Bulletin #0110
Community connections, accolades and new funding for our MS Research Flagship Honoured: Dr Yuan Zhou received a Tasmanian Tall Poppy Science Award for 2023.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a devastating disease of the central nervous system caused by both environmental and genetic factors. There are more than 33,000 Australians living with MS, with Tasmania having the highest prevalence. The good news is that our MS Research Flagship is continuing to build momentum towards improving outcomes for people living with MS, and the past few months have been busier than ever. Dr Yuan Zhou was honoured with a Tasmanian Tall Poppy Science Award for 2023. These annual awards, created by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS), honour up-and-coming scientists who combine worldclass research with an enthusiastic commitment to communicating science. In July, the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) announced $2 million in funding for Dr Zhou and his team for new research to investigate the connection between
Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis. The knowledge gained by this research will be used to greatly improve MS diagnosis, treatment and prevention. To mark World MS Day at the end of May, the Flagship hosted its annual ‘Research with Connections’ symposium in Hobart. The event brought together more than 100 people, the majority MS consumer and community members. They all braved the cold (kunanyi / Mt Wellington was snow-capped!) for the promise of an exciting program of world-class
research and community presentations and were rewarded in spades. All in all the day was a great celebration of the power of consumer involvement and connections between researchers and community. A significant paper, co-authored by the Flagship’s Professor Bruce
The breakthrough findings open the door to preventing long-term disability
Taylor, was published in Nature in June. It detailed a study of more than 22,000 people with MS which identified the first genetic marker for MS severity. The breakthrough findings open the door to preventing long-term disability. The research was the result of a large international collaboration of more than 70 institutions from around the world, including Menzies. The paper contained data from some 250 Tasmanians with MS, which had been collected over the past 13 years and collated at Menzies.
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Director’s message As I’ve settled into my role as Director, I’ve been thrilled to spend some time around our beautiful state getting to know our supporters and letting you know more about Menzies and how you can get involved.
This flagship, led by Associate Professor Seana Gall, will work with the community to raise awareness and treatment of risk factors and promote better cardiovascular health
We’ve also hosted events, such as a thank you for our dedicated volunteers, a Tasmanian Data Linkage Unit symposium and the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Research Flagship ‘Research with Connections’ conference with more than 100 people. With our MS Research Flagship going from strength to strength, I’m excited to let you know that we’ll be launching a new flagship to focus our research capabilities and improve health outcomes for Tasmanians. Our Cardiovascular
Research Flagship will aim to provide programs to decrease the risk of stroke, heart attacks and other forms of cardiovascular disease. Tasmania has the highest rate of heart disease in Australia and this flagship, led by Associate Professor Seana Gall, will work with the community to raise awareness and treatment of risk factors and promote better cardiovascular health. Stay tuned for more information about this new initiative. I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our
new Senior Philanthropy Manager. Paris Dennett joined the Menzies team in September and will be working closely with valued Menzies supporters. Paris has worked in philanthropy at the University for the past three years and is looking forward to continuing her work with our donors who enable us to fund research staff and vital research projects, student scholarships, equipment and other research costs. I know you will look forward to meeting Paris and, as always, thank you for your ongoing support. Kind regards, Tracey Dickson Director
THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS We are indebted to our hard-working and loyal volunteers
Like so many organisations, we are indebted to our hard-working and loyal volunteers. To thank them during National Volunteer Week we hosted a morning tea where our staff gathered with volunteers for a chat, a bite to eat and a cuppa to show our appreciation for their support. Research grant funding often falls short of the full costs of conducting
Grateful: During National Volunteer Week, we hosted a morning tea for volunteers.
a project, and volunteer support means our researchers can carry out work that may not otherwise be possible. We have volunteers that do a variety of different tasks throughout the
institute. These include assisting with data collection, working on reception in the clinic, database maintenance and data entry, and co-ordinating special projects.
Keep up with our news
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.
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The level of community and camaraderie among our team of volunteers, study participants and staff is a key feature of our organisation and something for which we are proud and grateful.
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NEONATAL
Pre-term baby follow-up study reports findings of global significance Thriving: Eva was born three months earlier than full term, but is now a healthy and happy threeyear-old.
A successful international clinical trial co-ordinated and run from Menzies has recently had its two-year follow-up results published in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Professor Peter Dargaville led the study, which was conducted in 33 neonatal intensive care units in 11 countries. He was also reunited with Eva, a healthy three-yearold he had treated soon after her birth at 27-anda-half weeks’ gestation, three months earlier than full term. The OPTIMIST-A trial examined the effect of an innovative method for delivering surfactant, a natural product that promotes lung expansion and improves oxygen levels in premature infants. Around the world, 486 premature babies were enrolled in the OPTIMIST-A trial in the first hours of life, making it the largest study of this type ever conducted. The trial examined the effect of
Thanks to Mark and Sarah de Jong who brought Eva to meet Professor Dargaville for the first time since she was a baby delivery of surfactant via a thin tube or catheter using the novel “Hobart method”, developed by Professor Dargaville and his team. The aim was to improve upon the current standard of care, seeking to limit the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic disease of the lung that can
have lasting effects on the lives of pre-term infants. In the follow-up study there were no differences in neurodevelopmental outcome at two years of age, but a clear difference favouring the active treatment group for respiratory health in the first two years. There was a one-third reduction in the
rate of hospitalisation with a respiratory illness, and also reductions in the rate of wheezing or breathing difficulty reported by parents, use of bronchodilator therapy, and a physician report of asthma. Thanks to all of the parents and babies around the world who participated in the trial, and a special thanks to Mark and Sarah de Jong who brought Eva into Menzies to meet Professor Dargaville for the first time since she was a baby.
