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Paragen Bio Laboratories Launched in Cairns
Congratulations to Professor Alex Loukas in the successful launch of Paragen Bio in August. The new spin out company is developing treatments to target autoimmune diseases using the beneficial proteins found in parasitic hookworms. A spin out from James Cook University’s Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Paragen was commercialised in 2018 as a result of investment from Brandon Capital, OneVentures and AbbVie Ventures.
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Find out more >> |
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September - NHMRC - Northern Australia Tropical Disease Collaborative Research Programme
HOT NORTH - Pilot Project - Round 4 - Cooking smoke and indoor air pollution : Impaired immunity to Tuberculosis at Australian's northern border?
Indicative funding: $35,000 administered by Menzies School of Health Research
Middle Fly region of PNG has very high rates of TB and pre-existing lung disease may play a significant role in the acquisition and development of TB disease. Our study will determine the burden and characteristics of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and investigate the resultant lung immune response defects in this community. In doing so we will build local capacity in lung function testing and laboratory analysis and optimise a pipeline of sample analysis of lung immune responses from PNG to JCU, Townsville. Such information will complement existing TB programmes in South Fly region of the Western Province.
Chief Investigators: Catherine Rush and Jeffrey Warner with the help of John McBride, Gary Nolan, Jerry Minei and Anna Ralph (College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, College of Medicine & Dentistry, Townsville Hospital and Health Service and Menzies School of Health Research)
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August - NHMRC Fellowship
A James Cook University health economics researcher is leading a major new study on the type of maternity care that delivers the ‘best bang for the buck’.
Associate Professor Emily Callander, principal research fellow in health economics at the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, recently found that expenses for obstetric services have soared by more than 1000 percent in Australia in just 25 years.
She’s now been granted a $437,000 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) fellowship to research the cost and outcomes of the pregnancy, obstetric and postnatal care of around 360,000 Queensland women who have given birth since 2012.
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July - Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant
Influence of maternal pathogen infections in the composition of the infant gut microbiome and immune health
Indicative funding: $5,000
The aim of this project is to understand how pathogen infections modify maternal microbiome and shape bacterial colonization in children. The influence of the microbiome on immune system maturation in infants directly impacts on pathogen susceptibility and persistence.
Chief Investigators: Severine Navarro, Paul Horwood and Andrew Greenhill (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and Federation University)
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July - NHMRC - Partnership Projects
Implementation of quality improvement in Indigenous primary health care: Leveraging Effective Ambulatory Practices (LEAP)
Indicative funding: $1,144,570 over 4 years
Despite increased policy attention and funding, not all primary healthcare (PHC) services for Indigenous Australians show the desired improvements in quality of care. Practices which provide PHC services are complex systems and emerging evidence indicates many things affect quality improvement. There remains a knowledge gap regarding what is required for Indigenous PHCs to succeed in improving the quality of their services and, subsequently, health outcomes for their patients. This project will capitalise on emerging research and existing strong partnerships to provide a solid evidence base for interventions to improve quality of priority health services in Indigenous PHC settings.
Chief Investigators: Sarah Larkins, Ross Baille, Catrina Felton-Busch, Paul Burgess, Emma McBryde, Kerry Copley, Rebecca Evans, V Matthews and Karen Carlisle with the help of Judy Taylor, Karla Canuto, Donald Whaleboat, S Thompson, Christine Connors and Roderick Wright (College of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Sydney, Division of Tropical Health & Medicine, Department of Health (NT), Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, Aboriginal Medical Service, Apunipima Cape York Health Council, The University of Western Australia and Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council)
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July - Townsville Hospital and Health Service - Study Education Research Trust Account (SERTA)
Discovering the Faecal Microbiome Associated with Pre-Term Birth
Indicative funding: $9,494 administered by Townsville Hospital and Health Service
Development of the pre-term gut microbiome is important for immediate and longer term health outcomes. Much of what is known about the infant and neonatal microbiome has been derived from healthy full term infants. Collecting and understanding the microbiome of the TTH NICU cohort would provide a unique insight into the microbial development and in pre-term babies admitted to the NICU. This information will provide further evidence for interventions currently undertaken in the NICU such as administration of probiotics to infants <32 weeks. This project supports evidence-based multidisciplinary research in a novel way to assess the neonatal microbiome development.
Chief Investigators: Yoga Kandasamy, Donna Rudd, Robert Norton and Roger Huerlimann (Townsville Hospital and Health Service, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, Townsville Health Service District and College of Science & Engineering)
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July - North Queensland Primary Health Network - Contract Research
YETI - Radio Practice Audit
Indicative funding: $70,000 over 2 years administered by Cairns Youth Empowered Towards Independence Inc.
1. Provide a formal design for the practice audit and prepare applications for relevant approvals. 2. Brief the reference group by providing progressive updates of results of the audit. 3. Design and establish an information collection system specifically tailored for the program goals and for the group of new AOD clients (in collaboration with yourself and the clinical support person). 4. Compile information from at least the following sources: a. Routine surveys of program managers b. Staff logs c. Client intake and follow-up assessments summarised and described d. Client feedback forms e. Notes from reference group meetings f. Service databases, in particular RADIO g. Others as required.
