Get documents about "hormone research news.pdf
Shared by: censhunay
-
Stats
- views:
- 17
- posted:
- 6/10/2012
- language:
- pages:
- 4
Document Sample
hormone
Issue 9, April 2009
research
in thi
Mentio
s issu
ns in th
e
e media
news
Welcom
e to ne
Newsletter of the Centre for
w staff
The He Hormone Research
alth an
Unders d Murdoch Childrens Research Insitute
tanding
project at The Royal Children’s Hospital
staff achievements
Major research grant • Ruki Guneratne was awarded
the Yvonne Wagner Award in
Congratulations to Professor Andrew Sinclair, Theme director November 2008.
Early Development & Disease, who was awarded a National
Health and Medical Research Council Program Grant of Ruki has been a part of the Department of
$5 million for research into disorders of sexual development. Endocrinology and Diabetes for 25 years and
has been part of RCH for over 30 years.
Congratulations also to co-investigators Professor Peter
Koopman, Associate Professor Vincent Harley. As the senior administrative officer in the department Ruki is
the glue that holds it all together. She is the calm and reassuring
Disorders of sexual development (DSDs) are surprisingly face in the department and at the end of the phone. Ruki is equally
common, and often result in infertility, genital abnormalities, adept dealing with anxious families as she is with a broad range
gender mis-assignment and long-term psychological trauma. of clinicians both within the department and everyone across
In this program we will pool our expertise in human molecular the hospital.
genetics, mouse developmental biology and protein chemistry
to identify genes important for sex determination and Everyone in the department is indebted to Ruki and her
development of the gonads, and discover how they contribute extraordinary capacities. Ruki is a very worthy winner of the
to DSD, in order to improve clinical care to patients with DSD. Yvonne Wagner Award.
I
• n August 2008, our diabetes researchers won the best oral
presentation at the International Society for Paediatric and
Adolescent Diabetes Annual Scientific Meeting in Durban,
South Africa. Congratulations to Ashleigh Lin.
Diabetes research from MCRI was well represented at this
meeting with five original papers and two plenary lectures
given by A/Professor Lis Northam.
F
• ergus Cameron was appointed
Senior Associate Editor of the Journal
of Paediatric Endocrinology.
A
• ndrew Sinclair was appointed to the
Australian Biotechnology Advisory Council.
P
• eter Simm won the Young Investigator
Award at the Australasian Paediatric
Endocrine Group Annual Scientific
Meeting in Canberra.
• n 2008, Dr Matt Sabin, RCH Foundation
I Peter Simm
Fellow, was awarded one of ten places at a
Nobel Conference on Systems Biology and
Child Health, organised through the Nobel Assembly and
Andrew Sinclair’s team. Clockwise from left: Kelly Roeszler,
Amanda Notini, Craig Smith, Andrew Sinclair, Thomas Ohnesorg, the Karolinska Institute (Sweden). The aim of this conference
Sonja Gustin and Hinda Daggag. Absent: Stefan White. was to explore how novel approaches in systems biology and
network medicine may be able to further our knowledge of
disease mechanisms leading to childhood diabetes, obesity
and growth problems. (Continued next page)
staff achievements (Continued) new staff 2008
• nna Barton received the Dietitian Association of Australia
A Denisia Geladas – Diabetes
Small Research Grant to conduct her study investigating the need Denisia joined the diabetes team as a research coordinator
for supper when using Lantus insulin. She also won a scholarship in February 2008. She coordinates three research projects
to attend the ISPAD Science School and attend including a clinical drug trial aimed at preventing type 1
the ISPAD conference in 2008. diabetes using an insulin nasal spray.
• eather Gilbertson received a DART grant to conduct her
H Denisia has worked in the hospital for over 18 years as a
study investigating what proportion of a meal needs to be low paediatric registered nurse. She has been a clinical nurse
glycaemic index to get the best blood glucose level outcomes. specialist, educator and a university paediatric lecturer for
five years. Currently she liaises with scientists, clinicians,
Recruitment for this study has just begun. If your child is over 8
coordinators and executives, both on site, interstate and with
years of age, using an insulin pump and are interested in finding
highly respectable research Institutes, such as the Garvan in
out more information, please contact Heather directly on
Sydney and the Walter and Eliza Institute in Melbourne.
