Dean's newsletter - October 2007
This monthly newsletter aims to update you with some of the activities within the Medical School. In this issue:
NHMRC successes
The University of Sydney has been successful in securing over $55 million in the latest round of National Health and Medical Research Council funding, including a $7.5 million grant for clinical trails. The University has also won six new Fellowships and 90 Project Grants which are worth $43.2 million in total.
Professor John Simes and his team at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre (CTC) have received a $7.5 million 'Clinical trials advances for better health outcomes' - Program Grant. This major grant will allow the CTC to initiate major new clinical trails and a comprehensive program of research into trail methods, biostatistician analysis, health outcome analysis and decision analysis. Patient preferences and decision making, particularly in cancer, will be a major focus.
Of the 81 NHMRC projects grants awarded to the University for 2008 68 will be led by members of Sydney Medical School; there were 240 applications which gives a very impressive success rate of 28%. Congratulations are due to all of you who have done so well!
A full list of grants is available on the Research Office website at: http://www.usyd.edu.au/ro/performance/nhmrc_project_2008.shtml
Other news
It is gratifying and inspiring to hear of the achievements of members of our Medical School. Some examples follow…
Endocrine Society of Australia Young Investigator Awards
Warm congratulations to young researchers in our Medical School who have demonstrated their quality by winning two prestigious awards announced in early September by the Endocrine Society of Australia - http://www.endocrinesociety.org.au/awards.htm#nov
Dr Kirsten McTavish (supervised by Dr Charles Allan and Professor David Handelsman at the ANZAC Research Institute) won the ESA Servier Award for the best paper published in last 12 months. It is a very prestigious award for young investigators and, as it involves competing with the best early postdocs, relatively unusual for a PhD student to win.
Dr Marianne Elston (a PhD student supervised in the Kolling Institute supervised by Dr Kerrie McDonald and myself) won the Novartis Young Investigator Award which is for the best scientific abstract and presentation at the meeting.
Professor Roger Reddel, Sir Lorimer Dods Professor and Director of the Children’s Medical Research Institute
I am delighted to announce that Senate has agreed to offer the appointment to Roger and I look forward to continuing to work with him and his colleagues.
International Association of Endocrine Surgeons
Another prestigious appointment that I have great pleasure in announcing – Professor Leigh Delbridge has been elected President.
Professor and Head of the School of Public Health
Congratulations to Glenn Salkeld on his appointment!
At the Children’s Hospital at Westmead…
The Discipline of Paediatrics was extremely well represented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians held in Melbourne 6-10 May confirming its prominence in Paediatrics and Child Health in Australia.
Emeritus Professor Kim Oates received the Howard Williams Medal and delivered the oration on the topic 'Can we believe what children tell us?' to a packed house.
Professor Louise Baur received the John Sands Medal of the College for "exceptional and sustained contribution to the RACP and the profession of paediatrics" (see attached citation). Louise also gave an invited lecture to the Adult Medicine Division called 'Affluenza – the epidemic of "Diabesity". Factors in childhood and adolescence'.
Professor Kathryn North gave the Paediatric Society of Australia and New Zealand (PRSANZ) Plenary Lecture on 'Update on research and therapies of muscular dystrophies and myopathies' and was awarded Life Membership of the Society. Kathryn also judged the PRSANZ Research Prize.
Professor Elizabeth Elliott won the Rue Wright Award for her presentation on ‘Fetal alcohol syndrome in Australia. She also gave invited talks at the Trainees Forum on 'Planning your career: insight and advice from clinical leaders: Research'; and in the main meeting on 'Public health impacts of APSU studies'; 'Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Australia: Research, Policy and Practice'; and 'Perinatal exposure to HIV – what have we learned from 12 years of surveillance' (with Ms A Mcdonald).