Chief Investigators: Alan Clough and Kristy Grant (College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)
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July - The Global Fund - Contract Research
Allocative efficiency modelling to support National TB programs
Indicative funding: $74,000 over 4 years
Tuberculosis (TB) has now been unequivocally identified as the world's leading infectious killer, with global control failing to make significant inroads into the huge burden of disease. TB in Australia is driven by this huge global burden, with around 60% of all TB cases occurring in our region and nearly 90% of Australia's cases occurring in the overseas born. Our group has an established track record of undertaking country-level simulations to better understand TB epidemiology and predict the effectiveness of programmatic interventions in the local context. These applications are linked to a program of theoretical and epidemiological research to improve understanding of TB transmission and strengthen model underpinnings. Recently, we have been working to develop our model into a flexible and robust platform by using principles of software engineering, including object-oriented and modular programming. This approach allows rapid adaptation of our tool ("AuTuMN") to new objectives without the need to modify many of the constituent modules. In this project, we will extend the AuTuMN structures to undertake country implementations in up to six additional countries, funded by The Global Fund Against AIDS, Malaria and tuberculosis (TGF). These countries are: Myanmar Timor L'este The Kingdom of Bhutan Cambodia The Philippines Sri Lanka This RFAF is an indicative budget, as airfares and other direct costs will only be paid upon submission of receipts.
Chief Investigators: Emma McBryde, R Ragonnet, Nhut Tan Doan and James Trauer (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, The University of Melbourne and Monash University)
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July - Townsville City Council - Contract Research
Assessment of the ecological risk of emerging contaminants released from the Cleveland Bay Purification Plant
Indicative funding: $312,128 over 6 years
Discharge from the Cleveland Bay Purification plant (CBPP) is via ocean pipeline into Cleveland Bay and falls within the jurisdiction of the Qld State Marine Park Authority (QSMPA). A planned CBPP membrane upgrade has initiated a QSMPA operational permit, issued in December 2017., requiring Townsville city council to develop an Effluent Quality Assessment Program. The assessment program is to be developed under the guidance of a Special Technical Advisory Group (STAG) and should include effluent sampling of new and emerging contaminants, as identified in the Tropical water quality hub's NESP report (2015). This includes but is not limited to heavy metals, various organics (hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, poly-aromatics and personal care products) and micro-plastics. The assessment program's objective is to identify and prioritise emerging contaminants based on estimation of the current and longer-term ecological risk to the receiving environment.
Chief Investigators: Madoc Sheehan and Brenda Govan with the help of Jochen Mueller, Anna Whelan, Ellen Ariel, Stephen Lewis, Edgar Salvador and Neil Mattocks (College of Science & Engineering, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, The University of Queensland, Townsville City Council, TropWATER, Queensland Department of National Parks and Sport and Racing)
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Awards received by AITHM Staff and Members
2018 Rising Stars
- Dr Matt Field, AITHM
- Dr Andreas Kupz, AITHM
- Dr Stephanie Topp, CPHMVS
- Dr Fatima Yaqoot, MICRRH
2018 JCU 3MT Competition
3MT - HDR Judge’s Award
- Winner: Mitchell Scovell, CHS
- Runner-up: Kristin Edwards, CPHMVS
- People’s Choice Award: Mitchell Scovell, CHS
3MT – ECR Judge’s Award
- Winner: Dr Daniel Lindsay, DTHM
- People’s Choice Award: Dr Daniel Lindsay, CPHMVS
Visualise Your Research – HDR Judge’s Award:
- Joint Winners: Stacy Bierwagon CSE/CSTFA and Christopher Brunner AIMS@JCU
- People’s Choice Award: Christopher Brunner
Visualise Your Research – open section Judge’s Award:
- Winner: Dr Ian McLeod, TropWATER
- People’s Choice Award: Dr Kasia Wojtylak, CASE
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FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Close Date: 28-Oct-2018
SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH CANCER GRANT INITIATIVE
Close Date & Time: 30-Oct-2018 2:00 pm
AUS TENDERS - NON-ADMITTED CARE COSTING STUDY
Close Date & Time: 28-Sep-2018 2:00 pm
FOGARTY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Fogarty's global health research and research training programs offer a variety of funding opportunities. Find upcoming application deadlines, announcements from the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) and more information about Fogarty programs.
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH - GRANTS AND FUNDING
For more details and up to date funding opportunity please refer to the website.
NHMRC - EUROPEAN UNION (EU) COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH GRANTS
Indicative dates for the NHMRC–EU scheme for funding commencing in 2019 funding round are as follows:
- Funding Documentation available on Grant Connect(link is external) : November 2017
- RGMS open: September 2018, April 2019 (TBC)
- Applications close: October 2018, May 2019 (TBC)
Health Practitioner Research Scheme
The Health Practitioner Research Scheme is open to all professionals covered by the Health Practitioners and Dental Officers (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement (No.2) 2016. It is a peer reviewed, merit based scheme, annually awarding funds to build research capacity within the health practitioner professions.
Applications close 5pm Wednesday, 10 October 2018.
