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Dean’s Newsletter – August 2009

Congratulations to…

The winners of the Dean’s Research Publications Prize
The Dean’s Research Publications Prize is offered for the very best research papers published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2008 by postgraduate or honours students.

The purpose of these prizes is to encourage students to publish their research and to assist and encourage them to participate in scientific meetings early in their research careers. Applications are judged on the applicant’s contribution to the paper; the quality of the journal; the level of innovation and originality of the research; the scientific rigour of the research; and the clarity of organisation and writing style.

This year Sydney Medical School received 31 eligible applications, almost all from PhD students. Applications were considered by members of a subcommittee of the Research Committee who were impressed by the very high quality of the publications. Consequently two prizes are being awarded shared by to David G Van der Poorten and Daniel Sieveking. The prize is $500 each and $500 towards meeting the cost of registration or travel to present their research at a scientific meeting.

The successful publications were:

  • Van der Poorten, David G. Visceral fat: a key mediator of steatohepatitis in metabolic liver disease. Hepatology 2009 Jun;49(6):1926-34.
  • Sieveking, Daniel. Strikingly Different Angiogenic Properties of Endothelial Progenitor Cell Subpopulations: Insights From a Novel Human Angiogenesis Assay. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2008 51 (6): 660-668.

Adjunct Associate Professor Kevan Wylie who has been appointed as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Sexual medicine. ISI Journal Citation Reports® Ranking: 2008: 5/57 Urology & Nephrology Impact Factor: 5.393. Kevan has also just been appointed Vice President of the World association of Sexual Health (2009-2013) after four years as Chairman of the International Scientific Committee of WAS.

Dr Guy Lyons, Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Dermatology, on having his talk entitled, “Cooperation between cancer cell clones: a new paradigm for the malignant progression of carcinomas” at the 2009 International Academy of Oral Oncology World Congress in Toronto was awarded Best Science Paper: www.iaoo.elsevier.com/news.htm

Professor Cris dos Remedios, Professor Richard Christopherson and Professor Tony Weiss on being amongst the eight University of Sydney people who have been named finalists for the prestigious 2009 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes. Details available at here.


International Activities

Record number of applications for International Project Funding
This year Sydney Medical School has submitted a record number of applications (28) for small grants from the University’s International Project Development Fund seeking support for projects in East Timor, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Kenya, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Nepal, Switzerland, Israel, Italy, US and UK. Thanks must go to the staff in the Office for Global Health for both encouraging applications and providing advice to applicants. Thanks also to all applicants; I look forward to hearing of the success of your applications.

A visit by the senior University leadership of Shanghai Jiao Tong University
On 31 July Vice-President Professor Su Ming led a senior delegation to visit the University of Sydney. Professor Nicholas King and Ms Louise Freckelton met the delegation and provided a briefing on our active relationship with Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Medicine. Professor Su was impressed by the depth of the relationship covering research exchange and teacher training and provided encouragement to continue to develop the relationship further.

Visit by Gajah Mada University Faculty of Medicine
On 6 August a delegation lead by the Dean of Medicine UGM, Professor Ali Ghufron Mukti, made a visit to Sydney Medical School. This was a return visit following up on the outcomes of a visit made earlier this year by myself and Tom Rubin. Topics discussed included student and staff exchange, the formulation of an MOU and research collaborations.

The 2nd Sino-Australian Symposium: active compounds, molecular imaging and clinical trials
From 12 to 14 August Sydney Medical School teamed with the faculties of Science, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery and Health Sciences in a joint symposium with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The three-day research showcase has resulted in the identification of at least six potential research collaborations - a tremendous outcome. Special thanks must go to the following speakers and chairs from Medicine: Des Richardson, Zaklina Kovacevic, Shih-Chang Wang, Dale Bailey, Stephen Hunyor, Stephen Clarke, Craig Anderson, John Simes, Cindy Tan, Viet Hong Pham and Jade Wei. Thanks must also go to Nicholas King, Louise Freckelton and Fiona Thien for the organisation of the event.

Visit by Professor Tawfik M. Ghabrah, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
On Thursday 13 August Professor Ghabrah, Dean of the only recently opened Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, visited Sydney Medical School to discuss possible collaboration to assist in the development of his new medical school in areas such as establishment of a medical education unit and curriculum development, assessment, evaluation, e-learning resources, staff development. Discussions will continue and may lead to licensing opportunities.

News from Timor Leste
Two of our initiatives in Timor Leste managed through the Office of Global Health have progressed well this year.


Australian Museum Eureka Prizes

The Eureka finalists were announced on 24 July. Congratulations to those from Sydney Medical School and colleagues who comprise one of three finalists in the Research by an Interdisciplinary Team section: Platform Technology for the Attachment of Functional Biomolecules.

Prizes will be announced tonight. Best of luck to Professor Marcela Bilek, Professor Cristobal dos Remedios, Professor David McKenzie and Professor Anthony Weiss.


Bruce Robinson
Dean