news spring 2014 - Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

news spring 2014
Contents
News2
• CONCERT for cancer research
IHMRI wins recognition as an
independent Medical Research Institute
• IHMRI welcomes Peoplecare CEO to the board
IHMRI has been successful in its bid for
recognition as an independent Medical
Research Institute (MRI) by the NSW
Office for Health and Medical Research
(OHMR); a process which has delivered
two years’ worth of substantial funding
from the NSW Government’s Medical
Research Support Program (MRSP)
with further major support anticipated
through future rounds of the program.
• Personality Disorders conference to boost
clinical skills
• VC’s awards for excellence
• Professors recognised and elevated
• HealthTrack study receives strong
community support
• Recognition for innovative community project
• BRA you ready for a revolution?
• Study reveals concerning health issues
• Do we need more pork on our forks?
• Scholarship recipients present findings
• The good oil on the Mediterranean diet
• ARC Linkage Grant for lipids researchers
• Meeting highlights immunological research
• What does a dementia-friendly community really
look like?
• Improving the mental health of our young people
Social13
• IHMRI Chair inspires regional stakeholders at
networking event
Congratulations14
• Three Minute Thesis competition winners
• Dietitian credential awarded
IHMRI has already benefited
substantially under the program,
successfully winning funding over five
years since 2009-10. This supported
IHMRI’s early development and
growth. However, eligibility for ongoing
access to MRSP funding is tied to
independence, financial viability and a
strong track record of peer-reviewed
grant income from the National
Health and Medical Research Council
(NHMRC) and other sources.
In seeking to advance the institute’s
reputation and standing, and to
cement its place among the dozen or
so recognised independent MRIs in NSW,
over the past 12 months the institute
has undertaken a major review of its
governance and funding arrangements;
in part to address rigorous independence
criteria set by the OHMR. This review
sought to build on IHMRI’s early successes
and transition it to a mature and financially
sustainable MRI serving its researchers
and stakeholder organisations through
robust, transparent and accountable
arrangements, systems and processes.
The review also involved the development
of a new Strategic Business Plan and
Research Strategy, which set ambitious
goals for the institute. Relationships and
ongoing funding arrangements with key
partners and stakeholders were also
formalised and affiliation agreements
signed by more than 200 researchers.
Significant skills and expertise drawn
from industry, government and research
organisations were also added to the
IHMRI Board during this time, with several
Continued on page 2...
• Global Challenges scholar gets tidy top up
• Australian Rotary Health mental health
scholarship
• IHMRI researcher nominated for Art in Science
Award
IHMRI Research Network
15
• Meet a network member
Clinical Research and Trials Unit
16
• Grain weight study
• SUSTAIN study seeks to reduce rates of
malnutrition
IHMRI is a joint initiative of the Illawarra Shoalhaven
Local Health District and the University of Wollongong
Illawarra Health and Medical
Research Institute Ltd
Building 32, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522
t: +61 2 4221 4333 f: +61 2 4221 8130
e: [email protected] w: www.ihmri.uow.edu.au
ACN 130692 849
1
news
...continued from page 1
new directors appointed, including
leading innovation and research advisor,
Professor Alan Pettigrew (see story
on page 13). The board will be finalised
when a new Executive Director is
appointed later this year.
These arrangements were welcomed
and commended by the OHMR during
its mid-term review of MRIs receiving
funding under the MRSP. The immediate
outcome for IHMRI has been the granting
of almost $1.7 million in funding for the
remainder of this four-year round. In the
longer term, IHMRI’s independent MRI
status means it is now eligible to apply
for the 2016-2020 round of funding, with
the review process providing a robust
model for that application to succeed.
IHMRI’s Acting Executive Director,
Professor Brett Garner, congratulated
the IHMRI Board, IHMRI’s Chief Operating
Officer, Sue Baker-Finch, and the
operations team for the significant
amount of planning and review work that
has been undertaken over the past year
to build strong foundations for IHMRI’s
future growth and success.
“As a sustainable and independent
institute with a strong board, a shared
vision, ambitious plans and robust
arrangements with its stakeholder
organisations and affiliated researchers,
IHMRI will go from strength to strength,”
said Professor Garner.
“Importantly, with funding arrangements
secured into the future, IHMRI is well
positioned to invest in programs to drive
research excellence and pursue new and
innovative multi-disciplinary projects
involving both academic and clinician
researchers and health service delivery
partners throughout the region.”
CONCERT for cancer research
Cancer research received a significant
shot in the arm in June when the
New South Wales Health Minister
and Medical Research Minister, Jillian
Skinner, announced $19.3 million in
funding for three new cancer research
hubs across NSW.
From the fund, administered by the
Cancer Institute NSW, $6.5 million
would go towards a new Centre for
Oncology Education and Research
Translation (CONCERT), with the
partners contributing a further $1.5
million to represent a total funding pool
of $8 million.
Involving IHMRI, the University of
NSW, University of Western Sydney,
University of Wollongong and Ingham
Institute as well as the Illawarra
Shoalhaven and South Western
Sydney Local Health Districts and
partner institutions in the ACT
(Health Directorate, ACT Government,
Australian National University and
University of Canberra), CONCERT
aims to embed translational cancer
research into clinical practice,
encompassing basic science, clinical,
psychosocial and health services
research.
“CONCERT brings together a diverse
consortium of over 200 professional
members spanning all aspects of
cancer research, diagnosis, treatment
and care,” said Illawarra team
leader and Chief Investigator on the
CONCERT application, Associate
Professor Marie Ranson.
“Around 20 IHMRI and Illawarrabased researchers will contribute
to the network with a focus on the
development of new drugs and
treatments.”
Dr Martin Carolan, Director of
Radiation Oncology and Medical
Physics at the Wollongong Hospital is
working in close collaboration with
A/Prof Ranson. He will jointly oversee
the research activities undertaken by
IHMRI and the ISLHD, including an
ISLHD-funded bio-bank of tumour
tissue samples.
The grant also includes joint funding
with the ISLHD for the appointment
of a medical oncologist to undertake
a clinical research fellowship at
IHMRI, strengthening existing clinical/
laboratory links between IHMRI and
the ISLHD.
“The fact that our region can now
compete in this arena reflects the
great commitment that the ISLHD and
UOW have made to the establishment
of IHMRI over the past six years,” said
A/Prof Ranson.
