrence McMahon and Michael McKenna)
Christopher Lemoh, 'HIV/AIDS in Victoria's African
communities: reducing risk and improving care', (Supervisor:
Beverley Ann Biggs)
Michael Lian, 'Vascular pathology in chronic kidney disease',
(Supervisors: Gavin Becker and Tim Hewitson)
Rink-Jan Lohman, 'Role of PAR2 in brain of rats and
epileptogenesis', (Supervisors: Tom Cocks and Terry O'Brien)
Emily Mann, 'Assessment of the immune response to
malaria during pregnancy' (Supervisors: Stephen Rogerson,
Graham Brown and Anthony Hodder)
Christine Massa, 'The role of the plasminogen activators
(PA)-urokinase PA and tissue type PA in inflammatory
arthritis', (Supervisors: Andrew Cook and John Hamilton)
Caroline Ng, 'Hyperpolarisation-activated Cyclic NucleotideGated channels in models of temporal lobe epilepsy',
(Supervisors: Terry O'Brien and Christopher Reid)
Sandra Nolte, 'Outcomes evaluation of chronic disease
education programs' (Supervisiors: Gerald Elsworth [RMIT],
Richard Osborne, Andrew Sinclair [Deakin University]
Anja Scholzen, 'Direct and indirect effects of the malaria
parasite on the human immune system', (Supervisors:
Magda Plebanski and Stephen Rogerson)
Susan Senn, 'Pharmacogenomics: mechanisms underlying
valproate associated weight changes', (Supervisors: Terry
O'Brien and Sof Andrikopoulos)
Sue Skull, 'A case-cohort study: Impact of influenza and
pneumococcal vaccination on hospital admissions due to
community acquired pneumonia among persons aged 65
years or older', (Supervisors: Terry Nolan, Graham Byrnes
and Graham Brown)
Kean Soon, 'Role of 16-slice computerized tomography in
the evaluation of coronary disease and revascularization
procedures', (Supervisors: Yean Leng Lim and Anne Maree
Kelly)
Irene Stevenson, 'Mechanisms of atrial fibrillation',
(Supervisors: Jonathan Kalman and Harry Teichtahl)
Rosemary Sutton, 'Identification and characterisation of
novel factors that regulate erythroipoiesis and fetal globin
gene expression', (Supervisor: Stephen Jane)
Tawan Thammanichanond, 'TARC and MDC expression in
chronic allograft rejection’ (Supervisors: Jim McCluskey and
Joe Torresi)
Anita Vinton, 'The relationship of the focal EEG changes
seen on PET imaging in temporal lobe epilepsy to the
underlying EEG activity and post surgical outcome',
(Supervisors: Terry O'Brien, Rodney Hicks and Patricia
Desmond)
Paul Vinton, 'An evaluation of the potential for new
technology to contribute to improving tuberculosis control',
(Supervisors: Bev Biggs and Paul Johnson)
David Wang, 'Pathogenesis of sleep disordered breathing in
stable methadone program patients' (Supervisors: Neville
Yeomans and Dr H Teichtahl)
Nhu-Y Nguyen, 'The role of WNT signalling in hematopoetic
development', (Supervisors: Stephen Jane and David Curtin)
Leon Worth, 'Clinical surveillance and risk factors predictive
of catheter-related bloodstream infection in patients with
haematological malignancy', (Supervisors: Jim Black,
Graham Brown and Monica Slavin)
Tony Peterson, 'Molecular markers defining precursor
phenotypes in gastric cancer' (Supervisors: Andrew Giraud
and Louise Judd)
Laura Zamurs, 'Molecular regulaton of migration in normal
and neoplastic colonic cells' (Supervisors: Edouard Nice and
Peter Gibson)
Sandra Petty, 'The effect of anti-epileptic medications
on bone dentisy, body composition and fracture risk'
(Supervisors: John Wark, Terry O'Brien and Keith Hill)
Thomas Zheng, 'The neuropharmacological and
neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the aggravation
of seizures by anti-epileptic drugs', (Supervisors: Terry
O'Brien and Margaret Morris)
Jane Prosser, 'The brain-heart interface in acute stroke',
(Supervisor: Stephen Davis)
Irani Ratnam, 'Infection control and post-discharge
surveillance of surgical site infections', (Supervisors: Joe
Torresi, Jim Black and Michael Richards)
Jack Richards, 'The role of antibodies to Plasmodium
falciparum erythrocyte invasion ligands in protection against
malaria', (Supervisors: James Beeson and Graham Brown)
Yeliz Rifat, 'Analysis of a novel family of genes critical for the
development of the central nervous system', (Supervisor:
Stephen Jane)
MD Students, Topics and Supervisors
Andrew Grigg, ‘Optimising the outcome of haemopoietic
stem cell transplantation’, MD (Supervisors: Geoff McColl
and Jeff Szer)
Sophie Treleaven, ‘Prospective surveillance of pneumonia
and meningitis attributable to haemophilus influenzae type B
(Hib) in Thailand’, MD (Co-Supervisors: Beverley-Anne Biggs,
Terry Nolan and Mark Steinhoff)
Ian Woolley, ‘Determination of Fy numbers on erthyrocytes,
reticulocytes and its relevance to malaria susceptibility’, MD
(Supervisor: Beverley-Anne Biggs)
Lit Kim Chin, 'Evaluation of bone ultrasound in AEDassociated bone disease' (Supervisors: John Wark and Terry
O’Brien)
AMS Administrator: Ms Heather Saunders
([email protected])
Honours Projects 2006
Marc-James Friso, 'Immunity to malaria in pregnancy'
(Supervisors: Stephen Rogerson and Graham Brown)
Elizabeth Aitken, ‘Immunity to malaria in pregnancy’
(Supervisor: Stephen Rogerson)
Mohd Ibrahim, 'Pushing the boundaries of Capsule
Endoscopy: comparative studies with Push Endoscopy
and Barium Follow Through in Patients with Peutz-Jeghers
Syndrome, Juvenile Polyposis and Orofacial Granulomatosis'
(Supervisor: Finlay Macrae)
Nicola Ball, ‘Relative influence of uncertainty and harm
components of anxiety on experimental pain perception’
(Supervisor: Stephen Gibson)
Saman Kazemi Manshady, 'NPY and absence epilepsy'
(Supervisors: Margaret Morris, Terry O’Brien and Nigel
Jones)
Julien Schulberg, 'The Use of Long-acting Inhaled beta2 Agonists in the Management of Exercise-induced
Bronchoconstriction' (Supervisors: Lou Irving, Karen Holzer,
Peter Brukner.)
Yu-Tang Shen, 'Manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance
imaging (MEMRI) in a rat model of epilepsy' (Supervisors:
Stefanie Dedeurwaerdere, Gary Egan and Terry O’Brien)
Shreerang Sirdesai, 'Correlation of genotpye for the 3.2
subtype of the Alpha-1 subunit of the Ca++ channel with the
epileptic and anxiety phenotype in genetic absence epilepsy
model' (Supervisors: Kim Powell and Terry O’Brien)
Paul Tescher, 'Capsule endoscopy: expanding the indications
and quality control' (Supervisor: Finlay Macrae)
AMS Co-Coordinators:
Associate Professor Beverley-Anne Biggs
([email protected])
James Becker, ‘Relaxin in experimental diabetic
nephropathy’ (Supervisors: Tim Hewitson and Chrishan
Samuel)
Geraldine Cheng, ‘Lyn-deficient mice express a novel
Gr-1+CD8+ T cell population that is implicated in antiviral
immunity’ (Supervisors: Margaret Hibbs and Gary Anderson)
Joelle Dodin, ‘Dendritic cells in malaria’ (Supervisor: Salenna
Elliott)
Education
Daniel Bennett, 'Resistance to aspirin in stroke study'
(Supervisor: Bernard Yan)
Associate Professor Terry O’Brien
([email protected])
Nelly Kua, ‘Regulation of macrophage migration by
cytokines’ (Supervisor: Caryn Elsegood)
Nigel Kwok, ‘Is regular table tennis activity associated with 11
increased bone and muscle strength and improved balance
in older Asian men and women?’ (Supervisor: John Wark)
Helen Lescesen, ‘The influence of the cytokine, IL-11 on
gastric pathologies’ (Supervisor: Louise Judd)
Vivian Leung, ‘Mechanisms of bone loss in systemic
mastocytosis’ (Supervisor: Peter Ebeling)
Lainie Sutton, ‘Mossy fibre sprouting in an in vivo model of
epilepsy’ (Supervisors: Terry O'Brien and Damian Myers)
2006 Honours Students
L-R Evelyn Tsantikos, Geraldine Cheng, Lainie Sutton, Vivian Leung, Elizabeth Aitken,
James Becker, Nelly Kua, Nigel Kwok, Joelle Dodin, Nicola Ball Absent: Helen Lescesen
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
AMS Projects 2006-07
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Evelyn Tsantikos, ‘The role of Tregs in the development of
immune system disorders in mutant mice’ (Supervisors:
Margaret Hibbs and Gary Anderson)
RMH/WH Clinical School
Honours Coordinators
Honours Co-Coordinator: Associate Professor Gary
Anderson ([email protected])
Honours Administrator: Ms Heather Saunders
([email protected])
The Richard Larkins Prize
12
Professor Richard Larkins with 2006 Larkins Prize
recipient Evelyn Tsantikos
The recipient of the Richard Larkins Prize for the Best BSc
Honours Student in the Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
for 2006 was Evelyn Tsantikos. Professor Richard Larkins,
now Vice-Chancellor of Monash University and after whom
the prize is named, personally handed the award to the
winner at a ceremony held in March 2007.
Tsantikos' project ‘The role of Tregs in the development of
immune system disorders in mutant mice’ was supervised
by Professor Gary Anderson and Dr Margaret Hibbs (Ludwig
Institute for Cancer Research).
Professor Richard Larkins held the positions of Head of the
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH) and the James Stewart
Professor from 1984 to 1998, and was Dean of the Faculty
of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences from 1998 to
2003. The inaugural Larkins Prize was presented in 2000 for
students completing the course in 1999. Previous winners
of the award are listed below.
1999
Amanda Notini
2000
Sonia Caruana and Sakeneh Zraika
2001
Elizabeth Bond
2002
Margaret Shaw
2003
Amy Brennan and Anthea Pappas
2004
Michael Braude and Andrew Lilja
2005
Nhu-Y Nguyen
Associate Professor Geoff McColl
Clinical School Dean
The 2006 clinical school year began with the retirement of
Dr Christine Penfold as Subdean after 23 years. Christine
has been the glue that has bound the clinical school
together over all of this time. She has contributed in every
aspect of clinical school life and will be missed by the
academic and professional staff, hospital staff and most of
all the students. Christine’s contribution was celebrated at a
variety of functions during the year with many accolades for
her work presented at each of them. We thank her for her
tireless work and wish her well for her retirement.
This year was also notable for the formal opening of the new
clinical school space at the RMH and the inauguration of
the Richard Lovell lecture theatre. This event was attended
by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne,
Professor Glyn Davis and the CEO of Melbourne Health, Dr
Peter Brennan among other friends of the clinical school.
These new teaching spaces are already enhancing our ability
to provide quality teaching.
The teaching program at the RMH/WH clinical school
continues to be enthusiastically received by the students
and their results are a testimony to the quality of the
program. Assessment results at our clinical school remain
excellent with outstanding results in the Semester 12 cohort
in 2006. Ongoing evaluation and revision of the current
teaching program is always required but its governance is
now relatively stable.
There are plans for development of a separate clinical school
at Western Hospital that will become part of a new cluster
of academic activities with future developments at Sunshine
Hospital.
Research
The clinical school views one of its key goals as medical
education research. Work in this area includes an
examination of the methods used by experienced teachers
to teach clinical reasoning and the use of new technologies
in teaching. In association with the Medical Education
Unit and the Biomedical Multimedia Unit in the Faculty
we also have collaborated on a variety of projects and in
the supervision of students. This is an area targeted for
expansion in 2007.
Arthritis and Inflammation Research
Centre
Research
The University of Melbourne is embarking on an ambitious
plan to revise and reinvigorate tertiary training under the
Growing Esteem strategic plan, beginning in 2008 with the
new generation undergraduate degrees. The clinical school
will be intimately involved in the development of the new
graduate medical degree which will commence in 2011 as a
part of these changes.
As always the teaching and research outcomes of the
clinical school would not be achieved without the enormous
input of all our teachers, collaborators and students – we
thank them all
Geoff McColl
Clinical Dean
13
Research Highlights
The overall goal of the laboratory is to understand
the functions of macrophage lineage cells in chronic
inflammatory diseases, in particular rheumatoid arthritis.
More specifically, macrophage lineage cells are isolated
from diseased human and murine tissue and blood to
assess how different they are from controls. Studies on
the molecular mechanisms governing macrophage lineage
survival, proliferation, differentiation and activation are being
explored. Techniques utilised include cell sorting, microarray
analysis and proteomics. More specific findings include:
•
A potential role for a Src-like adapter protein
downstream of the CSF-1 (Colony Stimulating Factor -1)
receptor
•
Identification of biochemical pathways linking
macrophage cell survival and glycolysis in response to a
range of pro-survival stimuli
•
Modulation of expression of certain "SNARE" proteins
by CSFs most likely involved in controlling vesicle
trafficking in macrophages
•
Control of osteolcastogenesis by GM-CSF and TGF
•
Detection and properties of an immature human
peripheral blood monocyte population
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Head: Professor John Hamilton
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
14
•
Switching of macrophage lineages from a
proinflammatory to a ‘homeostatic’ phenotype
Collaborations
•
Understanding how molecular chaperones regulate Tolllike receptor mediated macrophage activation
•
Defining the role of IRAKs in regulating Toll-like receptor
mediated macrophage activation
R. Anderson, Peter MacCallum Institute; S. Breit, University
of NSW; E. Brown, UCSF; R. Buchanan, Austin Hospital; I.
Cassady, University of Queensland and IMB; H.C. Cheng,
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The
University of Melbourne; L. Cleland, University of Adelaide;
D. Haynes, University of Adelaide; P. Hertzog, Monash; W.
Hong, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore,
D. Hume, University of Queensland and IMB; P. Gleeson,
The University of Melbourne; D. James, Garvan Institute,
Sydney; W. Jessup, University of NSW; T Lawrence and
R. Williams, University College, London; L. Macaulay,
CSIRO; A. Mansell, Monash Institute of Medical Research,
Monash Medical Centre; A. Möeller and D. Bowtell,
Peter MacCallum Institute; E. Reynolds, The University of
Melbourne; S. van Doornum, The University of Melbourne;
P. Simmons, Peter MacCallum Institute; J. Stow, University
of Queensland, R. Strugnell, The University of Melbourne,;
M. Sweet, University of Queensland; K. Visvanathan,
Monash University; W. van den Berg, The Netherlands; A.
Whetton, University of Manchester; I. Wicks, WEHI and
Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Publications
Clanchy FI, Holloway AC, Lari R, Cameron PU, Hamilton
JA. Detection and properties of the human proliferative
monocyte subpopulation Journal of Leukocyte Biology 79:
757-766, 2006.
Cook AD, Vlahos R, Massa CM, Braine EL, Lenzo JC,
Turner AL, Way KJ, Hamilton JA. The effect of tissue typeplasminogen activator deletion and associated fibrin(ogen)
deposition on macrophage localization in peritoneal
inflammation. Thrombosis and Haemostasis 95:659-667,
2006.
Elsegood CL, Zhuo Y, Wesolowski GA, Hamilton JA, Rodan
GA, Duong LT. M-CSF induces the stable interaction of cFms with V3 integrin in osteoclasts. International Journal of
Biochemistry and Cell Biology 38:1518-1529, 2006.
Manes GA, Masendycz P, Nguyen T, Achuthan A, Dinh H,
Hamilton JA, Scholz GM A potential role for the Src-like
adapter protein SLAP-2 in signaling by the colony stimulating
factor-1 receptor. FEBS Journal 273:1791-1804, 2006.
Vlahos R, Bozinovski S, Hamilton JA, Anderson GP.
Therapeutic potential of treating COPD by neutralising GMCSF. Pharmacology and Therapeutics (commissioned review)
112(1):106-115, 2006.
Achuthan A, Elsegood C, Masendycz P, Hamilton JA, Scholz
G. CpG DNA enhances macrophage cell spreading by
promoting the Src-family kinase-mediated phosphorylation
of paxillin. Cellular Signalling 18(12):2252-61, 2006.
Chong Y, Chan A, Chan K, Williamson N, Lerner E, Smithgall
T, Bjorge J, Fujita D, Purcell A, Scholz G, Mulhern T, and
Cheng H C-terminal Src kinase-homologous kinase (CHK) –
A unique inhibitor inactivating multiple active conformations
of Src-family tyrosine kinases. Journal of Biological
Chemistry. 281: 32988-99, 2006.
New Grants
NH&MRC Fellowship – SPRF JA Hamilton. 2006-2010,
$796,250
Ongoing Grants
NH&MRC Program Grant: RE O’Hehir, GP Anderson, J A
Hamilton and JM Rolland, 2005–09, ‘The interface between
innate and adaptive immunity in allergy and asthma’:
$4,300,000
NH&MRC Development Grant: JA Hamilton, JW Schrader
and GP Anderson, 2005–06, ‘Development of a highly
potent, fully human anti-GM-CSF monoclonal antibody’:
$398,000
NH&MRC Grant: A Cook, R Vlahos and JA Hamilton, 2004–
06, ‘The role of the plasminogen activators (PAs), urokinasePA and tissue-type PA in arthritis’: $473,250
CRC Program Grant: The University of Melbourne, University
of Queensland and Monash, 2001–07, ‘CRC for Chronic
Inflammatory Diseases’: $24,600,000
CRC Program Grant: The University of Melbourne, University
of Queensland and Monash, 2003–08, ‘CRC for Chronic
Inflammatory Diseases—Supplementary Funding’:
$9,500,000
CRC Program Grant: The University of Melbourne, 2005–07,
‘CRC for Oral Health Science’, $300,000
Collaborations with:
Conference and Seminar Presentations
John Hamilton
Invited Speaker. Inflammation Research Association, New
Jersey. GM-CSF as a proinflammatory cytokine, March
2006
Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre,
Macrophage lineage cells and chronic inflammatory
diseases, June 2006
CSL Laboratories. Control of macrophage lineage numbers
and phenotypes – implications for inflammation, adjuvant
action and tumourigenesis, June 2006.
University of Melbourne Department of Medicine (RMH/
WH) Osteoarthritis and Inflammation, August 2006.
Yale-Boehringer-Ingelheim Joint Retreat, Connecticut.
Control of macrophage numbers and phenotypes by colony
stimulating factors. October, 2006
Glen Scholz
Presentation: ‘Keeping the inflammatory response of
macrophages to pathogens under control’, Department of
Medicine, The University of Melbourne, March
Presentation: ‘IRAKs and Toll-like receptor signalling’, Toll-like
Receptor Research Network Meeting, Melbourne, May
Supervision
John Hamilton
Hang Dinh, ‘Analysis of gene expression in macrophage
differentiation’, PhD
Roya Lari, ‘The development of the macrophage lineage’,
PhD
Alan Rembach, ‘The role of microglia in motor neuron
disease’, PhD
Omar Kaddour, ‘The role of inflammation in lumbar disc
herniation with radiculopathy’, PhD
Glen Scholz
Adrian Achuthan, ‘Molecular regulation of SNARE proteins in
macrophages by CSF-1’, PhD
Dominic DeNardo, ‘Molecular dissection of the regulation of
macrophage activation by Toll-like receptors’, PhD
Thao Nguyen, ‘Irak-1 and the regulation of macrophage
activation’, PhD
Caryn Elsegood
Margaret Chang, ‘Regulation of glucose metabolism by
survival factors in macrophages’. PhD
Cooperative Research Centre for
Chronic Inflammatory Diseases
Andrew Cook
Andrew Fleetwood, ‘Macrophage subpopulations in
inflammation’, PhD
Christine Massa, ‘Tissue-type plasminogen activator and
fibrin deposition in inflammation and arthritis’, PhD
Student Completions
Nelly Kua, ‘Regulation of macrophage migration by colony
stimulating factor-1’, BSc(Hons) (Supervisor: Dr Caryn
Elsegood)
Research
Professional Activities
John A Hamilton
Member: NH&MRC Final Report Review Group
Member: Editorial Board, Inflammation Research
Member: Editorial Board, Encylopedia of Inflammatory
Diseases
Member: Scientific Advisory Committee, Victorian Centre for
Oral Health Science
15
Member: Scientific Advisory Board, Microsurgery Research
Centre, St Vincent’s Hospital
Board Member: International Association of Inflammation
Societies
Member: NH&MRC Program Grant Review Panel (co-opted)
Program Leader: CRC for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases
Member: IAIS Lifetime Achievement Award Panel
Glen Scholz
Member: Program Committee, 2006 Australian Health and
Medical Research Congress
Member: Royal Melbourne Hospital Institutional Biosafety
Committee
Deputy Chair: Program Management Committee, CRC for
Chronic Inflammatory Diseases
Seminar Coordinator: Department of Medicine, The
University of Melbourne
Ms Robyn McLachlan
Chief Operations Officer
Core Participants
Industry: AstraZeneca
Universities: The University of Melbourne
Contact Details
The University of Queensland
Professor John A Hamilton
Director, Arthritis and Inflammation Research Centre
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
4th Floor, Clinical Sciences Building
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria 3050 AUSTRALIA
Monash University
Tel: +61 3 8344 5480; Fax: +61 3 9347 1863
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Dr Glen Scholz
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
3rd Floor, Clinical Sciences Building
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria 3050 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 3 8344 3298
Fax: +61 3 9347 1863
Email: [email protected]
Supporting Participants
Industry: Zimmer Inc
Research Focus
The Cooperative Research Centre for Chronic Inflammatory
Diseases (CRC–CID) is a joint venture between three
universities and two major commercial organisations. Its
scientists are endeavouring to understand the processes
underlying serious chronic inflammatory diseases and to
discover better treatments to reduce the burden of these
diseases for development and marketing by its commercial
partners. The objectives of the CRC–CID are to:
•
Discover new molecular targets involved in the
pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory lung and joint
disease and use this information to develop novel
treatments for these disorders.
•
Reduce the burden of chronic inflammatory diseases.
•
Strengthen the Australian pharmaceutical/biotechnology
sector.
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Chair: Education and Training Committee, CRC for Chronic
Inflammatory Diseases
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
•
16
Apply our established macrophage biology discovery
platform to develop new methods to:
•
treat debilitating joint diseases by targeting the
molecular processes that cause joint replacement
failure, particularly in osteoarthritis (OA); and
•
generate synthetic tissues to repair injured joints.
Chronic inflammatory diseases are a substantial burden in
social and economic terms for the Australian community.
Arthritis alone afflicts 3.4 million Australians and the financial
costs for 2004 were in excess of $19.25 billion (Access
Economics 2005).
Areas of Research Expertise
The CRC–CID is focused on understanding the macrophage
biology of these core diseases. Macrophages (literally ‘big
eaters’) are named after their important physiological role
in host defence, which is to clear away cellular debris and
foreign materials including infectious bacteria, fungi and
viruses. Macrophages are further armed with a formidable
biochemical arsenal to destroy invading pathogens with
destructive proteases that break down the molecular
framework of cells, and potent antioxidants that chemically
burn invaders.
To complement this direct attacking ability, macrophages
secrete a diverse range of danger signal molecules that
prime host tissue for defence and recruit waves of other
defensive cells to broaden the assault. When the normal
defensive role of macrophages is turned against host tissue,
devastating disease states develop. Why this happens in
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) is obscure. There are good reasons to
believe that the same process is implicated in osteoarthritis
and aseptic failure of joint implants.
The CRC–CID research program has been designed to
address several discrete areas of macrophage biology in
Programs 1–4. Program 5 focuses on new technology
platforms, for example, bioinformatics, the set of information
technologies that allow complex biological data sets to be
analysed, integrated and compared with the vast biological,
genomic, protein and clinical databases worldwide.
CRC–CID Established: 1 July 2001
Supplementary Program Established: 1 July 2003
Round No: (Supplementary Funding Round 8)
Grant Period: (Supplementary Funding 5 years)
7 years
Incorporated: No
Personnel involved in CRC–CID: 304
Postgraduate students: 24.5
Full-time equivalent research staff: 64.3
Chair and Chief Executive Officer:
Dr John Flack
Research Highlights
The CRC has implemented a dual research strategy for
the generation of intellectual property that can be offered
to its partners as targets for drug development in return
for commercial rewards. The strategy is to validate targets
reported in the scientific literature and to discover new
targets by investigating tissue from affected individuals,
our animal disease models, and our expert knowledge
of macrophage biology. The CRC-CID conducted two
independent Science Reviews in 2006 which helped focus
and implement its strategy over its final two years until
wind-up on 30th June 2008. The CRC-CID is on track to
deliver at least one validated target by June 2007 and one
novel piece of the CRC-CID's intellectual property.
Two target validation programs were completed during
the year, but neither met criteria for further assessment as
anti-inflammatory drug targets. Successful elements of the
validation program included the genomics and bioinformatics
analyses and the demonstration of expression of RNA and
protein in diseased tissue. These validation programs have
shown that truly cooperative research could be achieved
across the CRC, with more than a dozen scientists involved
in each validation team from all three universities and
AstraZeneca.
New intellectual property was generated for a potential new
target and four potential anti-inflammatory drug candidates
derived from the literature are undergoing validation. Team
leaders, members and validation programs have been
established for target selection and validation.
Sixteen entirely novel genes as potential new candidate
targets have been prioritised. Two are surface glycoproteins,
three are receptors, two are peptidases, four have other
enzymatic functions and five have unknown activity.
They will be expressed to confirm that the proteins are
secreted in mammalian cells, and then cloned into bacterial
expression plasmids for protein production.
Publication Highlights
(by CRC–CID Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
members)
Publications in Refereed Journals
Achuthan A, Elsegood C, Masendycz P, Hamilton JA, Scholz
GM. CpG DNA enhances macrophage cell spreading by
promoting the Src-family kinase-mediated phosphorylation
of paxillin. Cell. Signal 2006; 18(12):2252-61.
Chen H, Hansen MJ, Jones JE, Vlahos R, Bozinovski
S, Anderson GP, Morris MJ. Cigarette smoke exposure
reprograms the hypothalamic neuropeptide Y axis to
promote weight loss. American Journal of Respiratory and
Critical Care Medicine 173: 1248-1254, 2006.
Clanchy FIL, Holloway A, Lari R, Cameron PU, Hamilton
JA, Detection and properties of the human proliferative
monocyte subpopulation. Journal of Leukocyte Biology
79:757-66, 2006.
Cook AD, Vlahos R, Massa CM, Braine EL, Lenzo JC,
Turner AL, Way KJ, Hamilton JA. The effect of tissue typeplasminogen activator deletion and associated fibrin(ogen)
deposition on macrophage localization in peritoneal
inflammation. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 95:659-667,
2006.
Elsegood CL, Zhuo Y, Wesolowski GA, Hamilton JA, Rodan
GA, Duong LT. M-CSF induces the stable interaction of cFms with Alpha Vbeta3 integrin in osteoclasts. International
Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology 38:1518-1529,
2006.
Gualano R, Vlahos R, Anderson GP. What is the contribution
of respiratory viruses and lung proteases to airway
remodelling in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease? Pulmonary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
19(1):18-23, 2006.
Hansen MJ, Gualano RC, Bozinovski S, Vlahos R, Anderson
GP. Therapeutic prospects to treat skeletal muscle wasting in
COPD (chronic obstructive lung disease). Pharmacology and
Therapeutics 109(1-2):162-72, 2006.
Manes GA, Masendycz P, Nguyen T, Achuthan A, Dinh H,
Hamilton JA, Scholz, GM. A potential role for the Src-like
adapter protein SLAP-2 in signaling by the colony stimulating
factor-1 receptor. FEBS. J.273:1791-1804, 2006.
Vlahos R, Bozinovski S, Hamilton JA, Anderson GP.
Therapeutic potential of treating COPD by neutralising GM-
CSF. Pharmacology and Therapeutics (commissioned review)
112(1):106-115, 2006.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.crccid.com.au
Vlahos R, Bozinovski S, Jones JE, Powell J, Gras J, Lilja A,
Hansen MJ, Gualano RC, Irving L, Anderson GP. Differential
protease, innate immunity and NF{kappa}B induction profiles
during lung inflammation induced by sub-chronic cigarette
smoke exposure in mice. American Journal of Physiology
- Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. 290(5):L931-45,
2006.
Awards and Prizes
Felix Clanchy: Fellowship, Kennedy Institute for
Rheumatology, London
Research
Adrian Achuthan: Endeavour Fellowship, Department of
Education, Science and Training
Gary Anderson: Research Medal of the Thoracic Society of
Australia and New Zealand
Conference and Seminar Presentations
Gary Anderson
Presentation: ‘GM-CSF and CSF-1 co-regulate LPSinduced lung inflammation: role of macrophage progenitor
recruitment’ Annual Meeting Thoracic Society of Australia
and New Zealand (March 26-29), Canberra, Australia.
17
Presentation: ‘Respiratory viruses cause exacerbations
of COPD: A timematched case-control study. Melbourne
Longitudinal COPD Cohort Study (MLCC)’ Annual Meeting
Thoracic. Society of Australia and New Zealand (March 2629), Canberra, Australia.
Presentation: ‘Predicting outcome of COPD exacerbations
using clinical measures and C-reactive protein in the
Melbourne Longitudinal COPD Cohort (MLCC). Annual
Meeting Thoracic. Society. of Australia and New Zealand.
(March 26-29, 2006), Canberra, Australia.
Presentation: ‘Interleukin (IL)-23 accumulates macrophages
and neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar in vivo space via IL-17.
Annual Meeting Thorac. Soc. of Aust. and NZ. (March 26-29),
Canberra, Australia.
Presentation: ‘A comparison of nutrition assessment tolls in
the Melbourne Longitudinal COPD Cohort (MLCC). Annual
Meeting Thoracic. Society of Australia and New Zealand.
(March 26-29, 2006), Canberra, Australia
John Hamilton
Presentation: Strategies to identify the CSF-1 receptor
signalosome. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology, University of Melbourne. July.
Others
Ms Christine Massa and Mr Dominic de Nardo, Young
Australia Achievement Biotechnology
Entrepreneur Awards oral presentation, DIIRD Melbourne, 9
October 2005
Contact Details
Ms Robyn McLachlan
Chief Operations Officer
CRC for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases
Suite 9, 87–89 Flemington Road
North Melbourne, Vic. 3051 AUSTRALIA
Tel: 61 3 9321 3330
Fax: 61 3 9328 8676
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Presentation: Endotoxin-induced IL-17 production in the
airways in vivo – dosing of a systemic glucocorticoid’ Annual
Meeting Thoracic. Society of Australia and New Zealand
(March 26-29), Canberra, Australia.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Lung Disease Research
determinants of macrophage subpopulations, differentiation
and survival. The role of a variety of macrophage growth
factors in the pathogenesis of COPD is also being explored.
Lyn kinase in asthma: Lyn is a src family kinase that
regulates the integration and amplitude of numerous
signalling pathways thought to be important in allergy and
asthma.
Molecular basis of viral exacerbations of lung disease:
Exacerbations of asthma and COPD are common and
associated with much of the illness and costs of these
diseases. Virus infection is often assumed to be the cause
but it is not understood.
Wasting as a COPD co-morbidity: Skeletal muscle wasting
is a major COPD co-morbidity that increases suffering
and reduces life expectancy but its molecular basis is not
understood.
Immune subversion by cigarette smoke: although smoke
causes inflammatory lung disease it also has the property
of suppressing immune defences in the lung. This increases
the chance of bacterial colonisation and viral infections.
Research in this area is directed towards repairing the
molecular defects in the lung that weaken lung defences.
Gp130 in lung fibrosis. Gp130 is a co-receptor used by a
family of growth factors implicated in the development of
lung inflammation and fibrosis.
18
The role of IL-17A in neutrophilic lung inflammation: IL-17 is a
factor released from neutrophils that may have a central role
in sustaining neutrophilic lung inflammation.
Proteomics of COPD: proteomic profiling methods are
increasingly used to identify patterns of disease associated
molecules. Work in this area includes understanding the
pathways of disease exacerbations and the identification of
predictive biomarkers.
Prizes and Awards
Head: Professor Gary P. Anderson
Research in our laboratory is aimed at understanding the
molecular processes that underlie induction, progression,
severity and exacerbation (sudden, potentially serious
worsening) of chronic inflammatory lung conditions,
especially asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease
(COPD).
GP Anderson, Research Medal, Thoracic Society of Australia
and New Zealand
E Tsantikos, Larkins Prize, University of Melbourne
Collaborations
Australia
•
A/Prof Margaret Hibbs, Dr Matthias Ernst, Ludwig
Institute
•
Prof Peter Sly, Dr Debra Turner, Telethon Institute of
Child Heath Research, Perth
•
A/Prof Lou Irving, Dr David Smallwood, Ms Anastasia
Hutchinson, Department of Respiratory Medicine,
Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne
•
Prof Robyn O’Hehir, A/Prof Jennifer Rolland, Alfred
Hospital, Melbourne
•
Prof John Hamilton, Prof Paul Hertzog, Dr Trevor
Wilson, Dr Bernadette Scott, Prof David Hume, Dr Matt
Sweet, CRC for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases
Research Focus
•
Prof Judith Black, University of Sydney
Acquired somatic mutations in COPD: Not all long term
smokers develop COPD. We propose that mutagens in
cigarette smoke cause genetic mutations in lung epithelial
progenitors that lead to tissue changes which may be
a key determinant of COPD severity, exacerbation and
progression.
•
Dr Steve Muesters, University of Perth
•
Prof Ivan Bartoncello, National Stem Cell Centre/ Peter
Macallum Cancer Centre
•
Prof Margaret Morris, University of New South Wales
•
Prof Dick Ruffin, Dr Carol Lang, University of Adelaide
Our group is a core laboratory of the Cooperative Research
Centre for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases (CRC-CID) (see
above), and also supported by an NH&MRC program grant
on the role of innate immunity in severe persistent asthma.
Three new project grants support research on mouse
models of lung disease and its systemic comorbidities.
Our current research is centred on the macrophage biology
of lung inflammation, innate immunity signalling in vivo,
and mouse models of asthma and COPD including viral
exacerbations of these conditions.
Macrophage biology of COPD: Macrophages are the
main effector cells in chronic lung inflammation but little is
understood about how to limit their role in pathology without
losing their essential defence capacity. Research in this
area includes work on the src family kinases Hck, molecular
International
•
Prof Anders Linden, Göteborg University, Sweden
•
Dr Karen Duca and Dr Vy Lam: Virginia Bioinformatics
Institute, USA
•
Prof Bruce Levy, Harvard USA
•
Dr Darryl Knight, Hogg Institute, UBC Canada
Funding
National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC;
Project Grants (4) , Development Grant (1) , Program Grant
(1)) CRC-CID (Commonwealth Department of Industry)
Grants
Role of GM-CSF in COPD (R Vlahos and S Bozinovski),
Melbourne University Research Grant Scheme
Role of GM-CSF in the pathogenesis of COPD, (R Vlahos, S
Bozinovski and I Bertoncello), NH&MRC project grant 20072009,
Vlahos R, Bozinovski S, Hamilton JA and Anderson GP.
