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SPRING 2025
Together, we’re helping Tasmanians stay healthier for longer
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, the 2025 Menzies Winter Appeal has raised $40,000 –and we couldn’t be more grateful.
This year’s appeal focused on prevention – the small, everyday choices that help us live longer, healthier lives. At Menzies, we believe that good health isn’t just about medicine – it’s about empowering people with knowledge and practical tools to stay well. That’s why we refreshed our Top Ten Health Tips with the latest research and shared them far and wide.
These tips are simple, powerful and backed by science, helping people of
all ages take small steps toward better health.
These tips are more than just advice – they’re part of a bigger movement to reduce preventable diseases in Tasmania. With your support, Menzies researchers are turning trusted research into practical tools for families, communities and health professionals.
These tips are simple, powerful, and backed by science, helping people of all ages
Let’s keep the momentum going. Together, we’re building a healthier Tasmania, one small step at a time.
It’s not too late to make a donation to our Winter Appeal. To do so, give us a call on 03 6226 7707
Free call: 1800 638 124 or hop online utas.edu.au/menzies/donate/form
Director’s message
I’m delighted to share our Spring Bulletin.
I’m especially pleased to share with you the results of our annual Menzies Awards, which highlight the worldclass publications from our researchers and the important role our professional staff play at the institute.
It’s also been fantastic to connect with our communities and Menzies Awards … highlight the worldclass publications from our researchers
Volunteer for a study
We’re looking for people 18 years or older to volunteer to take part in our study: ‘Where do you buy medicines?’
The aim is to learn more about the online medicine purchasing habits of Australian residents. The findings will be used to help us suggest strategies to ensure the safety of consumers when purchasing medicines over the internet.
For further information, please click on the link: https://redcap.utas.edu. au/surveys/?s=WMLFW7LCAEE9N77T or scan the QRcode
Menzies will be increasingly contacting our supporters via email.
If you would like to provide Menzies with your current email address, please email Menzies.Advancement@utas.edu.au or phone 6226 7707. Thank you.
Keep up with our news
Would you like to keep up to date with the latest Menzies news?
Find us on Facebook and ‘like’ our page.
You can read all our Bulletins and reports electronically at issuu.com
supporters right around the state this year. This has included hosting the Governor-General in Burnie for World MS Day and inviting the public along to hear our Research Update in Launceston. I would like to close by paying tribute to the late Sir Guy Green, who died on July 22. Sir Guy was best known for being Governor of Tasmania,
but he also played a significant role within the University, serving as Chancellor for a decade. He was instrumental in the establishment of Menzies and was a long-term Board member and supporter. His family and loved ones are in our thoughts.
Kind regards, Tracey
Dickson Director
Save the date: Thank You Day
On Thursday, November 13, Menzies will be holding its annual Thank You Day morning tea.
At this event we thank our many volunteers, donors, supporters and study participants across the Tasmanian community. We pride ourselves in having deep consumer and community involvement in our research, and know that it is essential for us to deliver on our mission to perform internationally significant medical research that leads to healthier longer and better lives for Tasmanians.
Menzies Excellence Awards 2025
Every year we celebrate our collective achievements and collaborations by inviting staff and students to participate in our Menzies Excellence Awards.
We always look forward to celebrating the impact of our research and honouring our staff. Congratulations to all of this year’s Menzies Excellence Award winners.
BEST OF THE BEST
For outstanding research achievement evidenced through publication in a scholarly journal.
Dr Laura Laslett and Dr Lieke Scheepers ‘Krill oil for knee osteoarthritis: a
randomised clinical trial’, published in JAMA
POPULATION HEALTH
Dr Julie Campbell and Mr Glen Henson
‘Estimation of Transition
Probabilities from a Large Cohort (> 6000) of Australians Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for Changing Disability
Severity classifications, MS Phenotype, and Disease-Modifying Therapy
Classifications’, published in Pharmacoeconomics
Dr Zemene Demelash Kifle
‘MRI-derived abdominal adipose tissue is associated with multisite and widespread chronic pain’, published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.
