2017 MDHS ECR Network Symposium
Important Announcement
Additional Keynote Speaker Professor Julie Simpson (see below for details)
The University of Melbourne, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network aims to support ECRs to achieve research excellence at the University of Melbourne. The ECR Network is an ECR-led initiative established by, and for, ECRs within MDHS. The ECR Network organises a yearly symposium for researchers to network and present their work.
The 3rd Annual MDHS ECR Network Symposium will be held on Thursday the 19th of October. The program will include oral and poster presentations, an opening plenary address by Professor Shitij Kapur (Dean of the MDHS Faculty and the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Health) at the University of Melbourne) and a keynote presentation by Professor Julie Simpson (Head of Biostatistics and co-Deputy Head of School at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health; NHMRC Senior Research Fellow and a Chief Investigator of the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence (ViCBiostat)).
The event will conclude with the opportunity to network with colleagues, enjoy a drink and some food. For more details and updates, see our website.
Many cash prizes and travel awards for best poster and oral presentations up to $1500 to be won!
Who: All ECRs and PhD students from MDHS are invited to participate and meet fellow researchers
When: 19th October 2017. Registration on-site commences from 8:30 am, accompanied by a light breakfast, tea and coffee.
Where: Auditorium, Kenneth Myer Building (Melbourne Brain Centre), 30 Royal Parade, Parkville
Registration: This event is free and includes free food and drinks. Registration is NOW OPEN and closes 16th October 17:00 AEST. Register here.
Share this event with your colleagues. Download the flyer here.
Keynote Speakers:
Professor Shitij Kapur, MBBS, PhD, FRCPC, FMedSci
Professor of Psychiatry and Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Assistant Vice Chancellor (Health), University of Melbourne
Professor Shitij Kapur, FRCPC, PhD, FMedSci is the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Health), University of Melbourne. Shitij is a clinician-scientist with expertise in psychiatry, neuroscience and brain imaging. He trained as a Psychiatrist at the University of Pittsburgh, and undertook a PhD and Fellowship at the University of Toronto. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (USA) and has practised psychiatry in the US, Canada and the UK.
Professor Kapur’s main research interest is in understanding Schizophrenia and its treatment. Using brain imaging, clinical trials and animal models better understanding of antipsychotic action, its relationship to brain dopamine receptor blockade, the role of appropriate dosing of these drugs and has led to the development of the ‘salience’ framework of psychosis and the ‘early onset’ hypothesis if antipsychotic action; and a better understanding of how ‘biomarkers’ might be best incorporated into psychiatric care and drug development. Shitij has published over 300 peer-reviewed papers, his work has received over 30,000 citations, he has an H-index of over 85 and has received various national and international awards including the AE Bennett Award of the Society for Biological Psychiatry and the Paul Janssen Award of the the International College of the Neuropsychopharmacology (CINP). He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association; a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, UK, and a Fellow of King’s College London, UK.
Formerly, Professor Kapur was Executive Dean Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (loPPN), Europe’s largest and leading centre for mental health research. Prior to that role, he served as Vice-President (Research) for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Toronto, Canada’s premier centre for research into mental health and addictions.
Shitij has served as a Non-Executive Director of the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust in the US, as Secretary of the International College of the Neuropsychopharmacology (CINP) and a Treasurer of the Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS). He currently serves as a Director on the Board of the Royal Melbourne Hospital [a public hospital], the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, the St. Vincent’s Research Institute, and the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discoveries [all medical research institutes], Australia.
When away from his work Dr Kapur is wearing out his knees playing squash and working hard to perfect the ultimate lamb biryani.
Professor Julie Simpson
Head of Biostatistics and co-Deputy Head of School at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
NHMRC Senior Research Fellow and a Chief Investigator of the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence (ViCBiostat).
Professor Simpson has published over 200 peer-reviewed publications and has 25 years experience teaching biostatistics and contributing to clinical and population health research. Her main research areas are: the integration of biostatistics and mathematical modelling to improve the control of infectious diseases and statistical methods for handling missing data. She has been an advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO) for the design and analysis of antimalarial drug trials over the last 15 years, and recently contributed to policy change in the treatment of children with severe malaria (WHO treatment guidelines, 3rd edition).