Therapeutic potential of treating chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) by neutralizing granulocyte
macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
Pharmacology Therapeutics 112(1): 106-115, 2006.
Hardy CL, O’Connor AE, Yao J, Sebire K, de Kretser DM,
Rolland JM, Anderson GP, Phillips DJ and O’Hehir R.
Follistatin is a candidate endogenous negative regulator
of activin-A in experimental allergic asthma. Clinical and
Experimental Allergy, 36: 941-950, 2006.
Anderson GP. Current issues with beta 2 adrenoceptor
agonists: pharmacology and molecular and cellular
mechanisms. Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology,
31: 119-130, 2006.
Research
Molecular mechanisms of wasting in experimental COPD.
NH&MRC project grant (2007-2009) to Dr Michelle Hansen
(Chief Investigator A) and A/Prof Louis Irving (CIB)
Use of mouse models to study mechanisms of pathology in
viral exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
NH&MRC project grant (2007-2009) to Dr Rosa Gualano.
Publications
Vlahos R, Bozinovski S, Gualano RC, Ernst M. and Anderson
GP Modelling COPD in mice. Pulmonary Pharmacology and
Therapeutics, 19 (1), 12-17 2006.
19
Gualano RC, Vlahos R and Anderson GP, What is the
contribution of respiratory viruses and lung proteases
to airway remodelling in asthma and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease? Pulmonary Pharmacology and
Therapeutics, 19 (1), 18-23 2006.
Vlahos R, Bozinovski S, Jones JE, Powell J, Gras J, Lilja
A, Hansen MJ, Gualano RC, Irving L, and Anderson GP,
Differential protease, innate immunity and NFκB induction
profiles during lung inflammation induced by sub-chronic
cigarette smoke exposure in mice. American Journal of
Physiology – Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, 290(5),
L931-L945 2006.
Bozinovski S, Vlahos R, Hansen MJ, Liu K and Anderson GP,
Akt in the pathogenesis of COPD. International Journal of
COPD, 1, 31-38 2006.
*Cook AD, *Vlahos R, Massa CM, Braine EL, Lenzo JC,
Turner AL, Way KJ and Hamilton JA ,The effect of tissue
type-plasminogen activator deletion and associated
fibrin(ogen) deposition on macrophage localization in
peritoneal inflammation. Thrombosis and Haemostasis,
95(4), 659-667 2006. *These authors contributed equally.
Chen H, Hansen MJ, Jones JE, Vlahos R, Bozinovski S,
Anderson GP and Morris MJ, Cigarette smoke exposure
reprograms the hypothalamic neuropeptide Y axis to
promote weight loss. American Journal of Respiratory and
Critical Care Medicine, 173, 1248-1254 2006.
Kingwell BA, Anderson GP, Duckett SJ, Hoole EA, JacksonPulver LR, Khachigian LM, Morris ME, Roder DM, RothwellShort J and Wilson AJ. National Health and Medical
Research Council Evaluations and Outcomes Working
Committee. Evaluation of NH&MRC funded research
completed in 1992, 1997 and 2003: gains in knowledge,
health and wealth. Medical Journal Australia 184 (6): 282286, 2006.
Anderson GP, COPD, asthma and C-reactive protein.
European Respiratory Journal, 27: 874-876, 2006.
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Hansen MJ, Gualano RC, Bozinovski, S, Vlahos R and
Anderson GP, Therapeutic prospects to treat skeletal muscle
wasting in COPD. Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 109 (1-2),
162-172 2006.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Malaria Research
•
Dr Philippe Boeuf adapted the technique of laser
capture dissection to study gene expression in P
falciparum-infected placental cells and presented this
work at ICOPA XI in Glasgow.
•
Associate Professor Stephen Rogerson has been part
of a Malaria in Pregnancy Start Up Group, which has
led to a Malaria in Pregnancy Consortium, funded by
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to develop
a comprehensive strategy to improve treatment
and prevention of malaria in pregnant women. An
application for funding consortium activities has now
been lodged.
•
Dr Nicolas Senn commenced recruitment of children
into a study of intermittent preventive therapy with
antimalarial medication in Papua New Guinea.
Approximately 1800 children will be randomised to two
antimalarial combinations or to placebo over the next
two years. This will determine whether these drugs
decrease malaria and anaemia
Research Staff
20
Heads: Associate Professor Stephen Rogerson (pictured)
and Professor Graham V. Brown
Research Highlights
•
•
•
Associate Professor Stephen Rogerson, in collaboration
with Professor Steven Meshnick (University of North
Carolina), Dr Victor Mwapasa (University of Malawi
College of Medicine) and others found that untreated
syphilis infection was particularly common in women
with HIV infection, and that it increased the risk that
these women will pass HIV infection to their babies—
as well as being an important cause of infant deaths in
its own right.
Dr Wai-Hong Tham has begun to unravel the
mechanisms by which expression of members of
the Plasmodium falciparum rif family of 150 genes is
controlled.
Dr Michael Duffy, Ms Aphrodite Caragounis and others
have shown that malaria-infected erythrocytes from
women with placental malaria almost always transcribe
one specific var gene, out of many in each parasite. This
gene is called var2csa.
•
Dr Michael Duffy collaborated with researchers at The
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
to study the mechanisms underlying the control of
antigenic variation in P falciparum.
•
Dr Salenna Elliott has investigated how P. falciparum
infected erythrocytes interact with dendritic cells,
important in regulating the immune response to
malaria.
•
Professor Graham V. Brown
•
Associate Professor Stephen Rogerson: Wellcome Trust
Senior Research Fellow
•
Dr Nicolas Senn, Clinical Trial Physician (seconded to
Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research)
•
Dr Wai-Hong Tham: ARC Research Fellow
•
Dr Philippe Boeuf: Postdoctoral Fellow
•
Dr Michael Duffy: Postdoctoral Fellow
•
Dr Salenna Elliott: Postdoctoral Fellow
•
Mr Tim Byrne: Research Assistant
•
Mr Paul Payne: Research Assistant
•
Ms Francisca Yosaatmadja: Research Assistant
•
Ms Emily Mann: PhD Student
•
Ms Katya Boysen: MSc Student
•
Ms Lucille Pantel: Visiting Student
•
Ms Aimee Tan: UROP Student
Publication Highlights
Kwiek J, Mwapasa V, Milner D, Alker A, Miller W, Tadesse,
Molyneux, Rogerson S, Meshnick S. Maternal-fetal
microtransfusions and HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission in
Malawi. PLoS Medicine. 3(1):e10, 2006.
Beeson J, Mann E, Byrne T, Caragounis A, Elliott S, Brown G,
Rogerson S. Antigenic differences and conservation among
placental type Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes
and acquisition of variant-specific and cross-reactive
antibodies. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 193(5):721-30,
2006.
Frankland S, Adisa A, Horrocks P, Taraschi T, Schneider T,
Elliott S, Rogerson S, Knuepfer E, Cowman A, Newbold C,
Tilley L. Delivery of the Malaria Virulence Protein PfEMP1 to
the Erythrocyte Surface Requires Cholesterol-Rich Domains.
Eukaryotic Cell 5(5):849-60, 2006.
Dembo E, Phiri H, Montgomery J, Molyneux M, Rogerson
S. Are Plasmodium falciparum parasites presented in
peripheral blood genetically the same as those sequestered
in the tissues? American Journal of Tropical Medical
Hygiene, 74(5):730-732, 2006.
Montgomery J, Milner, D, Tse M, Njobvu A, Kayira K,
Dzamalala C, Taylor T, Rogerson S, Craig AG, Molyneux M.
Genetic analysis of circulating and sequestered populations
of Plasmodium falciparum in fatal paediatric malaria. Journal
of Infectious Diseases. 194(1):115-22,2006.
Duffy M, Caragounis A, Noviyanti R, Kyriacou H, Choong
E, Boysen K, Healer J, Rowe J, Molyneux M, Brown G,
Rogerson S. (2006). Transcribed var genes associated
with placental malaria in Malawian women. Infection and
Immununity 74(8):4875-83, 2006.
Mwapasa V, Rogerson S, Kwiek J, Wilson P, Milner D,
Molyneux M, Kamwendo D, Tadesse E, Chaluluka E, Ou C,
Meshnick S. Maternal syphilis infection is associated with
increased risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in
Malawi. AIDS. 11;20(14):1869-1877, 2006.
Benet A, Khong T, Ura A, Samen R, Lorry K, Mellombo M,
Tavul L, Baea K, Rogerson S, Cortes A. Placental malaria
in women with South-east Asian ovalocytosis. American
Journal of Tropical Medical Hygiene. 75(4):597-604, 2006.
Voss T, Healer J, Marty A, Duffy M, Thompson J, Beeson
J, Reeder J, Crabb B, Cowman A. A var gene promoter
controls allelic exclusion of virulence genes in Plasmodium
falciparum malaria. Nature. Feb 23;439(7079):1004-8, 2006.
Marty A, Thompson J, Duffy M, Voss T, Cowman A, Crabb
B. Evidence that Plasmodium falciparum chromosome
end clusters are cross-linked by protein and are the sites
of both virulence gene silencing and activation. Molecular
Microbiology, Oct;62(1):72-83, 2006.
New Grants
National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant
400090:SJ Rogerson and A Jaworowski. HIV and immunity
to malaria. 2006: $138,500, 2007: $143,500, 2008 $81,750.
National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant
406647. JG Beeson and SJ Rogerson: Identifying the targets
of protective immunity to malaria in pregnancy. 2006:
$149,250, 2007: $149,250, 2008: $149,250.
Melbourne Research Grants: M F Duffy. $30,000
National Health and Medical Research Council Program
Grant 406601. AF Cowman, GV Brown BS Crabb, E
Handman, MJ McConville, GI McFadden, L Schofield, TP
Speed. Host parasite interactions: Disease, pathogenesis
and control. 2006-2010 $13,500,000
NH&MRC equipment grant: Confocal microscope: live
cell imaging. CU's: GV Brown, J Hamilton, A Giraud, S
J Rogerson, S Jane, T O'Brien, D Myers, G Anderson.
$125,000
Ongoing Grants
National Health and Medical Research Council Program
Grant 215201: AF Cowman, H Billman-Jacobe, GV Brown,
BS Crabb, E Handman, MJ McConville, GI McFadden, L
Schofield and TP Speed, 2002–05, ‘The molecular basis of
host-pathogen interactions’: $11,540,000
National Health and Medical Research Council: GV Brown,
S Lewin, J Sasadeusz, M Richards, M Slavin, D Campbell,
SJ Rogerson, J Torresi and BA Biggs, ‘Centre for Clinical
Research Excellence in Infectious Diseases’ 2003–07:
$2,000,000
Wellcome Trust: Stephen J. Rogerson, 2001–06, Senior
Overseas Research Fellowship: $1.4m
National Health and Medical Research Council Capacity
Building Grant: CR Macintyre, NG Becker, M Law, A
Plant, TM Nolan and GV Brown, 2005–09, ‘Mathematical
modelling for improved planning of infectious disease
control policy’: $3,000,000
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: SJ Rogerson with J
Reeder, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research
(PI), 2005–09, ‘Intermittent preventive treatment during
EPI for the prevention of malaria and anemia in Papua New
Guinean infants’: US$2,858,276,
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: SJ Rogerson with
Feiko ter Kuile, University of Liverpool (PI), 2005–06,
‘Start up activities of malaria in pregnancy working group’:
US$358,735
Research
Meshnick S, Mwapasa V, Rogerson S. Protecting Pregnant
Women from Malaria in Areas of High HIV Infection
Prevalence. Journal of Infectious Diseases.194(3): 273-5,
2006.
National Institutes of Health: S Meshnick, SJ Rogerson
and M Molyneux, 2001–06, ‘Malaria and HIV in pregnant
Malawian women’: USD$250,000 p.a.
Collaborations
Graham V Brown
Project: ‘The molecular basis of host-pathogen infections’
(NH&MRC Program Grant). Collaborators: AF Cowman, H
Billman-Jacobe, E Handman, M McConville, G McFadden,
L Schofield and T Speed (collaboration among ten Chief
Investigators).
21
Graham V Brown and Michael Duffy
Project: ‘Studies of P. falciparum var gene transcription’
(funded by AusAID). Collaborator: Dr Rintis Noviyanti,
Eijkman, Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta Indonesia.
Graham V Brown and Stephen Rogerson
Project: Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Infectious
Diseases (funded by NH&MRC). Collaborators: S Lewin, J
Sasadeusz, M Richards, M Slavin, D Campbell, J Torresi and
BA Biggs.
Stephen Rogerson
Project: ‘Malaria and HIV in pregnancy’ (field studies in
Malawi funded by NIH). Collaborators: Professor Steven
Meshnick and Dr Victor Mwapasa.
Project: ‘Pathogenesis of malaria in pregnancy’ (field studies
in Malawi). Collaborator: Professor Malcolm, Molyneux.
Project: ‘Effect of HIV on opsonic phagocytosis of malaria
infected erythrocytes’. Collaborator: Dr Anthony Jaworowski,
Burnet Institute.
Project: ‘Identifying the targets of protective immunity to
malaria in pregnancy’. Collaborator: Dr James Beeson, The
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.
Project: ‘Malaria and pregnancy in Papua New Guinea’.
Collaborators: Dr James Beeson and Dr Danielle Stanisic,
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Dr
Pascal Michon, Dr Ivo Mueller and Professor John Reeder,
Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research; Dr Chris
King, Case Western Reserve University Cleveland USA.
Project: ‘Var genes associated with severe malaria in
Malawi’. Collaborators: Dr Jacqui Montgomery and
Professor Malcolm Molyneux, Malawi–Liverpool–Wellcome
Trust Clinical Research Program, College of Medicine,
Blantyre Malawi; and Dr Alister Craig, School of Tropical
Medicine, University of Liverpool.
Salenna Elliott
Project: ‘Role of CD8 T cells in human cerebral malaria’.
Collaborators: Professor Nick Hunt, University of Sydney;
Dr Steve Kamiza, University of Malawi College of Medicine;
and Professor Terrie Taylor, Michigan State University.
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Duffy M, Maier A, Byrne T, Marty A, Elliott S, O’Neill M,
Payne P, Rogerson S, Cowman A, Crabb B, Brown G.
VAR2CSA is the principal ligand for chondroitin sulfate A in
two allogeneic isolates of Plasmodium falciparum. Molecular
and Biochemical Parasitology.148(2):117-24, 2006.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Conference and Seminar Presentations
Graham V Brown
Participant, 37th PHAA Annual Conference, Sydney, Tackling
the determinants of health from the bush to Bondi.
Session Chair, 23rd NRL Workshop on Serology, Melbourne
Invited speaker, Specialist Medical Aid Symposium, Royal
Australasian College of Surgeons, Melbourne
Invited speaker, Pandemic Preparedness and Response
Forum, Sydney
Invited speaker, Thinking Games: exercise your mindCreating our own future. City of Melbourne
Invited lecture, Avian Influenza: Impact, solution and
readiness. Asialink, University of Melbourne.
Invited lecture, International Centre for Genetic Engineering
and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
Stephen Rogerson
Invited Speaker: International Congress of Parasitology,
Glasgow, August
Invited Speaker: American Society of Tropical Medicine and
Hygiene Annual Meeting, Atlanta GA, November
22
Teaching and Training
Graham V Brown
Professorial morning report for postgraduate trainees
Professorial student report; lectures and tutorials to
undergraduate medical students in Semesters 3,5, 8/9
Undergraduate and postgraduate examination (for fellowship
of Royal Australasian College of Physicians)
Stephen Rogerson
Coordination of, and lectures for ‘Oral Health Sciences
3–Medicine’ (Medicine for dental students)
Supervision
Elizabeth Aitken BSc(Hons) Supervisor Stephen Rogerson
Joelle Dodin BSc(Hons) Supervisor Dr Salenna Elliott
Emily Mann PhD Supervisors: Stephen Rogerson, Graham
Brown and Anthony Hodder
Professional Activities
Graham V Brown
Director, Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of
Melbourne
Head: Victorian Infectious Diseases Service (Royal
Melbourne Hospital) (resigned 2006)
Governor: Royal Melbourne Hospital Foundation
Director: Australian International Health Institute, The
University of Melbourne
Site Director: Geo Sentinel Surveillance Network, a
collaboration with the Centres for Disease Control USA (with
Dr J Torresi)
Chair: Strategy and Development Committee, Australian
International Health Institute
Chair: Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance
(EAGAR), NH&MRC
Chair: Scientific Advisory Board, The Queensland Institute of
Medical Research, Brisbane
Chair: Infection Prevention and Surveillance Committee,
RMH
Chair: Centres of Clinical Research Excellence Grants
Review Committee, NH&MRC
Chair: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Career Grants
Committee
Convenor: Dean's Lecture Series—Ethics Symposium,
MDHS, The University of Melbourne
Member: Commonwealth Panel of Experts for Crisis
Management (CAPE)
Member: Malaria Vaccine Advisory Committee (MALVAC),
World Health Organization
Member: Scientific Consultants Group, USAID Malaria
Vaccine Development Program, Maryland, USA
Member: Advisory Board, National Centre for Immunisation
Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases,
Westmead, NSW
Member: Scientific Advisory Committee, Bio21 Australia Ltd
Member: Clinical Advisory Group, The Walter and Eliza Hall
Institute of Medical Research/RMH
Member: Medical Advisory Committee, (Past Chair), RMH
Member: Medical Course Committee, MDHS, The
University of Melbourne
Member: MDHS Faculty Executive, The University of
Melbourne
Member: MDHS Faculty Planning, Budget and Research
Committee, The University of Melbourne
Member: Advisory Committee, Student Ambassador
Leadership Program, The University of Melbourne
Member: Senior Appointments Committee, The University
of Melbourne
Member: National Clinical Research Steering Committee
to oversee the development of a National Clinical Research
Framework, Office for Science and Medical Research
(OSMR), NH&MRC
Member: Study Committee, Institute of Medicine (IOM) of
the National Academies. Review of the U.S. Army Medical
Research and Material Command Malaria Vaccine Research
Program.
Member: Genetic Services Development Committee,
Department of Human Services, Victoria
Contact Details
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
4th Floor, Clinical Sciences Building
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria 3050 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 3 8344 6252
Fax: +61 3 9347 1863
Professor Graham V. Brown: [email protected]
A/Professor Stephen Rogerson: [email protected]
Dr Salenna Elliott: [email protected]
Dr Michael Duffy: [email protected]
Dr Philippe Boeuf: [email protected]
International and Immigrant Health
Research
Australians with HIV in gaining access to social support; and
to explore potential means of providing Australia’s African
communities with accurate, relevant, culturally appropriate
information about HIV. The community study has been
completed and the patient case series is underway.
Middle Eastern and Afghan immigrant and refugee
health study.
This project has highlighted the inadequate health
assessments in refugees from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan,
and has led to the development of a comprehensive refugee
health assessment package. Most newly arrived refugees,
particularly those from war zones and refugee camps,
will have had minimal pre-arrival health screening, hence
the need for a careful and empathetic history, thorough
examination, and consideration of the recommended
investigations. An assessment guide was developed
by the physicians at the Victorian Infectious Diseases
Service, Refugee/Travel Clinic: www.mh.org.au/VIDS;
23
Royal Children’s Hospital Immigrant Child Health Clinic,
Tel: +61 3 9345 5522; Victorian Foundation for Survivors of
Torture, www.survivorsvic.org.au, and general practitioners
in the Northern and Western Divisions of General Practice,
Melbourne. The findings of the study have been submitted
for publication.
Research
Cambodian immigrant and refugee health study.
This project has identified that as many as a third of
Cambodian immigrants are infected with Strongyloides
stercoralis, a parasite that can cause chronic illness and
death. The project is now complete and being prepared for
publication.
Principal: Associate Professor Beverley-Ann Biggs
Research Highlights
International Health
Strengthening the capacity for research and control of
malaria and parasitic diseases in Vietnam.
This project has fully equipped a malaria laboratory at
the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and
Entomology (NIMPE) in Hanoi, and is now monitoring
malaria drug resistance in sentinel sites. Further funding
by Atlantic Philanthropies Inc. until 2008 has enabled a
new initiative in hookworm control to be undertaken in
collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
The introduction of a provincial demonstration project for
improved control and prevention of hookworm infection and
anaemia in Vietnamese people is the major initiative planned
for the next three years. A pilot project that has provided iron
supplements and treatment for worm infection to all women
of reproductive age in 2 districts (50,000) in Yen Bai province
commenced in 2006. The project is being implemented
by NIMPE and provincial staff in conjunction with the
project manager Mr Gerard Casey from the Department
of Medicine. In 2007 the project will expand to the entire
province in collaboration with the World Health Organisation.
Immigrant and Refugee Health
HIV in Victoria’s African communities: reducing risks and
improving care.
This project aims to identify the factors that expose African
Australians to risk of infection with HIV, and impede
timely diagnosis; to describe the barriers faced by African
A clinical audit of African immigrants attending the
Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The aim of this study is to document the risks for, and
prevalence of, medical conditions diagnosed in African
immigrants attending the Victorian Infectious Diseases
Service.
For further details visit:
http://www.internationalhealth.unimelb.edu.au
Publication Highlights
Articles
Hipgrave D, Maynard J, Biggs B. (2006) Improving birth dose
coverage of hepatitis B vaccine. Bulletin of the World Health
Organization. Jan;84(1):65-71
Karunajeewa H, Kelly H, Leslie D, Leydon J, Saykao P, Biggs
BA. (2006) Parasite specific IgG response and peripheral
blood eosinophil count following albendazole treatment
for presumed chronic strongyloidiasis. Journal of Travel of
Medicine Mar-Apr;13(2):84-91
Hipgrave D, Huong V, Tran T, Long H, Van N, Dat D, Nga N,
Jolley D, Maynard J, Biggs B. (2006) Immunogenicity of
a locally produced hepatitis B vaccine with the birth dose
stored outside the cold chain in rural Vietnam. American
Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Feb 1;74(2):255-60.
Soeung S, Grundy J, Ly C, Samnang C, Boreland M, Brooks
A, Maynard J, Biggs B. (2006) Improving immunization
coverage through budgeted microplans and sub-national
performance agreements: Early experience from Cambodia.
Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health Jun; 18(1):29-38.
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
An evaluation of a new test for the detection of latent
tuberculosis infection in Victoria.
The aim of this study is to evaluate a new diagnostic test
(2nd Generation Quantiferon Assay) as a potential alternative
to the skin test for the detection of latent tuberculosis (TB).
Three studies comparing the new test to the skin test
were undertaken—in contacts of patients with active TB,
immigrants and health care workers—the results of which
are currently being analysed and prepared for publication.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
24
Caruana S, Kelly, H, Ngeow J, Ryan N, Chea, L, Nuon, S,
Bak, N, Skull S, Biggs B. (2006) Undiagnosed and potentially
lethal parasitic infections among immigrants to Australia.
Journal of Travel Medicine;13(4):233–239.
Soeung S, Grundy J, Maynard J, Brooks A, Boreland M,
Sarak D, Jenkinson K, Biggs B. (2006) Financial sustainability
planning for immunization services in Cambodia: experience
to date and future directions. Health Policy Plan;21(4):302-9.
Jeanette Fyffe and Heath Kelly, The University of Melbourne,
2004–07)
Dr Chris Lemoh, ‘HIV in Victoria’s African communities’,
PhD (Co-Supervisors: Alan Street and Margaret Hellard, The
University of Melbourne, 2004–07)
Dr Sophie Treleaven, MD (In progress)
Dr Ian Woolley, MD (In progress)
Grundy J, Soeung S, Samnang C, Boreland M, Biggs B,
Brookes A, Maynard J. (2006) Improving immunization
coverage through budgeted microplans and sub-national
performance agreements: Early experience from Cambodia.
Asia-Pacific Journal Public Health 18 (1):29-28.
Dr Albert Tiong, MAE
Tiong A, Patel M, Gardiner J, Ryan R, Linton K, Walker K,
Scopel J, Biggs B. (2006) Health issues in newly arrived
African refugees attending general practice clinics in
Melbourne. Medical Journal Australia 185, 602-606
Andrea Neale, Public Health Trainee
Ongoing Grants
Beverley-Ann Biggs
Member: AMS Taskforce, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Atlantic Philanthropies Inc. Grant: Le Khanh Thuan, Alan
Cowman, Beverley-Ann Biggs, 2003–08, ‘Strengthening
program and research capacity in parasitic disease
surveillance and control in Vietnam’: $1,600,000
Department of Human Services Grant: BA Biggs, P Vinton, P
Johnson and J Black, 2003–05, ‘An evaluation of a new test
for the detection of latent TB infection in Victoria’: $69,020
TB Foundation Grant: P Vinton, BA Biggs, P Johnson, H
Kelly and J Fyfe, 2003–05, ‘Epidemiology of TB in Victoria’:
$40,000
Department of Human Services Grant: Beverley-Ann Biggs,
Margaret Hellard and Alan Street, 2004–05, ‘Reducing
the risk of transmission of HIV/AIDS in African and Arabicspeaking communities in Victoria’: $75,627
Australia-India Council Grant: Beverley-Ann Biggs. Improving
the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, and multi-drug
resistant tuberculosis, in Nagpur, Central India. 2006-7.
$11,000.
Collaborations
Alfred and Austin Hospitals; Australian Research Centre in
Sex, Health and Society; Darebin Community Health Centre;
Key Centre for Women`s Health; local GP medical clinics;
Monash Institute of Health Services Research; Multicultural
Health and Support Service; Nossal Institute for Global
Health; Victorian Department of Human Services; Victorian
Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL); Victorian
Infectious Diseases Service (VIDS) at the Royal Melbourne
Hospital; Western Region Health Centre; World Health
Organization (WHO);.
Affiliations and/or joint projects with:
VIDS; VIDRL; Australian International Health Institute; Walter
and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI); Nossal Institute for Global
Health; NIMPE (Hanoi, Vietnam); RTCCD (Hanoi, Vietnam).
Teaching and Training
Beverley-Ann Biggs
Lecturing ‘Infectious Diseases’ to undergraduate Medical
students
Workshops with GP Divisions on Refugee Health issues
Workshops with NIMPE staff, Hanoi
Supervision
Beverley-Ann Biggs
Dr Paul Vinton, ‘An evaluation of a new test for the detection
of latent TB infection’, PhD (Co-Supervisors: Paul Johnson,
Ms Jane Goller, Public Health Trainee
Ms Michelle Sweidan, Public Health Trainee
Rachel Tham, Public Health Trainee
Professional and Community
Affiliations and Service
Co-Coordinator: AMS program, Department of Medicine
(RMH/WH)
Contact Details
Associate Professor Beverley-Ann Biggs
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
4th Floor, Clinical Sciences Building
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria 3050 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 3 8344 3256
Fax: +61 3 9347 1863
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.internationalhealth.unimelb.edu.au
Genetics Research
Cox B, Humar B,More H, Guilford P. Hereditary Diffuse
Gastric Cancer: diagnosis and management. Clinical
Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2006. 4(3): 262-275
Chow E, Lipton L, Lynch E , D’Souza R, Aragona C, Hodgkin
L,Brown G, Winship I, Barker M, Buchanan D, Nasioulas S,
du Sart D, Young J, Leggett B, Jass J, Macrae F. Hyperplastic
Polyposis Syndrome: Phenotypic presentations and the role
of MBD4 and MYH Gastroenterology 2006 131(1) 30-9
Watkins W, Umbers A, Woad K, Harris S, Winship I, Gersak
K and Shelling A. Mutational screening of FOX03A and
FOX01A in Preamature Ovarian Failure Fertility and Sterility
2006 86(5) 1518-21
Research
Chand A, Ponnampalam A, Harris S, Winship I, Shelling A.
Mutational analysis of BMP15 and GDF9 as candidate genes
for Premature Ovarian Failure Fertility and Sterility 2006
86(4) 1009-12
Abbott W, Winship I, Gane E, Finau S, Munn S, Tukuitonga C.
Genetic diversity and linkage disequilibrium in the Polynesian
population of Niue Island. Human Biology 2006 78(2) 131-45
James PA, Parry S, Arnold J, Winship I. Confirming a
diagnosis of hereditary colorectal cancer :the impact of a
Familial Bowel Cancer Registry NZ Medical Journal 2006 119
(1242) u2168
25
New Grants
NH&MRC, 2006-2008, Mismatch repair carriers, who are
they, what is their risk of cancer and how can the risk be
decreased Jenkins M, Baglietto L, Bishop T, Barker M,
Winship I, AU$213,000
NH&MRC, 2006-2008, Predicting the individual risk of
developing prostate cancer in Australian men, Severi
G, Giles G, English D , Hopper J, Winship I, Neerhut G
Baglietto L, AU$ 341,028
Research Highlights
Recognising the importance of the growing discipline of
Adult Genetics, the Royal Melbourne Hospital provided
funding for the University to create a position of Professor
of Adult Genetics in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences based at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The outstanding clinician and researcher Professor Ingrid
Winship was selected to take on this important role
that now impacts on all disciplines in clinical medicine.
Research in adult onset genetic disorders has covered areas
recognised in listed publications and a major commitment
to familial cancer and multi disciplinary, multi centre
collaborations. New collaborative research funding has
been obtained as listed below and NIH funding continues to
support studies in colorectal cancer.
Publication Highlights
Longo I, Scala E, Caselli R, Pescucci C, Antonietta
Mencarelli M, Speciale C, Giani M, Angela Caringella D,
Borochowitz Z, Siriwardena K, Winship I, Renieri A, Meloni
I. Autosomal recessive Alport syndrome: an in-depth clinical
and molecular analysis of five families. Nephrology Dial
Transplant 2006 21(3) 665-671
Watkins W, Harris S, Craven M, Vincent AL, Winship I,
Gersak, K and Shelling A. An investigation into FOXE1
polyalanine tract length in Premature Ovarian Failure and
BPES. Mol Hum Reprod 2006 12(3) 145-9
Blair V, Martin I, Shaw D, Winship I, Kerr D, Arnold J,
Harawira P, McLeod M, Parry S, Charlton A, Findlay M,
Tenders Awarded
Family Cancer Education Program – Workshop Curriculum
review and update, S.Metcalfe, M Aitken, I. Winship,
$8480.00 Cancer Council of Victoria
Collaborations
•
School of Population Health, University of Melbourne
•
Professor John Hopper (University of Melbourne)
•
Cancer Council of Victoria
•
Research Council Advisor to the Human Genome
Research Project with Justice Michael Kirby, and a
panel of New Zealand Experts, New Zealand
Other Activities
Inaugural David Danks Orator at the University of
Melbourne.
Contact Details
Professor Ingrid Winship
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
4th Floor, Clinical Sciences Building
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria 3050 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 3 9349 1846
Email: [email protected]
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Head: Professor Ingrid Winship
DHS Victoria, Disclosure of genetic information to those at
risk of familial cancer, a RCT and evaluation of 2 methods of
assisting families. Winship I,Harris M, Lindeman G, Mitchell
G, Macrae F, Young MA, Mann B, Warner B, Howell D, White
V, Fitzpatrick S, AU$85,856
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Hepatitis Molecular Virology Research
and Travel Medicine Service
this project will contribute significantly to our understanding
of how hepatitis B infection predisposes to HCC
development and identify targets for novel antineoplastic
agents.
Neutralising antibody and cellular immune responses to
self-adjuvanting recombinant HCV virus like particles.
HCV infects 3% of the world’s population or170 million
individuals and causes an estimated 476,000 deaths per
year as a result of HCV-associated end-stage liver disease
and its complications. The correlates of protective immunity
for HCV are not completely known although it is apparent
that an immune response capable of preventing reinfection
in humans is possible. An effective preventative vaccine
against HCV will need to induce both neutralizing antibody
(NAb) and cellular immune responses.
A vaccine based on HCV virus-like particles (VLP) has
the potential to achieve all of these requirements. HCV
coreE1E2 VLPs (HCV-VLPs) resemble mature HCV virions
and are able to elicit humoral immune responses and
NAb including cross-reactive NAb to HCV. To improve the
authenticity and immunogenicity of HCV VLPs we have
produced HCV VLPs in a human liver-derived cell line using a
recombinant adenovirus system encoding the HCV structural
proteins (core, E1 and E2) of HCV 77H, genotype 1a. These
HCV VLPs therefore contain HCV envelope glycoproteins
and the internal core protein that resemble those found on
mature virions. In addition, the purified HCV VLPs can be
modified by the addition of lipid to produce an effective selfadjuvanting vaccine candidate.
26
This project aims to study the immunogenicity of lipidated
HCV VLPs in mice, including HLA class II transgenic mice
and determine the neutralising activity of antibody to the
HCV VLPs. In addition, the ability of the lipidated HCV
VLPs to stimulate dendritic cell maturation and produce
HCV specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses will be
investigated.
Head: Dr Joseph Torresi
Hepatitis Research
•
Identification and characterisation of cellular and
humoral epitopes of hepatitis C virus (HCV)
•
Identification and characterisation of neutralising
epitopes of HCV
Modulation of cell signaling pathways by hepatitis B
virus and association with Hepatocarcinogenesis.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most
frequent cancer and the third leading cause of cancer
death worldwide after lung and stomach cancer. The
overwhelming characteristic of HCC is that over 90% of
cases have chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C
Virus (HCV). Although HBV is a known hepatocarcinogen the
precise mechanism by which it causes HCC is unknown.
Furthermore, the effectiveness of nucleoside analogues
such as lamivudine in eliminating the risk of HCC is unclear
as is the hepatocarcinogenic potential of antiviral-resistant
HBV.
•
Development of recombinant HCV coreE1-GFP-E2 VLPs
to study neutralising antibody responses to HCV
•
Development of recombinant HCV VLPs as vaccine
candidates for HCV
•
Identification of cross reactive CD8 epitopes of HCV
•
Identification of CD4 epitopes of HCV
•
Characterisation of dendritic cell activation in hepatitis C
infected patients
•
Modulation of MAPK and JAK/STAT/SOCS cell
signalling by HBV and HCV: mechanisms of viral
persistence and hepatocarcinogenesis
Replication of wild type HBV and antiviral drug resistant
HBV cause dysregulation of ras-ERK and PI(3)/Akt signal
transduction and cell cycle progression leading to viral
persistence and creating an intracellular environment
that is conducive to the development of hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC). Up-regulation of p21cip1 provides a
central component of the mechanism by which HBV alters
cell cycle and thereby promotes HCC development. The aim
of this work is to study the mechanisms of HBV persistence
and hepatocarcinogenesis in the context of HBV replication
in hepatocyte cultures and correlate this with changes
in human liver. In addition, the role of interferon alpha in
reversing the HBV induced dysregulation of both signal
transduction and cell cycle will be investigated. In so doing,
•
Development of recombinant adeno-HBV and adenoHCV systems to study cell signalling events in liver
derived cell lines
•
Analyses of HBV and HCV modulation of ERK, p38 and
JNK signalling.