Ten per cent of the overall grant,
which runs over the next five years,
have already been received by the
IHMRI team.
IHMRI will now focus on appointing
a new Executive Director and theme
leaders who will take the program
forward. There will also be strong focus
on boosting the number of clinicians
affiliated with the institute.
Stay tuned for updates.
Associate Professors Marie Ranson and Martin Carolan are leading the new Centre for Oncology Education
and Research Translation.
2
news spring 2014
news
IHMRI welcomes
Peoplecare CEO to
the board
Personality Disorders
conference to boost
clinical skills
One of the Illawarra’s most
prominent and knowledgeable health
care professionals, Mr Michael
Bassingthwaighte, has joined the IHMRI
Board as a director.
The 8th Annual Conference on the
Treatment of Personality Disorders will
be held at the University of Wollongong
on Friday 7 November.
Mr Bassingthwaighte, who has been
CEO of Peoplecare since 1982, was
made a Member in the General Division
of the Order of Australia in 2013 for his
contribution and service to the health
insurance industry and to the Illawarra
community.
He joins two other independent
directors, Professor Alan Pettigrew
(Chair) and Professor John Rostas as
well as three UOW directors (Professor
Paul Wellings, Professor Judy Raper
and Mr Damien Israel) and three ISLHD
Directors (Dr Bruce Ashford, Professor
Margaret Rose and Dr Marianna
Milosavljevic) on the board, which will
be finalised when a new Executive
Director is appointed around the fourth
quarter of 2014.
Mr Bassingthwaighte is a director of
the Illawarra Business Chamber and
Australian Health Services Research
Peoplecare CEO, Mr Michael Bassingthwaighte,
joins the IHMRI Board.
Institute (UOW). He is also Chair of the
Salvation Army Red Shield Business
Leaders Appeal, a member of the
UOW’s Community Reference Group
and a Fellow of the Australian Institute
of Company Directors. He has also
served as director and chair of several
health services boards and companies,
including National Health Benefits
Australia, Reserve Bank Health Society,
Defence Health, HAMB Systems
Limited (an IT service company), the
Australian Health Service Alliance and
HIRMAA, an industry body representing
17 community based not-for-profit
health funds.
Hosted by IHMRI, the UOW’s Clinical
Psychology program and NSW Health,
this year’s conference is entitled,
“Understanding narcissistic and borderline
disorders”, a theme that will give
clinicians and other interested parties the
opportunity to reflect on the mechanisms
involved in the development and
maintenance of personality disorders.
On Saturday 8 November, a oneday clinical workshop entitled,
“Transference Focused Psychotherapy
(TFP) for Borderline and Narcissistic
Personality Disorders” will be presented
by Dr Kenneth Levy, a Professor in
the Department of Psychology at
Pennsylvania State University, where
he directs the Laboratory for the Study
of Personality, Psychopathology and
Psychotherapy.
The workshop will give clinicians with
or without experience in working with
people with a personality disorder the
opportunity to build skills in TFP; one of
the top three evidence-based treatments.
It will cover psychopathology, social
cognitive contributions to interpersonal
relationships, attachment, emotion
regulation processes and behaviour
change in the treatment of personality
disorders.
Visit: www.projectairstrategy.org
for details.
IHMRI is proud to support Alzheimer’s Australia’s Race Against Dementia.
The Memory Walk starts on 12 October at Stuart Park in Wollongong and will raise
funds and awareness of the disease.
IHMRI researcher, Dr Lezanne Ooi, has put together an IHMRI team for the event.
People of all ages and fitness levels are encouraged to walk or run.
Visit: www.memorywalk.com.au/illawarra
Dr Kenneth Levy from Pennsylvania State
University will deliver a specialised workshop on
Transference Focused Psychotherapy (TFP) as part
of the 8th Annual Conference on the Treatment of
Personality Disorders in November.
3
news
VC’s awards for excellence
The 2014 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for
Researcher of the Year has gone to two
IHMRI researchers with international
reputations for undertaking research of
major importance.
IHMRI Deputy Executive Director
(Scientific), Professor Xu-Feng Huang
and renowned physicist, Professor
Anatoly Rozenfeld, are worthy winners,
having maintained exceptional records
of sustained, high-level research
activity over the past five years.
As director of the IHMRI-based Centre
for Translational Neuroscience,
Professor Huang leads a team of over
20 researchers from the fields of
molecular biology, clinical medicine,
medical imaging, chemistry, drug
delivery and materials science.
The centre holds five NHMRC grants
to investigate the pathophysiology,
prevention and treatment of
schizophrenia, obesity and cancer.
Professor Rozenfeld leads the Centre
for Medical Radiation Physics which
develops semiconductor detectors and
dosimeters for clinical applications in
radiation protection, radiation oncology
and nuclear medicine as well as high
energy physics applications.
One of these technologies is a novel
device known as ‘MOSkin’ which
detects skin radiation dose during
radiotherapy in real-time. It won the
VC’s Outstanding Achievement in
Research Commercialisation award.
Other IHMRI researchers to win
recognition include Belinda Gibbons,
L to r: Professor Nicholas Dixon, IHMRI Acting Executive Director, Professor Brett Garner and
Professor Xu-Feng Huang.
L to r: Professor Brin Grenyer, IHMRI Chief Operating Officer, Sue Baker-Finch and Professor Anatoly
Rozenfeld.
who was part of a team which won the
Outstanding Contribution to Teaching
and Learning award, Professor Lorna
Moxham, who won the Excellence
in Research Supervision award and
A/ Prof Karen Charlton, Dr Karen
Walton and Dr Anne McMahon, who
won the Excellence in Community
Engagement awards (see story page 5).
Professors
recognised and
elevated
Several IHMRI researchers have been
recognised for their outstanding
research leadership and scholarly
performance.
IHMRI Acting Executive Director,
Professor Brett Garner, recently
hosted a morning tea to congratulate
Professors Gordon Wallace and
Nicholas Dixon, who are now
Distinguished Professors.Elevated
to Senior Professor status were
Professors Rodney Croft, Brin Grenyer,
Xu-Feng Huang, Sandra Jones,
Edward Melhuish, Stephen Pyne,
Anatoly Rozenfeld, Geoff Spinks and
Julie Steele.
L to r: Professors Nicholas Dixon, Brin Grenyer, Rodney Croft and Xu-Feng Huang.
