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Prof Maxine Whittaker’s career contributions recognised
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AITHM Deputy Director Maxine Whittaker was recently awarded the Royal
Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) International Medal for 2017.
Selected for her contributions and outstanding service in developing
countries, Professor Whittaker continues to strive towards improving
healthcare outcomes for those less fortunate.
In congratulating Professor Whittaker, AITHM Director Louis Schofield remarked on a career serving others.
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Can a common diabetes drug slow aneurysm growth?
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A new study by researchers at the Australian Institute of Tropical
Health and Medicine (AITHM) at James Cook University has found a common
diabetes medication could limit the need for surgery in patients
suffering from a potentially life threatening aneurysm.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a progressive ballooning in a
weakened section of the body’s main artery, which increases the risk of
arterial rupture and fatal bleeding. It kills approximately 1000
Australians per year, often without warning.
Currently patients with AAA are forced to wait for expensive and
invasive surgery as their only option to treat the potentially life
threatening condition.
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New partnership to discover and develop new diagnostics
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Merck, a leading science and technology company, has announced a
three-year research partnership with AITHM's Prof Alex Loukas.
Combining with the Baylor College of Medicine (Texas, USA) and Austrade,
the Australian Government’s investment promotion agency, the
partnership will work on developing diagnostic tools and vaccines for
schistosomiasis - one of the world’s most devastating parasitic
diseases.
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Support for study design, biostatistics, and epidemiology
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Professor Adrian Esterman, Professor of Biostatistics and Public Health,
is employed by AITHM on a fractional basis. Adrian spends 10
weeks with us each year and will be working at the Cairns campus from 10
July to 15 September 2017.
Adrian is available to assist AIHTM staff and students in any areas of study design, biostatistics, and epidemiology.
Adrian will be based in the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention, top
floor Cairns Institute (Room D3.139) and is available to meet with staff
and students in person, by phone or skype. AITHM staff and
students wishing to meet with Adrian after 10 July, should email him on Adrian.Esterman@jcu.edu.au to arrange a suitable time. |
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AITHM’s Dr Michael Smout will be presenting at The Science Tent at this
year’s Speldour in the Grass festival. If you’re heading to the along,
check out Michael’s presentation on Friday 21 July at 12 noon. | |
Find out more >> |
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Registrations for the 2017 Australasian Tropical Health Conference,
Asia-Pacific Collaborations in Tropical Diseases are now open.
To be held at The Hilton, Cairns on 9 September from 5.00pm to 11
September 2017 4.00pm, leading international researchers will present on
the following topics:
- Chronic Disease
- Infectious Diseases
- Vectors
- Health systems
- Epidemiology
- Bioinformatics
- Infectious Disease Modelling
- Big Data
- Health Economics
Take advantage of early-bird registration and secure the following rates until 31 July
- AITHM member $275
- Non-member $425
- Student registration $150
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This one-day introductory workshop provides participants with an
understanding of how cost-effectiveness can be used to evaluate health
programs and aid decision making.
This workshop also suits those professionals who may be considering
designing their own cost-effectiveness analysis, or those seeking to
incorporate economic evaluations into their practice.
No previous economics knowledge is necessary. JCU internal participants
can register and pay internally with a relevant cost code; external
participants via credit card
This workshop will:
· Learn how to design your own cost-effectiveness analysis
· Understand health economic evaluation and how it aids decision making
· Acquire skills to quantify and analyse healthcare
· Participants will be provided with hard copies of all workshop material
· Places are limited to 20 participants
· Lunch and light refreshments will be provided
More information here
Register now
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Research Services Presentation
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All teams are invited to a Research Services Presentation for AITHM researchers.
Friday 14/7/2017, 9.00am-10.00am
Cairns: D003-063
Townsville: 145-030 (ATSIP building)
The Director, Research Services will provide information to AITHM staff
regarding the roles, functions and personnel within JCU Research
Services and how Research Services can support research staff and AITHM.
All are welcome to attend this session.
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Workshop - The Strategic Researcher
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Are you seeking a research grant, but aren’t sure how to approach it
strategically? Or, despite obtaining the grant and getting the
research done, do you find it hard to achieve the desired publication
outputs?
This workshop is ideally suited for research teams, collaborators or
co-authors, although all researchers will find it useful. | |
Find out more >> |
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The 2016 AITHM Annual Report is in the final stages of production before
going to print. Hard copies will be available soon – if you’d like
additional copies, please see Laura Males in Townsville (B48) or Trilby
Butcher in Cairns.