•
Analyses of HBV and HCV modulation of cell cycle
regulatory proteins p53, p21, p27 and cyclins D1, B1,
A1.
•
Analyses of cell cycle modulation by HBV and HCV.
•
Analyses of SOCS3 expression in HBV and HCV
associated liver disease.
Research Focus
Analysis of malaria in travellers
•
Analysis of gastrointestinal infections in travellers
•
Analysis of P.vivax malaria in travellers
•
Analysis of dengue fever in travellers
Publication Highlights
Dr David C. Jackson, Department of Microbiology and
Immunology, The University of Melbourne: Identification
of immunodominant epitopes of hepatitis C virus and
generation of a polymerised peptide HCV prophylactic and
therapeutic vaccine.
Dr Thomas Bock, Department of Molecular Pathology,
University Hospital, Tuebingen, Germany and Professor
Hanswalter Zentgraf, German Cancer Research Center,
Heidelberg, Germany: Modulation of hepatitis B virus and
hepatitis C virus interactions and persistence in coinfected
cells through cell signalling pathways. Hepatitis B virus
genotype mixtures: Clinical relevance and molecular
characteristics.
Professor Eric Gowans, Hepatitis Research, Burnet Institute
Melbourne: GB virus-B/HCV chimeras to evaluate potential
self-adjuvanting HCV vaccines that generate neutralising
antibody in vivo.
Six Month Sabbatical: Germany, 2006
•
Collaborated with A/Prof Thomas Bock (Department
of Molecular Pathology, University of Tuebingen) and
Prof Hanswalter Zentgraf (German Cancer Centre,
Heidelberg University, Germany) working on projects
27
investigating how hepatitis B virus modulates JAK/
STAT/SOCS pathways; viral-viral interactions in hepatitis
B and C coinfection; the design and production of
hepatitis C virus like particles (HCV VLPs) as vaccine
candidate for HCV; and mechanisms of pathogenesis
of parvovirus B19 infection in inflammatory
cardiomyopathy. The vaccine project commenced
in Australia and work is now continuing as a central
component of the HCV vaccine initiatives in the
Hepatitis laboratory. Results obtained on sabbatical
form the basis for an NHMRC project application and
provided a project for a new PhD student, Dr Doug
Johnson.
•
Attended the 12th International Symposium on Viral
Hepatitis and Liver Disease in Paris, and presented two
talks on current research programs.
•
Visited the head office of Sanofi-Pastuer in Lyon
to discuss a number of research projects in travel
medicine. A substantial grant for a investigator-initiated
project will form on the seroprevalence of influenza,
dengue and Japanese encephalitis in Australia and
Canadian travellers. The three-year project has now
commenced and forms the basis of a PhD project for
Dr Irani Ratnam, infectious diseases physician, Royal
Melbourne Hospital.
O’Brien DP, Leder K, Matchett E, Brown GV, Torresi J. Illness
in returned travellers and immigrants/refugees: the 6-year
experience of two Australian infectious diseases units. 2006.
Journal Travel Medicine. 13(3): 145-152.
Song L, Toan L, Duy D, Binh V, Koeberlein B, Kaiser S,
Kremsner P, Kandolf R, Torresi J, C-T Bock. Impact of the
hepatitis B virus genotype and genotype-mixtures on the
course of liver disease in Vietnam. 2006. Hepatology.
43:1375-1384.
Toan N, Song L, Kremsner P, Duy D, Binh V, Duechting A,
Kaiser H, Torresi J, Kandolf R, and Bock C. Co-infection of
human parvovirus B19 in Vietnamese patients with hepatitis
B virus infection. 2006. Journal of Hepatology 45 361–369.
Leder K, Tong S, Weld L, Kain K, Wilder-Smith A, Black J,
Brown B, Torresi J. Illness in Travelers Visiting Friends and
Relatives: A Review of the GeoSentinel Network. 2006.
Clinical Infectious Diseases. 43:1185-1193.
Nguyen, Toan L, Duechting A, Kremsner P, Song L, Ebinger
M, Aberle S, Binh V, Duy D, Torresi J, Kandolf R and Bock C.
Phylogenetic analysis of human Parvovirus B19 indicating
two sub-groups of genotype 1. 2006. Journal General
Virology. 87:2941-2949.
Grollo L, Torresi J, Drummer H, Zeng W, Williamson N,
and Jackson D. Cross reactive epitopes identified in
hepatitis C virus E1E2 proteins induce antibodies that
capture virions from infected patients’ sera and also inhibit
pseudo virus entry into susceptible cells. 2006. Antiviral
Therapy.11(8):1005-14.
Research Grants
NH&MRC Grant: G. V. Brown, S. Lewin, J. Sasadeusz, M.
Richards, M. Slavin, D. Campbell, S. J. Rogerson, J. Torresi,
and B. A. Biggs, 2003–07, ‘Centre for Clinical Research
Excellence in Infectious Diseases’ $2,000,000
NH&MRC Project Grant (454640) DJackson, W Zeng, L
Brown, J Torresi. Using the Information inherent in Immune
Responses to Design Vaccines. 2007-2009 $430,000
Australian Centre for Hepatitis and HIV Virology, Population
Health Division of the Commonwealth Department of
Health and Ageing: Preclinical testing of replication-defective
adenovirus-based vaccines to boost Hepatitis C Virusspecific cellular immunity. M Bharadwaj, J Torresi. 2007
$110,000.
Seroprevalence of respiratory tract and arboviral infections
in Australian and Canadian travellers. Joseph Torresi (CIA),
Kevin Kain, Karin Leder, James Black, Michael Catton,
Beverley-Ann Biggs. Sanofi-Pasteur. 2007-2009. $500,000.
International Conference and Seminar
Presentations
Joseph Torresi
Presentation: with Ruth Chin, Bernd Koeberlein, Nguyen
Linh Toan, Stefanie Illmann, Hanswalter Zentgraf and
C.-Thomas Bock, ‘Mechanism of HBV-associated
hepatocarcinogenesis by modulation of MAPK pathways
and cell-cycle regulation’, Seminar, Department of Molecular
Pathology, University of Tübingen, Germany 2006
Oral Presentation: Mechanism of HBV-associated
hepatocarcinogenesis by modulation of MAPK pathways
and cell cycle regulation. R Chin, B Koeberlein, H Zentgraf,
T Bock, J Torresi. 12th International Symposium on Viral
Hepatitis and Liver Disease, Paris, 2006
Oral Presentation: Cross-reactive epitopes identified in
hepatitis C virus E1E2 proteins induce antibodies that
capture virions from infected patients’ sera and inhibit
HCV/HIV pseudo virus entry into susceptible cells. L Grollo,
J Torresi, O Stock , A Fischer, H Drummer,W Zeng, DC.
Research
•
Major Collaborations
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Travel Medicine Service, Victorian Infectious Diseases
Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Geosentinel is an international surveillance network that
monitors the global spread of exotic infectious diseases
amongst travellers, immigrants and expatriates. The program
was established jointly by the International Society for
Travel Medicine and CDC in Atlanta. The Victorian Infectious
Diseases service at the Royal Melbourne Hospital is the
only site in Australia involved with this international program
and has played a lead role in conducting and publishing
several research projects arising from within the network.
Through this ongoing collaboration, the Travel Medicine unit
will continue to develop a strong evidence base for clinical
practice in this medical discipline including:
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
28
Jackson. 12th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis
and Liver Disease, Paris, 2006
Invited Seminar: HCV Vaccine Strategies, Department of
Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine,
Hannover University, Germany, October 2006
Centre for Clinical Research Excellence
in Infectious Diseases
Teaching and Training
Joseph Torresi
Semesters 5, 8 and 9 lectures to undergraduate Medicine
students
Assessor for undergraduate Medicine students
Examiner for undergraduate Medicine students
Supervision
Joseph Torresi
Duangtawan Thammanichanond, ‘Identification and
characterisation of HLA associations, NKT and dendritic cell
responses with disease outcome in patients with acute and
chronic hepatitis C infection’, PhD (Co-supervisor: Professor
J. McCluskey, Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
The University of Melbourne)
Emily Ericsson, ‘Cytotoxic and NKT cells responses in
the prevention of hepatitis C infection’, PhD (Principal
Supervisor: Dr David Jackson, Department of Microbiology
and Immunology, The University of Melbourne). Completed.
Lara Grollo, ‘Mass spectroscopic identification of
neutralising epitopes of hepatitis C virus’, PhD (Principal
Supervisor: Dr David Jackson, Department of Microbiology
and Immunology, The University of Melbourne). Completed
Professional Activities
Joseph Torresi
Organiser and Presenter: Fairfield Travel Health Symposium
for general practitioners and travel health specialists
(from 1996—conducted jointly with the Victorian Medical
Postgraduate Foundation and the Royal Australasian College
of General Practitioners
Member: Melbourne Hepatitis Molecular Research Group
(from 2001)
Associate Chair Scientific Committee of the 10th
Conference of the International Society of Travel Medicine,
Vancouver, 2007
Chair, Scientific Committee, Asia Pacific International
Conference in Travel Medicine, Melbourne, 2008
Site Director: GeoSentinel, Melbourne (since 1998)
Member: GeoSentinel Scientific Review Committee
Member: International Society for Travel Medicine (since
1999)
Member: Australian Centre for Hepatitis Research (since
1999)
Contact Details
Joseph Torresi
Infectious Diseases Physician and Senior Lecturer
Hepatitis Molecular Virology Laboratory
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
4th Floor, Clinical Sciences Building
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria 3050 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 3 8344 3262
Fax: +61 3 9347 1863
Email: [email protected]
Head: Professor Graham V. Brown (Pictured)
Clinical Trials Director: Dr Joe Sasadeusz
Clinical Trials Manager: Dr Megan Brooks
2006 has been a very successful year for the Centre for
Clinical Research Excellence in Infectious Diseases in
fulfilling its goals of increasing capacity through career
development of clinician scientists.
Many young investigators are well advanced in their doctoral
studies and several new grants have been obtained by
postdoctoral fellows supported by the program. Dr Chris
MacIsaac completed his PhD. Dr Caroline Marshall, Dr Allen
Cheng and Dr Emma McBryde all received substantial new
research funding. Particularly pleasing is the breadth of the
program that includes doctoral scholars from Pharmacy and
Nursing.
Several members of the CCREID are now actively involved
in our new work relating to the Capacity Building Grant
from NHMRC which has the goal of developing Australia's
expertise in modelling the spread and control of infectious
diseases.
The Guidance Decision Support team won the 'Innovation
in Information Technology' section of the Victorian Public
Healthcare awards. Demonstration that introduction of this
technology leads to improved prescribing (and reduced cost)
has created great interest among hospitals in Victoria, and
interstate, with prospects for improved prescribing well
beyond the hospital of origin.
Special recognition should go to Kaz Thursky, Jim Black,
Kirsty Buising and Marion Robertson for many years of
Research Highlights
Computer Based Decision Support Systems for
Antibiotic Prescribing
This research activity continues to provide important
information regarding antibiotic usage and advice for
prescribers. Results demonstrate that this approach reduces
use and inappropriate prescribing in the Intensive Care Unit.
Assessment in severity of pneumonia
Dr Kirsty Buising has studied a variety of methods for
assessing severity of pneumonia and criteria for admission
to high dependency care. She has focused on the needs of
clinicians requiring rapid assessment in the early period of
hospitalisation.
Low mannose-binding lectin function is associated with
predisposition to Legionnaires’ disease.
Innate immune system deficiency may predispose to
severe infections such as Legionnaires’ disease. We have
investigated the role of mannose-binding lectin (MBL)
deficiency in the Melbourne Aquarium Legionnaires’ disease
outbreak.
MBL function, as shown by C4 deposition, was lower in
Legionnaires’ disease patients than in age and sex matched
uninfected, exposed controls. Hospitalised patients had a
higher frequency of MBL deficiency than those who did
not require hospitalisation. There was no difference in MBL
levels between Legionnaires’ disease patients and controls.
MBL functional deficiency may predispose to Legionnaires’
disease.
Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA and
Acinetobacter species at discharge from the Royal
Melbourne Hospital Intensive Care Unit.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
has been a long standing problem world-wide and
Acinetobacter has become an increasing problem because
of escalating antibiotic resistance. The exact prevalence of
these organisms however, is unknown, and the utility of
Evaluating the efficacy and safety of Pegasys RBV
(peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin) in patients with
chronic hepatitis C (CHC) attending a drug dependency
treatment programs.
Most infections with chronic hepatitis C in Australia are
related to injecting drug use (IDU) and an estimated 37,000
people receive drug dependency treatment. Despite
treatment, there has been an overall increase in these
patients in Australia since 2001 and uptake has been
limited. This pilot study will determine the safety, efficacy,
and tolerability of peginterferon alfa 2a (40KD) and ribavirin
among people with CHC receiving drug dependency
treatment (methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone).
Interim results suggest that efficacy and safety of Pegasys
RBV when used in a patient population receiving drug
dependency treatment are similar to non-IDU populations.
Further, although data on the psychological impact of
therapy is limited, it suggests treatment does not have a
negative psychological impact on this group of patients.
Please Note: Specific details relating to Publications,
Seminars, Teaching and Training, Conference and Seminar
Presentations, and Professional Activities of CCREID
Investigators Professor Graham Brown, A/Professor
Beverly-Ann Biggs, Dr Joe Torresi and A/Professor Stephen
Rogerson, are described in this report under: Malaria Group,
International and Immigrant Health Group, and Hepatitis
Molecular Virology Research and Travel Medicine Service.
Research
For the purposes of this Annual Report, duplication was
avoided by listing some outputs of academic staff in other
sections of the report, such as the leadership role taken by
Joe Torresi and Graham Brown in developing an evidence
base for the international travel medicine with colleagues of
the GEOSENTINEL network.
active screening for detection of these organisms is still
debated, particularly for Acinetobacter. Active screening
in the Intensive Care Unit provided important additional
data on MRSA and MSSA but may not be as important for
Acinetobacter.
29
Publication Highlights
Alonso-Echanove J, Sippy BD, Chin AE, Cairns L, Haley
R, Epstein JS, Richards MJ, Edelhauser H, Hedberg K,
Kuehnert MJ, Jarvis WR, Pearson ML. Nationwide outbreak
of red eye syndrome associated with transfusion of
leukocyte-reduced red blood cell units. Infection Control and
Hospital Epidemiology. 2006; 27:1146-1152.
Bennett NJ, Bull AL, Dunt DR, Russo PL, Spelman DW,
Richards MJ. Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in smaller
hospitals. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Surgery.
2006;76:676-678.
Bennett NJ, Bull AL, Dunt DR, Gurrin LC, Richards MJ,
Russo PL, Spelman DW. A profile of smaller hospitals:
planning for a novel, statewide surveillance program,
The Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Infectious Diseases (CCREID) Annual Colloquium, held on October
19, 2006, provided an opportunity for those involved in infectious diseases clinical research to present findings of
research projects being conducted through the CCREID.
L-R Front Row: Ms Marion Robertson, Dr Emma McBryde, Dr Jennifer Marriott, Prof Tania Sorrell (SAC), Dr
Caroline Marshall, Prof Sharon Lewin, Prof Peter Ebeling, Ms Mary Ljubanovic
L-R Middle Row: Dr Tabish Zaidi, Dr Joe Sasadeusz, Dr Jim Black, Prof Joe McCormack (SAC), Prof Steve
Wesselingh (SAC), Dr Allen Cheng, Ms Jennifer Audsley, Dr Orla Morrissey, Ms Emily Mann, Dr Monica Slavin
L-R Back Row: Ms Ana Hutchinson, Dr Chris Lemoh, A/Prof Eugene Athan, Dr Alan Street, Prof Graham Brown.
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
contribution to the program and Professor Rana MacIntyre
and Dr Hugo Stevenson who were intimately involved in
obtaining funding to initiate the program.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
30
Victoria, Australia. American Journal of Infection Control
2006;34:170-175.
Buising KL, Thursky KA, Black JF, MacGregor L, Street
AC, Kennedy MP, Brown GV. A prospective comparison
of severity scores for identifying patients with severe
community acquired pneumonia: reconsidering what is
meant by severe pneumonia. Thorax 2006;61:419-424.
Bull AL, Russo PL, Friedman ND, Bennett NJ, Boardman CJ,
Richards MJ. Compliance with surgical antibiotic prophylaxis-reporting from a statewide surveillance Program in Victoria,
Australia. Journal of Hospital Infection 2006; 63:140-147.
Chen S, Slavin M, Nguyen Q, Marriott D, Playford EG, Ellis
D, Sorrell T. Active surveillance for candidemia, Australia.
Emergency Infectious Diseases 2006;12:1508-1516.
Cowie BC. Is there an optimal genetic target for molecular
analysis of hepatitis B virus transmission? Journal of Clinical
Microbiology 2006;44:3051.
Deb S, Walterfang M, Varghese D, Eisen DP, Tomlinson
B, Velakoulis D. Cryptococcal dementia in a patient with
sarcoidosis. Medical Journal of Australia 2006;184:86-87.
Eisen DP, Dean MM, Thomas P, Marshall P, Gerns N, Heatley
S, Quinn J, Minchinton RM, Lipman J. Low mannosebinding lectin function is associated with sepsis in adult
patients. FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
2006;48:274-282.
Giles ML, Hellard ME, Lewin SR, Mijch AM. The evidence
for a change in antenatal HIV screening policy in Australia.
Medical Journal of Australia. 2006;185:217-220.
Giles ML, Garland SM, Grover SR, Lewin SM, Hellard
ME. Impact of an education campaign on management in
pregnancy of women infected with a blood-borne virus.
Medical Journal of Australia 2006;184:389-392.
Hocking JS, Lim MS, Vidanapathirana J, Read TR, Hellard M.
Chlamydia testing in general practice - a survey of Victorian
general practitioners. Sex Health 2006;3:241-244.
Leder K, Tong S, Weld L, Kain KC, Wilder-Smith A, von
Sonnenburg F, Black J, Brown GV, Torresi J. Illness in
travelers visiting friends and relatives: a review of the
GeoSentinel Surveillance Network. Clinical Infectious
Diseases 2006;43:1185-1193.
Lemoh C, Biggs BA. Reducing the risk of transmission of
HIV/AIDS in African and Arabic speaking communities in
Victoria. June 2006 report to the Victorian Department of
Human Services, prepared by the Department of Medicine
(RMH/WH) in collaboration with the Burnet Institute, the
Victorian Infectious Diseases Service and the Australian
Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society.
Leong CL, Buising K, Richards M, Robertson M, Street A.
Providing guidelines and education is not enough: an audit
of gentamicin use at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Internal
Medical Journal 2006;36:37-42.
Lim MS, Marshall CL, Spelman D. Carriage of multiple
subtypes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by
intensive care unit patients. Infection Control and Hospital
Epidemiology 2006;27:1063-1067.
Matthews GV, Bartholomeusz A, Locarnini S, Ayres A,
Sasaduesz J, Seaberg E, Cooper DA, Lewin S, Dore GJ, Thio
CL. Characteristics of drug resistant HBV in an international
collaborative study of HIV-HBV-infected individuals on
extended lamivudine therapy. Aids. 2006; 20:863-870.
McBryde ES, McElwain DL. A mathematical model
investigating the impact of an environmental reservoir
on the prevalence and control of vancomycin-resistant
enterococci. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2006;193:14731474.
Mijch A, Burgess P, Judd F, Grech P, Komiti A, Hoy J, Lloyd
JH, Gibbie T, Street A. Increased health care utilization and
increased antiretroviral use in HIV-infected individuals with
mental health disorders. HIV Medicine 2006;7:205-212.
Morrissey CO, Slavin MA. Antifungal strategies for
managing invasive aspergillosis: The prospects for a preemptive treatment strategy. Medical Mycology 2006;44
Suppl:333-348.
O'Brien DP, Leder K, Matchett E, Brown GV, Torresi J. Illness
in returned travelers and immigrants/refugees: the 6-year
experience of two Australian infectious diseases units.
Journal Travel of Medicine 2006;13:145-152.
Richards JS, MacDonald NJ, Eisen DP. Limited
polymorphism in Plasmodium falciparum ookinete surface
antigen, von Willebrand factor A domain-related protein from
clinical isolates. Malaria Journal 2006;5:55.
Russo PL, Bull A, Bennett N, Boardman C, Burrell S, Motley
J, Berry K, Friedman ND, Richards M. The establishment
of a statewide surveillance program for hospital-acquired
infections in large Victorian public hospitals: a report from
the VICNISS Coordinating Centre. American Journal of
Infection Control. 2006;34:430-436.
Thursky KA, Buising KL, Bak N, Macgregor L, Street AC,
Macintyre CR, Presneill JJ, Cade JF, Brown GV. Reduction of
broad-spectrum antibiotic use with computerized decision
support in an intensive care unit. International Journal of
Quality Health Care 2006;18:224-231.
Thursky KA, Worth LJ, Seymour JF, Miles Prince H, Slavin
MA. Spectrum of infection, risk and recommendations
for prophylaxis and screening among patients with
lymphoproliferative disorders treated with alemtuzumab*.
British Journal of Haematology 2006;132:3-12.
Thursky KA, Mahemoff M. User-centered design techniques
for a computerised antibiotic decision support system in
an intensive care unit. International Journal of Medical
Information 2006 Sep 1; (Epub ahead of print)
Thursky K. Use of computerized decision support systems
to improve antibiotic prescribing. Expert Review of AntiInfective Therapy 2006;4:491-507.
Tong SY, Haqqani H, Street AC. A pox on the heart: five
cases of cardiovascular syphilis. Medical Journal of Australia
2006;184:241-243.
Worth LJ, Thursky KA. Cytomegalovirus reactivation in
patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with
alemtuzumab: prophylaxis vs. pre-emptive strategies for
prevention. Leukemia and Lymphoma. 2006;47:2435-2436.
Ongoing Grants
NH&MRC Capacity Building Grant: C R Macintyre, N G
Becker, M Law, A Plant, T M Nolan and G V Brown, 2005–09,
‘Mathematical modelling for improved planning of infectious
disease control policy’: $3,000,000
NH&MRC: G V Brown, B-A Biggs, D Campbell, S Lewin, M
Slavin, M Richards, J Sasadeusz, J Torresi and S Rogerson,
2003–07, Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in
Infectious Diseases: $2,000,000
National Institutes of Health (USA) RO1 Project Grant: J
Sasadeusz, S Locarnini, S Lewin, J Hoy, G Dore and G
Mathews, 2004–09, “Liver Disease and HIV/HBV coinfection
in the era of HAART.” US$998,552
Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation: C Marshall,
“Do rapid detection and isolation of colonised patients
reduce MRSA spread? An epidemiological, economic and
modelling study.” A$60,000
Victor Hurley Foundation: A Hutchinson, “Role of newlydiscovered respiratory viruses in exacerbations of COPD.”
Victor Hurley Foundation: C Lemoh, “HIV in Victoria’s
African communities.” A$5,000
Collaborations
Non-Industry: Department of Human Services, Victoria;
MedSeed; The GeoSentinel Network, Centres for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC); Mycosis Interest Group (MIG)
of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID);
National Centre for HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research;
The Alfred Hospital; Burnet Institute; Walter Eliza Hall
Institute; International Collaboration on Endocarditis; Clinical
Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Royal
Melbourne Hospital; Royal Adelaide Hospital
Conference And Seminar
Presentations
Ms Jennifer Audsley
•
Presentation: “Surveillance of hepatitis B virus
mutations during tenofovir treatment in HIV/HBV
co-infected individuals.” Australian Society for HIV
Medicine, 11-14 October 2006.
Dr Damon Eisen
•
Plenary Presentation: “Fungal infections and the innate
immune system.” Australasian Society for Infectious
Diseases. Invited Plenary, Annual Scientific Meeting
2006.
•
Plenary Presentation: with M Dean, P Thomas, P
Marshall, N Gerns, S Heatley, J Quinn, R Minchinton
and J Lipman. “Low mannose-biding lectin function is
associated with sepsis in immunocompetent adults.”
31
Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases. Annual
Scientific Meeting 2006.
•
Poster Presentation: with M O’Sullivan. “The
primaquine tolerant phenotype of Plasmodium vivax
isolates from the south west pacific region is shared
between genotypically diverse organisms.” Australasian
Society for Infectious Diseases. Annual Scientific
Meeting, 2006.
•
Presentation: with C Cabell, C Mestres, N Chipigna, V
Fowler. “The Use of Early Surgery in Definite Infective
Endocarditis (IE): A Propensity Matched Analysis from
1622 Patients.” American Heart Association. Scientific
Sessions 2006.
•
Invited Lecture: “Mannose binding lectin; Biology and
therapeutic potential of an innate immune system
– pattern recognition molecule.” Australian and New
Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion. Annual Scientific
Meeting 2006.
Industry: Gilead Sciences, Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline; Novartis;
Roche Products Pty Ltd; Ribapharm Inc; Bristol Myers
Squibb; Human Genome Sciences; Intercell AG; Theravance,
Inc, Schering-Plough Inc
Awards And Prizes
The Victorian Infectious Diseases Service (VIDS)
Guidance DS team won the Innovation in Information
Technology category at the Victorian Public Healthcare
Awards. L-R: Dr Jim Black, Dr Kirsty Buising, Dr Karin
Thursky, Ms Marion Robertson and Ms Renukadevi
Shanmuga Sundaram Back row: Prof Graham Brown.
Dr Benjamin Cowie
Awarded life membership to the John Snow Society,
Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling and its
Applications, London School of Medicine and Tropical
Hygiene, August 2006.
Dr Kirsty Buising, Dr Karin Thursky, Dr Jim Black, Ms Marian
Robertson, Ms Renu Shanmugasundaram
GUIDANCE decision support system. DHS Victorian Public
Health Care Award for Innovation in Information Technology.
October, 2006.
Dr Sharon Lewin
Identification of hepatitis B virus adaptation to host HLArestrcted immune responses in vivo. SR Lewin, S Mallal,
G Lau, S Locarnini, C desmond, S Roberts. Roche PILLAR
awards. 2006-2007. Role: PI. $40,000 total.
The role of CCR7 ligands in HIV latency. American
Foundation for AIDS Research. 2006-2007. Role: PI.
$120,000 USD.
Dr Emma McBryde
PhD awarded December 2006 - Dean's prize for outstanding
thesis, the Faculty of Science, QUT
Dr Allen Cheng
•
Poster Presentation: with AJ Wade, E Athan, JL
Molloy, OC Harris, J Stenos, AJ Hughes. “Q fever
outbreak in a cosmetics supply industry.” The
Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Annual
Scientific Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand. May, 2006.
Dr Benjamin Cowie (PhD student)
•
Presentation: “Natural history and disease progression
of HCV infection. Australasian Society for HIV Medicine
Short Course in Viral Hepatitis Medicine.” Melbourne,
October.
•
Presentation: “Epidemiology, natural history and public
health issues in HBV infection.” Australasian Society for
HIV Medicine Short Course in Viral Hepatitis Medicine,
Melbourne, October.
•
Presentation: “The unwell returned traveller.” Australian
Doctor / Coppleson Committee for Continuing Medical
Education seminar, Melbourne, March
A/Professor Jenny Hoy
•
Invited Speaker: “Overview of Treatment Interruption
Studies.” 18th Annual Conference of the Australasian
Society for HIV Medicine, Melbourne, 11-14 October
2006.
•
Presentation: with K Singh, J van Herpen, S Jones,
SR Lewin. “Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific
CD8+ T-cell responses are reduced in HIV-infected
Research
NH&MRC: E McBryde “Mathematical modelling of influenza
epidemics”.
Dr Monica Slavin
Doctor of Medicine Thesis 2006 (Department of Medicine,
University of Melbourne). “Prevention of Infection in patients
undergoing treatment for Haematological Malignancies.”
Supervisors: A/Prof Beverley Ann Biggs, Professor Richard
Fox.
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Victor Hurley Foundation: C Marshall, “Do rapid detection
and isolation of colonised patients reduce MRSA spread? An
epidemiological, economic and modelling study.” A$10,000
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
individuals with a history of HCMV Disease despite
CD4+ cell Recovery.” 18th Annual Conference of the
Australasian Society for HIV Medicine, Melbourne, 1114 October 2006.
•
•
•
•
32
•
Presentation: with AB Pierce, S Herber, EJ Wright.
“Re-attenders for Non-occupational Post-exposure
Prophylaxis – Experience from a Tertiary Referral
Centre, Australia.” 18th Annual Conference of the
Australasian Society for HIV Medicine, Melbourne, 1114 October 2006.
Poster Presentation: with JF Chen. “Mycobacterial
Immune Restoration Disease after Highly Active
Antiretroviral Therapy – A Retrospective Case Series.”
18th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for
HIV Medicine, Melbourne, 11-14 October 2006.
Poster Presentation: on behalf of the SMART Study
Group. “Severity of Clinical Events by Proximal CD4 cell
counts in the SMART study.” 18th Annual Conference
of the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine,
Melbourne, 11-14 October 2006.
Poster Presentation: on behalf of the SMART Study
Group. “Predictors for the Initial CD4 cell Decline after
Antiretroviral Treatment Interruption in the SMART
Study.”18th Annual Conference of the Australasian
Society for HIV Medicine, Melbourne, 11-14 October
2006.
Poster Presentation: with G Beatty, T Vangeneugden,
E Lefebvre. “Body mass change and anthropometricrelated adverse events at week 24 in treatment
experienced HIV-infected patients receiving
TMC114/r or control PIs in POWER 1,2 and 3.” 8th
International Workshop on Adverse Drug Reactions and
Lipodystrophy, San Francisco, USA, 24-26 September
2006.
Anastasia Hutchinson (PhD Student)
•
Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand,
Canberra 2006 and American Thoracic Society, San
Diego, 2006.
-Presentation: Respiratory viruses cause exacerbations
of COPD: a time-matched case-control study.
Melbourne Longitudinal COPD Cohort Study (MLCC).
-Presentation: Predicting outcome of COPD
exacerbations using clinical measures and C-reactive
protein in the Melbourne Longitudinal COPD Cohort
(MLCC).
-Presentation: Patient self-management training and a
nurse-led rapid assessment service in the community
decreases severity of exacerbations and readmission
rates in the Melbourne Longitudinal COPD Cohort
(MLCC).
Professor Sharon Lewin
•
Plenary Speaker: Determinants of HIV-related immune
reconstitution. 9th Bangkok HIV symposium, Bangkok,
Thailand
•
Invited Speaker: Establishment of a National QA
program for PBMC collection in Australia. Laboratory
Workshop, 9th Bangkok HIV symposium, Bngkok,
Thailand
•
Third Shanghai-Hong Kong International Liver Congress.
Shanghai, March 2006
- Keynote Speaker: “The adaptive immune response to
hepatitis B virus infection”
- Invited Speaker: “Immunopathogenesis of HIV-HBV
co-infection”
•
Keynote Speaker: “The adaptive immune response to
hepatitis B virus infection.” Pohang University
•
Speaker: The adaptive immune response to hepatitis
B virus infection. Autumn conference for the Korean
Society for immunology.
Dr Caroline Marshall
•
Presentation: “Acinetobacter in three Melbourne
hospitals: an emerging nosocomial pathogen.”
Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Annual
Scientific Meeting, Wellington, New Zealand.
•
Presentation: “Clinical and Laboratory investigation
of Undiagnosed Encephalitis (The CLUE Study).”
Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Annual
Scientific Meeting, Wellington, New Zealand.
Dr Orla Morrissey (PhD student)
•
Invited Speaker: “Antifungal Strategies in High Risk
Patients.” New Zealand Branch of the Haematology
Society of Australia and New Zealand Annual Scientific
Meeting. 6 April 2006. Palmerston North.
•
Presentation: “Antifungal Stragegies for Invasive
Aspergillosis in High-Risk Haematology Patients.”
Department of Medicine, Central and Eastern Clinical
School, Monash University. 4 May 2006.
•
Presentation: “A Randomised Controlled Trial
Comparing Two Stragegies for the Diagnosis of Invasive
Aspergillosis in High-Risk Haematology Patients.”
Australasian Leukaemia Lymphoma Group Meeting, 710 Nov 2006. Brisbane.
Associate Professor Michael Richards
•
Presentation: “Clinical performance indicators: The
VICNISS Program: Surveillance of hospital-acquired
infections in acute-care Victorian public hospitals.”
Better State of Hospitals Conference April 2006,
Melbourne.
•
Presentation: “VICNISS: A state-wide surveillance
program for hospital-acquired infections in acute-care
Victorian public hospitals.” Monitoring the Quality of
Care in Hospitals seminar, Melbourne, April 2006.
•
Poster Presentation: with N Bennett, K Berry, C
Boardman, A Bull, S Burrell, N Friedman, P Russo.
“Educating smaller rural hospital infection control (IC)
nurses, Victoria, Australia.” Association for Professionals
in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) 33rd
Annual Educational conference and International
Meeting. Tampa, Florida. June 2006.
•
Poster Presentation: with N Bennett, K Berry, C
Boardman, A Bull, S Burrell, N Friedman, P Russo.
“Piloting a novel State-wide smaller hospital
nosocomial infection surveillance program.” Association
for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
(APIC) 33rd Annual Educational Conference and
International Meeting. Tampa, Florida. June 2006.
•
Poster Presentation: with N Bennett, K Berry, C
Boardman, A Bull, S Burrell, N Friedman, P Russo.
“Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in smaller hospitals,
Victoria, Australia.” Society for Healthcare Epidemiology
of America 16th Annual Scientific Meeting. Chicago,
March 2006.
•
Invited Plenary Speaker: “Hospital Infection
Surveillance in Australia – one nation or many
states?” Hospital Infection Society Biannual meeting,
Amsterdam, October 2006.
Associate Professor Monica Slavin
•
Presentation: “Antifungal Strategies for Invasive
Aspergillosis: Prophylaxis, Empiric or Pre-emptive
therapy?” Advances in Aspergillosis, Athens, February
2006.
•
Presentation: “Fungal infection: newer approaches
for diagnosis and treatment: experience in the
haematology department.” 10th Western Pacific
Congress on Chemotherapy and Infectious Diseases,
Fukuoka, Japan, December 2006.
•
Co-opted examiner, FRACP Clinical examination.
•
Dr Alan Street
•
Invited speaker: “Update on tuberculosis.” Society of
Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (Vic). June 2006
Tutorials on Infectious Diseases to Basic Physician
Trainees.
•
Lectures on Infectious Diseases to undergraduate
Medicine Students (semester 8/9).
•
Chair: Consensus conference: Australasian Society
for HIV Medicine Annual Conference, Melbourne, Vic,
October.
