WA Health Translation Network

Category: News

  • Don’t miss out on the 2019 Activity Based Funding Conference!

    The Independent Hospital Pricing Authority (IHPA) will hold its Activity Based Funding Conference 2019 (ABF19) at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 May, 2019.

     

    Following on from the success of previous years, IHPA is excited to host industry leaders, policymakers and front-line health care professionals from Australia, and around the world for the 6th iteration of the conference series.

     

    With 400 leading professionals expected to attend, the conference theme Activity Based Funding: Cost, Value and Outcomes will be the centre of lively discussion over the course of the 3-day program – including insightful workshops, keynote addresses, plenary and panel sessions.

     

    Delegates will also have the opportunity to connect with like-minded counterparts while experiencing the best hospitality Melbourne has to offer through a networking function and gala dinner.

     

    Event Details:

    Date: 13 – 15 May, 2019

    Location: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

    More Info

  • Science on the Swan Abstract Submission Date

    2019 Science on the Swan gives you the opportunity to share your research with world-leading health and science professionals.

     

    The 2019 Conference theme is Neuroscience and the Senses: Healthy Ageing across the Life Course. Don’t miss your chance to submit your abstract to be part of the Conference Program.

     

    Applications close Friday 15 March, 2019

    View the Abstract Submission Guidelines

  • 2019 CCRM Australia – WAHTN Technology Evaluation Workshop

    WAHTN in partnership with the Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative medicine (CCTRM) and the Centre for Commercialisation of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) Australia are happy to announce the 2019 CCRM Australia – WAHTN Technology Evaluation Workshop.

     

    The Workshop coincides with the visit of the Canadian CEO of CCRM, Dr Michael May, who will be visiting Perth in May this year. Dr May will be in attendance at the Workshop and will be able to provide feedback on participant presentations. In previous Technology Evaluation Workshops participants have received valuable feedback from Dr May, and in some cases, participants have been referred to other contacts in the same research area.

     

    CCRM is a leading Canadian not-for-profit which develops new cutting edge technologies in the field of regenerative medicine, including cell and gene therapy.

     

    While CCRM are open to new technologies which advance the field of regenerative medicine, the following are also of interest:

     

    Cell and gene therapy:

    • T cell immunotherapies (CAR-T), target discovery platforms, and biomarkers to identify potent T cell subsets
    • Generation of universal antigen specific T-cells
    • Genetic modifications for enhanced cell targeting
    • Exosomes-based delivery of therapeutics
    • Cardiac/neural cell therapies
    • Small molecules for endogenous repair
      • Small molecule and mimetic alternatives to protein factors (e.g. growth factors) to be used for manufacturing
      • Novel defined (recombinant proteins only) medium formulations for production of commercially relevant cell types
    • Gene therapy approaches

     

    Enabling Technologies:

    • Human PSC differentiation
    • Label-free cell isolation
    • Gene/epigenome editing and non-viral delivery
      • Cell engineering (genetic switches, rapid clone selection, hot-swappable regions, integration site targeting, expression stability, etc)
    • Lentiviral transfection and transduction
      • High-efficiency cell transduction (e.g. process related or new LVV envelope proteins)
    • AAV for targeted delivery including novel AAV capsids

     

    Manufacturing:

    • Non-enzymatic passaging of cells in bioreactors
    • New bioreactor technologies relevant to manufacture of commercially relevant cell types
      • High efficiency volume reduction and washing, should be scalable (e.g. from 1L scaled to a magnitude of 100 or more)
    • Virus filtration/clarification/isolation methods (LVV and AAV)
      • High efficiency and high purity continuous enrichment of virions (lentivirus and AAV) from cell culture broth
    • Rapid assays for quantification of functional viral titre (lentivirus and AAV) new approaches to support manufacturing workflow i.e.:
      • Tracking technologies (materials, equipment, products and people)
      • Process data capture/monitoring and interrogation
      • Procedural tracking
      • Process modelling and scheduling
    • Media development and formulations
      • New algorithms/methods for efficient exploration of high dimensional design spaces in media development and culture optimisation
      • Low cost, high efficiency, scalable cell enrichment
    • Sensors to measure cell viability and biomass:
      • In-reactor analysis of media composition (metabolites, proteins, physico-chemical parameters)
      • In-reactor or rapid at-line and automated analysis of cell phenotype
        • In both cases preferably g-irradiation stable and single use
    • Rapid assays for detection of microbiological contamination

     

    Event Details:

    Date: Thursday 23 May 2019

    Time: 14:30 – 16:30

    Location: McCusker Auditorium, the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (North)

    Bookings are essential and will fill up fast. Place yours now

  • Deadline Closing for Allied Health Clinician Research Fellowships

    The Clinician Research Fellowships are an initiative of the WA Department of Health in partnership with the Raine Medical Research Foundation.

    The program is designed to encourage clinicians employed by Health Service Providers to develop their research capability, while continuing some clinical duties. The program also facilitates high quality research which will ultimately provide better healthcare outcomes. The research must be undertaken in WA and be of direct relevance to the WA health system.