4
news spring 2014
All are making significant contributions
to IHMRI’s research agenda.
news
HealthTrack study
receives strong
community support
Launched in May 2014, IHMRI’s
flagship population health project, the
HealthTrack Illawarra-Shoalhaven
Healthy Lifestyle Study, continues
to attract strong recruitment and
community support.
The multi-disciplinary study, involving
IHMRI and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local
Health District (ISLHD) researchers
and health practitioners, is testing
a novel approach to weight loss; an
issue that has come into sharper focus
recently as new data reveals that 65.9
per cent of local residents are obese or
overweight (see page 7).
While diet is important, there is also
strong focus on physical activity, with
HealthTrack participants screened by
an Accredited Exercise Physiologist
and given personal advice, resources,
tips and ideas on how to increase their
Recognition
for innovative
community project
The 2014 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for
Excellence in Community Engagement
has been awarded to a team of IHMRI
researchers who have been working
with local Meals on Wheels (MOW)
service providers to improve the
nutritional status and wellbeing of
older people living at home.
After being awarded two UOW
Community Engagement grants,
Dr Karen Walton, Associate Professor
Karen Charlton and Dr Anne McMahon
pilot-tested novel add-ons such as
snack packs to the home delivery
meal service and have also worked
with Flagstaff Fine Foods (a disability
services employer which supplies to
level of activity to meet requirements
laid out in the 2014 National Physical
Activity Guidelines.
“The response to the HealthTrack study
has been very positive so far, with local
councils, IRT, Peoplecare, the ISLHD,
Department of Education, Illawarra
Shoalhaven Medicare Local and the
Novotel including information about
HealthTrack in their newsletters, email
bulletins, tweets and Facebook pages,
which is very encouraging,” said study
leader, Professor Linda Tapsell.
“We are aiming for a high level
of community involvement, so
gaining the support of the region’s
major employers is a significant
achievement.”
The team are aiming to recruit 360
participants and have been buoyed by the
MOW) to fortify mini-meals for clients
with small appetites.
“This community partnership has
allowed MOW organisations in the
Illawarra to lead the way nationally in
developing a client-centred approach to
improving services,” said Dr Walton.
response so far, with a significant number
of local residents phoning the hotline.
Places are still available for local
residents aged between 25 and 54 on
this innovative study.
Visit: http://ihmri.uow.edu.au/
healthtrackstudy or
phone: 1800 194 717.
IRT and Careways South have also
become involved in the project, with
Dr Siobhan McHugh from the UOW’s
School of Arts, English and Media,
about to use audio storytelling to
explore the views of clients and service
providers as an advocacy tool.
“The Vice-Chancellor’s award is a
real honour that acknowledges our
work in developing and implementing
innovative models of care that flag
nutritional risk and promote nutrition
support for older adults at home.”
With further funding from Health and
Community Care, the team are now
exploring the views and perceptions of
GPs and other health care providers
in Kiama regarding MOW services.
This will enable the team to pilot a
malnutrition screening tool and referral
system to better link GP referrals of
vulnerable individuals to social services
such as MOW.
Associate Professor Karen Charlton (left) with
Dr Karen Walton.
5
news
BRA you ready for
a revolution?
It may have been hundreds of years
in the making, but relief may be in
sight for Australian women wearing
uncomfortable, ill-fitting bras.
The introduction of three-dimensional
computer-aided body scanning is
revolutionising apparel design and,
with research showing that most
women have difficulty finding a bra that
fits properly, bra design may be the
next frontier.
The IHMRI-aligned Biomechanics
Research Laboratory conducts worldleading breast health research under
the banner, Breast Research Australia
(BRA). In a unique new study, hand-held
3D scanners are being used to collect
data on breast size and shape with the
aim of translating that information into
bras that better fit the diverse range of
breast and torso shapes exhibited by
the female population.
A BRA researcher demonstrates body scanning using the new 3D devices.
BRA PhD candidate, Celeste Coltman,
recently conducted a study on
sports bras whereby 46 per cent of
participants reported discomfort.
Other figures suggest that 75 per cent
of women have difficulty finding a bra
that fits properly, indicating that this is
a much bigger problem.
“Common complaints include poor
fit, underwire problems, straps that
don’t stay up or dig in, inconsistent
sizing, discontinued styles and an
overwhelming range of choices,” said
Celeste.
“Ill-fitting bras can also lead to poor
posture and musculoskeletal pain and
can have a negative impact on exercise,
so this is a major issue that needs to be
addressed.
“We are hoping that the data collected
in our study will inform future designs
and even help pave the way for
customisation in the fitting process.”
6
news spring 2014
An imaged scan.
The BRA researchers are seeking
female volunteers to be part of
the scanning study which is being
conducted on the UOW campus from
June to December 2014.
Enquiries: Celeste Coltman.
E: [email protected].
P: 0432510431 or 024221 4480.
news
Study reveals
concerning health
issues
An innovative study examining
routinely-collected data from
17 general practices in the Illawarra
over a 24-month period has revealed
concerning new figures on the health
status of local residents.
By examining data from over 150,000
patient-doctor interactions, the study
revealed that 65.9 per cent of local
residents are obese or overweight,
compared to the national average of
63.4 per cent. Anxiety disorders are
also more prevalent, affecting 5 per
cent of local residents compared to the
national average of 3.8 per cent. There
are also inflated rates of hypertension,
with 11.9 per cent of Illawarra
residents affected compared to the
national average of 10.4 per cent.
“The number of patient interactions
analysed in our study represents
almost 40 per cent of the regional
population,” explained Associate
Professor Karen Charlton who coauthored the study with Illawarra
Shoalhaven Medicare Local Population
Health & Workforce Coordinator,
Abhijeet Ghosh.
“As such, we are pretty confident that
our figures provide an accurate picture
of the health of our region. The results
are concerning, with over a third of
local residents having body weights
in the obese range, compared to the
national average of 28.3 per cent.
Both obesity and hypertension are
major risk factors for heart disease and
are preventable by having healthier
eating habits and partaking in more
physical activity.”
The study was first piloted in a
single GP practice in 2013. Mr Ghosh
said that, through the pilot and the
larger study, the team had been
able to demonstrate that it is both
practical and feasible to extract this
kind of information on patient-doctor
interactions.