Dr Leon Worth (PhD student)
•
Poster Presentation: with MA Slavin, JF Seymour, KA
Thursky. “Enterococcus faecium bacteremia in patients
with haematological malignancy: a case control study
to identify risk factors.” Infectious Diseases Society of
America meeting, Toronto, 2006.
Associate Professor Jenny Hoy
•
Lectures on Infectious Diseases to undergraduate
Medicine students (semester 8/9)
Professor Sharon Lewin
•
Overall supervision of the infectious diseases module
of the Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Monash
University
•
Post graduate teaching for physician trainees and
advanced trainees in Infectious Diseases.
Dr Emma McBryde
•
Series of three seminars on mathematical modelling of
infectious diseases at the University of Melbourne
Presentation: “Achieving quality outcomes: an infection
control needlestick prevention initiative two years
on.” Australian Infection Control Association meeting.
Sydney, 2006.
•
Centre for Clinical Research Excellence
in Infectious Diseases Annual
Colloquium, 19 October, 2006.
•
FRACP candidate tutorials.
•
Intern training (antibiotic usage).
•
Lectures: Nosocomial infection surveillance and
hospital epidemiology for post graduate students,
School of Population Health, University of Melbourne.
•
Dr Caroline Marshall: Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA and
Acinetobacter in the RMH intensive care unit: prevalence at
discharge
Dr Chris MacIsaac: Superantigens in sepsis
Dr Chris Lemoh: HIV in Victoria’s African communities
Ms Jennifer Audsley: Surveillance of Hepatitis B Virus
(HBV) mutations during Tenofovir (TDF) treatment in HIV and
HBV co-infected individuals
Lecture at the infectious diseases research course
Associate Professor Michael Richards
•
Lectures on Infectious Diseases to undergraduate
Medicine students, undergraduate examiner.
Program
Dr Joe Sasadeusz: Chair
Professor Graham V Brown: Welcome
•
Lectures and group learning for General Practitioners
Associate Professor Monica Slavin
•
Lecture “Infection in the immunocompromised host.”
RACP Lecture Series, Melbourne
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre resident medical
officer lecture series. “Infections in cancer patients.”
2000-2006.
•
Postgraduate nursing courses in Bone Marrow
Transplantation, Unviersity of Melbourne and Monash
University. “Infections in marrow transplant recipients.”
2000-2006.
Dr Emma McBryde: Using mathematical models of MRSA
transmission to inform isolation strategy
•
Master of Pharmacy course, Monash University.
“Update on antifungals.” 2002-2006.
Dr Tabish Zaidi: Translating research into action-formative
evaluation of an antibiotic decision support system.
Dr Alan Street
•
Lectures on Infectious Diseases to undergraduate
Medicine students (semester 8/9 and semester 12)
Dr Allen Cheng: Simple mathematical models in
melioidosis
Teaching And Training
Dr James Black
•
Lecture: Ethics of research (‘Context and Practices’
unit for the Master of Clinical Research).
•
Lecture: International surveillance (Infectious Disease
Epidemiology unit).
•
Lecture: Surveillance in complex emergencies
(Refugee health course. Burnet Institute for Medical
Research).
•
Lecture: Surveillance in complex emergencies
(Refugee health course. Burnet Institute for Medical
Research).
•
Lecture: Water and sanitation, control of enteric
diseases and ORS (Field Methods course Burnet
Institute for Medical Research).
Dr Damon Eisen
•
Director of Physician Training, RMH.
33
Dr Joe Sasadeusz
•
Lectures on Infectious Diseases to undergraduate
Medicine students (semester 8/9)
•
Professor Steve Wesselingh: Clinical research at The
Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research
Research
Presentation: “Clinical dilemmas in HIV management
— TB.” Australasian Society for HIV Medicine Annual
Conference, Melbourne, Vic, October.
•
Preparation of candidates for part 1 examination, RACP
•
General practitioner continuing education
Supervision
•
Dr Ben Cowie: Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus in
Victoria. PhD. University of Melbourne, 2005-2008.
Co-Supervisors: Professor Sharon Lewin, Professor
Graham V Brown, Heath Kelly, Margaret Hellard.
•
Ms Judy Chang: HBV-specific T cell immunity.
PhD. Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, 2004-2007. Supervisor:
Sharon Lewin.
•
Dr Christopher Desmond. Pathogenesis of Hepatitis B
virus infection. PhD. Department of Medicine, Monash
University. 2006-2009. Supervisor: Sharon Lewin
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
•
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
•
Ms Maria Downey: Pharmacoeconomic analysis of
antifungal prophylaxis in haematology patients. Master
of pharmacy, 2006-2007. Supervisor: Monica Slavin.
•
Ms Vanessa Evans: Thymic dendritic cells and HIV
infection. PhD. Department of Medicine, Monash
University. 2006-2009. Supervisor: Sharon Lewin.
•
Dr Michelle Giles: HIV and pregnancy in Australia. PhD.
Department of Medicine, Monash University, 20052008. Co-Supervisors: Sharon Lewin, Suzanne Garland,
Margaret Hellard.
•
•
Ms Ana Hutchinson: Viral exacerbation of COPD. PhD.
University of Melbourne, 2004–07. Co-Supervisors:
James Black, Gary Anderson, Louis Irving.
Dr David Iser: Interactions between HIV and Hepatitis
B Virus. PhD. Department of Medicine, St Vincent’s
Hospital. The University of Melbourne, 2005-2008.
Supervisor: Sharon Lewin.
•
Mr Nick Jones: Bedside monitoring for aminoglycoside
induced vestibular toxicity. Master of Clinical Pharmacy,
2005-06. Co-Supervisors: Mike Richards, Jim Black,
David Kong, Owen White.
•
Ms Emily Karahalios: The effect of the Commonwealth
games on frequency of ICD-10 codes in syndromic
surveillance data from hospital emergency
departments. Master’s degree.Supervisor: Jim Black
34
•
Ms Natalie Lane: BSc (Hons). Monash University,
Supervisor: Sharon Lewin.
•
Dr Chris Lemoh: HIV in Victoria’s African Communities.
PhD. University of Melbourne, 2004–07. CoSupervisors: Bev Biggs, Alan Street, Margaret Hellard.
•
Dr Orla Morrissey: Early diagnosis and management
of invasive aspergillosis in patients with haematological
malignancy. PhD. Monash University, 2002-06. CoSupervisors: Monica Slavin, Steve Wesselingh, Tania
Sorrell.
•
Dr Mark Newell: ICD-10 codes corresponding to
influenza-like illness in syndromic surveillance data
from hospital emergency departments. Public Health
Trainee, Victorian Public Health Training Scheme.
Supervisor: James Black.
•
Dr Irani Ratnam: Acquisition of respiratory and arbovirus
infections by Australian travellers. PhD. University of
Melbourne, 2006-2009/10. Co-Supervisors: A/Prof Mike
Richards, Joe Torresi, James Black.
•
Dr Jack Richards: The role of antibodies to Plasmodium
falciparum erythrocyte invasion ligands in protection
against malaria. PhD. University of Melbourne, 200608. Co-Supervisors: Graham Brown, James Beeson.
•
Ms Emma Tippet: Macrophages and HIV infection.
PhD. Department of Medicine, Monash University.
2005-2008. Co-Supervisor: Sharon Lewin
•
Dr Paul Vinton: An evaluation of a new test for the
detection of latent TB infection. PhD. University of
Melbourne, 2004–07. Co-Supervisors: Bev. Biggs, Paul
Johnson, Janet Fyfe, Heath Kelly.
•
•
Dr Leon Worth: Risk factors and surveillance for
catheter-related bloodstream infections in patients
with haematological malignancy. PhD. University of
Melbourne, 2004–07. Co-Supervisors: Monica Slavin,
James Black, Graham Brown.
Dr Tabish Zaidi: Evaluating the impact of computerised
antibiotic decision support system at RMH. PhD.
Monash University, 2004-2007. Co-Supervisors:
Jennifer Marriott, Roger Nation.
Professional Activities
Dr James Black
•
Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine
(AFPHM)
- Examiner
- Mentor: Four advanced trainees for the Fellowship of
the AFPHM: Drs Mark Newell, Danny Csutoros, Julie
Wang and Ben Coghlan.
Dr Damon Eisen
•
Consortium Management Committee, Greater Western
Basic Physician Training Consortium.
•
Department of Human Services, Pandemic Influenza
Steering Committee.
•
Infection Control Committee, Melbourne Private
Hospital.
•
Medical Advisory Committee, Melbourne Private
Hospital.
Dr Jenny Hoy
•
National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical
Research Working Groups
- Protocol Working Group, Chair.
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Working Group, Chair.
•
Australasian Society in HIV Medicine (ASHM)
- Education Program Steering Committee.
- National Clinical Sub-Committee
- Australasian Antiretroviral Guidelines Panel.
•
Alfred Hospital
- Deputy Chair, Research Committee
- Member, Quality and Audit Committee
Professor Sharon Lewin
•
Chair: Australian Antiretroviral Guidelines Consensus
Conference, Melbourne, 2006.
•
Member: Ministerial Advisory Committee on HIV and
Sexual Health and Hepatitis.
Dr Emma McBryde
•
Assisting in organisation and teaching at one day
workshop on infectious diseases modelling satellite
workshop of CDNA conference run by NIDMA
•
Drafting guidelines, validation studies and methodology
to compare risk across hospital groups for VICNISS,
the Victorian hospital acquired infection surveillance
service.
A/Professor Michael Richards
•
Member: Victorian Advisory Committee for Infection
Control.
Dr Joe Sasadeusz
•
Treasurer, Australasian Society for HIV Medicine.
•
Member Ministerial Advisory Committee on Blood
Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmitted Infections.
•
Human Research and Ethics Committee, Melbourne
Health.
Dr Monica Slavin
•
Research Associate: Macfarlane Burnet Institute for
Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne.
Dr Alan Street
•
Member: Ministerial Advisory Committee on
Tuberculosis, Department of Human Services.
•
Chair: Australian Antiretroviral Guidelines Panel,
Australasian Society of HIV Medicine.
•
Member: Expert Writing Group, Therapeutic
Guidelines: Antibiotic Version 13.
•
Member: Organising Committee, Australasian Society
for HIV Medicine (ASHM) Annual Meeting, Melbourne,
Vic, 2006.
Bone and Mineral Research
Other Prominent Activities
A/Professor Michael Richards
•
Session Chair: Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research
Foundation Annual Symposium.
A/Professor Monica Slavin
•
Symposium Co-Chair: “What the ID specialist should
know about opportunistic fungal pneumonia.” 46th
Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and
Chemotherapy (ICAAC), San Francisco, 2006.
Research
Dr James Black
•
Lectures: 2nd Annual Nossal Global Health Forum
- Information Technology Tools for Epidemiologists in
Developing Countries.
- Information technology in global disease surveillance
and outbreak response.
Contact Details
Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Infectious
Diseases (CCREID)
35
Victorian Infectious Diseases Service
Dr Megan Brooks, Clinical Trials Manager
9 North, City Campus, Main Block
Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street
Parkville, Vic. 3050
Tel: +61 3 9342 8896
Fax: +61 3 9342 2107
Email: [email protected]
Head: Professor John Wark
Activities of the Bone Research Group are underpinned by
an integrated approach to research, teaching and patient
care. High-profile publications have been produced by
members of the group on the prevention of falls by vitamin
D supplementation in residential care, the association of
maternal vitamin D status with foetal long bone growth,
genetic determinants of mammographic density and bone
density, the association between antiepileptic drug therapy
and bone mineral density, and the utility of sub-regional
vertebral bone mineral density measurements.
Current and Completed Research Projects
•
Efficacy and safety of vertebroplasty for the treatment
of painful osteoporotic spinal compression fractures
•
Is bisphosphonate therapy in benign bone disease
associated with impaired dental healing? A casecontrolled study
•
A naturalistic 'real life' comparison of osteoporosis
therapies: the comprehensive cohort study (CCS)
design including a nested randomised trial (RCT): A pilot
program extension
•
Patient preferences in osteoporosis therapy (Time Trade
Off)
•
A collaborative research program with the RMH
Department of Neurology in studying the effects of
anti-epileptic drugs on bone health
•
Effects of smoking on bone health
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Research Highlights
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
36
•
Optimizing the bone response to dietary calcium: a
physiological approach
•
The effect of anti-epileptic medications on bone mineral
density, bone turnover and fracture risk
•
Heritability of gait and balance function
•
Is regular table tennis activity associated with increased
bone and muscle strength and improved balance in
elderly Asian men and women
•
Intrauterine growth restriction programs reduce bone
development and bone mass
•
The evaluation of quantitative ultrasound in AED
– induced bone desease, comparing AED users and
non users
•
Smoking cessation and bone health: observational and
intervention studies in twins and a Quitline population
•
Predictors of glucocorticoid induced bone loss
•
Keppra versus older anti-epileptic medications and
neuropsychiatric, neurocognitive and quality of life
outcomes in treatment of epilepsy as first substitution
monotherapy. Bone health and body composition
substudy.
Publication Highlights
Dite GS, Wark JD, Giles GG, English DR, McCredie MRE,
Hopper JL. Is there a positive association between breast
density and bone mineral density? Breast Cancer Research
8: 401, 2006
Reid DM, Hosking D, Kendler D, Brandi ML, Wark JD,
Weryha G, Marques-Neto JF, Gaines KA, Verbruggen
N, Melton ME. Alendronic acid produces greater effects
than risedronic acid on bone density and turnover in
postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: Results of
FACTS-International. Clinical Drug Investigation 26, 63-74,
2006
Briggs AM, Wark JD, Kantor S, Fazzalari NL, Greig AM,
Bennell KL Bone mineral density distribution in thoracic and
lumbar vertebrae: an ex vivo study using dual energy x-ray
Absorptiometry. Bone 38 (2) 286-288, 2006.
Morley R, Carlin JB, Pasco JA, Wark JD. Maternal 25hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone concentrations,
and offspring birth size. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and
Metabolism. 91(3): 906-12, 2006
Scherer SC, Farrell MJ, Flicker L, Davis I, Wark JD.
Promoting evidence-based best practices for hip fracture
prevention in residential aged care. Australasian Journal of
Ageing. 25 (4); 185-190, 2006
Matthews BL, Bennell KM, McKay HA, Khan KM, BaxterJones ADG, Mirwald RL, Wark JD. The influence of dance
training on growth and maturation of young females: a
longitudinal study. Annals of Human Biology. 33(3): 342-56,
2006
Matthews B, Wark JD, Bennell K, Bell M. Dancing for bone
health: A 3-year longitudinal study of bone mineral accrual
across puberty in female non-elite dancers and controls.
Osteoporosis International 17(7): 1043-54, 2006
El Haber N, Hill KD, Cassano AT, Paton AL, MacInnis RJ,
Cui JS, Hopper JL, Wark JD. Genetic and environmental
influences in variation on balance performance. American
Journal of Epidemiology 2006, 164(3); 236-256.
Flicker L, MacInnes RJ, Stein MS, Scherer SC, Mead KE,
Nowson CA, Thomas J, Lowndes C, Wark JD, Hopper JL
Response Letter to Dr Gau Barcikowski RS JAGS 2006
Choo, CS, Maylor Z, Wark JD. D2, D3 – what’s the
difference. Pharmacy Practice and Research, 2006: 36(3);
246-248
Clinical and Biochemical Disorders of the Skeleton - authors
– Roger Smith and Paul Wordsworth. Oxford University
Press. 2005. Wark. JD. Review published in the British
Journal of Sports Medicine. 2006.
Chapters
RG Larkins, JD Wark. (Chapt. 4)35-43 Abnormal laboratory
results: Chapter – Calcium: 2nd Edition. The McGraw-Hill
Companies 2006.
Selected Abstracts
Greater gains in BMD with Alendronate than Risedronate
after 24 months: Results of Fosamax comparison trials
(FACTS) – International. Marques-Neto JF, Reid DM,
Hosking D, Kendler D, Brandi ML, Ward JD, Weryha G,
Vertbrugge N, Hustad CM, Mahlis EM, Melton ME. Panlar
Meeting, August 2006.
A comparison of the effect of Alendronate and Risedronate
on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women
with osteoporosis over 24 months (Fosamax Actonel
Comparison Trials – International). Reid DM, Hosking D,
Kendler D, Brandi ML, Wark JD, Weryha G, MarquesNeto JF, Verbrugger N, Hustad CM, Melton ME. ECCEO
International Conference 2006. Vienna.
Maternal vitamin D deficiency predicts decreased
fetal growth. Wark JD, Morley R, Carlin J, Pacso J.
6th International Symposium on Nutritional Aspects of
Osteoporosis 2006. Switzerland
The relationship of nutrient intake to bone density in
females: a twin study. Nowson C, Conn J, Lucas M, Wark
JD. 6th International Symposium on Nutritional Aspects of
Osteoporosis 2006. Switzerland.
Maternal vitamin D deficiency is associated with reduced
fetal growth. Wark JD, Morley R, Carlin J, Pasco. 33rd
European Symposium on Calcified Tissues 2006. Prague,
Czech Republic.
Greater gains in BMD with Alendronate than Risedronate
after 24 months: Results of FOSAMAX, ACTONEL
comparison trials (FACTS)-International. Marques-Neto
JF, Reid DM, Hosking D, Kendler D, Brandi ML, Wark JD,
Weryha G, Verbrugger N, Hustad CM, Mahlis EM, Melton
ME. 14th Pan-American Rheumatology Conference 2006,
Peru.
The relationship of nutrient intake to bone density in
females: A twin study. Nowson C, Conn J, Lucas M,
Wark JD. 3rd IOF Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on
Osteoporosis and 16th Annual Meeting of the Australian and
New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society. October 2006.
Being born small following placental insufficiency programs
reduced bone size independent of the quality of the
postnatal lactational environment. Romano T, Wark JD,
Owens JA, Wlodek ME. AHMRC Bone 2006.
Subregional BMD is a better predictor of vertebral
morphology than standard DXA-derived BMD measures.
Briggs AM, Kantor S, Fazzalari N, Wark JD. 3rd IOF AsiaPacific Regional Conference on Osteoporosis and 16th
Annual Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Bone
and Mineral Society. October 2006. Port Douglas
Static balance is affected by vertebral fracture but not
thoracic kyphosis in individuals with osteoporosis. Greigg,
AM, Bennell KL, Briggs AM, Wark JD, Hodges PW. 3rd IOF
Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Osteoporosis and 16th
Annual Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Bone
and Mineral Society. October 2006. Port Douglas.
Why is smoking a risk factor for fractures? A new twin
study. Bradbeer M, Day L, Kantor S, Segan C, Osborne R,
Nowson C, Gill S, Sambrook, Federova T, Wark JD. 3rd IOF
Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Osteoporosis and 16th
Peripheral quantitative computed tomography in patients
receiving long term glucocorticoid therapy. Kantor S, Gong
FF, Wong P, McColl G, Wark JD. 3rd IOF Asia-Pacific Regional
Conference on Osteoporosis and 16th Annual Meeting of
the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society.
October 2006. Port Douglas.
Chronic anti-epileptic drug treatment is associated with
impairment in balance function: A twin and matched sibling
pair pilot study. Petty SJ, Paton LM, El Haber N, O’Brien
TJ, Bennell K, Berkovic SF, Wark JD. 3rd IOF Asia-Pacific
Regional Conference on Osteoporosis and 16th Annual
Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and
Mineral Society. October 2006. Port Douglas.
More patients gain BMD with Alendronate than Risedronate
after 24 months: Results of FOSAMAX/ACTONEL
comparison Trials (FACTs) – International. Kendler D, Reid
DM, Hosking D, Brandi ML, Wark JD, Marques-Neto JF,
Weryha G, Verbruggen N. Hustad CM, Mahlia EM, Melton
ME. ASBMR 28th Annual Meeting 2006. Philadelphia USA
Vitamin D status, parathyroid hormone levels and predictors
of falls risk in well women aged 47-80 years. El Haber N,
Hill K, Wark JD. 3rd IOF Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on
Osteoporosis and 16th Annual Meeting of the Australian and
New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society. October 2006. Port
Douglas.
The relationship between age and measures of balance,
strength and gait - analysis using non-linear modeling. El
Haber N, Erbas B, Hill KD, Wark JD. 3rd IOF Asia-Pacific
Regional Conference on Osteoporosis and 16th Annual
Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and
Mineral Society. October 2006. Port Douglas.
An update on Fracture Prevention Strategies (Exercise for
preventing falls and fractures: A review of 50 randomised
controlled trials). Wark JD. Australian Falls Prevention
Conference, 5-7th November 2006, Brisbane, Australia.
Conference and Seminar Presentations
‘Hypercalcaemia – tips for diagnosis and management.’
Board of Postgraduate Medical Education (MURMA). March
2006.
Roundtable on the Women’s Health Initiative. 6th
International Symposium on Nutritional Aspects of
Osteoporosis. May 2006
2004-2007 Efficacy and safety of vertebroplasty for the
treatment of painful osteoporotic spinal compression
fractures. NH&MRC Project Grant. Investigators: R
Buchbinder, D Connell, R Osborne, J Wark, P Ebeling, S
Graves, ($568,000)
2006 Intrauterine growth restriction programs reduced
bone growth and development in rats. Eli Lilly 2006
Endocrinology Research Grant. M Wlodek. J Wark, J Owens,
D Myers. ($25,000).
2006-08. The effect of anti-epileptic medication on indices of
bone health and risk factors for falls and fractures. NH&MRC
Project Grant. Investigators: J Wark, T O’Brien, P Sambrook,
K Hill, M Seibel, G Herkes ($440,000).
2006-7 Study Extension - A naturalistic (‘ real life’)
comparison of osteoporosis therapies: the comprehensive
cohort study (CCS) design including a nested randomized
trial (RCT): A pilot program. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Aust
P/L Grant-in-aid. J Wark, R Osborne, A Dalton, E Hristov.
($62,617)
2006 - 08 Keppra versus older AEDS and neuropsychiatric,
neurocognitive and quality of life outcomes in treatment of
epilepsy as first substitution monotherapy. Bone health and
body composition substudy. KONQUEST: R Yerra, T O’Brien, 37
S Petty, J Wark, M Seibel. UCB Pharma $469,800
2006 - 08 Is bisphosphonate therapy in benign bone disease
associated with impaired dental healing? A case-control
study. M Borromeo, J Wark, J Clement, M McCullough, C
Brand, L MacGregor, D Weisenfeld, Grant-in-Aid, Novartis ($
255,000).
Collaborations
The University of Melbourne
School of Physiotherapy, Centre for Genetic Epidemiology,
Department of Physiology, Department of Medicine (St
Vincent’s Hospital), Centre for Gender Health, Dental
Science;
World Health Organization (Ageing and Health/Life Course
and Health Program); Deakin University; Department
of Gerontology, University of Western Australia; School
of Human Kinetics, University of British Columbia,
Canada; Edith Cowan University, Western Australia; Royal
Freemasons Homes of Victoria; Institut Recherche Medical,
Geneva, Switzerland; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore,
USA; Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide;
Department of Anatomy, University of Queensland.
Supervision
PhD
‘Genetic and environmental determinants of gait/balance in
adult female twins‘. N. El Haber (in progress).
Vitamin D Brochure Launch. Moonee Valley City Council, 6th
October, 2006.
‘ The effect of anti-epileptic medications on bone mineral
density, bone turnover and fracture risk’ SJ Petty
‘ An update on fracture prevention strategies.’ Australian
Falls Prevention Conference. 5-7th November 2006.
Brisbane, Australia
MPhysio (Research)
‘ The effect of exercise and physiotherapy on bone density
in osteoporotic post menopausal women’. K. Bolton (in
progress).
‘ AEDs and fracture risk.’ Epilepsy Society of Australia. 5th
– 7th October 2006. Melbourne Australia.
‘ Therapeutic approaches in fracture prevention.’ AMGEN
Australia, National Training Program. November 2006.
Melbourne Australia.
‘ Vitamin D effects at the extremes of life.’ Australian Health
and Medical Research Conference, November 2006.
Melbourne, Australia.
Research
DXA and PQCT techniques identify mouse strains with bone
deficits due to sodium Valproate treatment. Senn S, Kantor
S, Andrikopoulos S, O’Brient TJ, Morris MJ, Wark JD. 3rd IOF
Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Osteoporosis and 16th
Annual Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Bone
and Mineral Society. October 2006. Port Douglas.
Grants
BSc(Hons)
'Cross-sectional study of table tennis activity and indices of
bone health and fall risks in older Asians'. N Kwok
AMS
‘Predicting of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis'. FF
Gong. 2005-2006
‘Evaluation of bone ultrasound in AED-associated bone
disease’. Lit Kim Chin. 2006-2007
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Annual Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Bone
and Mineral Society. October 2006. Port Douglas.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
38
Student Completions
‘Effects of a physiotherapy intervention Program on
individuals with a history of osteoporotic vertebral fracture’.
A Greig. PhD
Granting Bodies - Expert Assessor
•
National Health and Medical Research Council
•
Victorian Health Promotion Foundation
•
Cancer Council of Victoria
•
Health Research Council (New Zealand)
•
Wellcome Trust (United Kingdom)
•
New Zealand Dairy Board
Membership of Medical and Scientific Societies
•
The Endocrine Society of Australia
•
Australian Kidney Foundation
•
Arthritis Foundation of Australia
•
The Australian Society for Medical Research
•
Merck Sharp and Dohme Research Foundation
•
The Endocrine Society (U.S.)
•
Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation.
•
The University of Melbourne Medical Society
•
Various institutional research funds/foundations.
•
The Australia and New Zealand Society for Cell Biology
•
Dairy Research and Development Corporation
•
The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
•
LactoPharma.
•
The Australian Diabetes Society
•
Arthritis Research Campaign (UK)
•
The Bone and Tooth Society
•
Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society
(foundation member of Council)
External Consultancies (Non-Government)
•
New Zealand Dairy Board
‘Strength and endurance of trunk extensor muscles, thoracic
range of motion and the role of transversus abdominis in
patients with vertebral fractures’. A Briggs. PhD
Professional Activities:
•
Roche Products
•
Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee
•
Merck Sharp and Dohme (Australia) Pty Ltd
•
International Bone and Mineral Society
•
Lilly Research Laboratories
•
The Medicolegal Society
•
Australian Medicine Handbook
•
Member, Medical Research Society
•
Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd
•
Asia Pacific Menopause Federation
•
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
•
International Society of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal
Interactions.
•
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
•
VacTX
•
Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria
•
LactoPharma
•
Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research,
Scientific Advisory Council
Editorial Boards
•
Clinical Science, Specialist Editor (1999 – current)
•
Osteoporosis International (2005 – current)
•
Virtual Bone Centre
Medical and Scientific Journals - Referee
•
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine
•
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery
•
Bone/ Bone and Mineral
•
Cancer Forum
•
Clinical Endocrinology
•
Endocrinology
•
International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
•
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research
•
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
•
Journal of Endocrinology
•
Maturitas
•
Medical Journal of Australia
•
Osteoporosis International
•
European Journal of Epidemiology
•
The Lancet
•
Journal of Applied Physiology
•
British Journal of Sports Medicine
•
Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition
•
American Journal of Epidemiology
•
Internal Medicine Journal
Contact Details
Professor John Wark
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
4th Floor, Clinical Sciences Building,
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria 3050 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 3 8344 5201
Fax: +61 3 9347 1863
Email: [email protected]
•
Investigations using a mouse model to better
understand the mechanisms underlying the adverse
bone effects of treatment with anti-epileptic drugs
•
The effect of stress, hypercortisolaemia and early
life exposures on epileptogenesis in a rat model of
temporal lobe epilepsy
•
Serial functional (PET) and structural (MRI)
neuroimaging of changes occurring during
epileptogenesis in a rat model of temporal lobe
epilepsy
•
Saturation ENU mutagenesis screen for novel antiepileptic and anti-epileptogenic genes
•
Role of proteases in the mechanisms of acquired limbic
epileptogenesis
•
Functional genomics of rodent models of epilepsy
•
The effects of neuroleptic medications on NMDAmediated high frequency (gamma) thalamocortical
oscillations in epileptic and non-epileptic rats
Human Function Neuroimaging Studies
•
Pathological and clinical significance of the region of
hypometabolism on FDG-PET in medical refractory
temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE)
•
Diffusion sensor MRI, contrast-enhanced perfusion
MRI and MRI spectroscopy in TLE
•
Patterns of hyperperperfusion on ictal SPECT in
subtypes of partial epilepsy and relationship to
outcome
Research
Epilepsy and Neuropharmacology
Research
39
Head: Associate Professor Terence O'Brien
Research Highlights
The Epilepsy and Neuropharmacology Research Group is
focused on clinical research with current projects covering
a wide range of basic science, translational and clinical
research related to epilepsy and neuropharmacology. The
basic research involves innovative animal epilepsy models of
focal and generalised seizure disorders, particularly directed
to understanding the processes that result in epilepsy,
and identifying new targets and approaches to improving
treatment options for patients. The clinical research program
covers a wide variety of patient focused research areas,
including imaging, pharmacogenetics, electrophysiology,
neuropsychiatry, neurocognitive, bone health and fracture
risk and epilepsy surgery. A particular focus of the research
is to better characterise the predictors of long-term outcome
of both newly treated and chronic epilepsy, and to identify
new therapeutic targets and treatments
•
Long-term outcomes (seizure, psychosocial and quality
of life) of the ‘First Seizure’ population
•
Long-term neuropsychiatric outcomes of medically
refractory partial epilepsy, and relationship to markers
of neurobiological progression of the disease
•
Long-term outcome of non-epileptic seizures (seizure,
psychosocial and quality of life)
•
Long-term discordant twin–sister cohort study of
effects of anti-epileptic drug use on bone health and
fracture risk
Research Staff
Associate Professor Terence O’Brien: Neurologist and Head
of Group
Dr. Damian Myers – Senior Scientist
Dr. Michelle Porritt – Peter Doherty Postdoctoral Fellow.
Dr. Kim Powell – Postdoctoral Scientist
Dr. Stefanie Dedeurwaerdere – Postdoctoral Scientist
Dr. Nigel Jones – Postdoctoral Scientist
Dr. Chris French – Neurologist and Research Fellow
Ms. Valentina Jovanovska – Research Assistant
Some of the key research projects being undertaken by the
group are listed below:
Ms. Leena van Raay – Research Assistant
Basic Models of Epilepsy
•
Investigation into the effect of neuropeptide Y-related
mechanisms in a genetic model of absence epilepsy
Ms. Abbie Couper – Research Assistant
•
The neuropharmacological and neurophysiological
mechanisms underlying the aggravation of absence
seizures by carbamazepine utilising a genetic rat model
Ms. Lisa Cardamone – Research Assistant
Ms. Bianca Jupp – Research Assistant
Mr. Gaurav Kumar – Research Fellow
Associate Professor Christine Kilpatrick – Neurologist
Dr. Raju Yerra – Neurologist
Dr. Cassandra Szoeke – Epilepsy Research Fellow
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Clinical Outcome Studies
•
Pharmacogenetic study of the outcome of newly
treated epilepsy
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Dr. Zelko Matkovic – Neurologist
40
Ms. Annie Rote – Clinical Research Coordinator
Mr. Darren Germaine – Research Nurse
Mr. Dennis Cassidy – Research Assistant
Mr. Slave Petrovski – Research Assistant
Publication Highlights
Jupp B, Williams JP, Tesiram YA, Vosmansky M, O’Brien TJ.
Hippocampal T2 signal change during amygdala kindling
epileptogenesis. Epilepsia 2006;47:41-46.
Szoeke CIE, Newton M, Wood JM, Goldstein D, Berkovic SF,
OBrien TJ, Sheffield LJ. Pharmacogenetics in epilepsy – A
review. Lancet Neurology 2006;5:189-196.
Wetjen NM, Cascino GD, Fessler AJ, So EL, Buchhalter JR,
Mullan BP, O’Brien TJ, Meyer FB, and Marsh WR. Subtraction
Ictal SPECT coregistered to MRI in the evaluation for repeat
epilepsy surgery. Journal of Neurosurgery 2006;105:71-6.
Vajda FJE, Hitchcock A, Graham J, Solinas C, O’Brien TJ,
Lander CM, Eadie MJ. Foetal malformations and seizure
control; 52 months data of the Australian Pregnancy
Registry. European Journal of Neurology 2006;13:645-54.
Jupp B, Williams JP, Tesiram YA, Vosmansky M, O’Brien TJ.
MRI compatible electrodes for the induction of amygdala
kindling in rats. Journal of Neuroscience Methods
2006;155:72-6.
Liu L, Zheng T, Wallengren C, Morris MJ, Clarke A, Reid
C, Petrou S, O’Brien TJ. The mechanism of carbamazepine
aggravation of absence seizures. Journal of Pharmacology
and Experimental Therapeutics 2006 319: 790-798.
Salzberg M, Taher T, Davie M, Carne R, Hicks R, Cook MJ,
Murphy MA, Vinton A, O’Brien TJ. Depression in temporal
lobe epilepsy surgery patients: a FDG-PET Study. Epilepsia
2006;47:2125-2130.
New Grants
Peer-Reviewed Research Grants
Phamacogenetics of Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Principal
Investigators: C Szoeke, O’Brien TJ, Newton M, Funding
Source:Pfizer Neuroscience Grant, $55,000
Longitudinal in vivo study of hippocampal structure and
function, and relationship to neurocognitive, neurobehavioral
and epileptic outcomes, in a model of human traumatic brain
injury. Principal Investigator: O’Brien TJ, Funding Source:
Victoria Neurotrauma Initiative, $1,061,808
Anxiolytic and anti-epileptogenic roles of brain proteaseactivated receptor (PAR2), Principal Investigators: Cocks
T, O’Brien TJ, van den Buuse M, Funding Source: National
Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant 454489,
$251,750
Is TLE a progressive disorder? A follow-up study of
neuroimaging, neurological and neuropsychiatric outcomes,
Principal Investigators: Adams S, Velakoulis D, O’Brien TJ,
Funding Source: Pfizer Neuroscience Grant, $55,000
NH&MRC equipment grant: Confocal microscope: live cell
imaging. Brown, Hamilton, Giraud, Rogerson, Jane, O'Brien,
Myers, Anderson. $125,000
Pharmaceutical Industry Investigator Initiated Grants
Neuropsychiatric, neurocognitive and quality of life
outcomes in patients with epilepsy treated with
levetiracetam verses older AEDs as first substitution
monotherapy. Principal Investigators: SR Yerra, TJ O’Brien, N
Moore. Funding Source: UCB Pharma, $328,000
KONQUEST: Keppra versus older AEDS and
neuropsychiatric, neurocognitive and quality of life outcomes
in treatment of epilepsy as first substitution monotherapy.
Bone health and body composition substudy Principal
Investigators: R Yerra, TJ O’Brien, S Petty, JD Wark, M Seibel.