Program:
REGISTRATION/PRE-SYMPOSIUM SESSION
| 8.30-9.00 | Registration
Tea/coffee and light breakfast |
SESSION ONE: Co-Chairs Claudia Marck and David Gonsalvez
| 9.00-9.15 | Opening of proceedings by MDHS ECR Network Co-Chairs |
| 9.15-10.15 | Keynote Presentation by Prof in Psychiatry Shitij Kapur
Dean, Faculty of MDHS and Assistant Vice Chancellor (Health) “Searching for clinical tests – a long road in psychiatry” |
SERVIER MORNING TEA BREAK (10.15 – 10.40) Poster session 1
SESSION TWO: Co-Chaired by Premila Paiva & Hamish McWilliam
Oral presentations: “Infection & Immunity”
| 10.40-10.50 | Oral 1: Angela Pizzolla, Microbiology and Immunology
Nasal tissue resident memory CD8+ T cells prevent pulmonary influenza A virus infection |
| 10.50-11.00 | Oral 2: Julia Prier, Microbiology and Immunology
Identification of a committed precursor to the tissue-resident memory T cell fate |
| 11.00-11.10 | Oral 3: Susan Christo, Microbiology and Immunology
The role of TGFβ in shaping TRM identity in epithelial and non-epithelial environs |
| 11.10-11.20 | Oral 4: Hui-Fern Koay, Microbiology and Immunology
Development of functional MAIT cells |
| 11.20-11.30 | Oral 5: Bridie Clemens, Microbiology and Immunology
Mapping protective influenza-specific CD8+ T cell targets for HLA-A*24:02 in Indigenous populations |
| 11.30-11.40 | Oral 6: Gayathri Manokaran, Microbiology and Immunology
Understanding the role of lipids behind Wolbachia-mediated inhibition of medically important flaviviruses |
| 11.40-11.50 | Oral 7: Cristina Giogha, Microbiology and Immunology
A family of secreted bacterial glycosyltransferases that catalyse novel biochemical modifications |
| 11.50-12.00 | Oral 8: Jane Hawkey, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Microevolution of antibiotic resistant Acinetobacter baumannii during prolonged infection |
| 12.00-12.10 | Oral 9: Turgut Aktepe, Microbiology and Immunology
The Host Protein Reticulon 3.1A Contributes to Flavivirus Replication Via Interaction and Stabilization of the NS4A Protein |
LUNCH BREAK (12.10 – 1:15) Continuation of poster session 1
SESSION THREE: Co-Chaired by Dorothea Lesche & Angela Pizzolla
Oral presentations: “Clinical & Public Health”
| 1.15-1.40 | Keynote: Prof. Julie Simpson, Head of Biostatistics and co-Deputy Head of School
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health ‘Identifying and developing your research niche’ |
| 1.40-1.50 | Oral 10: Michelle Hall, Physiotherapy
Knee extensor strength gains mediate symptom improvement in knee osteoarthritis: Secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial |
| 1.50-2.00 | Oral 11: Esmee Reijnierse, Medicine
Assessment of maximal handgrip strength: how many attempts are needed? |
| 2.00-2.10 | Oral 12: Camilla Tuttle, Medicine
Markers of cellular senescence and chronological age in various human tissues: a systemic review of the literature |
| 2.10-2.20 | Oral 13: Yang Li, School of Psychological Science
Rational Defectors Do Not Punish Norm Violators but Reject Unfair Offers |
| 2.20-2.30 | Oral 14: Michelle Peate, Obstetrics and Gynaecology
The role of decision aids in cancer to support fertility decision-making |
| 2.30-2.40 | Oral 15: Ankur Singh, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health
Variance share at small area level for different types of tobacco use in India: A potential point of intervention |
AFTERNOON TEA BREAK (2:40 – 3.10) Poster session 2
SESSION FOUR: Co-Chaired by Emily You & Jacqueline Heath
Oral presentations: “Fundamentals of Disease”
| 3.10-3.20 | Oral 16: Dustin Flanagan, Doherty Institute
Frizzled-7 is rate-limiting for gastric tumourigenesis |
| 3.20-3.30 | Oral 17: Parisa Farzanehfar, Florey Institute
Objective measurement in clinical care of patients with Parkinson’s disease: An RCT using the PKG |
| 3.30-3.40 | Oral 18: Pablo M. Casillas-Espinosa, Medicine
Disease modifying effects of sodium selenate in chronic a rat model of chronic, drug resistant, temporal lobe epilepsy |
| 3.40-3.50 | Oral 19: Ashish Sethi, Biochemistry
Understanding the role of LDLa-LRR linker in the ligand binding and activation of its receptor RXFP1 |
| 3.50-4.00 | Oral 20: Benjamin Goudey, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health
A blood-based signature of cerebral spinal fluid Aβ(1-42) status |