If you have new content for the 2017 Annual Report, which will be
produced early in 2018, be sure to let us know – we’re eager to showcase
great achievements from your team!
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Construction update - Thursday Island
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Construction of a $6.33M AITHM Clinical Research and Training facility
on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait has recently been completed.
Funded by the Queensland State Government ($6.3M) and James Cook
University ($300K), the site is adjacent to the Torres Strait Hospital
and will enable research, training and community engagement in a
site which is highly vulnerable to disease incursion and health security
threats on Australia's northern border.
This new research capacity focuses on infectious diseases such as
tuberculosis, chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity, parasites and
investigations into the mosquitoes that transmit dengue and
Zika. In addition, the community space will provide an ideal
platform for engagement and collaboration with the Torres Strait
community and the hospital service to ensure translation of
findings. Planning is underway for an official opening later this
year. |
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The Expert Guide is an online directory of ‘content experts’ who are
available to provide commentary and expertise for media in their related
field. Journalists often approach experts for comment to help add
substance or facts to their stories.
If you are interested in promoting your expertise and have not already
listed on Expert Guide, consider signing up following the steps below:
- Visit Expert Guide and select 'James Cook University' from the drop down list in the column on the left and click ‘Add me’
- Enter your contact information and details of your expertise
- Make sure you have read and checked the Terms and Conditions
- Click "Add".
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Lachlan Pomfrett
Mr. Lachlan Pomfrett has joined AITHM as the Laboratory and Technical Support Officer at the Townsville Campus.
Lachlan’s background is in Microbiology and Immunology and he has a
strong knowledge of JCU systems and processes. Lachlan’s most recent
roles have been in research and teaching within the College of Public
Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences.
This new 6 month contract will play a key role in delivering technical
support to the staff and students within the Australian Institute of
Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) to ensure the efficient and
effective functioning of the teaching and research facilities.
Adnan Choudhury
Adnan is a health economist in the final months of his Doctorate of
Philosophy in Public Health, being undertaken through the University of
Queensland, and he joined AITHM during June.
Adnan will be joining us as Research Fellow, a conjoint appointment with
NQPHN at the Townsville Campus. This position will contribute to the
NQPHN’s research and evaluation activities on health system
effectiveness and specific program outcomes. This role is also
responsible for contributing to the NQPHN’s development of their
performance framework, as well as helping shape organisational change in
funding approaches that support outcomes based performance.
Jeremy Potriquet
As the Proteomics Manager in the Molecular Immunology laboratory at the
Cairns Campus, Jeremy brings extensive experience in mass spectrometry
and advanced quantitative proteomics (SWATH) but also skills in protein
chemistry, proteomic and mass spectrometry software, bioinformatics and
programming.
This role adds strength to the proteomic capabilities of AITHM. Jeremy
is already collaborating with a number of AITHM groups and we look
forward to more collaborative opportunities in the coming years.
Trilby Butcher, Team Leader, Research Support
Trilby Butcher has been seconded to the role of Team Leader, Research
Support for a 3 month period, effective Monday 3rd July. Trilby
has worked in the role of AITHM Administrative Officer, Cairns for over
two years and is well versed in JCU and AITHM procedures and
finances. Please join us in welcoming Trilby to this role.
Dr Severine Navarro, Cohort Mentor
In addition to her current position as Research Fellow for the Centre of
Biodiscovery and the Development of Therapeutics, Dr Severine Navarro
has taken on a Cohort Mentor role for the AITHM Doctoral Cohort Studies
Program.
As a Cohort Mentor, Severine will provide mentoring to Cohort Doctoral
Studies students to support and guide them through their research
programs. The AITHM Cohort Doctoral Studies program provides a framework
for research students to commence and progress through their research
programs as a group. Cohort students benefit from cross-disciplinary
interaction, access to experienced academic mentors and twice-yearly
on-campus blocks focused on research education.
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International Day of the Tropics
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Thanks to all research teams who participated in the International Day
of the Tropics on 29 June. The social media campaign saw some great
photos of researchers sharing their passion for research in the Tropics
for people of the Tropics.
Check out our snaps on Facebook. |
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Feedback and content suggestions
Share your achievements, great publications, front covers, team wins and individual awards with AITHM.
Let us know via email, we'd love to help celebrate your great news and share via social media and our next newsletter.
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Get social with AITHM
Join us on social media with a
follow or a like. Remember to tag us into your social posts - we'd love
to share your news with our networks.
Twitter: @AITropHealthMed
Facebook: AITHM
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