Funding Source:UCB Pharma, $469,800
Comparison of anti-seizure efficacy and CSF concentrations
during conventional versus controlled release valproate
administration in two rodent models of epilepsy, Principal
Investigators: TJ O’Brien, Dedeurwaerdere S, Morris MJ,
Hogan RE, Funding Source: Abbott Neuroscience Research,
$111,954 USD
Ongoing Grants
Molecular Medicine Informatics Model (MMIM): A Multiinstitutional, Multi-disciplinary Research and Training
Platform for Clinical Research, Principal Investigator: TJ
O’Brien. Associate Investigators: Appelbe B, Hibbert M,
Georgeff M, Gibbs P, Burgess T, Macrae F, Colman P, Foote
S, Lowenthal R, Jerums G, Panagiotopoulos S, Donnan G,
Freezer N, Robinson P, Wilson J, Kay T, Dwyer T, Polglass
A, McMurrick P, Shapiro J, Strickland A, Kilpatrick T, Davis
S, Hand, P. D’Souze W, Hicks R, Hart W, Funding Source:
Department of Education, Science and Training, Funding
Amount:$4,370,669 AUD – Awarded: Sept 2005
NARSAD 2005 Independent Investigator Award, Principal
Investigator: TJ O’Brien, Funding Source: National Alliance
for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, Funding
Amount: $100,000 USD – Awarded September 2005
Stress, temporal lobe epilepsy and affective disorder,
Principal Investigators: TJ O’Brien, Morris M, Salzberg M,
Rees S, Velakoulis D. Funding Source: National Health and
Medical Research Council Project Grant 400088, $372,625
AED’s and fracture risk, Principal Investigators: JD Wark,
O’Brien TJ, Sambrook P, Hill K, Seibel M, Herkes G. Funding
Source: National Health and Medical Research Council
Project Grant 400089 $459,750,
Neuropeptide Y and absence seizures, Principal
Investigators: M Morris, O’Brien TJ, Reid C Funding Source:
National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant
400106, $377,625
Finding better targets for new epilepsy treatment, Principal
Investigators: SJ Foote, O’Brien TJ, McKinnon R, Funding
Source: National Health and Medical Research Council
Project Grant 406640, $457,500
Awards and Prizes
Terence O’Brien: Dreifuss-Penry Epilepsy Award, American
Academy of Neurology
Siew Min Gan: NH&MRC Medical Post-Graduate
Scholarship
Rink-Jan Lohman: Epilepsy Society of Australia Annual
Scientific Meeting, Best Poster Award
Thomas Zheng: Epilepsy Society of Australia Annual
Scientific Meeting, Scientific Achievement Award
Sophie Adams: Epilepsy Society of Australia Annual
Scientific Meeting, Scientific Achievement Award
Gaurav Kumar: American Epilepsy Society Young Investigator
Award
Sandra Petty: James Lance Young Investigator Award.
Australian Association of Neurologists
Raju Yerra: Warren Holmes Fellowship
Supervision
Rosemary Panelli, ‘Effect of an epilepsy support program in
a first seizure clinic’, PhD
Bianca Jupp, ‘PET hypometabolism and MRI perfusion and
diffusion changes during acquired epileptogenesis in a rat
kindling model of mesial temporal lobe Epilepsy’, PhD
Centre for Rheumatic Diseases
Dr Anita Vinton, ‘The mechanisms underlying
hypometabolism on FDG-PET and the relationship with EEG
activity’, PhD
Brendan Adams, ‘Thalamocortical network activity in a
model of childhood absence epilepsy’, PhD
Susan Senn, ‘Pharmacogenomics: Valproate-associated
weight changes in nine inbred strains of mice’, PhD
Sophie Adams, ‘Long-term follow-up study of
neuropsychiatric co-morbidity in focal epilepsy’, PhD
Research
Rink-Jan Lohman, ‘The role of proteases and their receptors
in epilepsy’, PhD
Dr Sandra Petty, ‘The effect of anti-epileptic medications on
bone mineral density, bone turnover and fracture risk’, PhD
Dr Raju Yerra, ‘Psychosocial and seizure outcome following
new onset epilepsy’, MD
Thomas Zheng. ‘The mechanisms underlying the
aggravation of seizures by anti-epileptic medication.’ PhD
Caroline Ng Li Min. Changes in HCN mRNA expression in
the hippocampus during epileptogenesis in rat models of
temporal lobe epilepsy. PhD
41
Student Completions
Cassandra Szoeke, ‘Epilepsy, genetics and anti-epileptic
drugs’, PhD
Willy Hando, ‘New MRI imaging techniques in TLE with and
without HS’, AMS
Lainie Sutton, ‘Mossy fibre sprouting in an in vitro model of
epilepsy’. BSc (Hons)
Contact Details
Tel: +61 3 8344 3260
Fax: +61 3 9347 2254
Email: [email protected]
Senior Lecturer: Dr Richard Osborne (Pictured)
Director: Professor Ian Wicks
Overview
The Centre aims to improve the well-being of people with
arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders.
The AFV Centre for Rheumatic Diseases was founded in
1995 as a joint venture between the Arthritis Foundation
of Victoria (AFV), the Royal Melbourne Hospital and The
University of Melbourne. The partners agreed from the
outset that the Centre would have a broad agenda of
promoting patient care, education, and research in the
rheumatic diseases in Victoria recognizing the importance of
rheumatic diseases and the need to improve the academic
profile of Rheumatology in Victoria. The AFV supports
research by funding Dr Richard Osborne and a part-time
administrative assistant.
The output and impact of the CRD research effort has grown
steadily with the Centre comprising ten research staff, four
Doctoral scholars, and four Master of Science scholars in
2006.
The impact of the Centre’s work was evident in its influence
on national and state health policy and practice, and career
development of research staff who can expand future
contributions in arthritis research.
In 2006 the Centre attracted primary research grants of
more than $1 million in population health, self-management
of arthritis and other chronic diseases, and ways of
improving functions of healthcare professionals and the
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Associate Professor Terence O’Brien
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
4th Floor, Clinical Sciences Building
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria 3050 AUSTRALIA
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
42
healthcare system in managing and supporting people with
arthritis.
Each research project has a direct link to improving the
wellbeing of people with arthritis and other musculoskeletal
conditions. This may be through evaluating new treatments,
procedures or education programs, or by designing
tools or systems that health professionals or healthcare
organisations can use to improve care.
The CRD also undertakes extensive data analysis and
reporting on the burden of musculoskeletal disorders and
reports social disparities in health if they are identified.
Findings are regularly presented to policymakers, clinicians,
other researchers and to members of the public to facilitate
knowledge transfer for improvements in patient care and
management.
An important part of the CRD’s success has been the
generous contribution of numerous colleagues including
Professor Rachelle Buchbinder (Monash), Dr Caroline Brand
(RMH), Professor Kim Bennell (Physiotherapy), Professor
Stephen Graves (RMH), Associate/Professor Gerry Elsworth
(RMIT), Mr Richard de Steiger (RMH), Dr Peter Greenberg
(RMH), Mr Andrew Dalton (ADHealth), Professor Tony Scott
(UoM Institute for Applied Economic and Social Research),
Prof Paul Dieppe (University of Bristol), Professor Peter
Fayers (University of Aberdeen), the Rheumatologists at
the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and the numerous people
with arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders who have
generously given their time to inform our research through
participating in our committees, workshops, interviews and
by answering questionnaires.
Centre Highlights
•
Buchbinder R, Osborne RH. The safety, effectiveness and
cost-effectiveness is unproven. Australian Family Physician
2006;35(9):665
Buchbinder R, Osborne RH. Vertebroplasty: a promising but
as yet unproven intervention for painful osteoporotic spinal
fractures Editorial. Medical Journal of Australia 2006;185(7):
351-352
Haines TP, Bennell KL, Osborne RH, Hill KD. A new
instrument for targeting falls prevention interventions was
accurate and clinically applicable in a hospital setting. Journal
of Clinical Epidemiology 2006;59:168-175
Haines TP, Hill KD, Bennell KL, Osborne RH. Recurrent
events counted in evaluations of predictive accuracy. Journal
of Clinical Epidemiology 2006;59: 115-1161
Haines TP, Hill KD, Bennell KL, Osborne RH. Patient
education to prevent falls in subacute care. Clinical
Rehabilitation 2006;20: 970-979
Haines TP, Bennell KL, Osborne RH, Hill KD. Hip protector
use amongst older hospital inpatients: Compliance and
functional consequences. Age and Aging 2006;35(5):520523.
Osborne RH, Hawkins M, Sprangers MAG. A change of
perspective: a measurable and desired outcome of chronic
disease self-management intervention programs that
violates pre-post assessment. Arthritis Care and Research
2006;55(3): 458-465
Osborne RH, Buchbinder R, Ackerman IN. Can a diseasespecific education program augment self-management skills
and improve Health-Related Quality of Life in people with
hip or knee osteoarthritis? [ACTRN012606000174583] BMC
Musculoskeletal Disorders 2006;7:90
The Orthopaedic Waiting List (OWL) Project, funded by
the Victorian Department of Human Services (DHS),
aimed to develop a way to make waiting lists for hip
and knee replacement surgery fairer and informed by
clinical and individual need for surgery. After two years
of challenging and innovative work, this was achieved in
2006 and the CRD was then commissioned to develop
the State-wide rollout of this new system. Importantly,
the key tool, the Hip and Knee Questionnaire, was
translated into 12 languages to assist with the
improvement of access to the service across culturally
and linguistically diverse groups. This research has
generated real changes to the Victorian public health
care system and better care is now being delivered
to many people with severe arthritis who enter this
system.
Whitfield K, Buchbinder R, Segal L, Osborne RH.
Parsimonious and efficient assessment of health-related
quality of life in osteoarthritis research: validation of the
Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL) instrument. Health
and Quality of Life Outcomes 2006; 4 (19): 1-10
•
The Centre had a very successful year in obtaining
peer-reviewed grants from NH&MRC and impact
research from Government
•
Dr Osborne was appointed to the peak Government
committees; the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Expert
Advisory Committee (AOEAC) and the AIHW National
Centre for Monitoring Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
Conditions Steering Committee. He was awarded
one of two International Bone and Joint Decade
Fellowships.
‘Implementation and evaluation of heiQ pilot and testing the
heiQ with a range of self-management interventions and
with six culturally and linguistically diverse groups (CALD).’
Dr Richard H Osborne, Ms Joanne Jordan. Commonwealth
Department of Health and Ageing, Chronic Disease
Management Section, Primary Care Programs Branch,
Primary Care Division, $399,544
Publication Highlights
Ackerman IN, Graves SE, Wicks IP, Bennell KL, Osborne
RH. Assessment of quality of life in people undergoing total
joint replacement surgery: Validation of the WHOQOL-BREF
instrument. Arthritis and Rheumatism 2006;55:583-590
Ackerman IN. Invited commentary on Barker et al: Patient
satisfaction with accelerated discharge following unilateral
knee replacement. International Journal of Therapy and
Rehabilitation 2006;13:253.
New Grants
Advancing arthritis public health research and evidenceinformed policy in Australia.’
Dr Richard Osborne. NH&MRC Population Health Career
Development Award. $436,250
‘Can patient self-management education programs improve
outcomes of people with osteoarthritis?’
Dr Richard Osborne, A/Prof Rachelle Buchbinder, Prof
Stephen Graves. NH&MRC Project grant, $340,500
‘Development and implementation of a model for
comprehensive prioritisation and management of
orthopaedic waiting lists (OWL).’
Prof Stephen Graves, Dr Richard H Osborne, Prof Ian Wicks
and Dr Caroline Brand. Victorian Department of Human
Services, $698,519
‘Chronic disease self-management and education programs:
Where should Victoria go?’
Dr Richard Osborne, Dr Caroline Brand. Victorian
Government Department of Human Services, $72,000
‘Efficacy and safety of vertebroplasty for treatment of painful
osteoporotic spinal compression fractures: a randomised
trial.’ A/Prof Rachelle Buchbinder, Dr David Connell, B, Prof
John Wark, A/Prof Peter Ebeling and Prof Stephen Graves.
NH&MRC Project Grant, $612,360
‘Is post-operative physiotherapy management associated
with Health-Related Quality of Life after primary total hip
or knee replacement surgery?’ Dr Ilana Ackerman, Dr
Richard Osborne. Thermoskin Research Grant. Australian
Physiotherapy Association. $4,842. 2006–07
Ongoing Grants
‘Systematic application of a program evaluation tool; Health
Education Impact Questionnaire nationally across various
self-management health education programs.’ Dr Richard
Osborne, Joanne Jordan. 2005/06. $336,522
‘Effects of laterally wedged insoles on symptoms and
disease progression in knee osteoarthritis.’ 2005-2008.
A/Prof Kim Bennell, Dr Rana Hinman, A/Prof Flavia Cicuttini,
Dr Chris Payne, A/Prof Anthony Harris, Dr Richard Osborne,
Dr A Smith. NH&MRC. $476,575
Completed Grants
‘Systematic application of the Stanford model of Chronic
Conditions Self-Management (CCSM) in Australia.’ 20052006.Dr Richard H Osborne. Commonwealth Department of
Health and Ageing, Sharing Health Care Initiative. $350,118.
Completed September 2006
‘Development of guidelines for referral to Joint Replacement
Surgery.’ Dr Richard H Osborne, Dr Caroline Brand, Kerry
Haynes. 2006. RACGP/DHA. $55,000. Completed July 2006
‘Evaluation of chronic disease self-management courses for
veterans’ Dr Richard H. Osborne. 2004/5–2005/6,: Health
Promotion and Aged Care Branch, Department of Veterans’
Affairs: $110,000
Collaborations
Extensive collaborations exist between staff at the Centre
for Rheumatic Diseases and musculoskeletal health
researchers within the Royal Melbourne Hospital and other
hospitals and universities. These include the following
studies:
•
The RMH OWL (orthopaedic waiting list) Project: A/
Professor Kim Bennell, School of Physiotherapy, The
University of Melbourne
•
The OWL Prioritisation and Management Project—a
major DHS-funded elective surgery healthcare reform
initiative. Collaborators: Dr Caroline Brand and Mr
Richard de Steiger (RMH), Department of Orthopaedic,
RMH
•
Professor Paul Dieppe, Director of the Medical
Research Council Health Services Research
Collaboration, University of Bristol, UK.
•
A multi-centre randomised controlled trial of
vertebroplasty for painful osteoporotic lumbar spine
fractures. Collaborators: Professor Rachelle Buchbinder
(Chief Investigator: Monash University); Dr David
Connell (Cabrini Hospital); Dr Richard Osborne.
•
Health status prior to hip and knee joint replacement
surgery: An international comparison. Collaborators:
Mr Graham Brown, Department of Surgery, Barwon
Health; Ms Karen Sloan, Royal Perth Hospital;
Ilana Ackerman. CASS Early Career Researcher Travel
Grant to attend the American College of Rheumatology
Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington DC. Contributing to
Australian Scholarship and Science (CASS) Foundation.
Lucy Busija. Solander Travel Scholarship. Population health
studies of the personal and societal impact of arthritis. The
Solander Program
Sandra Nolte. Elsworth GR, Springer AL, Sinclair AJ,
Osborne RH. Best Oral Presentation. Who benefits most
from participating in chronic disease self-management
programs? The Australian Disease Management Association
2nd Annual National Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
Sandra Nolte. New Investigator Award - Best Oral
Presentation. Is a one-off post intervention assessment a
valid method to assess outcomes from chronic disease selfmanagement programs? 13th Annual ISOQOL Conference.
International Society for Quality of Life Research. Lisbon,
43
Portugal, 11th to 14th October 2006
Research
‘Referral for joint replacement—a management guide for
health providers.’ Dr Richard H Osborne, Dr Caroline Brand
and Kerry Haynes. RACGP/DHA. $59,400
Awards and Prizes
Sandra Nolte. ISOQOL (International Society of Quality of
Life Research) travel grant
Sandra Nolte. RMIT University Regional Award (onshore)
2006 in recognition of important research for the Australian
community
Richard Osborne. International Bone and Joint Decade
Scholar (only 2 awarded annually). The Bone and Joint
Scientific Committee for Awards
Richard Osborne. Allied Health prize. Melbourne Health
Medical Research Week. June 2006.
Richard Osborne. Solander Fellow. Advancing arthritis
public health research and evidence-informed policy – an
Australia– Sweden collaborative. The Solander Program.
Richard Osborne. Population Health Career Development
Award Fellowship. Expanding capacity for public health
and health service delivery research and for evidencebased policy development in Australian health systems;
and encouraging the translation of research outcomes into
practice (NH&MRC)
Conference and Seminar Presentations
Invited Presentations
•
Osborne RH, Graves SE, Brand C, Haynes K, Chubb
P, Robbins D, de Steiger R, Scott A, Wicks I. The
Orthopaedic Waiting List (OWL) Project: Redesigning
processes for elective waiting lists in Victoria to get the
right person to the right care at the right time. Better
State of Hospitals Conference, April, Melbourne
•
Osborne RH. Chronic disease self-management
models: what has to happen to take policy into
practice? Victoria Healthcare Association Community
Health Conference, May, Melbourne
•
Osborne RH. Self-management education evaluation
and quality. Danish Committee for Health Education,
National Board of Health. Copenhagen, Denmark.
•
Osborne RH. Evaluation, quality and monitoring in
chronic disease self-management programs: an
Australian—German Collaborative. Department for
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hanover Medical
University, Germany.
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
‘Smoking cessation and bone health: observational and
intervention studies in twins and a Quitline population.’
Prof John Wark, Ms Cathy Segan, Dr Richard H Osborne,
Dr Carly Nowson and A/Prof Peter Ebling. NH&MRC Project
Grant, $568,000
A/Professor Lyn March, University of Sydney;
Professor Paul Dieppe; A/Professor Ewa Roos, Lund
University, Sweden; Dr Anna Nilsdotter, Department
of Orthopedics, Halmstad County Hospital, Halmstad,
Sweden; and Dr Beth Pollard.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
44
•
Osborne RH. Advances in Chronic Disease Selfmanagement. Department of Health Sciences, Lund
University, Sweden.
•
Osborne RH. Disparities in Modifiable and NonModifiable Risk Factors for Onset of Arthritis:
Population Survey Approaches. American College of
Rheumatology (ACR) Clinical Research Conference:
The Evidence for Disparities in Onset of Rheumatic
Conditions. Washington DC, USA, November 2006.
•
Survey. Australia Rheumatology Association Annual
Scientific Meeting, 20th to 24th May, Perth, Australia.
•
Poster Presentation: Barber M, Buchbinder R, Osborne
R, Elder, C, Clerehan R, Busija L. Pronunciation of
words is not a good measure of health literacy:
determination of The Validity of the Rapid Estimate
of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM). Australia
Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting,
20th to 24th May, Perth, Australia.
Osborne RH. Patient centred outcomes by design
– the identification and incorporation of patient values
into outcomes assessment. American College of
Rheumatology Study Group: Patient Perspective in
Outcomes Research. 2006 Program on Patient centred
outcomes for health care delivery. Washington DC,
USA, November 2006.
•
Oral Presentation: Hill C, Buchbinder R, Osborne RH.
Quality of reporting of randomized clinical trials (RCTs)
in abstracts of the 2005 Annual Scientific Meeting of
American College of Rheumatology. American College
of Rheumatology and Association of Rheumatology
Health Professionals Combined Annual Scientific
Meeting, 10th – 15th November, Washington DC, USA.
Conference presentations
•
Oral Presentation: Ackerman IN, Graves SE, March LM,
Brown G, Sloan K, Dieppe PA, Osborne RH. Health
status prior to hip and knee replacement surgery varies
considerably between Australian and international
centres. Health Outcomes Conference: Managing
Health and Disease in Today’s Society (12th Annual
National Conference), 9th to 10th August, Canberra,
Australia.
•
Oral Presentation: Jordan J, Nankervis J, Brand C,
Osborne R. To integrate or not to integrate? Future
considerations for chronic disease self-management
programs in the health care system. The Australian
Disease Management Association 2nd Annual National
Conference - Evidence-based Disease Management in
the 21st Century, 7th to 8th September, Melbourne,
Australia.
•
Oral Presentation: Jordan J with Nankervis J, Brand
C, Osborne RH. Chronic disease self-management
programs: perspectives on enablers and barriers to
GP and patient engagement. GP and PHC Research
Conference, 5th to 7th July, Perth, Australia.
•
Oral Presentation: Jordan J, Osborne RH. Does the
transition question reflect the pre-post assessment?
Qualitative assessment of outcomes from participant
perceptions of chronic disease self-management
programs. Health Outcomes Conference: Managing
Health and Disease in Today’s Society (12th Annual
National Conference), 9th to 10th August, Canberra,
Australia.
•
Oral Presentation: Jordan J, Osborne RH. The pursuit
of ‘true’ patient outcomes from chronic disease selfmanagement programs (CDSMP). The flaws of the prepost assessment. 13th Annual ISOQOL Conference,
11th to 14th October, Lisbon, Portugal.
•
Oral Presentation: Jordan J, Nankervis J, Brand C,
Osborne RH. Development of the Victorian chronic
disease self-management service improvement
framework: Perspective from policy makers, health
practitioners and consumers. Health Outcomes
Conference: Managing Health and Disease in Today’s
Society (12th Annual National Conference), 9th to 10th
August, Canberra, Australia.
•
Oral Presentation: Nankervis J, Laidlaw C, Osborne
RH. Structure, function and value of a quality assurance
program for Stanford Self Management Programs:
Impact and sustainability of a national pilot program.
Health Outcomes Conference: Managing Health
and Disease in Today’s Society (12th Annual National
Conference), 9th to 10th August, Canberra, Australia.
•
Oral Presentation: Nankervis J, Laidlaw C, Osborne
RH. Structure, function and value of a quality assurance
program for Stanford Self Management Programs:
Impact and sustainability of a national pilot program.
The Australian Disease Management Association
2nd Annual National Conference - Evidence-based
Disease Management in the 21st Century, 7th to 8th
September, Melbourne, Australia.
•
Poster Presentation: Nolte S, Elsworth GR, Springer AL,
Sinclair AJ, Osborne RH. The value of self-management
programs: Outcomes from 842 Australians. Melbourne
•
•
•
Oral Presentation: Ackerman IN, Graves SE, Bennell
KL, Osborne RH. The WHOQOL-BREF instrument:
A useful adjunct to disease-specific measures in
people undergoing joint replacement surgery. Health
Outcomes Conference: Managing Health and Disease
in Today’s Society (12th Annual National Conference),
9th to 10th August, Canberra, Australia.
Oral Presentation: Ackerman IN, Graves SE, Dieppe PA,
Roos EM, Nilsdotter A, Brown G, Sloan K, Osborne RH.
Timing of joint replacement surgery varies according
to centre: An international comparison. The annual
American College of Rheumatology and Association of
Rheumatology Health Professionals Scientific Meeting,
10th to 15th November, Washington DC, USA.
Poster Presentation: Ackerman IN, Graves SE, March
L, Brown G, Sloan K, Dieppe PA, Osborne RH. Marked
national and international variation in disease severity
before hip and knee replacement surgery. Australia
Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting,
20th to 24th May, Perth, Australia.
•
Poster Presentation: Ackerman IN, Bennell KL Graves
SE, Osborne RH. Health-Related Quality of Life and
psychological distress do not return to population
norms 12 months after joint replacement surgery.
Australian Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific
Meeting, 20th to 24th May, Perth, Australia.
•
Poster Presentation: Ackerman IN, Graves SE, Bennell
KL and Osborne RH. Persistent psychosocial morbidity
after joint replacement surgery: Health-Related
Quality of Life and psychological distress do not
approach population norms by 12 months. The annual
American College of Rheumatology and Association of
Rheumatology Health Professionals Scientific Meeting,
10th to 15th November, Washington DC, USA.
•
Oral Presentation: Busija L, Taylor A, Osborne RH. How
do we estimate population prevalence of arthritis?
Health Outcomes Conference: Managing Health
and Disease in Today’s Society (12th Annual National
Conference), 9th to 10th August, Canberra, Australia.
•
Oral Presentation: Busija L, Hollingsworth B,
Buchbinder R, Osborne RH. Demographic,
socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors in arthritis in
Australia: Results from the Victorian Population Health
•
•
•
Oral Presentation: Nolte S, Elsworth G, Sinclair A,
Osborne RH. The role of age, gender and education
as determinants of benefits from chronic disease
self-management programs: Outcomes from 842
Australians. Health Outcomes Conference: Managing
Health and Disease in Today’s Society (12th Annual
National Conference), 9th to 10th August, Canberra,
Australia.
Oral Presentation: Nolte S, Elsworth GR, Springer AL,
Sinclair AJ, Osborne RH. Who benefits most from
participating in chronic disease self-management
programs? The Australian Disease Management
Association 2nd Annual National Conference Evidence-based Disease Management in the 21st
Century, 7th to 8th September, Melbourne, Australia.
Oral Presentation: Nolte S, Elsworth G, Sinclair
A, Osborne RH. Are Age, Gender and Education
Determinates of Benefits from Chronic Disease
Self-management Programs? Outcomes from 842
Australians. 15th Annual Meeting of the Australasian
Epidemiological Association, 18th to 19th September,
Melbourne, Australia.
Oral Presentation: Nolte S, Hawkins M, Elsworth GR,
Sinclair AJ, Osborne RH. Is a one-off post intervention
assessment a valid method to assess outcomes
from chronic disease self-management programs? 15
Annual Meeting of the Australasian Epidemiological
Association, Melbourne, Australia. 18 to 19 September,
2006.
•
Oral Presentation: Nolte S, Hawkins M, Elsworth GR,
Sinclair AJ, Osborne RH. Is a one-off post intervention
assessment a valid method to assess outcomes from
chronic disease self-management programs? 13th
Annual ISOQOL Conference, 11th to 14th October,
Lisbon, Portugal.
•
Poster Presentation: Nolte S, Elsworth GR, Springer
AL, Sinclair AJ, Osborne RH. The extent and breadth
of benefits from participating in Chronic Disease SelfManagement courses: A national patient-reported
outcomes survey. 13th Annual ISOQOL Conference,
11th to 14th October, Lisbon, Portugal.
•
Oral Presentation: by Osborne RH: Nolte S, Springer
A, Elsworth G, Sinclair A, Osborne RH. The value of
self-management programs: Outcomes from 842
Australians. Australia Rheumatology Association Annual
Scientific Meeting, 20th to 24th May, Perth, Australia.
•
Oral Presentation: Osborne R, Brand C, Haynes K,
Chubb P, Robbins D, de Steiger R, Scott A, Dieppe P,
Wicks I, Graves S. The OWL Project: Development
and implementation of a model for comprehensive
prioritisation and management of orthopaedic waiting
lists (OWL). Melbourne Health Research Week, 1st to
8th June, Melbourne Australia.
•
•
Oral Presentation: Osborne RH, Haynes K, Chubb P,
Robbins D, de Steiger R, Scott A, Dieppe P, Fayers
P, Wicks I, Brand C, Graves SE. Clinically relevant
priority ranking for hip and knee joint replacement
surgery (JRS): The validation and scaling of the
Multidimensional Arthritis Priority Tool (MAPT) against
WOMAC, Oxford hip/knee, SF36, AQoL, EQ-5D and
HADS. Health Outcomes Conference: Managing Health
and Disease in Today’s Society (12th Annual National
Conference), 9th to 10th August, Canberra, Australia.
Oral Presentation: Osborne RH, Morgan M, Haynes
K, Lew S, Rawlin M, Brand C. Improving the health
outcomes of individuals who may require joint
•
Oral Presentation: Osborne R, Roberts M, Graves
S, Brand C, de Steiger R, Wicks I. The Victorian
Orthopaedic Waiting List (OWL) Project: Re-designing
elective joint replacement surgery (JRS) waiting lists to
get the right person to the right care at the right time.
ARCHI Improving Patient Flows: Elective Surgery, 17th
to 18th August, Brisbane, Australia.
•
Oral Presentation: Osborne RH, Roberts M, Graves
SE, Jones C, Chubb P, Brand C, de Steiger R, Wicks
I, for the OWL Project team. Evidence based care
and prioritisation of people waiting for elective hip
and knee replacement surgery: the new Victorian
management and prioritisation system. The Australian
Disease Management Association 2nd Annual National
Conference - Evidence-based Disease Management in
the 21st Century, 7th to 8th September, Melbourne,
Australia.
•
Oral Presentation: Osborne RH, Haynes K, Fayers P,
Graves SE, Chubb P, Robbins D. The Development of an
45
Orthopaedic Waiting List Prioritisation Questionnaire:
Meeting the Challenges of Clinical Priority, Gaming and
Equitable Access. 13th Annual ISOQOL Conference,
11th to 14th October, Lisbon, Portugal.
•
Poster Presentation: Osborne RH, Haynes K, Chubb P,
Robbins D, de Steiger R, Dieppe PA, Fayers P, Wicks
I, Brand C, Graves SE. Developing clinically relevant
priority ranking for hip and knee joint replacement
surgery (JRS): The validation of the management
and priority tool (MAPT) against WOMAC, Oxford
hip/knee, SF36, AQoL, EQ-5D and HADS. Australia
Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting,
20th to 24th May, Perth, Australia.
•
Presentation: Osborne R, Morgan M, Haynes K, Lew
S, Rawlin M, Brand C. Improving the communication
between care providers of individuals who may require
joint replacement surgery (JRS) – a framework for
referral. GP and PHC Research Conference, 5th to 7th
July, Perth, Australia.
•
Poster Presentation: Osborne RH, Haynes K, Brand
C, Dieppe P, Wicks I, Graves SE. Prioritization for Hip
and Knee Joint Replacement Surgery (JRS): A New
System that Assigns Queue Position To Get The Right
Person To The Right Care At The Right Time. The annual
American College of Rheumatology and Association of
Rheumatology Health Professionals Scientific Meeting,
10th to 15th November, Washington DC, USA.
•
Symposia: Osborne RH (Symposia organiser), Dieppe
PA, Hawker G, Katz J (Chair). Variation and Outcomes
in Joint Replacement Surgery: Toward Optimizing
Care. Talk Title: Optimizing the System to Maximize
Outcomes: The Role of Referral, Prioritization and
Preparation for Joint Replacement. American College
of Rheumatology / American College of Rheumatology
Health Professionals Annual Scientific Meeting.
Washington DC, USA, November 2006.
Workshops
1. Osborne RH. Evaluation of Chronic Disease Selfmanagement Programs. Australian Health Outcomes
Conference. 8th August 2006, Canberra.
2.
Osborne RH. Specifying patient-reported outcome
measures for complex interventions: A framework to
ensure the right outcomes are assessed at the right
time. International Society for Quality of Life Research
Research
•
replacement surgery (JRS) – a framework for referral
and communication between care providers. Health
Outcomes Conference: Managing Health and Disease
in Today’s Society (12th Annual National Conference),
9th to 10th August, Canberra, Australia.
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Health Research Week. 1st to 8th June, Melbourne
Australia.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
46
Annual Scientific Meeting, 11th October 2006, Lisbon,
Portugal.
Supervision
Lucy Busija. PhD. ‘Population avoidable burden due to
arthritis in Australia’, Supervisors: Richard Osborne and
Rachelle Buchbinder.
Sandra Nolte. PhD. ‘Outcomes evaluation of chronic
disease education programs’. Supervisors: Richard Osborne,
Gerald Elsworth and Andrew Sinclair
Dr Sabina Ciciriello. PhD. ‘Development and Evaluation of
a multimedia education intervention about methotrexate for
patients with rheumatoid arthritis.’Supervisors: Ian Wicks,
Rachelle Buchbinder, Richard Osborne.
Kate Francis, MSc ‘Evaluation of the osteoporosis
prevention and self-management course’, Supervisors: Kim
Bennell and Richard Osborne.
Joanne Jordan. MPH ‘The concordance between
interview-derived and questionnaire-derived outcomes
in chronic disease education programs’, (minor thesis).
Supervisors: Richard Osborne, Kerry Haynes and Jenni
Livingston.
Tracey Kane, M.Epi,Biostats. ‘Quality of life and disability of
people waiting for hip and knee joint replacement across 6
Victorian Hospitals’, Supervisors: Richard Osborne and Mark
Jenkins
Bella Laidlaw, M.Epi,Biostats. ‘Does type of course
leader affect patient reported outcomes of chronic disease
self management programs?’ MPH. Supervisor: Richard
Osborne.
Student Completions
Ilana Ackerman, B Physio (Honors) PhD. March 2006. ‘The
pre-operative status of people undergoing primary total hip
and knee replacement surgery.’ Supervisors: Kim Bennell,
Stephen Graves, Richard Osborne.
Professional and Community
Affiliations and Service
Dr Richard H. Osborne
•
Member: Data Working Group Committee, National
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions Advisory
Group
•
Member: Working Group, National Service
Improvement Framework for Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal Conditions
•
Member: Better Arthritis and Osteoporosis Care
(BAOC) initiative
•
Member: Arthritis and Osteoporosis Expert Advisory
Committee (AOEAC),
•
Member: Steering committee for the AIHW National
Centre for Monitoring Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
Conditions
International Visiting Professors
•
Professor Paul Dieppe, Director, MRC Health Services
Research Collaboration, University of Bristol, UK.
Sponsors: Victorian Department of Human Services,
Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing,
10–24 April
•
Professor Peter Fayers, Professor of Medical Statistics,
Department of Public Health, University of Aberdeen
Medical School, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
Co-sponsor: Australian Health Outcomes Collaboration,
8–20 August
Contact Details
Dr Richard H.Osborne
AFV Centre for Rheumatic Diseases
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
7 East, City Campus
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria 3050 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 3 8344 3144
Fax: +61 3 9342 7632
Email: [email protected]
Rheumatology Research
risk factors, details about the index event, prognostic
factors, interventions and medical treatment will be
recorded and compared between the rheumatoid arthritis
patients and controls. In this way we can determine
what factors contribute to the increased case fatality in
rheumatoid arthritis.
Effect of atorvastatin on arterial stiffness and disease activity
in rheumatoid arthritis – a randomised placebo-controlled
trial. We have previously demonstrated, in an open-label
pilot study, that atorvastatin improved arterial stiffness in
30 rheumatoid arthritis patients. The present study aims
to confirm this with a randomised, placebo-controlled trial
design, evaluating the effect of atorvastatin on arterial
stiffness and disease activity in 120 rheumatoid arthritis
47
patients.
Research
Increased case fatality in rheumatoid arthritis following
myocardial infarction – a study of the role of prescription
medications. This project is utilising a large population
–based database to investigate the role of anti-inflammatory
and immunosuppressant medication use in the increased
case fatality rate seen in rheumatoid arthritis patients
following myocardial infarction and will compare the cardioprotective treatment provided, following a myocardial
infarction, to rheumatoid arthritis patients versus the general
population.
The Arthritis Tissue Bank. This is a non-profit service that
supports approved research using human tissue. The
Arthritis Tissue Bank, located at the Department of Medicine
(RMH/WH), collects and stores blood and tissue samples
and information from patients who may have arthritis, for
use in various research projects.