Discovery Indigenous Scheme
Discovery Indigenous scheme provides funding to Administering Organisations to support research programs led by an Indigenous Australian researcher and build research capacity of higher degree research and early career researchers. Applications Open: 21st November 2018 Applications Close: 27th March 2018
Global Innovation Linkages Program - Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
Provides matched funding to assist Australian businesses and researchers to collaborate with global partners on strategically focused, leading-edge research and development projects. The program will support projects focussed on developing high quality products, services or processes that respond to industry challenges.
- The maximum grant amount is AU$1 million.
- The grant amount will be up to 50% per cent of eligible project expenditure.
- The maximum grant period is four years.
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NEWS
Stories Gaining Traction
July – Kyran Staunton reached over 112 stories online and offline with - “Dengue, Zika, and yellow fever could soon be a thing of the past.”
July – Paul Gunther reached 40 news outlets online - 'Silent Killer plaguing our tradies'
August – Alex Loukas reached 43 news outlets online and offline with "Paragen Bio - New Start-Up'
Social Media Gaining Traction
July – AITHM & WHOCC 2018 Conference in Cairns reached 674 people
August – Dr Smriti Krishna - Young Scientists Travel Award, reached 2003 people
August – National Science Week reached 1223 people
August – Paragen Bio Launch reached 643 people
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date
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Special Issue
Congratulations to AITHM Members - Patrica Graves, Peter Leggat and colleagues on the publishing of a special issue in the Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. The issue focuses on neglected and emerging tropical diseases in Oceania region. |
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National Science Week
As apart of National Science Week 2018 Dr Ashley Waardenberg visited St Francis Xavier's School to teach the primary school students about DNA using the ideas of LEGO to form the building blocks.
"They translated their names into DNA code, using the A, T, C, G letters (the lego pieces) in the tri-nucleotide format. I made up a template sheet (with play codes for the alphabet) for them to use and to take home, so that they could understand how combinations of three letters, such as ATG, were translated into individual amino acid codes, such as an M (the bigger lego piece)." Dr Waardenberg
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National Science Week
Dr Smriti Krishna, Dr Alex Trollope, Dr Nicole Thomas and Dr Hayley Letson presented at the Australian Brain Alliance EMCR Network North Queensland Showcase as a part of National Science Week at James Cook University.
"The highlight of the showcase was the fact that Brain research is a key area and the wider community, young high school students as well as older community members, found the topic equally engaging." Dr. Smriti Krishna
"The other interesting occurrence was having a stroke survivor among the audience who also happened to be the North Queensland Ambassador for APHASIA. The experiences and perspectives shared by him after listening to the ABA-Showcase gave a valuable insight into the importance of research topic that we showcased and the requirement of more funding in this key research area."
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National Science Week
Queensland Government Feature
I for IMMUNOTHERAPY!
Food allergies are a big problem, but what if we told you that one day you may be able to be vaccinated against them….interested? Dr Sandip Kamath and the team at James Cook University, Australia certainly are!
They're studying #immunotherapy to find vaccines for food allergies
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2018 Seminar Series
Helminths and type 2 immunity
Professor Nicola Harris
Monday 19th November 2018 1:00PM - 2:00PM Cairns
Cairns D3.144 video linked to Townsville 48.202
Zoom meeting ID: 567 762 604
The AITHM Seminar Series is focused on the exchange of research in the field of tropical health and medicine and we are calling for suggestions for potential seminar speakers for 2018.
Information on how to nominate a speaker for the AITHM Seminar Series is available here.
Please be aware that there will be changes to the 2019 Seminar Series - including available funding and protocol. |
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JCU Research Festival
We wish to invite you to join AITHM at the 2018 JCU Research Festival to be held at The Science Place, on the 29th October and 30th October, in Townsville.
The JCU Research festival is aimed at showcasing the depths of research being conducted at James Cook University, by providing a forum for researchers and students to display their work to each other and the public.
There will be a special public event held on Monday 29th October at 5:00pm Science Under the Stars. A unique opportunity for leading researcher at JCU to critically discuss one of the major questions facing the world – Food Security.
From 3:30pm to 7:00pm on Monday 29th October the public is invited to come and engage with research from across the university and explore the Science Place. Then join us for Science Under the Stars.
This will be a great opportunity to look behind the scenes and see abundance of research being done from undergraduate students to our leading researchers. Come a long and find out more!
Festival Competitions
Registration closes 16th October 5:00pm - multiple entries are welcome!
- Poster competition: Undergraduate Poster Competition
- Open to all undergraduate students
- Posters will be displayed on Tuesday 30th October
- Multiple cash prizes
- Poster competition: HDR and Researchers Poster Competition
- Open to all postgraduate students and staff
- Posters will be displayed on Monday 29th October
- Multiple cash prizes
- Microscopy image competition:
- Open to all students and staff
- Images will be displayed Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th October
- Multiple cash prizes
- The image should be sent as a jpeg file, and include (embedded text)
- Multiple entries allowed
- Early submission prize:
- Go into the running for $100 prize for submitting early
- Submit your poster or slide by 8th October to go into the running.
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In short...
Have something you want to share? Send your stories to aithm@jcu.edu.au |
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