Blog

Lions Eye Institute Research Week Lectures now free to view
Good eye sight plays an integral role in people’s quality of life. The Lions Eye Institute (LEI) shares important developments in research into vision loss and blindness during its inaugural LEI Research Week. LEI hosted a series of free lectures during their Research Week, and have made the below available for viewing.

The videos now available for viewing include:
- Country Eyes: delivering eye health care to remote Australia by Assoc Prof Angus Tuner (Director, Lions Outback Vision)
- The Ian Constable Lecture: Glaucoma: What’s on the Horizon? by Prof Keith Martin (Managing Director, Centre for Eye Research Australia)
November 25, 2019
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Grant Opportunities
There are two grant opportunities in the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) space in the category of Health Promotion and Prevention Programs.
- FASD – Consumer Resources – the purpose of this opportunity is to develop FASD consumer resources to increase the general awareness of FASD, and contribute to the prevention of FASD, as well as outline the potential consequences of drinking whilst pregnant.
- FASD – Early Childhood Identification Guide – the purpose of this opportunity is to develop a FASD Guide for people working in early childhood education settings. The FASD Guide is to support educators to assist children with FASD, and to encourage positive outcomes for children and their families.
Applications for both close on 11am (WST), Tuesday January 10. Click the links above for more information.
November 25, 2019
CT:IQ – Clinical Trials: Thinking Smarter Survey

CT:IQ Clinical Trials: Thinking Smarter is a cross industry, collaborative group which aims to improve recruitment into clinical trials within Australia. As a part of this project the team are seeking opinions from all parts of the community, including researchers, clinicians, consumers and community members on the barriers and enablers to a site which will be designed to recruite participtants to clinical trials.

The introduction of the survey provides details of the project, confidentiality and privacy of responses. The survey will take approximately 10-20 minutes to complete.

The survey will close on Saturday November 30.

Click here to take the Survey

The ethical conduct of this survey has been approved by the Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee (Project ID 5764) and will be carried out according to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) produced by the NHMRC.

If you have any questions about this survey or the project please contact the CT:IQ Project Manager, Sonia Harvey

November 18, 2019
Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need Grant Opportunities
The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Clinical Trial Activity in the Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need Grant Opportunities are now open. The Minimum Data submission date is 2pm (AWST), Wednesday January 22.

Applications must satisfy all the requirements set out in the 2019 Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need Grant Opportunity Guideline.

The following opportunities are open:
- 2019 Reproductive Cancers Grant Opportunity – Read More
  - Applicants to this opportunity must propose a clinical trial which addresses a gap in current research and/or knowledge in reproductive cancer
  - Total amount available = $15 million
- 2019 Childhood Brain Cancer Grant Opportunity – Read More
  - Applicants to this opportunity must propose a clinical trial which addresses a gap in current research and/or knowledge in childhood brain cancer
  - Total amount available = $5 million
- 2019 Neurological Disorders Grant Opportunity – Read More
  - Applicants to this opportunity must propose a clinical trial which addresses a gap in current research and/or knowledge in neurological disorders, including (but not limited to) Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), spinal cord injuries (SCI), and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
  - Total amount available = $20 million
- 2019 Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need Grant Opportunity – Read More
  - Applicants to this opportunity must propose a clinical trial which addresses a gap in current research and/or knowledge in rare cancers, rare diseases and areas of unmet medical need
  - Total amount available = $15 million
November 18, 2019
Centre for Nursing Research 2017-2018 Biennial Report

Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital believes that high quality research is fundamental to the future of nursing.

As a result of this core belief, the Centre for Nursing Research was developed in conjunction with Edith Cowan University and has more recently established partnerships with Curtin University and Murdoch University.

This innovative and unique framework gives Sir Charles Gairdner nurses the opportunity to work with experienced academic researchers to advance nursing practice through practical research programs, explore clinical practice issues relevant to nursing and work towards improving outcomes for patients and their families.

The Centre for Nursing Research 2017-2018 Biennial Report was launched during Research week last month and can be viewed on the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital website.

November 13, 2019
Webinar recording: Get your scientific paper (journal article or research report) finished and submitted!

Publishing your research is essential if you want an academic career. Despite knowing this, many scientists are unable to make the time required to write and submit their papers. During the past 15 years working as an academic editor and writing coach, Dr Malini Devadas has met countless academics who have half-finished drafts sitting on their computers, with no sign of submission in sight. If one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2020 is to write and submit your academic journal articles in a timely manner, join Malini for this free webinar which takes you through the four essential stages of writing a paper.

Watch the webinar recording.

November 11, 2019
Monash Partners Healthcare Improvement and Implementation Science MOOC

The Monash Partners Healthcare Improvement and Implementation Science massive open online course (MOOC) opens Monday November 11. This course is freely available to all staff across the Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA).

This short course has been co-designed by the Monash-Warwick Alliance, a partnership between Monash University and Warwick University, and Monash Partners especially for health professionals working in the area of healthcare management and administration.