“General Practitioners are the first
source of referral within the larger
health care system. Our study has
shown that routinely-collected data
on the reasons people visit their GPs
provides an ideal opportunity for
effective monitoring of chronic health
conditions within the local population,”
he said.
He added that the latest study,
published in the prestigious journal
BMC Public Health has the potential
to be rolled out nationally “to
provide an efficient, region-specific
yet comprehensive chronic disease
surveillance system to monitor the
trends of major health conditions of the
entire Australian population”.
After receiving a large NHMRC
grant in late 2013 to investigate
the mechanisms involved in
neurodegenerative diseases,
regenerative medicine specialist,
Dr Lezanne Ooi, has had a busy few
months establishing her research lab,
buying new equipment, employing
research assistants and developing
new collaborative relationships.
Always eager to communicate the
research that she and other members
of IHMRI’s Proteostasis and Disease
Research Centre are doing to address
the ‘diseases of ageing’ such as
Alzheimer’s disease, Dr Ooi recently
presented a ‘Uni in the Brewery’ talk
entitled, “Reprogramming skin cells:
revolutionising medical research”.
It described how advanced imaging
and other techniques are being used
to compare the properties of brain
cells from patients with diseases like
Alzheimer’s against those of people
without the disease.
Dr Ooi also recently attended a “Science
at the Shine Dome” event which
attracted hundreds of scientists, policy
makers and educators to Canberra to
celebrate the Academy’s 60th year.
Dr Ooi received an Early and Mid-Career
Researcher travel grant to attend.
Her passion for addressing Alzheimer’s
disease also extends to fun runs. Indeed,
Dr Ooi is leading an IHMRI team for the
upcoming Memory Walk in the Illawarra
(see page 3).
Thanks Lezanne!
Obesity rates are higher in the Illawarra than the state average according to a new study.
Photo with thanks to Tony Alter via Flickr.
7
news
Do we need more
pork on our forks?
While Sarcopaenia (muscular wasting),
loss of strength and cognitive decline
are conditions commonly experienced
with advancing age, researchers are
optimistic that the onset of these
disorders may be prevented, or at least
delayed, through consumption of a
nutritious diet that includes adequate
amounts of high-quality protein.
Animal proteins and meat proteins in
particular have been shown to have a
positive impact on body composition
and muscular strength in elderly
subjects. Pork has recently come
under the spotlight as both a good
source of protein and an excellent
source of thiamine; thought to protect
against neurological conditions such as
dementia and cognitive decline.
A research team led by Associate
Professor Karen Charlton and Dr Karen
Walton is now investigating whether
Scholarship
recipients present
findings
Supported by generous local donor,
Mr Richard Miller, the IHMRI Summer
Scholarship Program for Dementia
Research continues to build skills and
the research capacity of promising
Higher Degree Research students.
Five 2013/14 scholarship recipients
recently reported their findings.
Robyn Gillespie, who is supervised
by Dr Judy Mullan, has a strong
interest in supporting Culturally and
Linguistically Diverse caregivers of
people with dementia with resources
for medication management. In 2011/12
she pilot-tested a new resource tool
and in 2012/13 she received a second
scholarship to develop the ‘Here to help’
website and test a Macedonian version
which provides comprehensive and
culturally appropriate information for
medication management to caregivers.
pork consumption, over a 12-week
period, has benefits over other animal
proteins.
Study participants will be drawn from
independent retirement facilities
operated by IRT. To be eligible for the
study, residents must be aged 60 years
or older, be prepared to eat chicken and
pork, be mobile and not have dementia
or Alzheimer’s disease.
Free, home-delivered meals produced
by Flagstaff Fine Foods (a supplier to
Meals on Wheels) will be provided four
days a week.
The researchers will measure body
composition, strength, cognition and
dietary intake. Focus groups will also
be conducted to help interpret the
findings and provide a clearer picture of
the food choices and habits of freeliving elderly people.
Funding for the project, which also
involves A/Profs Steven Roodenrys
and Marijka Batterham, Drs Judy
Based on the results of the trial,
recommendations have now been
made for the Macedonian version to be
fully developed.
Michael Carey, who is supervised by
Dr John Carmody, used his scholarship
to survey local GPs about their
knowledge, attitudes and practices
when diagnosing dementia. He found
a strong correlation between GPs
knowledge, attitudes and practices
and their self–reported level of
training. He also found a high level
(89 per cent) of adherence to evidence
and consensus-based practice, with
GPs using eight or more of the 10
recommended diagnostic modalities.
An unexpected outcome was that
20 per cent of GPs felt inadequately
equipped to diagnose dementia,
highlighting the need for additional
support and education.
Michael has submitted his manuscript
to the Australian Medical Student
Journal, with the results (and skills
gained) forming the basis of a PhD.
Photo with thanks to Stu Spivack.
Mullan and Anne McMahon as well
as Erin Brock and nutrition research
students, Alison Host, Freda Koh and
Kelly Langford, is provided by the Pork
Co-Operative Research Centre.
Enquiries: Erin Brock, T: 0406 992 546.
A/Prof Karen Charlton T: 02 4221 4754.
Monique Bax used her scholarship to
successfully reprogram skin cells from
patients with fronto-temporal dementia
into stem cells as part of a program
investigating the role of genetics in
Alzheimer’s disease. This work, in part,
provided the basis for Monique’s PhD,
supervised by Dr Lezanne Ooi.
Alexander Prudence, a post graduate
medicine student supervised by
Dr Susan Thomas and Dr Kylie
Mansfield, sought to investigate
the connection between coeliac
disease and dementia as both
share a defunct enzyme (Tissue
Transglutaminase). His results are
still being collected. However, if the
relationship is determined, dietary and
pharmacologically-relevant methods of
treatment could be investigated.
Lindsey Brett conducted a literature
review on the effects of physical activity
on the health outcomes of individuals
with dementia living in residential care.
That work, supervised by Associate
Professor Victoria Traynor, identified
a lack of high-quality evidence, giving
Lindsey the opportunity to pursue the
topic for her PhD.
news
The good oil on the Mediterranean diet
Professor Linda Tapsell’s international
reputation in the field of nutrition and
dietetics received a further boost in
June when a paper entitled “Foods and
food components in the Mediterranean
diet: supporting overall effects” was
featured at the top of BMC Medicine’s
website and tweeted around the world.
