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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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Mackay ready to establish a Centre of Excellence to tackle Black Lung disease
Researchers and healthcare professionals have called for a Black Lung Centre of Excellence to be based in the region of Mackay – a one-stop shop for combating the disease.
“Mackay has the capacity, resources and expertise to address the recommendations of the Black Lung review, as prepared by Professor Malcolm Sim, and is the logical base to establish a Centre of Excellence,” Dr Farlow said.
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Researching the full cost of still birth
While acknowledging the heartbreaking emotional toll of stillbirth, Dr Emily Callander and her team will lead the Health Economics element of a new Centre of Research Excellence (CRE), based at the Mater Research Institute. The team will evaluate the full economic cost of stillbirth and the economic implications of reducing it.
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Hookworm secretions suppress asthma in mice models
Research from Dr Severinne Navaro and Prof Alex Loukas published in Science Translational Medicine, has tested a recombinant form of hookworm protein on both mice and human cells. Mice treated with the worm protein showed an extensive suppression of inflammatory responses after exposure to an allergen.
The protein, AIP-2, was tested in vitro on human cells - from people allergic to dust mites, a common asthma trigger. ‘Our previous work on inflammatory bowel disease established that hookworm proteins can change T cells from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory,’ Dr Navarro said. ‘The good news is that this doesn’t just protect the gut, it also protects other organs, such as the airways, where asthma develops.’
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AITHM researchers tackling tobacco in Indigenous communities
Associate Professor Alan Clough and his team will collaborate in three major tobacco projects in the Northern Territory and Queensland aimed at reducing smoking in Indigenous communities.
“Tobacco use is of particular concern for the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, amongst whom smoking prevalence is significantly higher than in the non-Indigenous population,” Associate Professor Clough said.
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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. |
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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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Jan McLucas appointed to the Board
The Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine at James Cook University is pleased to announce the appointment of former Senator for Queensland the Honourable Jan McLucas as a new member of AITHM’s Advisory Board.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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