9345 5663 or speak to her during clinic.
Catherine Prochilo – Diabetes
Catherine Prochilo, diabetes educator, joined the diabetes
FOXteL Lap 2008 team in October 2008 and is job sharing with Rebecca Gebert.
Catherine has been an ‘adult’ educator for seven years and also
In 2008 the FOXTEL Lap was held in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide,
works at Diabetes Australia-Victoria.
Brisbane and Perth to raise funds for MCRI and the Centre for
Hormone Research. Janne Pitkin
Corporate teams and celebrities competed alongside each other Janne is a research nurse who is working with A/Professor
Margaret Zacharin on two studies – Preterm Infant Hormone
to run as many 100m laps as they could.
study and a Head Injury study.
In 2008 the Centre for Hormone Research entered a team
and raised over $4,000, with one of our Development Board Janne has worked over the years as a midwife, radiotherapy/
oncology nurse, and enjoyed completing an Anthropology
members, Bryce Cameron, raising a quarter of the funds,
degree in Perth.
congratulations Bryce!
If you would like to be involved in the 2009 event please contact Most recently Janne was at the Austin which was to do with
Alyssa Jones, PR & Development Manager, email: pr@mcri.edu.au sleep studies and respiratory clinical trials.
Juliet Jennings – Diabetes
Juliet took up the position as a clinical research fellow in
May 2008 after completing her specialist training in general
paediatrics with an interest in diabetes and endocrinology in
Belfast. Juliet has worked in both Ireland and the UK. Juliet
hopes to complete a MD studying the impact of coeliac disease
on type 1 diabetes and its complications. She is currently
working on a study which aims to provide insight into the link
between the pathophysiological changes in brain function and
neuropsychological impairment which occur in children and
adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Anna Serlachius
Anna Serlachius is a PhD student from Finland, whose research
aims to implement and evaluate a coping skills training program
for adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Anna has a Masters
degree in health psychology and has a longstanding interest
in stress and coping in chronic illness.
new board member
Bryce Cameron
Bryce is a type 1 insulin dependant diabetic diagnosed at the age
of four. Bryce has been a patient of both Professor George Werther
and Associate Professor Fergus Cameron during the 12 years spent
Diabetes Ball 2008 at The Royal Children’s Hospital.
The 12th Annual Dinner Dance and Auction organised Becoming involved with the Centre for Hormone Research will
by Kerrie Beauglehall was held in July 2008 and raised hopefully give Bryce the opportunity to get more involved in
promoting awareness, aid and prevention of disease, as well as
over $30,000 in support of the diabetes complications
giving his knowledge through personal experiences he has had
screening program and several diabetes research projects.
throughout his life.
The Ball is the sole source of funding for the vital program
Bryce is passionate about preventing issues before they arise rather
and without the dedication of the volunteer organisers,
than taking the band aid approach.
children with insulin dependent diabetes would be at
risk of complications during their teenage years, such as Bryce is currently working full-time in the composites & reinforcement
blindness, heart attack, and dialysis or limb amputation. industry and takes up part-time studies in engineering.
ns
ntioe
Me th
in dia
me
The Centre has been
recognised in the media,
focusing on diabetes,
growth and obesity issues.
Beyondblue
grant
Congratulati
ons to Fergus
Lis Nor tham C ameron an
(in collaborat d
Universit y) w ion with Swin
ho won a gra burne
the Beyondb nt of $80,00
lue Vic torian 0 from
(bbVCoE) for Centre of E xc
research. ellence
Type 1 diabet
es as a risk fa
and other ad ctor for dep
verse outcom ression
in rural Austr es for young
alia. people
M_POWR and MCRi
Biorepository Centre for
The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute hormone
(MCRI) has named childhood obesity as Research
one of its priorityresearch areas.