The paper was an invited commentary
on two articles in BMC Medicine on
the Spanish PREDIMED study; a
major trial comparing the effects of a
Mediterranean diet supplemented with
olive oil or nuts to a control low-fat
diet. It showed a 30 per cent reduction
in cardiovascular events.
Since its publication, there has been
some discussion about whether the
PREDIMED study tested the effects of
the total diet - consisting of vegetables,
legumes, fruits and nuts, cereals,
olive oils, fish, with moderate intakes
of cheese and yoghurt, low intakes
of meat and poultry, regular small
quantities of wine with meals and a
high dietary intake of monounsaturated
fatty acid/saturated fatty acid - or the
supplemental foods (olive oil and nuts).
The BMC Medicine articles looked at
the contributory effects of olive oil
and polyphenols, a class of identifiable
protective compounds, suggesting
Professor Linda Tapsell.
that for the highest consumers of olive
oil and polyphenols there was a 35
per cent reduction in cardiovascular
disease risk.
Professor Tapsell noted that, while it is
difficult to separate out the effects of
individual foods or nutrients (because
people consume whole diets), the
papers provided separate evidence
supporting the likely impact of olive oil
in the Mediterranean diet.
This was done by demonstrating
positive associations with disease risk
reduction first for olive oil and then for
polyphenols, a major component of
olive oil.
Photo with thanks to Kai Hendry.
“Put together, the PREDIMED study
therefore provides evidence of the
effects of the Mediterranean diet and
the likely food contributors to these
effects,” said Professor Tapsell.
ARC Linkage Grant for lipids researchers
Congratulations to IHMRI researchers,
Professor Stephen Blanksby, A/Prof Todd
Mitchell, Dr Michael Kelso and Dr Simon
Brown, who recently won an Australian
Research Council Linkage Grant to
further develop and strengthen ties
between researchers in the areas of tear
film biochemistry, tear film biophysics
and lipid chemistry from three Australian
universities as well as the multinational
ophthalmic company Allergan, which
specialises in formulating topical
eye drops.
The team will now work with University
of New South Wales researchers to
develop new lipid substances based on
those naturally present in the tears as
well as new technologies for analysing
and testing the new lipid substances.
A/Prof Todd Mitchell.
9
news
Chemistry student
advances nanotherapy concept
The Targeted Nano-Therapies (TNT)
group draws on the experience of
researchers within the Centre for
Medical and Molecular Bioscience
(CMMB), Centre for Medical Radiation
Physics (CMRP) and Institute for
Superconducting and Electronic
Materials (ISEM) to develop new
cancer therapies by combining the
effects of targeted radiation and drugs
or nanoparticles at the nano-scale.
For several years, the team has been
seeking to advance research into
theranostic systems, which image,
treat, target and track potent drugs.
German Masters student, Kathryn
Bogusz, took on the challenge,
contributing new ideas and producing
what TNT Head, Dr Moeava Tehei,
describes as “an exceptional paper”
published in the Royal Society of
Chemists’ journal, Advances.
The paper described, for the first time,
how a theranostic system could be
synthesised and linked to powerful
nano-particles via a new precipitation
and coating method which may
improve cancer treatment. The data
reinforced a long term TNT project that
will now test the concept in vivo.
Meeting highlights immunological
research
With the 44th Annual Scientific
Meeting of the Australasian Society of
Immunology coming to Wollongong in
December, delegates around the world
will soon get the opportunity to learn
about some of important work IHMRI
researchers are conducting on the role
of the immune system in inflammation,
pain, bacterial infections, Motor
Neurone Disease (MND) and Graftversus-host disease.
“The annual meeting is the premier
event on the Australasian immunology
calendar and provides a once-in-adecade opportunity to showcase the
work being done in the Illawarra,”
said Dr Ronald Sluyter who is on the
organising committee.
Four independent groups, led by
Drs Sluyter, Martina-Sanderson
Smith, Justin Yerbury and Debbie
Watson, are conducting immunological
research at IHMRI. Each group includes
several PhD students who are making
significant discoveries of their own.
Dr Sluyter’s group is looking at the role
of the P2X7 receptor, which is emerging
as a therapeutic target in a variety of
inflammatory disorders and infectious
diseases, while Dr Sanderson-Smith’s
group is investigating Streptococcus
pyogenes (group A streptococcus),
a human specific pathogen responsible
for a wide variety of infections.
Dr Yerbury’s group is examining
the role that protein aggregation
and neuroinflammation play in
neurodegenerative diseases such as
MND, while Dr Watson’s research
focuses on transplantation and Graftversus-host disease (GVHD) and the
development of therapeutic strategies
to prevent allograft rejection and GVHD.
While not all of the researchers will be
presenting at the Australasian Society
of Immunology’s meeting, Dr Sluyter
has disseminated information
about their work in various forums
including the society’s newsletter,
which featured it on the cover of its
September edition.
Visit: http://asi2014.org/
Kathryn presented the study at the
Institute for General and Inorganic
Chemistry (Leibniz University,
Germany) and was awarded the highest
distinction for her outstanding results.
She has also been awarded a UOW
scholarship to complete her PhD at
the Australian Institute of Innovative
Materials (AIIM) under the supervision
of Dr Kosta Konstantinov (AIIM/ISEM),
Professor Hua Liu (AIIM/ISEM),
A/Prof Michael Lerch (CMRP),
Dr Susanna Guatelli (CMRP), Professor
Anatoly Rozenfeld (CMRP), Dr Moeava
Tehei (CMRP and Centre for Medical
and Molecular Bioscience) and
Dr Stephanie Corde (Prince of Wales
Hospital and CMRP).
10
news spring 2014
Immunology researchers (l to r): David De Oliveira (PhD candidate), Jonathan Williams (Honours student),
Aleta Pupovac (PhD candidate), James Tsatsaronis (PhD candidate), Dr Justin Yerbury (group head), Diane
Ly (PhD candidate), Dr Martina Sanderson-Smith (group head), Nicholas Geraghty (Honours student), Kate
Roberts (PhD candidate), Dr Ronald Sluyter (group head), Rachael Bartlett (PhD candidate and UOW Global
Challenges Scholar), Vanessa Sluyter (research assistant) and Dr Debbie Watson (group head).
news
What does a dementia-friendly community really look like?
With almost one million Australians
expected to be living with some form
of dementia by 2050, governments,
health authorities, charities and the
general public are rallying together
with people with dementia to create
dementia-friendly communities.