Dr Jack Evans
‘Is public transport a promising strategy
We always look forward to celebrating the diverse nature of our research themes and honouring the other work throughout the institute
Winners: From left, Research Impact Prize recipients Professor Verity Cleland and Dr Kim Jose with Menzies Director Professor Tracey Dickson.
for increasing physical activity? Evidence from a study of objectively measured public transport use and physical activity’, published in The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Dr Yaxing Meng ‘Blood Pressure at Different Life Stages Over the Early Life Course and Intima-Media Thickness’, published in JAMA Pediatrics.
CLINICAL RESEARCH
Professor James Sharman ‘Blood Pressure Lowering in Patients with Central Hypertension: A randomised Clinical Trial’, published in Hypertension
Professor Tom Marwick ‘Strain surveillance during chemotherapy to improve cardiovascular outcomes: the SUCCOUR-MRI trial’, published in European Heart Journal.
Ms Eleanor Clapham ‘Home Blood Pressure Measurements Are Not Performed According to Guidelines and Standardised Education Is Urgently Needed’, published in Hypertension
LABORATORY RESEARCH
Dr William Reay ‘Understanding the Genetic Architecture of Vitamin Status Biomarkers in the Genome-Wide Association Study Era:
AWARDS
Biological Insights and Clinical Significance’, published in Advances in Nutrition
Mr Phuong Tram Nguyen
‘Low intensity repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation enhances remyelination by newborn and surviving oligodendrocytes in the cuprizone model of toxic demyelination’, published in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience RESEARCH IMPACT PRIZE
To recognise research that has had demonstrable benefits to society.
Professor Verity Cleland and Dr Kim Jose
ACADEMIC MENTORING AWARD
For recognition of the significant and ongoing contributions made to the career and professional development of staff and students.
Associate Professor Barbara de Graaff
PROFESSIONAL STAFF AWARDS
Mrs Chantal Woodhams
For an outstanding contribution to the leadership of Menzies
and an exceptional commitment to the delivery of its mission to perform significant medical research leading to better lives for Tasmanians.
Ms Annie Brennan
For an outstanding contribution to Menzies through her leadership and management of the InforMS Project.
Dr Jyoti Chuckowree
For exceptional performance and contributions to the Dickson Lab Group.
Ms Philippa Scanlon and Ms Leanne Chisholm
Thanks for the conversations
Experience: Community Conversation sessions were held across the state.
It’s been a big year for consumer and community involvement at Menzies.
Our Menzies community involvement with researchers, consumers and lived experience (MCIRCLE) committee has been leading meaningful change – strengthening governance, redesigning training and launching our new Consumer and Community Registry
We held six Community Conversations across Tasmania, engaging with more than 50 people with lived experiences of issues from chronic conditions
We held six Community Conversations across Tasmania
For exceptional performance and contributions to Menzies through their outstanding leadership and commitment in the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry – Tasmania.
PHD STUDENT AWARD
Mr Alastair Fortune and Ms Vimarsha Kodithuwakku
For exceptional performance and contribution to Menzies that aligns with the University’s mission to make a difference for Tasmania, and from Tasmania to the world.
to climate change and prostate cancer to help shape research priorities.
In 2025, we formally launched the Registry, now with 72 Tasmanians ready to contribute. Introductory sessions in the north and south helped new members understand their roles and hear directly from researchers and fellow consumers. We also proudly joined more than 100 passionate consumers
at the Voices for Health Summit hosted by Health Consumers Tasmania, strengthening partnerships across the sector.
Want to influence real health research that matters to your community? Contact our Consumer and Community Involvement Coordinator or join the Consumer and Community Registry today. Your voice has the power to drive change.
How will you be remembered?
In Memoriam
One sentence in your will can fund life-saving medical research.
If you would like more information, please contact the Advancement Office on 03 6226 1920.