Publication Highlights
Van Doornum S, Brand C, King B, Sundararajan V. Increased
case fatality rates following a first acute cardiovascular
event in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis and
Rheumatism 2006;54(7):2061-8
Research Assistant: Ms Angela Wood
Research Highlights
Screening and management of cardiovascular risk factors
in rheumatoid arthritis patients. This project is evaluating
the attitudes towards, and behaviour directed at, screening
and management of cardiovascular risk factors in patients
with rheumatoid arthritis by Australian and New Zealand
rheumatologists. It includes a baseline audit, development
of clinical guidelines and assessment of improvements in
quality of care.
Mortality rates following a first acute cardiovascular
event—A comparison between patients with inflammatory
arthritis and the general population. We have previously
demonstrated that in the 30 days following a myocardial
infarction, patients with rheumatoid arthritis have twice the
mortality of the general population. This project has now
been extended to evaluate 30-day mortality rates following
a first acute cardiovascular event (stroke or myocardial
infarction) in patients with other forms of inflammatory
arthritis (lupus, seronegative spondylitis, vasculitis etc)
compared with the general population.
Mortality following myocardial infarction in rheumatoid
arthritis – a retrospective case control study. The aim of
this study is to investigate the factors which contribute
towards increased mortality in rheumatoid arthritis
following myocardial infarction. This will be achieved
using a structured medical record review of rheumatoid
arthritis cases and matched controls who have experienced
myocardial infarction. Demographic details, cardiovascular
Van Doornum S, Jennings G, Wicks I. Reducing the
cardiovascular burden in rheumatoid arthritis. Medical
Journal of Australia 2006;184:287-90
New Grants
Arthritis Foundation of Australia Win Dunne Grant-in-Aid:
Sharon Van Doornum, ‘Mortality following cardiovascular
events in rheumatoid arthritis’
RACP Barbara Cameron/ARA Fellowship: Sharon Van
Doornum, ‘ Increased Case Fatality in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Following Myocardial Infarction – A Study of the Role of
Prescription Medications’
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd: Sharon Van Doornum, ‘ Effect of
Atorvastatin on Arterial Stiffness and Disease Activity in RA
– a Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial’
Collaborations
Professor Ian Wicks, Department of Rheumatology,
Royal Melbourne Hospital; Dr Caroline Brand, Clinical
Epidemiology and Health Service Evaluation Unit, Royal
Melbourne Hospital; Dr Vijaya Sundararajan, Victorian
Department of Human Services; Dr Lynden Roberts,
Department of Rheumatology, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Conference and Seminar Presentations
Sharon Van Doornum
Oral Presentation: Australian Rheumatology Association
Meeting, Perth 2006. ‘ Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in
the Patient with RA’.
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Principal: Dr Sharon Van Doornum
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Teaching and Training
48
•
Postgraduate Coordinator, Department of Medicine
(RMH/WH)
•
Medical student teaching—Professional Development
Tutor
•
Rheumatology student teaching
Professional and Community
Affiliations and Service
Member: Australian Rheumatology Association (ARA)
ARA Education and Training Subcommittee (2000–05)
ARA Quality and Safety Subcommittee (from 2005)
Chairperson: Victorian Branch, ARA
Advisor: Medical Workforce, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Member: Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Contact Details
Department of Medicine Western
Hospital Overview
Western Health has been boosted by the Victorian State
Government’s promise to commit $184 million to the
first-stage of the redevelopment of Sunshine Hospital.
This will include support of approximately $18 million
towards a Teaching, Training and Research Building, which
will be occupied and funded in a partnership between the
University of Melbourne and Victorian University, who will
each also contribute approximately $9 million. Planning
documents and functional briefs have been prepared and
will be revised in 2007, with the entry of Victoria University
into the mix.
In the future, there are plans for a separate Clinical School.
Dr Jacinta Tobin has recently been appointed Clinical
Sub-Dean and has made a very positive impact on the
Department.
Endocrinology Research, Western
Hospital
Dr Sharon Van Doornum
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
4th Floor, Clinical Sciences Building
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria 3050 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 3 8344 3279
Fax: +61 3 9347 1863
Email: [email protected]
Head: Professor Peter Ebeling
Endocrinology Research focuses on the effects of calcium,
vitamin D and exercise on promoting positive skeletal
outcomes.
During the year 2006, the department obtained funding
through an NH&MRC RAGS Equipment Grant and a small
amount of funds from the Faculty and School of Medicine
to purchase a state of the art Hologic Discovery W Bone
Densitometer, which is now functional. This will be used
predominantly for research projects within the department
and with collaborating institutions.
Achievements and Appointments
Honorary Medical Director of Osteoporosis Australia
•
Chair, Victorian State Committee, Royal Australasian
College of Physicians
•
Member, Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria
•
Councillor, Endocrine Society of Australia
•
Co-Chair, Australian Musculoskeletal Quality
Improvement Program
•
Member, Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Steering
Committee, AIHW
•
Member, NH&MRC and RACGP Osteoporosis
Guidelines Working Group
•
Chairman, Inaugural Clinical Research Professionals
Conference (CCRE / ACRP) – August 17-19, 2007
•
Member, Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Taskforce,
American Society of Bone and Mineral Research
Current Research and Collaborations
•
A study of vitamin D levels and obesity in University
of Melbourne Teaching hospitals. This study of
body composition and correlations with vitamin D
levels will be led by a Canadian Endocrinologist, Dr
Claudia Gagnon, who will be studying with me in our
Department for two years on a Canadian Research
Fellowship.
•
Collaborative research with RMH and RCH on ‘ Health
literacy and effective health promotion with is planned
vulnerable communities - health literacy in newly
arrived African communities’.
•
Collaborative research with Professor Anne-Maree
Kelly, Emergency Department, Western Health. ‘
Identification and treatment of osteoporosis in elderly
patients treated in an emergency department for a
wrist fracture’. Awarded Windermere Foundation Grant.
Research
•
Richard Wettenhall and Dr David Stapleton from Bio21
will examine collagen-derived small molecules and
correlate profiles in urine with conventionally used bone
turnover markers in controls and patients with various
metabolic bone diseases, including Paget’s disease of
bone and osteoporosis.
49
Peter Ebeling with journalist Maxine McKew at an
Osteoporosis Australia Press Conference
•
A collaboration with Professor Dallas English and
the Health 2020 Cohort Study through an NH&MRC
Enabling Grant. The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort
Study (MCCS) holds blood samples, physical
measurement and lifestyle questionnaire data from
more than 40,000 people, ages 40-69 years recruited in
Melbourne in the early 1990’s. The lifestyle data include
dietary calcium intakes and various sex hormone
concentrations.Spine and proximal femur BMD will
be measured in the sub-cohorts with hormonal data,
and the highest and lowest dietary calcium intakes.
The comparison will be corrected for baseline serum
25(OH) Vitamin D levels.
•
Collaborative research project with the Ortho-geriatric
Unit at Western Health. This involves a 3-month
study of low vs. high-dose vitamin D replacement
in hospital inpatients with mild vitamin D deficiency.
This project is underway with partial support from Key
pharmaceuticals.
•
Osteonecrosis of the jaw. This will be a project led
by Mina Borromeo at the Dental Hospital, which
will examine pathophysiological mechanisms in the
disease.
•
Proteomic profiling using NMR in metabolic bone
disease – establishing a strategy for reclassifying new
bone biomarkers. This collaboration with Professor
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
A number of collaborations have been formed:
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Gastrointestinal Cancer Research,
Western Hospital
•
Houli N, Loh SW, Giraud AS, Baldwin GS, Shulkes
A. Mitogenic effects of both amidated and glycineextended gastrin-releasing peptide in de-functioned and
azoxymethane treated rat colon. Regulatory Peptides
134: 9-16, 2006.
•
Shulkes A, Baldwin, Giraud AS. Regulation of acid
secretion (Ch.49). In: L.R. Johnson, K.E Barrett,
FK Gishen, JL Merchant, HM Said, JD Wood. Eds,
Physiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract 4th Edition,
Elsevier, 2006.
•
Judd LM, Bredin K, Kalantzis A, Jenkins Bj, Ernst M,
Giraud AS. STAT3 activation regulates gastric tumour
growth, inflammation and vascularization in a mouse
model of gastric tumorigenesis. Gastroenterology
131(4): 1073-1085, 2006.
New Grants
ARC Discovery grant. (2006-2008) ‘ Reg growth factors in
gastric regeneration and disease’, I van Driel, A Giraud, L
Judd. $274,000 Melbourne Research Grants Scheme 2006 ‘ Molecular
markers of the progression of intestinal metaplasia to gastric
cancer’. A Boussioutas, A Giraud, Bowtell. $30,000
50
NH&MRC equipment grant Confocal microscope: live cell
imaging. G Brown, J Hamilton, A Giraud, S Rogerson, S
Jane, T O’Brien, D Myers, G Anderson. $125,000.
Ongoing Grants
NH&MRC Project Grant: A Giraud, L Judd, N Yeomans
and M Ernst, 2004–06, ‘Factors that regulate the initiation,
progression and submucosal invasion in gastric cancer’:
$442,500
Collaborations
Head: Professor Andy Giraud
Research Highlights
The Gastrointestinal Cancer Laboratory, led by Professor
Andy Giraud, focuses on understanding the molecular
mechanisms underlying the initiation, development and
metastasis of gastric cancer. There is also a subsidiary
programme centred on inflammatory bowel disease,
particularly the discovery of IBD susceptibility genes derived
from forward genetic screens in mice.
Project: ‘Cytokine signalling via gp130 regulates trefoil
peptide gene expression’ (2000–). Collaborator: Dr Mathias
Ernst, Colon Biology group, Ludwig Institute, Melbourne.
Outcomes: 5 papers; 2 successful NH&MRC applications
2003–05, 2004-2006.
Project: ‘The role of Helicobacter pylori Cag pathogenicity
island proteins in imbalancing IL-6/IL-11 signalling pathways
and promoting gastric neoplasi’ (2003–). Collaborators:
Professor Rick Peek, Vanderbilt University, USA; Professor
Takeshi Azuma, Kobe University, Japan; Professor M.
Hatakeyama, Hokkaido University, Japan; Dr Richard Ferrero,
Monash University; Professors Richard Strugnell and Roy
Robins-Browne, The University of Melbourne.
•
The role of STAT3 in driving gastric inflammation .
Project: ‘The role of Reg gene members in gastric cancer
initiation and progression’, and ‘The role of trefoil factor
peptides in gastric pathology’ (2004–). Collaborator:
A/Professor Ian van Driel, The University of Melbourne.
Outcomes: ARC Discovery grant 2006–08; 2 papers
published.
•
gp130 ligands differentially regulate gastric cancer
invasion and growth.
Awards and Prizes
•
Dysregulation of IL-6 family cytokine signaling in
precancerous lesions of the human stomach.
•
Mechanisms of anti-tumour actions of NSAID’s in the
gut.
•
Discovery of a novel mouse model of Crohn's disease.
Research highlights include:
•
The role of the transcription factor STAT3 in mouse and
human gastric neoplasia.
Publication Highlights
•
Dumesny C, Patel O, Lachal S, Giraud AS, Baldwin
GS, Shulkes A. Synthesis, expression and biological
activity of the pro-hormone for gastrin releasing peptide
(ProGRP). Endocrinology 147:502-9, 2006.
L Judd: The University of Melbourne’s C. R. Roper
Fellowship for ‘The role of the IL-6 and IL-11 family of
cytokines in the development of gastrointestinal disease and
cancer’
Conference and Seminar Presentations
A S Giraud
Invited speaker: Khon Kaen University, Thailand, ‘ Trefoil
peptides and carcinogenesis’.
Invited speaker: Changi General Hospital, Singapore, ‘ Basic
and translational research in gastric cancer’.
Teaching and Training
A S Giraud
BSc (Hons) lecture series
PhD student supervision
Visiting student supervision
L M Judd
PhD student supervision
Visiting student supervision
T R Menheniott
PhD student supervision
Visiting student supervision
Supervision
Anthony Peterson, ‘Tumour suppressor genes in gastric
cancer’, PhD
Cameron Jackson, ‘Implications for gastric cancer initiation
and development of disregulation of IL-6 family cytokine
signalling pathways’, PhD
Western Hospital
Footscray, Vic. 3011 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 3 8345 6210/6252
Fax: +61 3 9318 1157
Email: [email protected]
Dr Louise Judd
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
Western Hospital
Footscray, Vic. 3011 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 3 8345 6829/6252
Fax: +61 3 9318 1157
Email: [email protected]
Dr Treve Menheniott
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
Western Hospital
Footscray, Vic. 3011 AUSTRALIA
Research
Meet the Investigator: Western Hospital Medical Research
Week, ‘ Inflammation and gastric cancer: basic mechanisms
and translational research’.
Tel: +61 3 8345 6252
Fax: +61 3 9318 1157
Email: [email protected]
51
Meegan Howlett, ‘Differential signaling through gp130 by
cytokines to regulate submucosal invasion and growth in
gastric cancer’, PhD.
Helen Lesencen, B.Sc (Hons; H1) ‘ Hormone and cytokine
growth factors in fundic hyperplasia of the stomach’.
David Ong, ‘The role of GDDR/TFIZ1 in tumour suppression
in gastric cancer’, Visiting Fellow ( 12 months; Singapore)
Maha Chaer, ‘ Growth factor genes in gastric cancer’
M.Med.Lab.Sci, Goteborgs University, Sweden (5 months).
Anna-Karin Orbjorn, ‘ Preliminary characterisation of lung
pathology in mice with gastric cancer’ M.Med.Lab.Sci,
Goteborgs University, Sweden (5 months).
Kanuengnuch Muenphon, Ph.D student (7 months),
’The role of the trefoil peptides in progression of
cholangiocarcinoma’ Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
Professional Activities
Professor Andy Giraud
•
Member: NH&MRC Project grants review committee
•
Member and Acting Chair: Melbourne Health Animal
Ethics Committee
•
Member: American Gastroenterological Association
•
Member: Gastroenterological Society of Australia
•
Member: OHS Committee, Department of Medicine
(RMH/WH)
•
Editor: Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
•
Editorial Board: Journal of Gastroenterology
Dr Louise Judd
•
Member: American Gastroenterological Association
•
Grant Reviewer: NH&MRC (Australia)
Contact Details
Professor Andy Giraud
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Marie Strandlund, ‘ Evaluation of secondary lung pathology
in gastric cancer’ M.Pharm, Goteborgs University, Sweden
(6 months)
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Gastric Cancer Research, Western
Hospital
Publication Highlights
Tinker AV, Boussioutas A, Bowtell DD. The challenges of
gene expression microarrays for the study of human cancer.
Cancer Cell 2006;9:333-9, 2006.*
Aggarwal A, Li Guo D, Hoshida Y, Tsan Yuen S, Chu KM, So
S, Boussioutas A, Chen X, Bowtell D, Aburatani H, Leung
SY, Tan P. Topological and functional discovery in a gene
coexpression meta-network of gastric cancer. Cancer Res
2006;66:232-41, 2006.*
Jenkins, B. J., Grail, D., Nheu, T., Najdovska, M., Wang,
B., Waring, P., Inglese, M., McLoughlin, R. M., Jone,s S.
A., Topley, N., Baumann, H., Judd, L. M., Giraud, A. S.,
Boussioutas, A., Zhu, H. J. and Ernst, M. Hyperactivation
of Stat3 in gp130 mutant mice promotes gastric
hyperproliferation and desensitizes TGF-beta signaling. Nat
Med., 11:845–52, 2006.
Gorringe, K. L., Boussioutas, A. and Bowtell, D. D. Novel
regions of chromosomal amplification at 6p21, 5p13, and
12q14 in gastric cancer identified by array comparative
genomic hybridisation. Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer
42:247–59, 2006.
Grants
52
NH&MRC Project Grant (454584): Dr Alex Boussioutas, Prof.
A. Giraud and Prof D. Bowtell, 2007–09, ‘Molecular markers
of the progression of intestinal metaplasia to gastric cancer:
$535,000
NH&MRC Project Grant (288714): Professor David Bowtell
and Dr Alex Boussioutas, 2004–06, ‘Gastric cancer: Early
detection of disease, relapse and prediction of extent of
disease: $420,000
Collaborations
Head: Dr Alex Boussioutas
Research Highlights
The Gastric Cancer Group is divided between Western
Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Research
Division.
At Western Hospital we focus on the pathogenesis of
gastric cancer through the investigation of premalignant
stages of gastric cancer that involve chronic inflammation,
intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia. The model for this
study is to use human material collected at endoscopy to
determine gene candidates involved specifically with the
premalignant progression of gastric cancer, and study those
genes in an available animal model to investigate potential
mechanisms. This is occurring in collaboration with Professor
Giraud using his animal model of gastric malignancy that
was created at the Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research
(Mathias Ernst).
The Peter MacCallum projects deal with genomic studies
into the sub-classification of gastric cancer and the use of
microarray technology as a potential prognostic tool. Another
project is the evaluation of biomarkers for early disease
using proteomics and correlating the results with microarray
data. More recently the project is starting to investigate
tumour-stroma interactions in the setting of gastric cancer
and how this impacts invasion and metastasis.
Dr Boussioutas has collaborations with Professor David
Bowtell at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and has
been involved in the creation of an Asia–Pacific Consortium
investigating gastric cancer with collaborators: Dr Patrick Tan,
National Cancer Center, Singapore; Dr SY Leung, Queen
Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Professor Hiroyuki Aburatani,
University of Tokyo, Japan; Professor Hyun Cheol Chung,
Yonsei Cancer Centre, Korea.
Dr Boussioutas recently spent time in Cambridge University,
UK where he established an exciting collaboration with Dr
Rebecca Fitzgerald (Hutchison MRC) to investigate Barrett’s
Oesophagus.
Other collaborators include: Professor Hong Li, Dalian
Medical Center, PR China; Professor Stephen Meltzer,
University of Maryland, USA; Professor Eleftherios
Diamandis, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Professor
Ben Cravatt, Scripps, La Jolla, USA.
Awards and Prizes
AstraZeneca Emerging Leaders in Medicine Award
Peter MacCallum Research Medal for research excellence
during PhD
GESA Grant-in-Aid
Conference and Seminar Presentations
Speaker: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Grand Rounds
Convener and Presenter: Inaugural Asia–Pacific Gastric
Cancer Conference, Couran Cove, Queensland.
Teaching and Training
•
Lectures to undergraduate Medicine students
(including clinical examination), Western Hospital
•
AMS assessment
•
FRACP clinical tutorials
•
RACP lecture series in Gastroenterology
Professional Activities
Member, Melbourne Health Human Research Ethics
Committee
Member, Hereditary Bowel Cancer Committee, Cancer
Council of Victoria
Member, Medical Advisory Committee, Western Hospital
Deputy Chair, NH&MRC Grants Review Panel
Examiner, Australian Medical Council
Member, Gastroenterological society of Australasia
Research
Member, American Gastroenterological Association
Founding Member, Asia–Pacific Gastric Cancer Consortium
Grant Reviewer, NH&MRC Grants Review Panel
Reviewer, NH&MRC Australia and Singapore
Editor, Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Reviewer, Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer (journal)
Contact Details
53
Dr Alex Boussioutas
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
The University of Melbourne
Western Hospital
Footscray, Vic. 3011 AUSTRALIA
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Tel: +61 3 8345 6252
Fax: +61 3 9318 1157
Email: [email protected]
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Associate Professor Peter David Danne
Research Highlights
Member of Advisory Board: The National Trauma Registry
Consortium
Publication Highlights
Ireland S., Gray T., Farrow N., Danne P., Flannagan B. “Rural
Mobile Simulation – Based Trauma Tram Training – An
innovative Educational Platform.” International Trauma Care
(ITACCS) Volume 16, Number 1, 2006, pp 6-12.
Davey T., Pollard C, Aitken L, Fitzgerald M., Bellamy N.,
Cass C., Danne P. Et.al. “Tackling the burden of injury in
Australasia: developing a binational trauma registry.” M.J.A.
Volume 189, Number 9, November 2006, pp 512-514.
Zalstein S., Cameron P., Danne P., Taylor D.“ The Victorian
Major Trauma Transfer Study”. Final report to the Victorian
Trauma Foundation September 2006 – (private publishing).
Awards and Prizes
Certificate of Outstanding Service awarded by R.A.C.S
Council.
54
Prominent Activities
•
Senior Teaching Faculty – Definitive Surgical Trauma
Care (D.S.T.C.) Courses Porto (Portugal) and Madrid
(Spain).
•
Director D.S.T.C. Course Melbourne Novemebr 2006.
•
Director (Council Member) Melbourne Grammar School
Council.
Peter B Greenberg
Research Highlights
•
Optimising communication between consumers and
clinicians, Greenberg PB, Walker C, Buchbinder R.
Medical Journal Aust 2006;185:246-247
•
Cautionary tales in the interpretation of systematic
reviews of therapy trials, Scott I, Greenberg P, Poole P,
Campbell D. Intern Medical Journal 2006:36:587-599.
•
Translating health research into clinical advice and
health recommendations: the NH&MRC experience
2000-2006, Green AC, Greenberg P, Fitzgerald G,
Clutton C. Intern Medical Journal 2006;36:335-337
•
International perspectives on general internal medicine
and the case for ‘globalization’ of a discipline, Ghali WA,
Greenberg PB, Mejia R, Otaki J, Cornuz J. Journal of
Gen Intern Medicine 2006;21:197-200.
Prominent Activities
Chair, Health Advisory Committee, NH&MRC until June 30
2006
•
Member of Board of Directors and Chair of Quality and
Research and Education Committees, Western Health
Melbourne, until June 30 2006
•
Tutor, 12th UK workshop in Teaching and Practising
Evidence Based Medicine, St Hilda’s College, Oxford,
Sept 2006
Contact Details
Deptartment of General Medicine
4 West, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street,
Parkville, Vic, Australia 3050
Phone: (613) 9342-7459
Fax: (613) 9342-8082
Email: [email protected]
Melbourne Health internet site
http://www.mh.org.au/Royal_Melbourne_Hospital/
www/353/1001127/displayarticle/1001645.html
Professor Yean Lim
Centre for Cardiovascular Therapeutics – Western Hospital
Research Highlights
Prof Y L Lim: Research on MSCT Coronary Angiography and
CT guided PCI
Prof Y L Lim and Dr R Newman: Participation in International
Clinic Trials, GRACE registry, ACUITY
A/Prof A Royse: Use of echocardiography during cardiac
surgery
Publication Highlights
Soon KH, Cox N, Kelly AM, Chaitowitz I, Bell KW, Lim
YL. Non-invasive multi-slice CT coronary angiography for
imaging coronary arteries, stents and bypass grafts. Internal
Medicine Journal. 2006;36;(1): 43-50.
Soon KH, Farouque HMO, Chaitowitz I, Cox N,
Selvanayagam J, Bell KW, Lim YL. Discrepancy between
computed tomography coronary angiography and selective
coronary angiography in the pre-stenting assessment of
coronary lesion length. Australasian Radiology (In Press:
Accepted 23-10-06).
New Grants
NH&MRC Post Graduate Scholarship 2006 – Dr Kean H
Soon, ‘ Role of multi-slice computer tomography in the
evaluation of coronary artery disease and revascularisation
procedures’
Awards and Prizes
Prof Y L Lim: Inaugural ‘ Gary Roubin Award’ for contribution
to interventional cardiology in Australasia and the Asia Pacific
Region, 1 December 2006, Sydney.
Prominent Activities
Co-course Director, 3rd China Interventional Therapeutics,
Beijing, China
International Faculty, 2006 EuroPCR, Paris
Keynote Speaker, National Health Management Conference,
Wuxi, China
International Faculty, TCT, Washington
Contact Details
Prof Y L Lim
Western Hospital
Gordon Street
Footscray Victoria 3011
Tel: + 61 3 8345 6302
Fax: + 61 3 8345 6882
Genome wide association studies using SNP platforms in
familial bowel cancer: this work, seeking evidence of new
loci to explain clusters of bowel cancer not accounted for
by the known cancer predisposition genes, continues in
association with the CSIRO. There are early indications of a
new locus from the first cohort of families studied.
Research : Honorary Fellows
Professor Finlay Macrae
Diagnostics in Polyposis
Capsule endoscopy involves swallowing a capsule sized
device which includes a CCD camera and transmitter.
Images are registered in a computer storage device worn
by the patient. Two projects evaluating its role in familial
adenomatous polyposis, and Peutz Jeghers Syndrome and
Juvenile Polyposis have been completed. In the former, the
approach is not of general utility, but in PJS and JP there
is now an essential role identified through our studies and
others overseas. This work will be presented to regulatory
authorities (MSAC) in Australia to secure funding for
surveillance of these patients.
MR colonography in HNPCC gene carriers
We are testing the role of this technology which produces
virtual images of the colon, as if viewed through a
colonoscope, via manipulation of imaging data from MR
scanning. Its appeal includes the lack of radiation, an
important factor in carriers of cancer predisposing genes.
We are approaching our target of 50 studies in association
with Dept of Radiology at RMH and St Vincent's Hospital..
55
Colorectal Medicine and Genetics is an academic
department at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, which focuses
on large bowel diseases, notably colorectal cancer, and
inflammatory bowel disease.
Research Activities
Genetics and Colorectal Neoplasia (Bowel Cancer)
Hyperplastic polyposis is the last known hereditary
polyposis condition for which no gene predisposition has
been identified. The work of MD scholar Dr Elizabeth
Chow collated the world's largest series of these patients,
described their phenotype and explored the role of two
candidate genes (MDB4 and MYH) through sequencing and
hot spot analysis respectively. This identifed a minor role for
MYH mutations in the syndrome, leaving the question of a
predosposing gene still open. This work was published in the
world's leading gastroenterology journal 'Gastroenterology'.
Mutational Analysis in Peutz Jegher's Syndrome
This rare polyposis condition is also associated with high
cancer risk. The gene predisposing to the condition (STK11)
had been previously thought to account for only about half
the families affected. Our work using extended mutational
analytic techniques, beyond sequencing, identified a further
30% of families with mutations in the same gene, but
detected only through Multiplex Ligand Probe Amplification
which detects large deletions and reaarangements missed
on sequencing.
Juvenile Polyposis
A family has been studied providing evidence for a mutation
associated with BMPR1A on haplotyping, but no mutation
has yet been identified.
Celecoxib
The pivotal international randomized controlled trial testing
the preventative effects of celecoxib against colorectal
neoplasia was also nationally lead by our team and published
in the New England Journal of Medicine. Celecoxib
significantly reduces the incidence of adenomas - both
small and advanced. This was also the trial that identified
the cardiovascular risk associated with high dose celecoxib
which has substantially altered prescribing patterns for this
and other COX2 inhibitors universally. Our patients were part
of the risk profile that developed, although there were no
fatalities. Follow up continues.
The US National Institutes of Health Colon Family
Register
As one of the main recruitment centres worldwide
for ascertainment of familial colon cancer families, we
have been strong contributors to this US/Canadian and
Australasian project. It provides a valuable clinical and
biospecimen resource for investigators to access. We have
recently approached the entire resource for studies of gene
modifiers in hereditary non polyposis colon cancer, and to
enhance the genome wide SNP association study. Professor
Macrae is on the international steering committee.
Surveillance in Familial Bowel Cancer
Our 25 year experience in surveillance for members of
families with bowel cancer has been subject to intense
analysis in association with the CSIRO eHealth team.
Presented at Australian Gastroenterology Week, it is the first
time we have explored this data.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Multi-centre Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Adalimumab and certolizumab in Crohn's Disease:
Recruitment is now complete in the placebo controlled
randomized trials, and open label therapy is continuing in
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Chemoprevention of Colorectal Cancer
Aspirin and Resistant Starch: As major contributors and
national management centre of the worldwide CAPP2
trial, we have been key investigators in this randomized
controlled trial of aspirin and resistant starch in mismatch
repair gene carriers (HNPCC). This 6 year trial will be
complete by mid 2007 with initial results available mid year.
It will provide pivotal level 2 evidence for the benefits of
these two agents in preventing colorectal cancer.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
56
these two trials of new, humanised anti-TNF agents. Both
are effective.
OPC 6535 in ulcerative colitis
This randomized controlled trial is complete and further
development of this phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor has
recently been abandoned because of inadequate efficacy.
GM CSF in Crohn's Disease
This randomized controlled trial has also been abandoned
because of lack of efficacy. Given GM CSF's discovery at
WEHI, we were particularly pleased to participate in this trial
and disappointed in its outcome.
Investigator initiated trials in IBD
AMS student Maneesha Bhullar completed a correlation
of NOD2/CARD15 genotyping in patients with at least one
resection for small bowel Crohn's Disease against the
natural history of the disease. Initial analysis, presented at
the Australian Gastroenterology Week in Adelaide 2006,
revealed a strong correlation between a frame shift mutation
in the gene and rapid and aggressive onset of the disease
requiring early surgery. Further work continues evaluating
other mutations; mono-allelic and bi-allelic mutations
carriage status and disease aggression, and response to
infliximab.
MR enterography prediction of response to infliximab
Infliximab is very expensive and although powerful, is only
67% capable of inducing response in Crohn's Disease.
This trial, half recruited, is evaluating whether MR criteria of
activity and extent of disease will predict responsiveness
and allow the therapy to be targeted to likely responders.
Capsule Endoscopy in Suspected Small Bowel Crohn's
Disease
This national project is fully recruited and under analysis.
Strong recruitment was achieved through our department.
Mucosal biomarkers of cancer risk
This project testing wheat bran and resistant starch in
volunteers, and which first evaluated proliferative biomarkers
with crypt location specificity, has now completed markers
of apoptosis, all using a dedicated software Program
'Hemicrypt' developed in association with US collaborator
Roberd Bostick. It is planned to use this platform to explore
other preventative approaches.
P2X7 expression in the colon
Our preliminary studies have identified this marker in 100%
of cancers and in a majority of adenomas, but not in normal
mucosa. Control samples are now being evaluated, and
the performance of the marker in dysplasia patients with
ulcerative colitis and Barrett's oesophagus is being tested.
Publication Highlights
Jenkins MA, Baglietto L, Dowty JG, Van Vliet CM, Smith L,
Mead LJ, Macrae FA, St John DJ, Jass JR, Giles GG, Hopper
JL, Southey MC. Cancer risks for mismatch repair gene
mutation carriers: a population-based early onset casefamily study. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2006
4: 489-498
Park JG, Kim DW, Hong CW, Nam BH, Shin YK, Hong SH,
Kim IJ, Lim SB, Aronsno M, Bisgaard ML, Brown GJ, Burn J,
Chow E, Conrad P, Douglas F, Dunlop M, Ford J, Greenblatt
MS, Heikki J, Heinimann K, Lynch EL, Macrae F, McKinnon
WC, Moeslein G, Rossi BM, Rozen P, Schofield L, Vaccaro
C, Vasen H Velthuizen M, Viel A, Wijnen J; International
Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumours. Germ
line mutations of mismatch repair genes in hereditary
nonpolyposis colorectal cancer patients with small bowel
cancer: International Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary
Tumours Collaborative Study. Clinical Cancer Research 2006;
12; 3389-93
Chow E, Lipton L, Lynch E, D’Souza R, Aragna C, Hodgkin
L, Brown G, Winship I, Barker M, Buchanan D, Cowie S,
Nasioulas S, du Sart D, Young J, Leggett B, Jass J, Macrae F,
Hyperplastic polyposis syndrome: phenotypic presentations
and the role of MBD4 and MYH. Gastroenterology 2006;
131; 30-9.
Chow E, Meldrum CJ, Crooks R, Macrae F, Spigelman AD,
Scott RJ. An updated mutation spectrum in an Australian
series of PJS patients provides further evidence for only
one gene locus. Clinical Genetics 2006; 70: 409-14
Bertagnolli MM, Eagle CJ, Zauber AG, Redston M, Solomon
SD, Kim K, Tang J, Rosenstein RB, Wittes J, Corle D, Hess
TM, WoloJ GM, Boisserie F, Anderson WF, Viner JL, Bagheri
D, Burn J, Chung DC, Dewar T, Foley TR, Hoffman N, Macrae
F, Pruitt RE, Saltzman JR, Salzberg B, Sylwestrowicz T,
Gordon GB, Hawk ET; APC Study Investigators Celecoxib
for the prevention of sporadic colorectal adenomas. New
England Journal of Medicine 2006; 355:873-84
Rozen P, Macrae F, Familial adenomatous polyposis: The
practical applications of clinical and molecular screening.
Familial Cancer 2006; 5:227-35
Ollila S, Sarantaus L, Kariola R, Chan P, Hampel H, HolinskiFeder E, Macrae F, Kohonen-Corish M, Gerdes AM,
Peltomaki P, Mangold E, de la Chapelle A, Greenblatt M,
Nystrom M Pathogenicity of MSH2 missense mutations
is typically associated with impaired repair capability of the
mutated protein. Gastroenterology 2006:131:1408-17
Andrews L, Mireskandari S, Jessen J, Thewes B, Solomon
M, Macrae F, Meiser B, Impact of familial adenomatous
polyposis on young adults: attitudes towards genetic
testing, support, and information needs. Genetic Medicine
2006; 8: 697-803
Smith L, Tesoriero A, Mead L, Royce S, Grubb G, Young J,
Giles G, Jenkins M, Macrae F, Hopper JL, Southey MC.
Large genomic alterations in hMSH2 and hMLH1 in early
onset colorectal cancer: identification of a large complex de
novo alteration. Clinical Genetics 2006; 70:250-52.
Grants
Project Grant, Genome wide SNP association study in
Familial Bowel Cancer, CSIRO
Project Grant , NIH CFR study, US NIH
Grant, Studies on Genetics of Bowel Cancer, Hicks
Foundation
Contractual Research Grants, Clinical trials in IBD, Abbott,
UCB, Otsuka, Others
Grant, Genotyping and MR colonography in IBD, Schering
Plough
Contact Details
Professor Finlay Macrae
Colorectal Medicine and Genetics
Level 3 Centre, City Campus
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria 3050
Tel: +61 3 9347 0788
Fax: +61 3 9348 2004
Email: [email protected]
Associate Professor James St. John,
AM
Research Highlights
•
After 30 years of research on strategies and methods
for prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer,
the major highlight was commencement of the
Continued collaboration with the Centre for Reviews
and Dissemination, University of York, UK, to produce
a report for the National Health Service (UK) on
diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness of faecal
occult blood tests used in screening for colorectal
cancer.
[email protected]
[email protected]
Continued collaboration with the Murdoch Children’s
Research Institute on the study of psychological
outcomes and screening behaviours related to
predictive genetic testing in HNPCC.
Associate Professor James St John
The Cancer Council Victoria
1 Rathdowne St., Carlton, VIC 3053
Associate Professor Brian D Tait
Victorian Transplantation and Immunogenetics Service
Research Highlights
•
The continuing collaboration with Drs Nicole
Mifsud and Tom Kotsimbos in the Lung Transplant
Unit at the Alfred Hospital . We are examining the
HLA alloresponsive hierarchy in vitro with a view
to identifying ‘ acceptable and ‘ non acceptable’
mismatches. The in vitro approach we have taken has
provided some very interesting results which will be
tested in a clinical setting.
