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NHMRC success

Dr Andreas Kupz will receive more than $740,000 over four years from the NHMRC to accelerate current TB research.

This project aims to interrogate two previously neglected immune mechanisms and their potential to enhance vaccine-induced immunity by incorporating these mechanisms into new genetically modified BCG strains. We will also investigate alternative BCG vaccination routes to generate long-lived immune cells that can rapidly control the infection.


Read more here

Dr Sandip Kamath was awarded $318,768 under the 2016 National Health and Medical Research Council’s Grants Round for his research into food allergies. 

The project - Hypoallergenic proteins as novel immunotherapeutic candidates for food allergy - studies the allergens identified in these foods and modifying them so the immune system was trained to tolerate the allergen without any severe or accidental reactions.


Read more here

Professor Alexander Loukas has been awarded $938,910 from NHMRC for his research into parasitic worms and possible uses for their ‘worm spit’.

The project, Helminth secretomes: from vaccines to novel anti-inflammatory biologics, focuses on worm molecules that can be used to develop vaccines to combat these parasitic infections in developing countries, and also promote anti-inflammatory therapeutics in industrialised nations.

JCU’s Professor Jonathan Golledge will also receive $569,219 in continuing funding for his research into developing improved management for peripheral artery diseases.

The aim of the work is to develop improved management approaches for patients with blocked and weakened arteries. This work is particularly important given the recognised management deficiencies for patients with artery disease and the relative little research being undertaken in this area.

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New collaboration targets Aedes egypti

Prof Scott Ritchie has teamed up with CSIRO and Verily to target Aedes egypti mosquito populations in an upcoming trial. After infecting male mosquitoes with wolbachia (bacteria rendering them sterile), they’ll be released into the community. When the males mate with the females the eggs cannot produce larvae therefore reducing the population. The male mosquitoes will also be marked with a dye so the team can measure their dispersal, survival and mating success. This trial will also help inform the next phase of the Verily project which is to develop technology to mass produce sterile male mosquitoes for future releases.  

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Tiange Liu awarded prestigious travel award


PhD candidate Tiange Liu was recently awarded an International Conference on Genomics (ICG) women scientists travel award - the only Australian recipient. 

This travel award enabled Tiange to attended the 11th International Conference on Genomics (ICG-11), organised by the Beijing Genomic Institute (BGI). 

"I was very honoured to join the twelve outstanding women speakers in the ‘Annual Women in 'Omics Conference‘, which was held to promote research and career development for women in the fields of science," Tiange said. 
 

Academic promotions

Vice Chancellor, Professor Sandra Harding has recently announced academic promotions for 2017.

Please join us in congratulating the following successful applicants:

  • Dr Paul Giacomin – Senior Research Fellow
  • Dr Phurpa Wangchuck – Research Fellow
  • A/Prof Zoltan Sarnyai Professor – Promotional Chair
  • A/Prof Alan Clough – Professorial Research Fellow
  • Dr Catherine Rush – Associate Professor
  • Dr Muriel Soden – Associate Professor
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ARCs mid-term review of AITHM

Over the past five months AITHM has been busy preparing for the ARCs mid-term review of AITHM.

AITHM’s performance has been evaluated against the funding objectives and specific performance targets and milestones in the original proposal.  Written submissions by AITHM and JCU, responding to the Terms of Reference were prepared and submitted to the ARC on the 7of November. These submissions included input from many AITHM and JCU researchers, administration and managerial staff. The written submission was followed by a site visit by a review panel to Townsville on the 6 & 7 December.  Panel members interviewed AITHM and JCU researchers (senior, postdoctoral and postgraduate), stakeholders and leadership, managerial, administration staff.

Overall, the feedback has been encouraging and we are expecting the ARC review report, with recommendations, at the end of January 2017.

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Communications templates

AITHM has a variety of communications templates available for colleagues and members of AITHM. The most common templates used by teams include:

  • AITHM powerpoint slides
  • AITHM poster templates
  • AITHM full suite of logos (including the style guide)
  • AITHM/JCU business card templates
  • AITHM Letterhead
  • AITHM email signature blocks

The full range of communications materials can be located online and downloaded as required.

For assistance with communications/media/PR or showcasing your research outcomes, please contact
Communications Coordinator, Laura Males.

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Reperio Awards

AITHM was proud to support the recent JCU Reperio Awards – an event to showcase innovation in research. Participants had five minutes to impress the judges with their pitches aimed at taking a scientific idea and presenting the concept as a business proposition.

AITHM sponsored the People’s Choice Award, with a tie taken out by Kate Hudson – “Cleaner Shrimp foot spa” and Aya Taki/Thimo Ruethers – “BarraSafe – hypoallergenic barramundi”.

Congratulations to all participants,
see the full list of Reperio winners here

 
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AITHM Thursday Island

Internal fit out has commenced with great progress being made on the Thursday Island site. See the latest photo gallery. 


 
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AITHM Cairns
 

Work continues on the Cairns site with completion due in November 2017.
 
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AITHM Townsville
 

The PC2 and PC3 labs have recently commenced the certification process paving the way for lab based research to commence in early 2017. 
 
 
Claire Loiseau

Claire has recently joined AITHM as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, working with Professor Denise Doolan’s team in the molecular immunology of infectious diseases, at the Cairns Campus.

Claire has a PhD in Immunology with highest honours from the University Paul Sabatier, France. Claire’s background includes, immunology, infectious disease, biology and health. 

Paul Horwood
 

Paul will be joining AITHM on 16 January as a Senior Research Fellow Laboratory Epidemiologist, working with Emma McBryde’s team in infectious diseases, at the Cairns Campus.

Paul has a PhD in microbiology with first class honours from James Cook University. Paul’s previous experience includes emerging tropical diseases in the Asia-Pacific region, including research into understanding the molecular epidemiology of tropical diseases and improving laboratory diagnostics.

Paul is also a virologist with a background in molecular biology, bacteriology and public health, and has led multidisciplinary teams in Papua New Guinea and Cambodia.

 

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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Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine
James Cook University
QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA

P (07) 4781 3122
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E aithm@jcu.edu.au