During the course participants will increase their understanding of complex healthcare systems, the capabilities and skills needed to mobilise new knowledge and identify processes for building ‘agency’ across the levels of the individual, the organisation and the wider system.

The course begins on 11 November 2019 and can be access here

Please contact Laura Robson, Monash Partners Workforce Development Coordinator, if you require any further information.

November 7, 2019

Researcher in bid to blow rogue cancer’s cover

A Western Australian cancer researcher is on a mission to blow the cover of a highly aggressive and difficult-to-detect form of breast cancer and believes a mysterious protein could hold the key to the breakthrough.

Fiona Stanley Hospital oncologist Dr Indunil Weerasena’s research follows important new findings, made by other local researchers, about the mysterious protein called AAMDC.

Research has shown that AAMDC not only hastened cancer cell proliferation but also made them resistant to the hormone and chemotherapies that were commonly used to fight ER positive breast cancers. High levels of AAMDC happen to be found in a subtype of cancer known as IC2. This subtype is known to have high rates of recurrence as well as resistance to contemporary chemotherapy regimes.

Dr Weerasena’s project, with the aid of a McGowan Government-funded Cancer Research Fellowship, aims to determine whether the rogue ER positive cancer is an IC2 subtype.

His findings could pave the way for the earlier identification of these cancers and more effective treatments, potentially with older chemotherapy regimes. Parallels between breast and ovarian cancer mean Dr Weerasena’s research may also have further benefits for the treatment of some ovarian cancer patients.

Dr Weerasena is one of seven researchers awarded a Cancer Research Fellowship in the WA Cancer and Palliative Care Network program.

More than $1.2 million will be distributed this year in the program that was established in 2014 to enable medical practitioners working in the WA Health system to expand their cancer expertise and research skills.

Read the full media statement

Full list of recipients

Recipient	Project	Hospital
Eliska Furlong	Evaluation of an enhanced influenza vaccination schedule in immunocompromised children undergoing treatment for cancer by assessment of cellular and humoral immune response	Perth Children’s Hospital
Timothy Humphries	Integrating Tumour Mutational Burden testing for appropriate selection of immune-oncology therapy in metastatic melanoma	Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Andy Hutchison	Implementation of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in Western Australia	Fiona Stanley Hospital
Azim Khan	Defeating Breast Cancer Disadvantage in the Indigenous population	Fiona Stanley Hospital
Annalise Martin	Precision Medicine, identification of novel drug targets for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in Western Australia through analysis	Royal Perth Hospital
Indunil Weerasena	Integrated Cluster 2 Breast Cancers: The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing	Fiona Stanley Hospital
Courtney Wood	Paediatric Palliative Care Fellowship	Perth Children’s Hospital

November 6, 2019

Perth Convention Bureau 2020 Aspire Program

The Perth Convention Bureau (PCB) is responsible for marketing Western Australia both nationally and internationally as a destination for conferences. Conferences hosted in Western Australia build the profile of the conference convener, the national organisation, disseminate knowledge locally as well as attract investment and tourism.

The Aspire Program is a highly successful initiative of PCB which facilitates PCB’s novel business methodology of recruiting local conveners within the West Australian community to support bids for international and national conferences.

PCB currently partners with Western Australia’s Universities, the City of Perth, the City of Fremantle, the City of Mandurah, the Australian Institute of Management WA, Giving West and the Telethon Kids Institute.

The aim of the program is to assist the individual’s personal and professional development, either through attendance at a relevant international conference, or by undertaking further study in their chosen field of endeavour. The funding covers travel, accommodation and registration expenses to the maximum value of the award.

For more information regarding each individual 2020 Aspire award and how to apply, please refer to the PCB website or contact the bureau at aspire@pcb.com.au.

November 5, 2019
AusBiotech 2019 Conference wrap up

The AusBiotech conference is the premier annual conference for Australia’s Life Sciences sector. The 2019 conference brought together Australian and international biotech leaders and stakeholders in Melbourne for three days of education, skills building and networking. WAHTN was one of the Think Perth delegation who attended the conference. We were accompanied by representatives from the City of Perth, The University of Western Australia, Epichem, Linear Clinical Research, Telethon Kids Institute, Proteomics International, Lazcath and the Perth Convention Bureau to showcase the burgeoning life science sector in Perth and WA to a national and international audience.

Western Australia has shown the largest increase in life science companies. Since 2017 we’ve had a 50% increase in the number of organisations, increasing from 119 to 179 in 2019.

A young West Australian company OncoRes Medical won the 2019 Australian Emerging Company of the Year Award. Dr Katharine Giles (Chief Executive Office and Managing Director) accepted the award on behalf of OncoRes Medical (see image below). This prize was awarded on significant achievements by a company working in the biotechnology or life sciences sectors, and is specific to companies under five years of age. We congratulate our friends at OncoRes Medical for a well-deserved award.

November 5, 2019