They are also going against a tide
which has generally viewed dementia
as a medical problem.
A new movement, the DementiaFriendly movement, is underway.
It views dementia as a contemporary
issue that the community needs to
understand and adapt to. And it views
people with dementia as citizens with
rights to participation and inclusion
rather than as passive sufferers of
a disease.
Thanks to the UOW’s Global
Challenges program, Alzheimer’s
Australia and Kiama Council, the
Illawarra is at the forefront of this
movement, with a 10-member team
of multi-disciplinary researchers from
the faculties of Social Science, Science
Medicine and Health, Engineering and
Information Sciences set to embark on
an innovative pilot project which aims
to discover what a dementia-friendly
community looks like.
Crucially, the project will explore
the lived experience of people with
dementia and engage them in the
process. The researchers will interview
them, audit the physical environment
and participate in a local Dementia
Alliance to determine strategies
to make Kiama a more dementia
friendly place.
Lead researcher, Dr Lyn Phillipson, said
that around 1,200 people in the Kiama
area already have dementia. “However,
this figure is projected to rise to almost
4,000 by 2050,” she explained.
While recognising the work that Kiama
Council has already done on making
the environment more age friendly,
Dr Phillipson said the project would
ensure that the approach taken is
also dementia friendly – recognising
that both physical and cognitive
impairments can impact on how
someone is able to participate in
community activities as they age.
“A good example would be signage.
You can certainly increase the size of
the font so that older people can read
those signs, but we’d be more likely to
ask people with dementia if they can
understand them.”
The study brings together experts
in public health (Dr Phillipson),
environmental design for dementia
(Professor Richard Fleming), human
geography (Chris Brennan-Horley),
medicine (Professor Andrew Bonney),
psychology (Associate Professor
Peter Caputi and Dr Chris Magee)
engineering (Professor Chris Cook)
and information systems (Associate
Professor Helen Hasan).
The researchers will map the local
environment and people’s perception
of it in order to identify both the
positive features and potential “action
hot spots”. They will look at all facets
of community life, from shopping to
banking, accessing libraries and other
community facilities, right down to
what it’s like to sit down in a café and
order a coffee.
“A/Prof Hasan will also be investigating
how to make the online environment
more user-friendly for people with
dementia, both in terms of how they
access information about services and
how it can be utilised to improve social
interaction,” Dr Phillipson added.
Professor Fleming, director of the
UOW-based NSW/ACT Dementia
Training Study Centre, will focus on
developing a new auditing tool to
assess the local environment and make
recommendations about how it can
be improved.
Dr Phillipson admits the project will be
challenging, but said the potential was
enormous.
“This is the first pilot project where the
partnership between the University of
Wollongong and Alzheimer’s Australia
will ensure that the lessons learned
within Kiama can be translated
into tools and resources for other
communities around Australia.
Kiama Council takes the lead in creating dementia-friendly communities. Photo with thanks to
Generaal Gibson.
“It is an exciting movement to be
involved in. In fact, we have no doubt
that if we make the environment more
dementia friendly, it will be better for
everyone.”
11
news
Improving the
mental health of
our young people
Dr Coralie Wilson’s 30-year
commitment to the mental health and
wellbeing of adolescents and young
people continues to deliver results,
with several new collaborations and
studies established over the past
few months including a first-ofits-kind study on the help-seeking
behaviours of young people online
and the establishment of a large
NHMRC-funded trial of a mental health
help-seeking improvement program for
adolescents.
Now Dr Wilson, who is Academic
Leader in Personal and Professional
Development in the UOW’s Graduate
School of Medicine, has accepted
an invitation to join a team of 17
investigators representing five states
and professions, nine universities and
tertiary institutions and six national
Non-Government Organisations to
trial cutting edge e-mental health
interventions to improve mental
health and help-seeking. The team
will also identify linked research and
development opportunities.
“In 2012, our SHWB results provided
the impetus for funding from the UOW
Student Services and Amenities Fee
to be channelled into UOW student
wellbeing initiatives and related
research agendas,” said Dr Wilson.
“Our new inter-university collaboration
provides the vehicle for SHWB results
to impact student wellbeing initiatives
outside the UOW and will enable us
to understand psychological distress,
help-seeking, wellbeing and the impact
of that distress on performance
across time.”
The results will be applied to updated
versions and planned spin-off initiatives
from thedesk – a beyondblue-funded
web program that promotes the
resilience of tertiary students.
Dr Stallman is lead author of thedesk,
which is currently used by 49 tertiary
institutions across Australia and
internationally by the University
of Florida.
The Director of the UOW’s Research
Services Office, Sharon Martin, said:
“The UOW is proud to contribute to
this valuable objective and pleased
to develop our links with this team’s
network of investigators, institutions
and organisations for ongoing mental
health research and intervention.”
Thedesk promotes the resilience of tertiary
students.
Related to this, a new research
collaboration between Dr Wilson,
Associate Professor Peter Caputi,
UOW PhD candidate Ann Badger
and Dr Helen Stallman (University
of South Australia), will embark on
a longitudinal student mental health
and wellbeing project involving 17
Australian universities.
The project builds on Dr Wilson’s
decade-long University Student
Health and Wellbeing (SHWB) study;
the first university student project
in Australia to systematically test,
over time, hypotheses that integrate
neurological, psychological, social
and environmental processes relating
to help-seeking for the purpose
of developing safe and effective
interventions.
12
news spring 2014
Photo with thanks to Michael Summers.
social
IHMRI Chair
inspires regional
stakeholders at
networking event
On 8 July, more than 100 of the
region’s leading health and medical
researchers came together with
business and community leaders at an
IHMRI Networking Evening hosted by
IHMRI Chair, Professor Alan Pettigrew.
His presentation explored the
challenges and opportunities for health
and medical research in the region
and highlighted how IHMRI’s research
strategy and positioning placed it in a
strong position to benefit from these
opportunities.
Professor Pettigrew highlighted the
economic benefits that IHMRI’s ongoing
success will deliver to the region, with
several local and state government
representatives seeking him out after
the event to offer their encouragement
and support.
IHMRI Chair, Professor Alan Pettigrew and Anna
Watson MP, Member for Shellharbour.
Former UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard
Sutton AO with UOW Enterprises CEO, Marisa
Mastroianni, who is also on the ISLHD Board.