•
Examining the role of the CDKN1A gene which
codes for p21 involved in control of cell division. This
gene is located at the centromeric end of the short
arm of Chromosome 6 near the MHC complex. We
57
hypothesise that polymorphisms in this gene alter
function and that that these polymorphisms are
present on the A1,B8,DR3 (8.1) haplotype and account
for the auto-immune nature of this haplotype. We have
demonstrated a new polymorphism in this gene which
is in linkage disequilibrium with the 8.1 haplotype.
We are currently looking at this polymorphism in type
1 diabetes and plan functional studies involving this
polymorphism.
•
Continuation of our collaboration with the Centre
for Integrated Genomic Medical Research. at the
University of Manchester on the immunogenetics
of polymyositis. This collaboration has led to several
publications.
•
VTIS is the co-ordinating centre for the Asia-Pacific
region of the International Type 1 Diabetes Consortium.
We have genotyped and created cell lines from
diabetic probands and family members from hundreds
of families in the Asia Pacific region including the
Phillipines, India, Hong Kong and we expect China to
be a collaborating nation during 2007. All this material is
available for future research projects.
Publication Highlights
Jenkins MA, Baglietto L, Dowty JG, van Vliet CM, Smith
L, Mead LJ, Macrae FA, St. John DJB, Jass JR, Giles GG,
Hopper JL, Southey MC. Cancer risks for mismatch repair
gene mutation carriers: a population-based early onset casefamily study. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2006;
4:489-498
St. John J. Colonoscopic screening in individuals with a
family history of colorectal cancer. Nature Clinical Practice
Oncology 2006; 3:362-363
Awards and Prizes
Appointment as Honorary Senior Associate, The Cancer
Council Victoria
Prominent Activities
Appointment as Councillor, Specialist Medical Review
Council, Department of Veterans Affairs
Advisor to the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) on
bowel cancer screening
Appointment as Member, Program Advisory Group, National
Bowel Cancer Screening Program, DoHA
Appointment as Chair of the Quality Working Group
(QWG), National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, DoHA.
The QWG has been established by the Australian Health
Ministers Advisory Council to provide advice to DoHA on
strategies to improve the quality, consistency and availability
of colonoscopy services in Australia
Consultant to the Cancer Institute New South Wales
Member of the Principal Committee and Working Party
Executive and contributor for the Second edition of the
NH&MRC “Clinical Practice Guidelines for Prevention, Early
Detection and Management of Colorectal Cancer”
Contributor to the revision of The Cancer Council Australia’s
National Cancer Prevention Policy document
Invited speaker, Annual Scientific Meeting, Royal
Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists, held in Perth, 18 October 2006.
Title of
presentation: “Keeping women well: screening for bowel
cancer”
Hawke’s Bay Cancer Society Public Lecture on “Tackling
bowel cancer: New Zealand is still in the front row”, given in
Hastings, New Zealand on 17 August 2006
Hawke’s Bay Cancer Society Lecture for Health
Professionals on “Bowel cancer: challenges and
opportunities”, given at Napier, New Zealand on 17 August
2006
Publication Highlights
Murphy N, Diviney M, Szer J, Bardy P, Grigg A, Hoyt R,
King B, MacGregor L, Holdsworth R, McCluskey J, Tait BD.
Donor methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase genotype is
associated with graft versus host disease in haematopoietic
stem cell transplant patients treated with methotrexate.
Bone Marrow Transplantation 37(8): 773-779,2006.
Stockman A, Tait BD, Wolfe R, Brand CA, Rowley MJ, Varney
MD, Buchbinder R, Muirden KD. Clinical laboratory and
genetic markers associated with erosions and remission
in patients with early inflammatory arthritis: a prospective
cohort study. Rheumatoid International 26:500-509,2006.
Chinoy H, Salway F, Fertig N, Shepard N, Tait BD, Thomson
W, Isenberg DA, Oddis CV, Silman AJ, Ollier WE, Cooper
RG. In adult onset myositis the presence of interstitial lung
disease and myositis specific /associated antibodies are
governed by HLA class 2 haplotypes rather than by myositis
subtype. Athritis Research and Therapy 8:R13 (E pub. ahead
of print).
Chinoy H, Salway F, Fertig N, Tait BD, Oddis CV, Ollier
WE, Cooper RG. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 single
nucleotide polymorphisms do not confer susceptibility
Research : Honorary Fellows
•
Contact Details
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
•
Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program in
August 2006. In the initial phase (August 2006 to June
2008), close to one million Australians are being invited
to undergo screening.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
58
for the development of adult onset polymyositis/
dermatomyositis in UK caucasians. Rheumatology 2006 (E
pub ahead of print).
Professor Ian Wicks
Yap C-H, Skillington PD, Matalanis G, Davis BB, Tait BD,
Hudson F, Ireland L, Nixon I, Yii M. Anti-HLA antibodies after
cryopreserved allograft valve implantation do not predict
valve dysfunction at three year follow up. Journal of Heart
and Valve Disease 15:540-544,2006.
New Grants
Recipient with Dr Nicole Mifsud of an ARCBS Research
Project Grant for ‘ Dissecting the immunogenicity of HLA
class 1 molecules for improved transplant outcomes using
a novel cellular based assay’ Tait BD and Mifsud N. Amount
$60,000.
Prominent Activities
Guest lecturer at the International Transplant Congress in
Boston, July 2006.
Guest lecturer Japanese Society of Histocompatibility and
Immunogenetics ,Tokyo, September 2006.
Contact Details
Associate Professor Brian Tait
2nd Floor
Rotary Bone Marrow Research Building
c/o Royal Melbourne Hospital
Ph: +61 3 9341 6305
Fax: +61 3 9348 1278Email: [email protected]
Reid Rheumatology Laboratory, Division of Autoimmune
Diseases and Transplantation, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
of Medical Research (WEHI)
Centre for Rheumatic Diseases (CRD)
Research Highlights
As Head of the Reid Rheumatology Laboratory, Division
of Autoimmune Diseases and Transplantation, at WEHI.
a laboratory role focuses on the immunopathogenesis of
inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA),
using a variety of murine models.
Major interests include G- and GM-CSF and related
cytokines, and the SOCS proteins, which negatively
regulate cytokine signal transduction. This work has led to
involvement in pre-clinical development of novel G-CSF and
GM-CSF receptor antagonists, in association with Zenyth
and CSL. It has also emphasized the importance of clinical
translation and to that end, a WEHI translational research
fellowship in RA has been established for a clinician to work
in this capacity at RMH.
The Rheumatology Unit at RMH headed by Professor Wicks
has also embarked on a Phase 1 trial of a chimeric anti-GMCSF antibody in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). This trial builds
on work from Professor John Hamilton’s Laboratory, using
an antibody derived initially through the Melbourne Ludwig
Iinstitute for Cancer Research.
Professor Wicks is also Head of the Centre for Rheumatic
Diseases (CRD), co-located with the Rheumatology Unit
at RMH. The CRD, especially through the work of Senior
Lecturer, Dr Richard Osborne, and his team, pursues a broad
clinical research program including evidence-based re-design
Department Activities
Environment Health and Safety
Research : Honorary Fellows
of the orthopaedic waiting list and evaluation of patient
education and self-management strategies described in
detail elsewhere in this report. These important areas for
translational research provide academic opportunities and
increased community relevance and are described in detail
elsewhere in this report.
Dr Sabina Ciciriello co-supervised with Dr Osborne and
A/Prof Buchbiner studies patient drug education in RA,
including design of a novel, audiovisual program for patients
with RA commencing Methotrexate, which will now be
evaluated in a randomised controlled trial. Another interest
is the accelerated atherosclerosis which accompanies RA, a
problem of increasing concern in many chronic inflammatory
diseases.The research program on atherosclerosis is a
collaboration headed by Dr Sharon van Doornum.
Publication Highlights
Granulocyte colony stimulating factor and neutrophils –
forgotten mediators of inflammatory disease. Nature Clinical
Practice Rheumatology 2006 Sep 2(9):500-10
SOCS-3 negatively regulates innate and adaptive immune
mechanisms in acute, IL-1 dependent inflammatory arthritis.
Journal Clin Invest 2006 Jun 116(6):1571-81
59
Interleukin-6 modulates production of T lymphocytederived cytokines in antigen induced arthritis and drives
inflammation-induced osteoclastogenesis. Arth Rheum
2006 Jan 54(1):158-68
Reducing the cardiovascular burden in rheumatoid arthritis.
Medical Journal Aust 2006 Mar 20;184(6):287-90
New Grants
How does endogenous G-CSF drive joint inflammation? NH&MRC Project Grant (CIA Wicks –WEHI)
Awards and Prizes
NH&MRC Clinical Practitioner Fellowship – re-appointed and
promoted to PF2.
Patient drug education in RA (Wicks – philanthropic trust,
University of Melbourne).
Contact Details
Professor Ian Wicks
Reid Rheumatology Laboratory
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and
Rheumatology Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Lorraine Parker, Laboratory Manager. Supported by
Tim Byrne and Paul Masendycz, Lorraine ensures the
Department meets the requirements of SafetyMAP.
The Department of Medicine is committed to providing a
safe working environment for the students, members of
staff, and contractors who work within the Department,
and is compliant to SafetyMAP Version 4. The Department
is also aware of the responsibilities it has to protect the
environment, and is compliant to the international standard
ISO 14001. More information on our EHS initiatives can be
found on our website at: http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.
edu.au/resources/ehs.html
SafetyMAP
As a self-insurer for workers compensation, the University
of Melbourne is required by the Victorian WorkCover
Authority (VWA) to have in place a safety management
system to at least SafetyMAP (Safety Management
Achievement Program) Initial Level. The university chose
the VWA audit standard SafetyMAP as the tool to ensure
it would provide safe systems of work to reduce risk, to
measure its occupational health and safety performance,
and to implement a cycle of continuous improvement. This
has been achieved by having good safe work procedures,
by providing appropriate induction and training for staff and
students, and by regularly inspecting the workplace for
hazards.
The Department of Medicine at both the Royal Melbourne
and Western Hospitals, as part of the Faculty of Medicine,
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
WEHI Translational Research Program in RA (Wicks –
philanthropic trust, WEHI), which provides for a translational
research fellowship in RA at RMH. Inaugural recipient is Dr
Simon Chatfield.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
60
Dentistry and Health Sciences, has undergone regular
annual internal audits to ensure compliance with the
SafetyMAP criteria.
DoMSA President's Report
Environment
Emma Braine and Amanda Turner, campaigners for a
greener department
The University of Melbourne is committed to care of the
environment through the implementation of an Environment
Management System compliant to the international
standard ISO 14001. This system enables the University
to formulate a policy regarding environment objectives,
taking into account legislative requirements and information
about significant environmental impacts. The Environment
Management System is integrated into the University's
Safety Management System, and annual audits are held
concurrently with the SafetyMAP audit.
The Department is committed to supporting the 'green
laboratory' and 'green office' programs offered by the
university, for the management of substances hazardous to
the environment, waste reduction and recycling, reducing
the amount of water and energy used, and where possible
purchasing environment-friendly products. More on the
Department's environmental initiatives can be found on
our website at: http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
resources/ehs.html#environment
Dominic De Nardo, Student Association President 2006
The Department of Medicine Student Association (DoMSA)
was established in 2003 with four broad aims:
•
to enhance the academic and professional life of
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH) postgraduate
students;
•
to encourage social interaction of students within the
department;
•
to provide academic support to fellow postgraduates
and thus foster communication of research ideas and
collaborations; and
•
to represent the Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
postgraduate students to the department, faculty and
university.
The 2006 DoMSA committee
of strong friendships (and possible collaborations) were
made with our honorary Dutch DoMSA member.
Fundraising has been an ongoing initiative since DoMSA’s
inception. In previous years DoMSA has raised money not
only to help hold DoMSA events but also for the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation and to help individuals in
famine and Malaria-stricken Malawi (Plan Australia). In 2007
DoMSA aims to use funds raised in 2006 to sponsor an
impoverished child for one year through World Vision.
DoMSA would like to thank the Department of Medicine
(RMH/WH) for their ongoing support, and for making student
life much more enjoyable.
Getting sporty. L-R Thao Nguyen, Christine Massa,
Dominic DeNardo, Philippe Boeuf and Sten Libregts
In April 2006, a new DoMSA committee was elected, with
Dominic De Nardo as president, Thao Nguyen taking the
role of secretary, Christine Massa continuing her excellent
work as treasurer, and Hang Dinh and Nelly Kua as our social
representatives. Salenna Elliot was asked to continue her
role as the staff representative. Our honours representative
role for 2006 was filled by Nicki Ball.
Dominic De Nardo, DoMSA President 2006 (d.denardo@
pgrad.unimelb.edu.au)
Department Seminar Series
Department Activities
Fundraising
61
Students of the department also play important roles on
the EHS committee and the DoMSA president represents
the students on the Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
executive committee. An important part of this role was
communicating student related issues at the executive
meetings. This led to review of student support in 2006
and resulted in a number of staff being appointed honours
mentors, providing honours students with additional support.
Early in the year the honours students organized a well
attended ‘get-to-know-each-other’ dinner, which ignited new
friendships. A post-exam chocolate session for the honours
students at ‘KoKo Black’ on Lygon Street, was a huge
success, with students drowning their sorrows with gallons
of hot chocolate and handfuls of rich chocolaty delights. The
theme of food was again the focal point when we set out for
a mid-year dinner at ‘Papa Gino’s’ followed by a sugar binge
at a local lolly shop. Prior to the honours students’ final
presentation, DoMSA held an afternoon tea and practice
session that attendees found very helpful. Then, as has
become customary, following their final presentation, the
honours students, with postgrad students in check, headed
out for a much deserved celebratory lunch and drinks.
Students Get Fit in 2006
After eating too much pizza and chocolate at previous
events the committee decided that it was time for DoMSA
to get healthy. In the second half of the year we ditched
the traditional pizza and movie nights for numerous sport
sessions at the Melbourne University Sports Centre.
Sessions were attended by both students and staff inciting
great rival matches of basketball, badminton and soccer. In
December, DoMSA hosted the annual Staff Vs Students
Cricket Match and BBQ at Princes’ Park in Carlton. The well
attended and highly competitive match ended a draw for the
second year running, with the skill and class of each team
being matched by the other.
Honorary Dutch DoMSA member
As part of his Masters studies Sten Libregts, spent 4
months working in the Hamilton group with Dr Cook
within the Department of Medicine. His enthusiasm and
participation in DoMSA events was valued by all. A number
Glen Scholz, Senior Research Fellow and Seminar Series
Coordinator
March
Dr Edward Hogan, Mapping Structural Hippocampal
Changes in Epilepsy, University of St. Louis
Michael Lian (PhD confirmation), Mesenchymal cell
pathology in progressive renal disease, RMH
Dr Glen Scholz, Keeping the inflammatory response of
macrophages to pathogens under control
Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Social Events
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
62
Dr Elizabeth Chow, (Final MD Thesis Presentation),
Defining genetic mechanisms of colorectal cancer: From
bedside to bench and back again, Department of Colorectal
Medicine and Genetics (RMH)
April
Prof Ron du Bois, Genetic predisposition to ILD-any
translational value?, Royal Brompton Hospital, London
Dr Benjamin Cowie (PhD confirmation) Host: SVD
The seroprevalence, molecular characterisation and
mathematical modelling of hepatitis B virus infection in
Victoria, VIDRL
Dr Louise Allport, (Final PhD Thesis Presentation),
Disordered physiological parameters in acute ischaemic
stroke: A study of hyperglycaemia and haematological
variables, Department of Neurology, RMH
May
September
Dr Andrew Cook, Differing roles for the plasminogen
activators in arthritis, University of Melbourne
October
Dr Michael Hickey, Mechanisms of leukocyte trafficking in
the kidney, Monash University
Dr Philippe Boeuf, Placental functional impairment during
malaria in pregnancy, University of Melbourne
Dr Alex Andrianopoulos, Understanding the molecular
mechanisms controlling morphogenesis in the human fungal
pathogen Penicillium marneffei, University of Melbourne
November
Mr Adrian Achuthan (PhD Oration), Regulation of SNARE
proteins and vesicle trafficking by macrophage-colony
stimulating factor, University of Melbourne
Dr Stefanie Dedeurwaerdere, Neuromodulation in animal
models of epilepsy, Department of Medicine, University of
Melbourne
Ms Nhu-Y Nguyen, (PhD confirmation) Signalling pathways
that regulate B cell development, Bone Marrow Research
Laboratory, WEHI
Dr Sandra Petty (PhD confirmation, Epilepsy and bone
health, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne
Dr Christen Barras (PhD confirmation) Imaging predictors
of hematoma growth in primary intracerebral hemorrhage,
Deptartment of Radiology, RMH
June
Ms Hang Dinh (PhD Oration) Gene expression analysis of
macrophage differentiation, University of Melbourne
Dr Cleo Romagosa, Maternal mortality in Mozambique
Hospital Clinic, Barcelona University
Dr Kim Powell, Histamine receptors in the nervous system
and ion channel expression in animal models of temporal
lobe epilepsy, Department of Medicine, University of
Melbourne
Dr Anthony Jaworowski, How HIV-1 infection inhibits
macrophage function, Burnet Institute
Dr Graham Lieschke, Unravelling myeloid development
using zebrafish genetics, Cancer and Haematology Division,
WEHI
July
Dr Nigel Jones, The many applications of animal behaviour
in neuroscience research, Department of Medicine,
University of Melbourne
Ms Thao Nguyen (PhD confirmation) and Regulation of
the inflammatory responses of macrophages by Toll-like
receptors, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne
Ms Lucy Busija (PhD confirmation) Personal and societal
burden of osteoarthritis, Department of Medicine, University
of Melbourne
Dr Margaret Hibbs, Signaling networks in myelo- and
lympho-proliferative disease Ludwig Institute for Cancer
Research
August
Dr Richard Osborne, The stick and/or the carrot? Integration
of innovation into the healthcare system within the Victorian
Orthopaedic Waiting List (OWL) University of Melbourne
Prof Peter Barnes, HDACs, Steroids and Chronic
Obstructive Lung Disease, Imperial College School of
Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, London
Prof John Furness, The intrinsic sensory neurons of the
intestine, and the control of their excitability and roles in
disorders following inflammation in humans and in animal
models, University of Melbourne
Dr Stephen Rogerson, Pathogenesis of low birth weight
due to malaria, University of Melbourne
December
Dr Sabina Ciciriello (PhD confirmation)Development
and validation of a multimedia education program about
methotrexate for patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Department of Rheumatology, RMH
Dr Kean Soon (PhD Oration), Role of multi-slice computed
tomography in the evaluation of coronary artery disease and
revascularization proceduresUniversity of Melbourne
2006 marks the 50th Anniversary for the Department of
Medicine and its partnership with the Royal Melbourne
Hospital.
Over the years, joint research projects and ventures have
provided a nexus between hospital and university from
teaching and research to clinical applications of discoveries
that benefit the wider community. A collection of archived
photographs has been compiled to celebrate years of
achievement.
1.
Test on patients’ lung capacity in the Department of Medicine in
1958.
2.
The electron microscope in the University Department of Medicine
in 1964. It provided magnification of up to one million times and
cost £17,000 following a grant from the Wellcome Foundation.
3.
The Department of Medicine’s Dr Richard Larkins and Laboratory
Technician, Lilly Simenova, in 1972 conducting research into
diabetes using a strain of mice that develop obesity, leading to the
observation that increasing weight gain can affect the nature of the
pancreas’ response to different stimuli.
4.
Long-time Department of Medicine staff member, Associate
Professor J.R.E. Fraser, in the laboratory, c.1989.
5.
The Department of Medicine’s ‘Brown’s Corner’ in 1984, where
technical assistants Kerry Brown and Tracey Brown assisted with
research on viruses and arthritis, in particular the culture of the
lining cells of joints and hyaluronic acid.
6.
Quantitating enzyme activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritic in
the Department of Medicine in 1983.
7.
Dr Ken Muirden, of the Department of Medicine, treating a patient
in 1981
8.
The Department of Medicine’s Dr Len Harrison in 1980.
9.
Dr Ross Bury measuring drug levels in patients within the
Department of Medicine’s laboratories in 1983.
10.
Professor Richard Larkins, Dr Marjorie Dunlop and Dr Michael Hill
in 1987. The researchers from the Department of Medicine were
studying the early changes in diabetic kidney disease and diabetic
disease of the small blood vessels.
11.
Professor Young and research assistants examining microscopic
changes in the development of large bowel cancer in 1992.
12.
Collaboration between the Department of Medicine and the
RMH Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology with Associate
Professor Joe Proietto and Dr Anne Thornburn in 1997.
13.
Professor Lovell demonstrating an examination technique to fourth
year medical students, c.1970s.
Department Activities
Celebrating 50 Years
63
4
9
12
2
3
5
6
7
10
8
11
13
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
1
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
Staff and Students
64
Staff and Students at the Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital/Western Hospital), July 2006
Research Staff
Head of Department and
James Stewart Professor
Graham Vallancey Brown
Head of Unit at Western
Hospital and Professor
Peter Robert Ebeling
Professors
Gary Peter Anderson
Steven Graves
John Dennis Wark
Ingrid Winship
Chair of Adult Clinical
Genetics
Ingrid Winship
National Health and
Medical Research Council
Senior Principal Research
Fellow and Professorial
Fellow
John Allan Hamilton
National Health and
Medical Research Council
Principal Research Fellow
and Professor
Stephen Marsden Jane
Western Hospital Principal
Research Fellow and
Professor
Andrew Simon Giraud
Associate Professors
Beverley-Ann Biggs
Geoff John McColl
Terence John O'Brien
Associate Professor and
Wellcome Trust Fellow
Stephen John Rogerson
Senior Lecturers
Alex Boussioutas
Richard H. Osborne
Sharon van Doornum
Joseph Torresi
Senior Research Fellows
Allen Cheng
Damian E. Myers
Glen Matthew Scholz
CR Roper Fellow for the
Faculty of MDHS
Louise Monique Judd
Western Hospital Clinical
School Sub Dean
Jacinta Tobin
National Health and
Medical Research Council
Industry Fellow Grade 2
Nicholas John Wilson
Postdoctoral Research
Fellow
Grade 2
Ruth Chin
Caroline Marshall
Research Fellows Grade 2
Gerard Casey
Andrew David Cook
Yi Mo Deng
Nigel Jones
Joanne Jordan
Melissa Morgan
Joan Nankervis
Kerrie Way
Research Fellows Grade 1
Ilana Ackerman
Mark Bailey
Philippe Boeuf
Bianca Chan
Natasha Davidson
Stephanie Dedeurwaerdere
Selenna Elliott
Caryn Leonie Elsegood
Anjali Haikerwal
Melanie Hawkins
Jakob Jackson
Catherine Jones
Derek Lacey
Christina Laidlaw
Jason C. Lenzo
Emma McBryde
Erin Ng
Kim Powell
John Roiniotis
Nicholas Senn
Kathy Speed
Rebecca Temple
Alisa Turbic
Jill Moveley
Barbara Newell
Erin Ng
Bree Norton
Paul Payne
Jarrad Pobjoy
Debra Robbins
Amanda Springer
Alisa Turbic
Amanda Turner
Leena Van Raay
Angela Wood
Francisca Yosaatmadja
Clinical Trials Manager
Megan Brooks
Assistant Clinical Trials
Manager
Emily Mann
Senior Bone Densitometry
Technologist
Susan Kantor
Genetics Nurse
Masha Slattery
Administrative
Staff
Department Manager
Nick Christopher
Unit Manager, Western
Hospital
Lyn Kalms
Laboratory Manager
Lorraine Parker
IT Managers
Gina Barri-Rewell
Anne MacIntyre
Communications Manager
Jane Yule to July 2006
Kate Hannah from
September 2006
Finance Officer
Angela Luu
Personal Assistants
Mirella Ozols
Rifa Sallay
Heather Saunders
Wendy Cadd
Administrative Officer
Julie Holland
National Health and
Medical Research Council
Senior Research Officer
Michael Frank Duffy
Trevelyan Menheniott
NH&MRC Peter Doherty
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Michelle Porritt
Australian Research
Council Postdoctoral
Research Fellow
Wai Hong Tham
Research Assistants
Kaye Beckman
Emma Braine
Tim Byrne
Lisa Cardamone
Peta Chubb
Soren Christensen
Jemma Christie
Felix Clanchy
Lucy Crouch
Lauren Day
Bernard De Kok
Linda Earnest-Silveira
Anthony Favaloro
Dean Hewish
Biba Horvatic
Meegan Howlett
Jacob Jackson
Valentina Jovanovska
Bianca Marie Jupp
Anastasia Kalantzis
Martin Keene
Rink-Jan Lohman
Paul Masendycz
Department Manager, Nick Christopher
BRF Manager
Jenny Davis
Senior Fellows
Paul Andrews
James Beeson
Robert Chen
Nikola Chosich
John Dowling
Joseph Epstein
Shing Fan
David Freilich
Maurice Frenkel
Peter Hand
Timothy Hewitson
Marienne Hibbert
Robert Hjorth
Malcolm Holmes
Karen Holzer
Anne Howard
Elizabeth Hristov
Debra Kerr
Ian Kronborg
Garry Lane
Lara Lipton
Stuart Macaulay
Lawrence Mcmahon
Joseph Morton
Alison Nankervis
Robert Newman
Kathleen Nicholls
David Packham
John Reeder
Andrew Roberts
Lynden Roberts
Abe Rubinfeld
Joseph Sasadeusz
Jennifer Schwarz
David Smallwood
Paul Sparks
Antony Speer
Alan Street
Vijaya Sundararajan
Brian Tait
Richard Travers
George Varigos
Kumar Visvanathan
James Wong
Peter Wong
BRF Technician
Rebecca Bowyer
Preparation Services
Margaret Muir
Cooperative
Research Centre
for Chronic
Inflammatory
Diseases Staff
Chairman and CEO
Dr John Flack
Business Manager
Robyn McLachlan
Office Manager
Melissa Coyle
Education Officer
Susan Cumming
Communications Manager
Astrid Sweres
Finance and
Administration Officer
Graham Burns
Honorary
Appointments
Professorial Fellows with
the title Professor
Gavin Becker
Stephen Davis
Peter Disler
Robert Helme
Jonathan Kalman
Anne-Maree Kelly
Yean Lim
Finlay Macrae
Allan Mclean
Mark Rosenthal
Jeff Szer
Ian Wicks
Principal Fellows with the
title Associate Professor
John Balla
Peter Colman
Peter Danne
Marjorie Dunlop
Damon Eisen
Joseph Epstein
Leon Flicker
Michael Green
Keith Hill
David Hunt
Louis Irving
Christine Kilpatrick
Geoffrey Lindeman
Lawrence McMahon
Geoffrey Metz
Harry Mond
Fellows
Narin Bak
Andrea Bendrups
Mark Bradbeer
Roger Brown
Michael Bryant
Michael Chou
Anastasia Chrysostomou
Xavier Csar
David Cunnington
Philip Davies
Theo Gouskos
Thomas Hale
Karen Holzer
Ian Jennens
Jacques Joubert
Farees Khan
Zeff Koutsogiannis
Lan Li
David Lightfoot
Vesna Markovska
Jacqui Montgomery
Eugenia Pedagogos
Sandra Petty
Jeffrey Presneill
Jack Richards
Cleofe Romagosa
Sagal Serar
Narelle Skinner
Gregory Taggart
Niall Tubridy
Paul Wraight
Bernard Yan
Honorary Clinical
Appointments
Clinical Fellows with the
title Associate Professor
Peter Hamblin
Samuel Scherer
Clinical Fellows
Paul Champion de
Crespigny
Monica Slavin
Students
National Health and
Medical Research Council
Medical Postgraduate
Research Scholar
Christopher Mark MacIsaac
Sandra Petty
Susan Anne Skull
Rosemary Sutton
National Health and
Medical Research Council
Public Health Scholar
Paul Charles Vinton
National Health and
Medical Research Council
Dora Lush Biomedical
Scholar
Anastasia Hutchinson
Australia Postgraduate
Award
Louise Evelyn Allport
Laura Kate Zamurs
Melbourne Research
Scholarship
Christine Massa
Melbourne International
Research Scholarship
Gabriela Minigo
University of Melbourne
Special Postgraduate
Studentship
Adrian Achuthan
Margaret Chang
Benjamin Cowie
Hang Thi Cam Dinh
Felix Clanchy
Dominic DeNardo
Natalie El Haiser
Andrew Fleetwood
Cameron Jackson
Bianca Jupp
Roya Lari
Rink-Jan Lohman
Christopher Lemoh
Emily Mann
Caroline Ng
Rajna Ogrin
Jane Prosser
Susan Senn
Anita Vinton
Thomas Zheng
University of Melbourne
Viola Edith Reid
Scholarship
Elizabeth Chow
Postgraduate PhD and MD
Scholars
Ilana Naomi Ackerman
Christian Barras
Lucy Busija
Anna Brave
Sabina Cicirello
David Nicholas Edis
Jennifer Elliott
Alexandra Fischer
Theo Gouskos
65
Andrew Grigg
Haris Haqqani
Julian Hunt-Smith
Meegan Howlett
Gaurav Kumar
Michael Lian
Poh-Sien Loh
Murray Letkis
Sina Malki
Rosemary Masterson
Katherine Murray
Nhu-Y Nguyen
Thao Nguyen
Paul Older
Anthony Peterson
Grantley Peck
Irani Ratnam
Yeliz Rifat
Leo Rando
Jonathan Richards
Kurt Roberts-Thomson
Rebecca L. Rose
Anna Scholzen
Jessica Salmon
Ken Hoo Soon
Irene Stevenson
Cassandra Szoeke
Sophie Treleaven
David Wang
Lindy Washington
Ian Woolley
Leon Worth
Paul Wraight
Srinivasa Raju Yarra
Staff and Students
Michael Richards
David Russell
Monica Slavin
Donald St John
Neil Strathmore
Harry Teichtahl
Jitendra Vohra
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Administrative Assistants
Virginia Champion de
Crespigny,
Julie Ciccone
Bernadette Crankshaw
Dianne Ferguson
Stella Vo
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
2006 Publications
66
Achuthan AA, Elsegood C, Masendycz P, Hamilton J &
Scholz G. 2006. CpG DNA enhances macrophage cell
spreading by promoting the Src-family kinase-mediated
phosphorylation of paxillin. Cellular Signaling. 18 (12):
2252-2261.
Ackerman I, Graves S, Bennell K & Osborne R. 2006.
Evaluating quality of life in hip and knee replacement:
Psychometric properties of the World Health Organization
Quality of Life short version instrument. Arthritis and
Rheumatism. 55 (4): 583-590.
Aggarwal A, Wong J & Campbell D. 2006. Carvedilol
reduces aldosterone release in systolic heart failure. Heart
Lung and Circulation. 15 (5): 306-9.
Aggarwal A, Guo DL, Hoshida Y, Yuen ST, Chu KM, So S,
Boussioutas A, Chen X, Bowtell D, Aburatani H, Leung
SY & Tan P. 2006. Topological and functional discovery
in a gene coexpression meta-network of gastric cancer.
Cancer Research. 66 (1): 232-241.
Aghmesheh M, Suo Z, Friedlander M, Nesland JM, Kaern
J, Stewart M, Kconfab , Dorum A, Tucker KM & Buckley
MF. 2006. Chromosome 2q24.2 is lost in sporadic but not
in BRCA1-associated ovarian carcinomas. Pathology. 38
(2): 145-151.
Alibrahim EY, Gibson R, Vincent J, Speer A, Collier N &
Jardine. 2006. Spiral computed tomography-intravenous
cholangiography with three-dimensional reconstructions
for imaging the biliary tree. Australasian Radiology. 50 (2):
136-142.
Allport L, Baird T, Butcher K, Macgregor, Prosser J, Colman
P & Davis S. 2006. Frequency and temporal profile of
poststroke hyperglycemia using continuous glucose
monitoring. Diabetes Care. 29 (8): 1839-1844.
Anderson G. 2006. COPD, asthma and C-reactive protein.
European Respiratory Journal. 27 (5): 874-876.
Anderson G. 2006. Current Issues With beta2Adrenoceptor Agonists: Pharmacology and Molecular
and Cellular Mechanisms. Clinical Reviews in Allergy and
Immunology. 31 (2-3): 119-130.
Bosè F, Fugazza C, Casalgrandi M, Capelli A, Cunningham
JM, Zhao Q, Jane SM, Ottolenghi S & Ronchi A. 2006.
Functional interaction of CP2 with GATA-1 in the regulation
of erythroid promoters. Molecular and Cellular Biology. 26
(10): 3942-3954.
Bozinovski S, Vlahos R, Hansen M, Liu KW & Anderson G.
2006. Akt in the pathogenesis of COPD. The International
Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. 1 (1):
31-38.
Brettig TW, Clooney, Kelly A & Kerr D. 2006. Head
computed tomography guidelines are being followed.
Emergency Medicine Australasia. 18: 238-244.
Briggs A, Greig A, Wark J, Kantor S, Fazzalari L & Bennell
K. 2006. Bone mineral density distribution in thoracic and
lumbar vertebrae: an ex vivo study using dual energy X-ray
absorptiometry. Bone. 38 (2): 286-288.
Brune M, Castaigne S, Catalano J, Gehlsen K, Ho AD,
Hofmann WK, Hogge DE, Nilsson B, Or R, Romero AI,
Rowe JM, Simonsson B, Spearing R, Stadtmauer EA, Szer
J, Wallhult E & Hellstrand K. 2006. Improved leukemiafree survival after postconsolidation immunotherapy
with histamine dihydrochloride and interleukin-2 in acute
myeloid leukemia: results of a randomized phase 3 trial.
Blood. 108 (1): 88-96.
Buchbinder R & Osborne RH. 2006. Vertebroplasty: a
promising but as yet unproven intervention for painful
osteoporotic spinal fractures. Medical Journal of Australia.
185 (7): 351-352.
Buising KL, Thursky KA, Black JF, MacGregor L, Street
AC, Kennedy MP & Brown GV. 2006. A prospective
comparison of severity scores for identifying patients with
severe community acquired pneumonia: reconsidering
what is meant by severe pneumonia. Thorax. 61 (5): 419424.
Caruana S, Kelly A, Ngeow YY, Ryan J, Bennett C, Chea,
Nuon, Bak N, Skull S & Biggs B. 2006. Undiagnosed and
potentially lethal parasite infections among immigrants
and refugees in Australia. Journal of Travel Medicine. 13
(4): 233-239.
Beeson J, Mann EJ, Byrne T, Caragounis A, Elliott S,
Brown G & Rogerson S. 2006. Antigenic differences and
conservation among placental Plasmodium falciparuminfected erythrocytes and acquisition of variant-specific
and cross-reactive antibodies. Journal of Infectious
Diseases. 193 (5): 721-730.