In line with this, the Multidisciplinary Paediatric Patron
Obesity and Weight Research Group (M_POWR) Professor David de Kretser,
was formed in 2008 and has brought together AC, Governor of Victoria
a full range of specialists to determine how to
tackle this problem. It links obesity researchers
Executive
across the Institute with clinicians throughout
The Royal Children’s Hospital. Professor George Werther,
M_POWR’s vision is to conduct health and (Director)
cutting-edge research to:
P
• revent child and adolescent
understanding Professor Andrew Sinclair
Associate Professor
obesity Health and Understanding is a project we Fergus Cameron
have been working on for over two years
U
• nderstand the risks for child Dr Vincenzo Russo
with UC Publishing and Blake Education.
obesity including environmental,
We asked various children’s authors to write
genetic and lifestyle factors Dr Matt Sabin
educational magazine-style books on the Development Board
F
• ind out who develops early areas of research within the Centre for David N Galbally, QC
complications and why Hormone Research including obesity, (Chairman)
• reat obesity effectively and
T diabetes, growth and development. Bryce Cameron
prevent its complications. Health and Understanding is a literacy-based Vince Comito
Investigators coordinating the group series written for students in the last three
are Dr Matt Sabin, Professor Melissa Anne Cronin
years of primary school. It provides teachers
Wake and Dr Richard Saffery. and students with the opportunity to explore Katie Finney
One of the central research projects a range of health topics that are involved Philippa Finney
is the construction of a large-scale Professor in and required for a healthy lifestyle. This
Melissa Wake David J Galbally
biorepository of information and series looks at our need for an active lifestyle,
samples from overweight and how health needs change as people grow, Stefan Hnativ
obese children. The biorepository how we can develop and build relationships Alyssa Jones
aims to identify how environmental, with others, and the personal health choices
genetic and metabolic parameters Adrian King
students must make for themselves in order to
come together to influence disease enjoy good health. Raoul Salter
development and progression.
The main aim of this project is to raise the Ian Solomon
It is only through large-scale profile of the Centre for Hormone Research
initiatives like this, that we will be and educate primary school students, parents,
able to fully understand the different Dr Richard Saffery teachers and friends. Currently we have raised over
roles of environment and genetics in $4,000 from royalties.
the development of obesity-related diseases
like Type 2 diabetes. Dr Matt Sabin is a lead There are 24 student books, three teacher guides and three big
investigator on this project with input from the books. If you are interested in the series, the books are available
wider M_POWR collaboration. from Blake Education website at www.blake.com.au or for any
queries please contact Lee-Ann Jones: leeann.jones@mcri.edu.au
Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf? thank you
We would like to say thank you to everyone who supported our
starring Professor George Werther Special Preview Screening of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
on Monday 23 March at the Rivoli Cinema. The evening was very
By Edward Albee, Directed by John Keogh successful and we collected over $2,000 in donations on the
night towards diabetes research.
24 April to 9 May, 2009 Special mentions to the following people for their contributions
If you would like to join the Centre for Hormone Research in making the night such a success:
team in a group booking on Wednesday 6 May 2009 to see
Professor George Werther in the production of ‘Who’s Afraid of • Philippa and Alan Finney, CHR Development Board
Virginia Woolf?’, please contact Lee-Ann Jones on (03) 9345 7057 • Liam McIntyre, Rivoli Cinemas
or leeann.jones@mcri.edu.au. • Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Australia
Tickets are $15. • Yasmine McCafferty, Carey Baptist Grammar School
• Kathy Kaplan and Karen Silver, Bialik College
RSVP no later than Monday 13 April 2009.
• Jody Goddard, Huntingtower School
If you would like to attend the production on another date please • Margot Thompson, Loreto Mandeville Hall
contact the ticket booking line on 1300 131 552.
The Centre for Hormone Research is within the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