    The program is open to eligible clinicians:

    • Working in healthcare disciplines including allied health and health sciences, dental, medical, nursing and midwifery professions
    • Who are either early or mid-career researchers
    • Who have minimal or no paid research time

    Fellowship funding will provide salary support for research duties up to 0.5 FTE, as well as contribute to minor research costs. The duration of each Fellowship can be up to three years, depending on the extent of the research proposal. during the term of the Fellowship, clinical duties in a Health Service Provider must be maintained at a minimum of 0.3 FTE.

     

    Applications close 1pm 28 March, 2019.

    View the Guidelines and Conditions and the Application documents

  • 2019 Premier’s Science Awards – Shell Aboriginal STEM Student of the Year Award now open!

    Applications are now open for the inaugural Shell Aboriginal STEM University Student of the Year Award at the 2019 Premier’s Science Awards

    Applications close 10am 23 April, 2019.

    View the Flyer

    View the Applicant Information Pack

    For more information please visit the Premier’s Science Awards

  • Your invitation to visit Israel

    In May this year WAHTN Executive Director, Gary Geelhoed, will be travelling to Israel as part of a delegation of WA’s senior health and medical professionals.

     

    The delegation led by WA Heath Minister and Deputy Premier, Hon Roger Cook MLA, has the Health Director General along with the Chief Scientist of WA already signed up. Being part of this delegation means you have unique access to thought leaders, policy makers, investors, senior executives and researchers in one of the world’s leading innovation nations with over 1,400 companies in the health and medical sector alone. Israel is home to the R&D centres for many of the world’s global giants in technology and biotech, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Employing over 85,000 people and attracting over US$1.2 billion in venture capital investments in 2017.

     

    The Top 10 questions the delegation have been tasked to answer:

    1. How has this tiny, new country (8.8 million people in an area one third of the size of Tasmania) developed a world leading culture of innovation and entrepreneurship?
    2. What technologies and advancements in science will most disrupt or impact society, the health system, my organisation, my profession and industry?
    3. What role does the government play in developing start-ups and fostering venture capital investment
    4. Why are Israeli universities, hospitals and research institutes so successful at commercialising its innovation?
    5. What lessons can we take from the leading Israeli hospitals and clinicians?
    6. What are venture capital investors seeking in start-ups and what are the hottest ones right now?
    7. What contacts and relationships in Israel can I develop for the long term?
    8. What relationships do I want to make with the other delegates?
    9. Why is Israelis cuisine world famous?
    10. Does Jerusalem Syndrome actually exist?

     

    If you have a question you want answered please fill in an EOI form and contact the team at AICC (email address in flyer)

     

    Places are limited and filling quickly. Read the 2019 May EOI Form and Delegation Flyer

  • Need help with Clinical Research?

    WAHTN are offering a Clinical Research Support Service for anyone currently involved or interested in conducting clinical research in Western Australia.

     

    This service is provided by the Clinical Trial and Data Management Centre (CTDMC), who will be visiting with WAHTN Member Partners*

     

    The team will provide advice on various aspects of clinical research including:

    • How to get started with clinical research
    • Navigating the regulatory environment
    • Where to find training, and networking with other researchers
    • Setting up essential documents for a clinical trial
    • Data management, and database design
    • Review of protocols and other research related documents

     

    Location: Harry Perkins Institute, QEII Medical Centre, Room SR 612a

    To make an appointment: Email CTDMC or 08 9266 1970

    Dates Times
    Tuesday 30 April 2019 09:30 – 13:30
    Tuesday 18 June 2019 09:30 – 13:30
    Tuesday 20 August 2019 09:30 – 13:30
    Tuesday 22 October 2019 09:30 – 13:30

     

    *WAHTN Member Partners: Curtin University, Department of Health WA, Ear Science Institute, Edith Cowan University, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Fremantle Hospital, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Institute for Respiratory Health, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Lions Eye Institute, Murdoch University, PathWest, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth Children’s Hospital, Ramsay Health Care, Royal Perth Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, St John of God Health Care, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Notre Dame, The University of Western Australia

  • Watch Now: international data linkage – Australia and the UK

    In a series of interviews the Chief Executive of the Population Health Research Network (PHRN), Dr Merran Smith, sits down with Professor of Health Informatics David Ford. Professor Ford leads the Health Informatics Group at the College of Medicine in Swansea University, Wales.

     

    In this first video, their conversation covers the topic of cross jurisdictional data linkage: Australia and the United Kingdom.

     

    Click here to view the video

  • $220 million for research to tackle heart disease and stroke

    The Australian Government is launching a comprehensive research effort to tackle the nation’s two biggest killers – heart disease and stroke – with an unprecedented $220 million for a 10-year Mission for Cardiovascular Health.

    The funding, awarded under the Government’s landmark Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), will support Australian researchers to make game-changing discoveries, develop a global biotech industry and enable the implementation of changes in healthcare.

    Please click here for more information

     

  • Research Assistants position vacant at Fiona Wood Foundation

    This role is to conduct research and outcomes activities in the field of burn care and management and works under the supervision of the Clinical Research Coordinator.

    This role/s is at Perth Children’s Hospital for an initial 1-year term and supports the vision of the Centre of Excellence in Childhood Burns.

    Please click to download the Position Description here