| 4.00-4.10 | Oral 21: Christina Perry, Florey Institute
Chronic alcohol produces specific cognitive deficit |
| 4.10-4.20 | Oral 22: Philip Ryan, Florey Institute
Oxytocin receptor-expressing neurons in the parabrachial nucleus modulate fluid satiation |
RECEPTION FROM 4:20PM, Continuation of poster session 2
PRIZES/CLOSING PROCEEDINGS
| 4.45-5.00 | Dissemination of prizes
Closing of proceedings by MDHS ECR Network Co-Chairs |
CONTINUE RECEPTION & POSTER VIEWING UNTIL 6PM
IN THE MELBOURNE BRAIN CENTRE FOYER
Thank you to our sponsors:
2016 MDHS ECR Network Symposium
After the success of the 2015 Inaugural MDHS ECR Network Symposium, the MDHS ECR Network hosted its second annual symposium on Thursday the 20th of October 2016. Early Career Researchers (ECRs) representing the breadth of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) showcased their research in areas ranging from transplantation of neuron progenitors which regulate colonic muscle motility; to assessment of cardiovascular fitness after stroke; to the effect of high salt on macrophage activation and inflammatory response; to the ethics of fertility preservation for pre-pubertal children.
The Symposium was focused on highlighting the importance of collaboration in addressing important research questions and establishing oneself as a successful research scientist within a field. ECRs were able to engage with members of the Faculty, across each of the Schools and Departments, indicating the specific knowledge and skills they possess which may form the basis for collaborations with those in need of such expertise. ECRs were given the opportunity to describe the research being performed within the MDHS Faculty in a manner appropriate for a general scientific audience, interact and discuss research ideas. ECRs were also made aware of the many unique resources and infrastructure platforms available within the Faculty. It was not surprising that all of the oral and poster presentations were of a high caliber.
Prizes were awarded to outstanding presentations including the Best Oral Presentation winner, Dr Zoe Dyson from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, whose whole genome sequence analysis indicated the success of the national immunisation in Thailand against endemic Salmonella Typhi. Dr Dyson was awarded a $1,500 travel award, sponsored by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne. Dr Amy Chung from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology was awarded second prize, $750 sponsored by Servier, for her investigation of vaccine-induced humoral immune responses using systems serology. The 3rd prize was awarded to Dr Karl Brown from Opthalmology in the Department of Surgery for his talk entitled ‘In vivo pre-clinical trial of a tissue engineered corneal endothelium.’ Dr Brown was awarded $450, sponsored by the Center for Stem Cell Systems.
Above: Dr Zoe Dyson (left) from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology receiving the first oral presentation prize from Professor Leann Tilley (right).
Above: Dr Amy Chung (left) from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology receiving the second oral presentation prize from Professor Leann Tilley (right).
Above: Dr Karl Brown (right) from Opthalmology in the Department of Surgery receiving the third oral presentation prize sponsored by the Center for Stem Cell Systems.
Margaret Lam from Systems Genomics was awarded $450, sponsored by Eppendorf, for first place in the poster competition. Stacey Gorski from the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience was awarded the second poster prize of $300, sponsored by the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) . Samuel Mills, also from the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience was awarded the third poster prize of $100, sponsored by Stem Cell Technologies.
Above: Margaret Lam (left) from Systems Genomics receiving the first poster presentation prize sponsored by Eppendorf.
Above: Stacey Gorski (left) from the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience receiving the second poster presentation prize sponsored by ASBMB from Dr Hamish McWilliam (right), MDHS ECR Network Commitee Co-chair and ASBMB representative.