Chenevix-Trench GCT, Healey, Lakhani, Waring,
Cummings, Brinkworth, Deffenbaugh M, Burbidge, Pruss,
Judkins, Scholl, Bekessy, Marsh, Lovelock, Wong E,
Tesoriero A, Renard, Southey M, Hopper J, Yannoukakos,
Brown, Aghmesheh, Amor, Andrews, Antill, Armes,
Armitage, Arnold, Balleine, Begley, Beilby, Bennett, Berry,
Blackburn, Brennan, Bryon, Buckley, Burke, Butow, Callen,
Campbell, Chenevix-Trench, Clarke, Colley, Cotton, Culling,
Dawson, Dixon, Dobrovic, Dudding, Edkins, Eisenbruch,
Farshid, Fawcett, Firgaira, Fleming, Forbes, Friedlander,
Gaff, Gardner, Gattas, George, Giles, Gill, Goldblatt, Grist,
Haan, Harris, Hart, Hayward, Humphrey, Jenkins M,
Jones, Kefford, Kirk, Kollias, Kovalenko, Leary, Lindeman,
Lim, Lipton, Lobb, Maclurcan, Mann, Mccredie RE,
Mckay, Mclachlan, Meiser, Milne R, Mitchell G, Newman,
O’Loughlin, Osborne R, Peters, Phillips, Picken, Price,
Reeve, Richards, Rinehart, Robinson, Rudzki, Salisbury,
Sambrook, Saunders, Scott, Seshadri, Shelling, Spurdle,
Suthers, Tennant, Thorne, Tucker, Wilson, Venter, Visvader,
Walpole, Ward, Warner, Warren, Watson, Williams,
Winship, Young, Easton, Tavtigian V, Goldgar, Spurdle B.
2006. Genetic and histopathologic evaluation of BRCA1
and BRCA2 DNA sequence variants of unknown clinical
significance. Cancer Research. 66 (4): 2019-2027.
Benet A, Khong TY, Ura A, Samen R, Lorry K, Mellombo
M, Tavul L, Baea K, Rogerson SJ & Cortés A. 2006.
Placental malaria in women with South-East Asian
ovalocytosis. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and
Hygiene. 75 (4): 597-604.
Chen H, Hansen M, Jones J, Vlahos R, Bozinovski S,
Anderson G & Morris M. 2006. Cigarette smoke exposure
reprograms the hypothalamic neuropeptide Y axis to
promote weight loss. American Journal of Respiratory and
Critical Care Medicine. 173 (11): 1248-1254.
Auden A, Caddy J, Wilanowski T, Ting SB, Cunningham JM
& Jane SM. 2006. Spatial and temporal expression of the
Grainyhead-like transcription factor family during murine
development. Gene Expression Patterns. 6: 964-970.
Axell A, Maclean H, Plant D, Harcourt L, Davis J,
Jimenez, Handelsman, Lynch G & Zajac J. 2006.
Continuous testosterone administration prevents skeletal
muscle atrophy and enhances resistance to fatigue
in orchidectomized male mice. American Journal of
Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism. 291 (2006):
E506-E516.
Balleine RL, Murali R, Bilous AM, Farshid G, Waring P,
Provan P, Byth K, Thorne H; kConFab Investigators & Kirk
JA. 2006. Histopathological features of breast cancer in
carriers of ATM gene variants. Histopathology. 49: 523532.
Clements C, Baoping, Crouch, Hipgrave, Mansoor, Nelson
B, Treleaven S, Van Konkelenberg & Wiersma. 2006.
Progress in the control of hepatitis B infection in the
Western Pacific Region. Vaccine. 24: 1975-1982.
Clements C, Baoping, Crouch, Hipgrave, Mansoor, Nelson
B, Treleaven S, Van Konkelenberg & Wiersma. 2006.
Progress in the control of hepatitis B infection in the
Western Pacific Region. Vaccine. 24: 1975-1982.
Cohen J & Colman P. 2006. The pharmacotherapy of
glycaemic control and risk factor modification. Australian
Family Physician. 35 (6): 380-384.
Cook A, Vlahos R, Massa CM, Braine E, Lenzo J, Turner
A, Way K & Hamilton J. 2006. The effect of tissue typeplasminogen activator deletion and associated fibrin(ogen)
deposition on macrophage localization in peritoneal
inflammation. Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 95 (4): 659667.
D’Souza AB, Grigg A, Szer J & Ebeling P. 2006. Zoledronic
acid prevents bone loss after allogeneic haemopoietic
stem cell transplantation. Internal Medicine Journal. 36:
600-603.
Davidson, Webb D, Lawrentschuk NL, Jennens I &
Sutherland. 2006. Multi-resistant Escherichia coli sepsis
following transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy.
British Journal of Hospital Medicine - London. 67 (7): 9899.
Davies P, Thomas E & Bornstein J. 2006. Different
types of potassium channels underlie the long
afterhyperpolarization in guinea-pig sympathetic and
enteric neurons. Autonomic Neuroscience - Basic and
Clinical. 124: 26-30.
Davis S. 2006. Optimising Clinical Trial Design for Proof
of Neuroprotection in Acute Ischaemic Stroke: The SAINT
Clinical Trial Program. Cerebrovascular Diseases. 22 (1):
18-24.
Davis S & Donnan G. 2006. Immediate anticoagulation for
acute stroke in atrial fibrillation: no, but... Stroke. 37: 3056.
Davis S & Donnan G. 2006. Basilar artery thrombosis:
recanalization is the key. Stroke. 37: 2440.
Davis S, Lees & Donnan G. 2006. Treating the acute stroke
patient as an emergency: current practices and future
oppotunities. International Journal of Clinical Practice. 60
(4): 399-407.
Deb S, Walterfang M, Varghese D, Eisen DP, Tomlinson B
& Velakoulis D. 2006. Cryptococcal dementia in a patient
with sarcoidosis. Medical Journal of Australia. 184 (2): 8687.
Dedeurwaerdere S, Gilby K, Vonck K, Delbeke J, Boon P &
Mcintyre D. 2006. Vagus nerve stimulation does not affect
spatial memory in fast rats, but has both anti-convulsive
and pro-convulsive effects on amygdala-kindled seizures.
Neuroscience. 140 (4): 1443-1451.
Dedeurwaerdere S, Vonck K, De Herdt V, Waterschoot L,
De Smedt T, Raedt R, Wyckhuys T, Legros B, Van Hese
P, Van Laere K, Delbeke J, Wadman W & Boon P. 2006.
Dembo G, Phiri T, Montgomery, Molyneux E & Rogerson
S. 2006. Are Plasmodium falciparum parasites present
in peripheral blood genetically the same as those
sequestered in the tissues? American Journal of Tropical
Medicine and Hygiene. 74 (5): 730-732.
Dite G, Wark J, Giles G, English D, Mccredie RE &
Hopper J. 2006. Is there a positive association between
mammographic density and bone mineral density? Breast
Cancer Research. 8 (1): 401.
Doganay GM, Khodr B, Georgiou G & Khalil Z. 2006.
Pharmacological manipulation of the vasoconstrictive
effects of amyloid-beta peptides by donepezil and
rivastigmine. Current Alzheimer Research. 3: 137-145.
Publications
Clanchy FIL, Holloway A, Lari R, Cameron P & Hamilton J.
2006. Detection and properties of the human proliferative
monocyte subpopulation. Journal of Leukocyte Biology.
79 (4): 757-766.
Neuromodulation with levetiracetam and vagus nerve
stimulation in experimental animal models of epilepsy.
Acta Neurologica Belgica. 106: 91-97.
Duffy M, Caragounis A, Noviyanti, Kyriacou M, Choong,
Boysen K, Healer J, Rowe, Molyneux E, Brown G &
Rogerson S. 2006. Transcribed var genes associated
with placental malaria in Malawian women. Infection and
Immunity. 74 (8): 4875-4883.
Duffy M, Maier G, Byrne T, Marty J, Elliott S, O’Neill T,
Payne P, Rogerson S, Cowman F, Crabb S & Brown G.
2006. VAR2CSA is the principal ligand for chondroitin
sulfate A in two allogeneic isolates of Plasmodium
falciparum. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology. 148
(2): 117-124.
67
Dumesny C, Patel O, Lachal A, Giraud A, Baldwin G &
Shulkes A. 2006. Synthesis, expression and biological
activity of the prohormone for gastrin releasing peptide
(ProGRP). Endocrinology. 147 (1): 502-509.
Ebeling P. 2006. Defective osteoblast function may be
responsible for bone loss from the proximal femur despite
pamidronate therapy. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and
Metabolism. 90 (7): 4414-4416.
Ebeling P. 2006. Editorial: inhibin in bone--new tricks for an
old dog. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
91 (5): 1669-1670.
Edwards ER, Graves SE, Mcneil JJ , Williamson OD ,
Urquhart DM & Cicuttini FM. 2006. Orthopaedic trauma:
establishment of an outcomes registry to evaluate and
monitor treatment effectiveness. Injury-International
Journal of the Care of the Injured. 37: 95-96.
Eisen D, Dean M, Thomas P, Marshall P, Gerns N ,
Heatley S, Quinn J, Minchinton RM & Lipman J. 2006.
Low mannose-binding lectin function is associated with
sepsis in adult patients. FEMS Immunology and Medical
Microbiology. 48: 274-282.
El Haber N, Hill K, Cassano A, Paton L, Macinnis J, Cui
S, Hopper J & Wark J. 2006. Genetic and environmental
influences on variation in balance performance among
female twin pairs aged 21-82 years. American Journal of
Epidemiology. 164 (3): 246-256.
Elsegood CL, Zhuo Y, Wesolowski GA, Hamilton JA,
Rodan GA & Duong le T.. 2006. M-CSF induces the
stable interaction of cFms with alphaVbeta3 integrin in
osteoclasts. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell
Biology. 38 (9): 1518-1529.
Eyles L, Roberts W, Metcalf D & Wicks I. 2006.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and neutrophils-forgotten mediators of inflammatory disease. Nature
Clinical Practice Rheumatology. 2 (9): 500-510.
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Chong YP, Chan AS, Chan KC, Williamson N, Lerner EC,
Smithgall TE, Bjorge JD, Fujita DJ, Purcell A, Scholz G,
Mulhern T & Cheng H. 2006. C-terminal Src Kinasehomologous Kinase (CHK), a Unique Inhibitor Inactivating
Multiple Active Conformations of Src Family Tyrosine
Kinases. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 281 (44): 3298832999.
http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/
68
Farshid, Balleine, Cummings, Waring, Aghmesheh, Amor,
Andrews, Antill, Armes, Armitage, Arnold, Begley, Beilby,
Bennett, Berry, Blackburn, Brown, Brennan, Bryon,
Buckley, Burke, Butow, Callen, Campbell, Chenevix-Trench,
Clarke, Colley, Cotton, Culling, Dawson, Dixon, Dobrovic,
Dudding, Edkins, Eisenbruch, Fawcett, Firgaira, Fleming,
Forbes, Friedlander, Gaff, Gardner, Gattas, George,
Giles, Gill, Goldblatt, Grist, Haan, Harris, Hart, Hayward,
Hopper J, Humphrey, Jenkins M, Jones, Kefford, Kirk,
Kollias, Kovalenko, Lakhani, Leary, Lindeman, Lim,
Lipton, Lobb, Maclurcan, Mann, Marsh, Mccredie RE,
Mckay, Mclachlan, Meiser, Milne R, Mitchell G, Newman,
O’Loughlin, Osborne R, Peters, Phillips, Picken, Price,
Reeve, Richards, Rinehart, Robinson, Rudzki, Salisbury,
Sambrook, Saunders, Scott, Seshadri, Shelling, Southey
M, Spurdle, Suthers, Tennant, Thorne, Tucker, Wilson,
Venter, Visvader, Walpole, Ward, Warner, Warren, Watson,
Williams, Winship, Young, Severi. 2006. Morphology of
breast cancer as a means of triage of patients for BRCA1
genetic testing. American Journal of Surgical Pathology.
30 (11): 1357-1366.
Finn JC, Flicker L, Mackenzie E, Jacobs IG, Fatovich DM,
Drummond S, Harris M, Holman DC & Sprivulis P. 2006.
Interface between residential aged care facilities and
a teaching hospital emergency department in Western
Australia. Medical Journal of Australia. 184 (9): 432-435.
Flicker L, Macinnis R, Stein M, Scherer C, Mead K,
Nowson C, Thomas, Lowndes C, Hopper J & Wark J.
2006. Response Letter to Dr Gau et al. Journal of the
American Geriatrics Society. 54 (6): 1021-1022.
Fourlanos S, Perry C, Stein MS, Stankovich J, Harrison LC
& Colman PG. 2006. A clinical screening tool identifies
autoimmune diabetes in adults. Diabetes Care. 29: 970975.
Frankland S, Adisa A, Horrocks P, Taraschi TF, Schneider
T, Elliott SR, Rogerson SJ, Knuepfer E, Cowman AF,
Newbold CI & Tilley L. 2006. Delivery of the malaria
virulence protein PfEMP1 to the erythrocyte surface
requires cholesterol-rich domains. Eukaryotic Cell. 5 (5):
849-860.
Ghosh SK, Janiak P, Schwizer W, Hebbard GS & Brasseur
JG. 2006. Physiology of the esophageal pressure
transition zone: separate contraction waves above and
below. American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal
and Liver Physiology. 290 (3): G568-76.
Grigg A. 2006. Daclizumab in anaplastic large cell
lymphoma. Leukemia and Lymphoma. 47 (1): 175.
Grigg A & Ganju V. 2006. PET positive progressive
transformation of germinal centers masquerading as
relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma post-autograft. Leukemia and
Lymphoma. 47 (4): 764-765.
Grigg A, Shuttleworth P, Reynolds J, Schwarer AP, Szer
J, Bradstock K, Hui C, Herrmann R & Ebeling P. 2006.
Pamidronate reduces bone loss after allogeneic stem
cell transplantation. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and
Metabolism. 95 (10): 3835-3843.
Grollo L, Torresi J, Drummer H, Zeng W, Williamson N
& Jackson D. 2006. Exploiting information inherent in
binding sites of virus-specific antibodies: design of an HCV
vaccine candidate cross-reactive with multiple genotypes.
Antiviral Therapy. 11 (8): 1005-14.
Gualano R, Vlahos R & Anderson G. 2006. What is the
contribution of respiratory viruses and lung proteases
to airway remodelling in asthma and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease? Pulmonary Pharmacology and
Therapeutics. 19 (1): 18-23.
Haines P, Bennell K, Osborne R & Hill K. 2006. A new
instrument for targeting falls prevention interventions
was accurate and clinically applicable in a hospital setting.
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 59: 168-175.
Haines P, Hill K, Bennell K & Osborne R. 2006. Hip
protector use amongst older hospital inpatients:
compliance and functional consequences. Age and
Ageing. 35 (5): 520-523.
Haines P, Hill K, Bennell K & Osborne R. 2006. Patient
education to prevent falls in subacute care. Clinical
Rehabilitation. 20: 970-979.
Haines T, Hill K, Bennell K & Osborne R. 2006. Recurrent
events counted in evaluations of predictive accuracy.
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 59 (11): 1155-1161.
Hanna F, Wluka AE, Ebeling PR, O'Sullivan R, Davis
SR & Cicuttini FM. 2006. Determinants of change in
patella cartilage volume in healthy subjects. Journal of
Rheumatology. 33: 1658-1661.
Hansen M, Gualano R, Bozinovski S, Vlahos R & Anderson
G. 2006. Therapeutic prospects to treat skeletal muscle
wasting in COPD (chronic obstructive lung disease).
Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 109 (1-2): 162-172.
Haqqani M & Kalman J. 2006. Recently diagnosed
nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy: when should we
implant the defibrillator? Heart Rhythm. 3 (4): 404-405.
Hardy, O’Connor, Yao, Sebire, De Kretser, Rolland,
Anderson G, Phillips & O’Hehir. 2006. Follistatin is a
candidate endogenous negative regulator of activin A in
experimental allergic asthma. Clinical and Experimental
Allergy. 36 (7): 941-950.
Hertzberg M, Grigg A, Gottlieb D, Szer J, Roberts A, Hoyt
R, Huang G & Bradstock KF. 2006. Reduced-intensity
allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation
induces durable responses in patients with chronic
B-lymphoproliferative disorders. Bone Marrow
Transplantation. 37: 923-928.
Hewitson TD, Mookerjee I, Masterson R, Zhao C, Tregear
GW, Becker GJ & Samuel CS. 2006. Endogenous relaxin
is a naturally occurring modulator of experimental renal
tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Endocrinology. 148 (2): 660-669.
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Hipgrave DB, Tran TN, Huong VM, Dat DT, Nga NT,
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Hipgrave D, Maynard E & Biggs B. 2006. Improving birth
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Houli N, Loh S, Giraud A, Baldwin G & Shulkes A.
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Ireland, Gray T, Farrow, Danne P & Flanagan. 2006. Rural
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Jennens R, Giles G & Fox R. 2006. Increasing
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Joubert J, Reid CR, Joubert L, Barton D, Ruth D, Jackson
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Judd L, Bredin K, Kalantzis A, Jenkins B, Ernst M & Giraud
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Judd L, Bredin K, Kalantzis A, Jenkins J, Ernst & Giraud A.
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Jupp B, Williams, Tesiram, Vosmansky & O’Brien T. 2006.
Hippocampal T2 signal change during amygdala kindling
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Jupp B, Williams, Tesiram, Vosmansky & O’Brien T. 2006.
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Kang H, Williams, Leary, Aghmesheh, Amor, Andrews,
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Bennett, Berry, Blackburn, Brown, Brennan, Bryon,
Buckley, Burke, Butow, Callen, Campbell, Chenevix-Trench,
Clarke, Colley, Cotton, Culling, Cummings, Dawson,
Dixon, Dobrovic, Dudding, Edkins, Eisenbruch, Farshid,
Fawcett, Firgaira, Fleming, Forbes, Friedlander, Gaff,
Gardner, Gattas, George, Giles, Gill, Goldblatt, Grist, Haan,
Harris, Hart, Hayward, Hopper J, Humphrey, Jenkins M,
Jones, Kefford, Kollias, Kovalenko, Lakhani, Lindeman,
Lim, Lipton, Lobb, Maclurcan, Mann, Marsh, Mccredie
RE, Mckay, Mclachlan, Meiser, Milne R, Mitchell G,
Newman, O’Loughlin, Osborne R, Peters, Phillips, Picken,
Price, Reeve, Richards, Rinehart, Robinson, Rudzki,
Salisbury, Sambrook, Saunders, Scott, Seshadri, Shelling,
Southey M, Spurdle, Suthers, Tennant, Thorne, Tucker,
Wilson, Venter, Visvader, Walpole, Waring, Warner, Warren,
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2006. Evaluation of models to predict BRCA germline
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Karunajeewa H, Kelly H, Leslie D, Leydon J, Saykao P
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Kelly AM. 2006. The case for venous rather than arterial
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Kelly AM, Weldon D, Tsang AY & Graham CA. 2006.
Comparison between two methods for estimating
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Kerr D, Holden D, Smith J, Kelly AM & Bunker S. 2006.
Predictors of ambulance use in patients with acute
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Kistler PM, Liew G & Mond HG. 2006. Long-term
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Kelly AM, Loy J, Tsang AY & Graham CA. 2006. Estimating
the rate of re-expansion of spontaneous pneumothorax by
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Kistler P, Roberts-Thomson KC, Haqqani H, Fynn P,
Singarayar, Vohra J, Morton B, Sparks P & Kalman J.
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development of an algorithm to predict the anatomic site
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48 (5): 1010-1017.
Krishnamurthy B, Dudek NL, McKenzie MD, Purcell AW,
Brooks AG, Gellert S, Colman PG, Harrison LC, Lew AM,
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Kwiek JJ, Mwapasa V, Milner DA Jr, Alker AP, Miller WC,
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2006. Maternal-fetal microtransfusions and HIV-1 motherto-child transmission in Malawi. PLoS Medicine. 3 (1):
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Lau J, Castelli LA, Lin EC & Macaulay SL. 2006.
Identification of elongation factor 1alpha as a potential
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Leder K, Tong S, Weld L, Kain KC, Wilder-Smith A, von
Sonnenburg F, Black J, Brown GV & Torresi J. 2006. Illness
in travelers visiting friends and relatives: a review of the
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Lee G, McGavigan AD, Hillock RJ, Roberts-Thomson
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29 (7): 788-790.
Leong Yi-Onn, Chong & Gibson S. 2006. The use of a selfreported pain measure, a nurse-reported pain measure
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35: 252-256.
Lian M, Chan W, Slavin M & Cohney S. 2006. Miliary
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Lim RPS, Stella D, Dowling R, Campbell W and Hebbard
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Lindeman G & Visvader E. 2006. Shedding light on
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Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Jenkins MA, Baglietto L, Dowty JG, Van Vliet CM,
Smith L, Mead LJ, Macrae FA, St John DJ, Jass JR,
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Lynden D, Lees R and Davis S. 2006. Alteplase for acute
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Manes G, Masendycz P, Nguyen T, Achuthan AA, Dinh
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Mann, Thorne, Balleine, Butow, Clarke, Edkins, Evans
M, Fereday, Haan, Gattas, Giles, Goldblatt, Hopper J,
Kirk, Leary, Lindeman, Niedermayr, Phillips, Picken,
Pupo M, Saunders, Scott, Spurdle, Suthers, Tucker,
Chenevix-Trench, Aghmesheh, Amor, Andrews, Antill,
Armes, Armitage, Arnold, Begley, Beilby, Bennett, Berry,
Blackburn, Brown, Brennan, Bryon, Buckley, Burke, Callen,
Campbell, Colley, Cotton, Culling, Cummings, Dawson,
Dixon, Dobrovic, Dudding, Eisenbruch, Farshid, Fawcett,
Firgaira, Fleming, Forbes, Friedlander, Gaff, Gardner,
George, Gill, Grist, Harris, Hart, Hayward, Humphrey,
Jenkins M, Jones, Kefford, Kollias, Kovalenko, Lakhani,
Lim, Lipton, Lobb, Maclurcan, Marsh, Mccredie RE,
Mckay, Mclachlan, Meiser, Milne R, Mitchell G, Newman,
O’Loughlin, Osborne R, Peters, Price, Reeve, Richards,
Rinehart, Robinson, Rudzki, Salisbury, Sambrook,
Seshadri, Shelling, Southey M, Tennant, Wilson, Venter,
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Manser RL, Wright G, Byrnes G, Hart D, Conron M, Carter
R, McLachlan SA & Campbell DA. 2006. Validity of the
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Martin C, Phillips B, Kilpatrick T, Butzkueven H, Tubridy
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Marty J, Thompson K, Duffy M, Voss S, Cowman F &
Crabb S. 2006. Evidence that Plasmodium falciparum
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Matthews B, Bennell K, Mckay, Khan, Baxter-Jones,
Mirwald & Wark J. 2006. Dancing for bone health: a 3-year
longitudinal study of bone mineral accrual across puberty
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Matthews B, Bennell K, Mckay, Khan, Baxter-Jones,
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McCormack MP, Hall MA, Schoenwaelder SM, Zhao Q,
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Jackson SP, Jane SM & Curtis DJ. 2006. A critical role for
the transcription factor Scl in platelet production during
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Mcgavigan D & Mond H. 2006. Selective site ventricular
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Mcgavigan D & Kalman J. 2006. Atrial anatomy
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McGuire V, John EM, Felberg A, Haile RW, Boyd NF,
Thomas DC, Jenkins MA, Milne RL, Daly MB, Ward J,
Terry MB, Andrulis IL, Knight JA, Godwin AK, Giles GG,
Southey M, West DW, Hopper JL & Whittemore AS.
2006. No increased risk of breast cancer associated
with alcohol consumption among carriers of BRCA1 and
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Meshnick R, Mwapasa & Rogerson S. 2006. Protecting
Pregnant Women from Malaria in Areas of High HIV
Infection Prevalence. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 194:
273-275.
Middleton P, Kelly AM, Brown J, Robertson M. 2006.
Agreement between arterial and central venous values
for pH, bicarbonate, base excess, and lactate. Emergency
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Montgomery J, Milner DA Jr, Tse MT, Njobvu A, Kayira
K, Dzamalala CP, Taylor TE, Rogerson SJ, Craig AG &
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sequestered populations of Plasmodium falciparum in fatal
pediatric malaria. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 194: 122.
Morley R, Carlin J, Pasco J & Wark J. 2006. Maternal 25hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone concentrations
and offspring birth size. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology
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Murphy N, Diviney M, Szer J, Bardy P, Grigg A, Hoyt R,
King B, Macgregor L, Holdsworth R, McCluskey J & Tait
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Murthi P, Kalionis B, Ghabrial H, Dunlop M, Smallwood
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erythocytic stage of malaria. Journal of Gastroenterology
and Hepatology. 21: 313-318.
Mwapasa V, Rogerson SJ, Kwiek JJ, Wilson PE, Milner
D, Molyneux ME, Kamwendo DD, Tadesse E, Chaluluka
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Naik SH, Metcalf D, van Nieuwenhuijze A, Wicks I, Wu L,
O'Keeffe M & Shortman K. 2006. Intrasplenic steady-state
dendritic cell precursors that are distinct from monocytes.
Nature Immunology. 7 (6): 663-671.
O'Brien DP, Leder K, Matchett E, Brown GV & Torresi
J. 2006. Illness in returned travelers and immigrants/
refugees: the 6-year experience of two Australian
infectious diseases units. Journal of Travel Medicine. 13
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Osborne R, Buchbinder R & Ackerman I. 2006. Can
a disease-specific education program augment selfmanagement skills and improve Health-Related Quality
of Life in people with hip or knee osteoarthritis? BMC
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Osborne R, Hawkins M & Sprangers AG. 2006. Change of
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disease self-management intervention programs that
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Owen JE, Walker RJ, Edgell L, Collie J, Douglas L,
Hewitson TD & Becker GJ. 2006. Implementation of a predialysis clinical pathway for patients with chronic kidney
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Peska E, Kelly AM, Kerr D & Green D. 2006. One-handed
versus two-handed chest compressions in paediatric
cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. Resuscitation. 71: 65-69.
Phillips KA, Jenkins MA, Lindeman GJ, McLachlan SA,
McKinley JM, Weideman PC, Hopper JL & Friedlander
ML. 2006. Risk-reducing surgery, screening and
chemoprevention practices of BRCA1 and BRCA2
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Genetics. 70: 198-206.
Porritt MJ, Kingsbury AE, Hughes AJ & Howells DW.
2006. Striatal Dopaminergic Neurons Are Lost with
Parkinson’s Disease Progression. Movement Disorders. 21
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Putland, Kerr D & Kelly A. 2006. Adverse events
associated with the use of intravenous epinephrine in
emergency department patients presenting with severe
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Reid DM, Hosking D, Kendler D, Brandi ML, Wark JD,
Weryha G, Marques-Neto JF, Gaines KA, Verbruggen N
& Melton ME. 2006. Alendronic acid produces greater
effects than risedronic acid on bone density and turnover
in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis : results of
FACTS -international. Clinical Drug Investigation. 26 (2):
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Richards S, Macdonald J & Eisen D. 2006. Limited
polymorphism in Plasmodium falciparum ookinete surface
antigen, von Willebrand factor A domain-related protein
from clinical isolates. Malaria Journal. 5 (55): 1-5.
Roberts-Thomson C, Kistler M & Kalman J. 2006.
Focal atrial tachycardia I: clinical features, diagnosis,
mechanisms, and anatomic location. Pacing and Clinical
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Roberts-Thomson C, Kistler M & Kalman J. 2006. Focal
atrial tachycardia II: management. Pacing and Clinical
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Robertson P, Page P & Mccoll G. 2006. Inflammatory
arthritis-like and other MR findings in wrists of
asymptomatic subjects. Skeletal Radiology. 35: 754-764.
Rogerson S & Menendez C. 2006. Treatment and
prevention of malaria in pregnancy: opportunities and
challenges. Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy. 4 (4):
687-702.
Salzberg M, Taher TR, Davie M, Carne R, Hicks R, Cook
M, Murphy M, Vinton A & O’Brien T. 2006. Depression
in temporal lobe epilepsy surgery patients: an FDG-PET
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Sanders P & Kalman J. 2006. Progressive and persistent
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Scheffer RC, Samsom M, Hebbard GS & Gooszen HG.
2006. Effects of partial (Belsey Mark IV) and complete
(Nissen) fundoplication on proximal gastric function and
esophagogastric junction dynamics. American Journal of
Gastroenterology. 101: 479-487.
Seshadri T, Gook D, Lade S, Spencer A, Grigg A,
Tiedemann K, Mckendrick J, Mitchell P, Stern C
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cryopreservation from patients with Hodgkin lymphoma
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Journal of Cancer. 94 (7): 1007-1010.
Soeung SC, Grundy BM, Ly CK, Samnang C, Boreland
M, Brooks A, Maynard J & Biggs BA. 2006. Improving
immunization coverage through budgeted microplans and
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Soeung SC, Grundy J, Maynard J, Brooks A, Boreland
M, Sarak D, Jenkinson K & Biggs BA. 2006. Financial
sustainability planning for immunization services in
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Persson KE, Lee CT, Marsh K & Beeson JG. 2006.
Development and optimization of high-throughput
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Scheiman JM, Yeomans ND, Talley NJ, Vakil N, Chan
FK, Tulassay Z, Rainoldi JL, Szczepanski L, Ung KA,
Kleczkowski D, Ahlbom H, Naesdal J, Hawkey C. 2006.
Prevention of ulcers by esomeprazole in at-risk patients
using non-selective NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors.
American Journal of Gastroenterology. 101: 701-710.
Spratt N, Fernandez J, Chen M, Rewell S, Cox S, Van
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method of thread manufacture improves stroke induction
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Neuroscience. 155 (2006): 285-290.
Steensma DP, Pardanani A, Stevenson WS, Hoyt R, Kiu
H, Grigg AP, Szer J, Juneja S, Hilton DJ, Alexander WS
& Roberts AW. 2006. More on Myb in myelofibrosis:
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myeloproliferative disorders. Blood. 107 (4): 1733-1735.
Steiner T, Diringer MN, Schneider D, Mayer SA, Begtrup K,
Broderick J, Skolnick BE & Davis SM. 2006. Dynamics of
intraventricular hemorrhage in patients with spontaneous
intracerebral hemorrhage: risk factors, clinical impact, and
effect of hemostatic therapy with recombinant activated
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Stevenson IH, Cunnington D, Teichtahl H & Mond HG.
2006. Pacemaker diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing.
Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology (PACE). 29 (10):
1033-1035.
Stevenson H & Mond H. 2006. A coroner’s request for
closure: the value of the stored electrogram. Pacing and
Clinical Electrophysiology (PACE). 29: 670-673.
Stevenson WS, Hoyt R, Bell A, Guipponi M, Juneja S,
Grigg AP, Curtis DJ, Scott HS, Szer J, Alexander WS,
Tuckfield A & Roberts AW. 2006. Genetic heterogeneity
of granulocytes for the JAK2 V617F mutation in essential
thrombocythaemia: implications for mutation detection in
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Szer J. 2006. Democracy or dictatorship at the bedside?
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Szoeke C, Newton M, Wood, Goldstein, Berkovic
S, O’Brien T & Sheffield L. 2006. Update on
pharmacogenetics in epilepsy: a brief review. Lancet
Neurology. 5: 189-196.
Thursky KA, Buising KL, Bak N, Macgregor L, Street
AC, Macintyre CR, Presneill JJ, Cade JF & Brown GV.
2006. Reduction of broad-spectrum antibiotic use with
computerized decision support in an intensive care unit.
International Journal for Quality in Health Care. 18 (3):
224-231.
Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
Peck GR, Ye S, Pham V, Fernando RN, Macaulay SL, Chai
SY & Albiston AL. 2006. Interaction of the Akt substrate,
AS160, with the glucose transporter 4 vesicle marker
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Thursky A, Worth LJ, Seymour F, Prince H & Slavin M.
2006. Spectrum of infection, risk and recommendations
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Voss TS, Healer J, Marty AJ, Duffy MF, Thompson JK,
Beeson JG, Reeder JC, Crabb BS & Cowman AF. 2006. A
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Tinker V, Boussioutas A & Bowtell D. 2006. The challenges
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Waddell N, Jonnalagadda J, Marsh A, Grist S, Jenkins M,
Hobson K, Taylor M, Lindeman GJ, Tavtigian SV, Suthers
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D, Grimmond S, Khanna KK & Chenevix-Trench G. 2006.
Characterization of the breast cancer associated ATM
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Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer. 45: 1169-1181.
Tiong AC, Patel MS, Gardiner J, Ryan R, Linton KS, Walker
KA, Scopel J & Biggs BA. 2006. Health issues in newly
arrived African refugees attending general practice clinics
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Toan NL, Duechting A, Kremsner PG, Song le H, Ebinger
M, Aberle S, Binh VQ, Duy DN, Torresi J, Kandolf R & Bock
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indicating two subgroups of genotype 1 in Vietnamese
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Toan L, Kremsner G, Song H, Binh Q, Duy, Torresi J,
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hepatitis B virus genotype and genotype mixtures on the
course of liver disease in Vietnam. Hepatology. 43: 13751384.
Toan L, Song H, Kremsner G, Duy N, Binh Q, Duechting,
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of human parvovirus B19 in Vietnamese patients with
hepatitis B virus infection. Journal of Hepatology. 45 (3):
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Urquhart DM, Edwards ER, Graves SE, Williamson OD,
McNeil JJ, Kossmann T, Richardson MD, Harrison DJ, Hart
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trauma admitted to adult level 1 trauma centres. InjuryInternational Journal of the Care of the Injured. 37: 120127.
Vajda FJ, Hitchcock A, Graham J, Solinas C, O'Brien TJ,
Lander CM & Eadie MJ. 2006. Foetal malformations
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Pregnancy Registry. European Journal of Neurology. 13
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Van Doornum S, Brand C, King B & Sundararajan V
2006. Increased case fatality rates following a first acute
cardiovascular event in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis and Rheumatism. 54 (7): 2061-2068.
Van Doornum S, Jennings LR & Wicks I. 2006. Reducing
the cardiovascular disease burden in rheumatoid arthritis.
Medical Journal of Australia. 6 (184): 287-290.
Van Doornum S, Jennings LR & Wicks I. 2006. Reducing
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Vlahos R, Bozinovski S, Gualano R, Ernst & Anderson G.
2006. Modelling COPD in mice. Pulmonary Pharmacology
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Vlahos R, Bozinovski S, Hamilton J & Anderson G. 2006.
Therapeutic potential of treating chronic obstructive
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macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
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Vlahos R, Bozinovski S, Jones J, Powell, Gras, Lilja AR,
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Publications
Zheng TW, Morris M, Wallengren C, Clarke A, Reid C,
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Department of Medicine Annual Report 2006
73
Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)
2006 Department of Medicine (RMH/WH) Annual Report
Authorised by: Professor Graham Brown
Copyright: The University of Melbourne
Photography: Photosmith
CRICOS Provider Code: 00116K
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