HDR students (l to r): Adena Spiro, Monique Bax, Fabian Kreilaus and Rachelle Balez with (front),
Dr Lezanne Ooi.
L to r: Andrew Gow, Population Health and Planning, Illawarra Shoalhaven Medicare Local (ISML), Professor
Linda Tapsell, SMART Foods Centre and Dianne Kitcher, Chief Executive Officer, ISML.
L to r: Peter Wills AC, Deputy Chair, Research Australia, Anne O’Neill, Associate Director, Office of Health and
Medical Research, Damien Israel, IHMRI Board of Directors and Sue Baker-Finch, Chief Operating Officer, IHMRI.
L to r: ISLHD Board members, Geoff O’Donnell and Roger Downs with Vanessa Bourne, UOW Enterprises.
13
congratulations
Three Minute
Thesis competition
winners
Congratulations to IHMRI students,
Colin Cortie and Katherine Caldwell,
who performed exceptionally well in the
UOW heat of the Three Minute Thesis
(3MT) competition.
The national competition asks students
to explain their research, without slides
or visual aids, in language appropriate
to an interested but non-specialist
audience as a way of developing their
academic, presentation and research
communication skills.
Colin won the heat with his presentation
entitled, “Of Mice, Pigs and Men: The
Fats of Long Life”.
Colin’s presentation focused on
the oxidative damage of membrane
phospholipids and hypothesised that
long lived mammals, like humans, have
membranes with low vulnerability
to free radical damage compared to
shorter-lived mammals.
He will now represent the UOW at the
Trans-Tasman 3MT Competition to
be held at the University of Western
Australia on 3 November.
Katherine was named runner up for her
talk entitled, “Flavonoids for thought: a
cherry on top brings memory benefits”.
“I entered the competition because
communicating complicated ideas in a
simple way sounded like a challenge,”
Colin told IHMRI News.
“It was a great experience as it forced
me to really think about the essence
of my work. My lab group were very
supportive and my wife [herself a past
finalist] must have sat through my
presentation 200 times. I didn’t expect
to win, as I had only been the runner up
at the faculty level and I also thought
my competitors’ presentations were
excellent. I was particularly impressed
with those researchers who speak
English as a second language.
“I was extremely happy to win, but the
best part of the competition is that my
family now have some idea of what I’ve
been doing for the last three years.”
14
news spring 2014
Dietitian credential
awarded
The Dietitians Association of Australia
recently awarded Advanced Accredited
Practising Dietitian (AdvAPD)
credentials to eight of the country’s
leading nutrition and dietetics experts.
Congratulations to IHMRI researcher,
Dr Karen Walton, who was recognised
as a “proactive leader who integrates
high-level nutrition and dietetic skills to
influence the health of the community”.
Dr Walton said the AdvAPD credential
would allow her to further profile and
advocate for the domain of food service
dietetics, adding that the recognition of
her professional achievements by her
peers was “very satisfying”.
Global Challenges
scholar gets tidy
top up
Congratulations to UOW Global
Challenges PhD scholar and Accredited
Practising Dietitian, Catherine Lucas,
who recently received a $10,000 top up
and an additional $5,000 to go towards
research and travel costs each year.
“I am very appreciative of this grant as
it will help me to pay for the costs of
travelling to conferences and assist
with ongoing costs of my research,”
said Catherine, who is also involved
in IHMRI’s Illawarra Born crossgeneration health study.
Supervised by A/Prof Karen Charlton,
Catherine will present previous
research on the iodine knowledge and
practices of pregnant women and
their healthcare providers at the 5th
International Conference of Nature
and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood
in November and has also submitted
an abstract to The Nutrition Society
of Australia annual conference in
Tasmania.
Australian Rotary
Health mental
health scholarship
Supervised by Dr Coralie Wilson,
A/Prof Peter Caputi and Dr Helen
Stallman (University of South
Australia), PhD candidate, Ann Badger,
has been awarded a David Henning
Memorial Scholarship by Australian
Rotary Health to conduct further
research and develop new guidelines
on how to improve help-seeking and
reduce depression among university
students.
IHMRI researcher
nominated for Art
in Science Award
NHMRC post-doctoral Research
Fellow, Karen Mickle, was one of five
investigators nominated for The Art in
Science Award for the best scientific
manuscript in the field of dynamic load
distribution in biomechanics, presented
at the 2014 Expert Scientific Meeting in
Cambridge in the US.
The paper, entitled, “Retraining the foot
muscles to restore toe flexor strength
in older people” was based on a study
funded by an IHMRI Pilot Project Grant
in 2013 which investigated whether
a progressive resistance training
program, focused specifically on the
foot muscles, could improve toe flexor
strength in community-dwelling older
people.
The 12-week intervention significantly
improved toe flexor strength in older
adults and follow-up studies are now
underway (enquiries: 02 4221 4262).
The co-investigators on the study were
Professors Julie Steele and Jan Potter
with A/Prof Peter Caputi.
ihmri research network
Meet a network
member
Dr Yasmine Probst, NHMRC Senior
Research Fellow, Smart Foods Centre/
School of Medicine, Faculty of Science
Medicine and Health.
What led you into nutrition research?
Thinking back, throughout high school,
I remember my parents saying, “You’ll
go into research when you finish
school”. Of course, being a teenager
who was still in denial about enjoying
science, let alone research, my
response was not an agreement.
I had my mind set on being a
nutritionist, not knowing what a
dietitian did. I chose my subjects to
suit and went straight from school
to university where I completed my
Bachelors (in Nutrition), my Masters
(in Nutrition) and my PhD (in Nutrition).
I knew I loved food, and slowly
I admitted I also loved science too.
Various research subjects throughout
my coursework caught my attention
and I did quite well in them. During the
Masters, Eleanor Beck [now Associate
Professor] asked if I had considered
doing a PhD and said that Associate
Professor Linda Tapsell [now Professor]
would like to talk to me if I was.
I became the student who filled the
place in an Australian Research Council
Linkage project related to computers,
which I had a knack for and no one
seemingly wanted to touch. I ended
up ‘playing’ with food composition
databases with the aim of producing
an online dietary assessment tool for
self-administered use in the primary
healthcare setting.
It was challenging, as many dietitians
felt I was trying to put them out of a
job. The term ‘nutrition informatics’,
as I now refer to my research, was not
developed until 2011.
I also interact with Higher Degree
Research students, as expected by
a senior fellow, and coordinate the
visiting researcher program for the
Smart Foods Centre.