Bequests save lives by funding research. Thank you.
EVENTS
HEART WEEK SYMPOSIUM
The Cardiovascular Research Flagship at Menzies Institute for Medical Research proudly held its first research symposium in May to recognise Heart Week.
Heart Week provides an opportunity for the Australian public and health professionals to hear about heart health and take positive steps to reduce their risk of heart disease.
It was a wonderful chance to learn about the Flagship’s early to mid-career researchers’
work, hear from them directly and ask questions to learn more. Attendees were also fortunate to hear from two keynote speakers: Dr Joce Nettlefold, General Manager of the Heart Foundation
Tasmania and Emma Fry, Head of Health Services at St Lukes.
We gratefully acknowledge gifts made from the following estates:
Estate of the late Hendrika Showell
Estate of the late Malcolm William Holyman Wood
We gratefully acknowledge gifts made in honour of:
Ena Alice Blair
Mary Clennett
Kate Green
Robert Greenhill
Alex Hunyady
Irena Jozefa Kowaluk
Peter MacFie
Wade Allen Radford
Denise Rowlands
Marina Slait
David Symonds
Daniel Veysey
World MS Day
The reach and impact of ‘Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Symptoms and Diagnosis’ and other MS courses developed at Menzies were featured at two public seminars that Menzies’ MS Research Flagship hosted in the lead-up to World MS Day in late May.
The first seminar, at the University’s Cradle Coast campus in Burnie, was hosted by Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, GovernorGeneral of Australia and Patron of MS Australia. These public seminars provided an opportunity to hear directly from our world-leading researchers and connect with others in the MS community. Details of the groundbreaking
What is your connection with Menzies?
stem-cell research coming out of Menzies, innovative strategies for building the MS nurse workforce and supporting continued employment for people living with MS were also shared with members of the MS community in attendance.
The 2025 World MS Day campaign My MS Diagnosis advocates for early and accurate diagnosis for everyone with MS.
STAFF PROFILE
Pauline Paton
Volunteer
My Menzies journey began when I retired from 27 years of fulltime (then part-time) work as a bursar/ office manager in Education Department schools. For quite a number of years, I pondered vague, unfocused thoughts of volunteering my services within the community. In 2012, I enrolled as a participant in a
receptionist for one day a week.
What is your role within the institute?
Menzies Research Program called ‘Central Blood Pressure’. On one of my visits I asked if they needed volunteers. The response was encouraging as they were planning to open a new clinic on Level 3 in February 2013 for bone-density radiography and new research programs. So here I am, more than 12 years later, as a volunteer
Phone reception, meeting and greeting participants in research and investigative programs (e.g. bone density and the Wicking Memory Clinic), plus helping with mail-outs and data entry, all while being aware of people’s physical needs and offering polite practical and caring assistance with a guarantee of confidentiality.
What is the most interesting aspect of your role?
I like to think of myself as a ‘people person’. I love people
in my life. Every Wednesday there are lots of new people, so I enjoy trying to make sure that all who visit Level 3 have a positive experience. In addition, an interesting challenge is finding my way through the labyrinth of rooms and corridors of Menzies 1 and Menzies 2 buildings. Soon after I started I was lucky enough to have a tour with the architect who told me that the design is related to the topography of the Hobart area – the river, the mountain and hills. I love explaining this to participants who visit and show a real interest in this fabulous building.
It’s always interesting to ‘track’ new research programs, even to the extent of considering participation myself.
What is the part of your work that makes you proudest?
Successfully getting myself out of bed at 6.15am on a Wednesday. Ha! The honesty and friendliness of everyone in the workplace. The staff, who show their genuine appreciation for the work that I do. At the end of a happy day I feel really proud to be a part of Menzies.
Patron: The Governor-General (centre) with Professors Ingrid van der Mei, Tracey Dickson, Kaylene Young and Bruce Taylor.
future
for all Tasmanians. 100% of your gift will be used for research in Tasmania
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