Above: Samuel Mills (left) receiving the third poster presentation prize sponsored by Stem Cell Technologies.
Isabel Lopez Sanchez was awarded the sponsor prize from Eppendorf of a brand new pipette in the size of her choice. Dr Ramin Khanabdali was awarded $500 worth of reagents from Jomar Life Research and Dr Ghazaleh Dashti was awarded the $100 door prize from Logical Freight Solutions.
Above (clockwise from left): Isabel Lopez Sanchez (left), Bao Nguyen (right) on behalf of Dr Ramin Khanabdali, and Dr Ghazaleh Dashti (right) receiving sponsor prizes.
Special thanks go to our inspirational keynote speaker Professor Leann Tilley, who imparted words of wisdom on the essential nature of collaboration and the importance of establishing your research niche.
Above : Professor Leann Tilley delivering her keynote speech about the importance of collaboration.
We are also very appreciative for support from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience for sponsoring the poster printing, along with our very generous industry sponsors; Servier, Eppendorf, Stemformatics, Jomar Life Research, Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Logical Freight Solutions and Stemcell Technologies.
Above (from left): The 2016 MDHS ECR Network Symposium prize winners Margaret Lam, Dr Zoe Dyson, Samuel Mills, Dr Amy Chung, Stacey Gorski, Dr Ghazaleh Dashti and Dr Karl Brown.
See Updates & Events for more information on the MDHS ECR Network and upcoming events.
We look forward to seeing you at our next MDHS ECR Network Symposium in 2017!
Members of the MDHS ECR Network Committee: Hamish McWilliam (Co-chair), Bridgette Semple (Co-chair), Camille Shanahan (Secretary), Michelle Hall (Treasurer), Claudia Marck, Jaclyn Pearson, Bao Nguyen, Angela Pizzolla, Amy Chung, Kevin Lau, Michelle Hall, Michelle Peate, Jacqueline Heath, Fiona Clay, Khic Prang, Jessica Fletcher, Nicole Hill and David Gonsalvez
2015 MDHS ECR Network Symposium
On 
Tuesday the 24th of November 2015, the MDHS ECR Network hosted its Inaugural Symposium. Early Career Researchers (ECRs) from throughout the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) showcased their research in areas ranging from stroke rehabilitation; to Mandarin lexical tone recognition in cochlear implant users; to identifying drugs that modulate immune cell functions.
The Symposium was focused on enabling ECRs to engage with each other across Schools and Departments and making them aware of resources available within the Faculty. It featured guest speakers from the Melbourne Clinical and Translational Sciences (MCATS) Platform, Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (RIC) and the Research Bazaar (ResBaz). It also featured oral and poster presentations by ECRs, which aimed to communicate research being performed at MDHS to a general scientific audience. All presentations were of a very high quality, which made the job of judging very difficult but ECRs from across the Faculty were able to interact with each other and exchange research ideas.
Standout presentations included the Best Oral Presentation winner, Dr Jaclyn Pearson who told a tale of sneaky, subversive little bacterial bugs and gave us a whole new perspective on diarrhea. The People’s Choice award went to Dr Vicki Chrysostomou and her flotilla of swimming mice, for their perspective on the link between exercise and retinal health. Poster prizes from Merck Millipore and Integrated Sciences were awarded to Dr Shivani Pasricha and Dr Liam Johnson, and the Jomar Life Research eBiosciences ECR grant was awarded to Dr Elizabeth Aitken.
Special thanks go to the MDHS Associate Dean of Research, Professor Mary Wlodek for her opening address and ongoing support, and to our Keynote speaker Baroness Susan Greenfield, who captured the audience with her inspiring and witty life story.
We are also very grateful for support from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and MDHS Research Development, as well as our very generous industry sponsors; Jomar Life Research, Australian Biosearch, Merck Millipore and Integrated Sciences.
For more information on the MDHS ECR Network and upcoming events, including the Perfect Pitch event in January 2016 and a Post-Grants Gala in April 2016, please stay tuned.
And we look forward to seeing you at our next MDHS ECR Network Symposium in 2016!
MDHS Early Career Researcher Network 