I admitted to my interest in numbers
and have been fascinated by food
composition ever since. It forms the
‘boring’ back-end database to many
nutrition informatics tools with the user
interface (underpinned by computer
science) creating something ‘sexy’ and
interesting to improve work efficiencies
for dietitians (my personal aim).
What have been some career highlights?
Who have been some of your mentors?
From that very early meeting, filled
with nerves I headed in to see Linda
Tapsell. She became my constant
mentor in the dietetics field and, even
to this day, I am amazed by the work
she manages to fit into a normal week,
let alone upkeep her networks and
professional relationships.
Throughout the PhD I was guided by
David Steel, Lori Lockyer, Barry Harper
and Andrew Dalley, all of whom are
still connected to the UOW today.
More recently, I have been mentored by
international and national researchers
including Professor Heather Greenfield,
a food composition pioneer in Australia.
She has shown me that hard work and
determination are vital and to question
everything.
Tell us a bit about your teaching
commitments
After having been ‘research-only’ for
many years, I began providing guest
lectures and casual tutoring in 2003
and subject coordination in 2013.
I teach the nutrition and dietetic
students about research theory with the
aim of inspiring them about a subject
that some initially perceive as ‘boring’.
I use my personal experiences to show
them that little steps in the right
direction can help you get to where
you want to go. There is nothing more
exciting than a student at the end of
the subject coming by to say how much
they enjoyed doing research and that
they would like to talk to me about how
they can do more of it.
I believe my greatest achievement is
my three kids; all born during NHMRC
fellowship periods within 3.3 years of
one another, one born a week after
completing my International Graduate
Certificate in Food Composition.
This intense training course is one of
the greatest experiences I have had,
with friendships that will continue well
into the future.
I still cannot believe I have been
lucky enough to receive two NHMRC
fellowships back to back – I still think
it’s a mistake in the system and that
someone is going to call and tell me
they were wrong about the TRIP
[Translational Research in Practice]
Fellowship [“From nutrients to foods
to cuisines: growing food composition
data knowledge for more robust
evidence-based advice”]. I really enjoy
the dedicated research time and new
research links I am establishing in the
phytochemicals area.
Any other research projects?
I am currently working with the IHMRI
HealthTrack team (see page 5) and
collaborating with researchers in the
Faculty of Engineering and Information
Sciences on the development of
photographic dietary assessment tools.
I am also completing my Master of
Health Informatics - keeping myself
busy is an understatement!
What do you hope to be doing in five
years’ time?
I am a very goal-oriented person, so
I hope to have progressed to A/ Prof
level and be working on another
fellowship with a food composition
focus. I hope to have created a small
group of like-minded researchers who
have a similar passion.
Similarly, I hope to have developed the
new Centre for Nutrition Informatics into
a recognised centre with a committed
team. I can’t see myself ever stepping out
of research, I enjoy it too much.
15
clinical research and trials unit
Grain weight study
A PhD candidate in the UOW’s SMART
Foods Centre, Anita Needham has been
studying the effects of whole grains
on weight loss and chronic disease
for several years, winning a number
of accolades along the way including
a King & Amy O’Malley Scholarship
in 2013 and Grains Research &
Development Corporation Travel
Awards in 2013 and 2014.
“Whole grain foods, including those
made from sorghum, oats, wheat and
barley, have been associated with
reduced weight gain and reduced
incidences of health problems such as
diabetes and heart disease,” said Anita.
In July, she commenced a new study
in IHMRI’s Clinical Research and Trials
Unit (CRTU) looking at the effects of
consuming whole grain foods while
following a weight reduction diet for
three months.
The study will compare the effects
of two diets containing different
wholegrain cereals and how full
participants feel while following the
diet. All participants will receive
dietary counselling from an Accredited
Practising Dietitian.
“This is relevant for Australia where
more than half the population is obese
or overweight and chronic diseases
are prevalent.”
Men and women aged between 18 and
65 who are overweight (BMI 25-35 kg/
m2) or have a large waist circumference,
who are generally well, but may have
high blood pressure or high fasting
glucose levels, are encouraged to
participate.
A range of measures including
cholesterol levels, insulin and glucose
levels, blood pressure and inflammation
will be taken.
To enquire or participate, call the
Dietary Trials hotline on 4221 4600.
SUSTAIN study seeks to reduce rates of malnutrition
In response to alarming figures on the
high prevalence of malnutrition in older
adults discharged from hospitals in the
Illawarra, IHMRI researcher, Associate
Professor Karen Charlton, has teamed
up with allied health professionals from
the ISLHD to develop and test 12-week
home-based exercise program that
seeks to improve strength and mobility
in older residents.
Aptly named SUSTAIN (Stopping
Undernutrition and Sarcopenia Through
Activities at Home) the project, funded
with an IHMRI Pilot Project grant, builds
on a previous study conducted by A/Prof
Charlton and ISLHD dietitians which
found that malnourished older patients
are more likely to experience surgical
complications, greater morbidity,
longer hospital stays and higher rates
of mortality. Despite this, malnutrition
often remains undetected and
untreated because it is not considered
a clinical priority.
16
news spring 2014
In this study, undernourished people
over the age of 65 who have had
a hospital admission in the past
12 months will participate in a simplified
version of the Balance Exercise Strength
Training at Home program, which has
already been piloted by the ISLHD’s
Health Promotion Unit and includes
input from local physiotherapists.
Those randomised to the intervention
group will participate in a workshop
in the CRTU, where they will receive
advice from physiotherapists and
occupational therapists (all groups will
receive dietary advice from an outpatient dietetic service).
Several senior ISLHD clinicians are
involved in the study, including Director
of Research, Dr Marianna Milosavljevic,
the Head of Geriatric Care, Professor
Jan Potter, as well as allied health
professionals Allison Ferguson
(dietetics), Trish Lynch (physiotherapy),
Lyn McDonell (occupational therapy)
and Michelle Kershaw (Health
Promotion Unit).
“The over-arching aim of the project is to
develop multi-faceted treatment options
for older people in the community,
allowing them to maintain their
independence and functionality at home
for as long as possible. We expect to see
improvements in muscular strength,
functional performance, nutritional
status and ability to perform activities
of daily living,” said A/ Prof Charlton.
Enquiries: 0434 077 189 or
E: [email protected].
gov.au.