STUDY SPOTLIGHT: OBSERVED MINDFULNESS MEASURE (OMM) STUDY Phase 2 of the Observed Mindfulness Measure (OMM) study is now recruiting! We need 200 pairs of people who know each other to participate. It’s simple to do, just find your pair and do our online surveys. For more information, visit www.utas.edu.au/ommstudy
You can also call 6226 4723 or email mindfulness.study@utas.edu.au
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How will you be remembered?
EVENT
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.
BEAKER STREET FESTIVAL AND YOUNG TASSIE SCIENTISTS INSPIRE We were once again excited to be involved with Beaker Street Festival and help light up winter with science fun and facts. Beaker Street aims to promote an understanding of science and make it accessible to everyone, while also exploring the intersection between science and art. We had a team of researchers attend the Festival Hub over two nights and share their findings and passions with the community. Led by our Director, Professor Tracey Dickson, and her research into neurodegenerative disease, we had a diverse range of expertise on offer including the genetic causes of prostate
cancer, computational genomics, environmental health, rare eye diseases and arthritis. This year we also had the largest cohort from the University participate in Young Tassie Scientists (YTS). YTS are early career researchers who present their passion for science to schools and community audiences as National Science Week ambassadors. Eleven people from Menzies were involved. We thank Dr Nicholas Blackburn for promoting the program internally as a past YTS.
We gratefully acknowledge gifts made from the following estates: Estate of the late Lillian Turner We gratefully acknowledge gifts made in honour of: Gael Geoffrey Gault John Ross McKenna Beverley Jean Reeman Nancy Olive Salter Darren Raymond Vos
MENZIES WELCOMES THE NEW MINISTER FOR HEALTH Recently, our Director, Tracey Dickson, and members of our leadership team were pleased to welcome the new Tasmanian Minister for Health, Guy Barnett. Minister Barnett toured the clinic and laboratory, met with researchers and was impressed with our world-class facilities and research. He made mention of our work and his visit in a speech to parliament and we look forward
to collaborating with him and continuing to improve the health of the Tasmanian community.
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FUNDRAISING
Winter Appeal helps support important work
Support: Our Winter Appeal raised an amazing $98,360.
As you may be aware, we send letters and emails to our supporters asking them to support the work we do here at Menzies. This is called an Appeal – and here at Menzies we run two of these per year. We are so pleased to let you know that our Winter Appeal raised an amazing $98,360. This is the first appeal featuring Professor Tracey Dickson as our Director, and it is an excellent result. These funds will be used to support our work, and to deliver our mission to perform internationally significant medical research leading to healthier, longer and better lives for Tasmanians. A few interesting facts: • 2 38 donations were made by individuals and
organisations – 95% from Tasmania, • 11 are new donors (welcome!) • 2 decided to make their gift recurring; and • This was the second most successful appeal over the past 10 years These numbers tell us a beautiful story: Menzies is supported by a generous and loyal Tasmanian community. These funds will support fledgling projects that have the potential to grow and be awarded major grants from funding bodies such as National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
We thank all in our community who support the work we do
Our Summer Appeal will focus on the launch of our new Cardiovascular Research Flagship. In the meantime, we thank all in our community who support the work we do.
EVENT SHOWCASES DATA LINKAGE IN TASMANIA On May 29-30, the Tasmanian Data Linkage Unit (TDLU) and the Menzies Institute hosted a joint symposium and workshop to showcase data linkage in Tasmania. Data linkage is a method of bringing information from different sources together about the same person or entity to create a new, richer dataset. The linkage of information from disparate information sources enables the construction of chronological sequences of events and when used at the macro level provide valuable information for policy and research into the health and wellbeing of the population.
The symposium featured presentations from the TDLU, Tasmanian Department of Health, Primary Health Tasmania, the Tasmanian Government Chief Information Officer, Professor David Preen (data linkage expert) and local researchers. The presentations gave an overview of the history of data linkage in Tasmania, case studies from other states, and how linked data can be used to benefit Tasmania in the
future. Feedback from attendees was positive with an increased interest in data linkage and shared collaboration within Tasmania. Further targeted
workshops are being developed to have a deeper dive into data linkage projects and the TDLU will be on the road heading up north later in the year.
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PROFILE
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Chrissie Ong Postdoctoral research fellow
What brought you to Menzies? I first came to Menzies when I undertook an undergraduate research project with the Tasmanian devil group in 2015. I loved the research they were doing so I stayed on for Honours and PhD before moving to Queensland for my first postdoc position at the University of
Queensland Frazer Institute. It was a good experience working on a different research topic, but I always had the desire to come back to Tasmania and Menzies. When an opportunity to work with the devil group again arose early this year, I packed my bags without hesitation and moved back to Tasmania.
STAFF PROFILE
Annie Brennan Project manager
What brought you to Menzies? Before moving to Tasmania, I was on track to becoming an academic in cognitive neuroscience, but I decided that I wanted to shift my career closer to where change occurs in the community. So after finishing my PhD, I worked as a clinical redesign project manager for a while, where I used research findings and consultation processes to create positive changes in the health system
and broader community. I enjoyed this work but I missed being so close to research that was happening now. After falling in love with Hobart and moving here with my young family, I was looking for a role that combined my interests in academic research and project management. My role at Menzies is the perfect combination of these. What is your role within the institute? I am the project manager for a
What is the current focus of your research? I am currently working on identifying vaccine targets against the transmissible Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) and evaluation of vaccine responses in devils following immunisation. What are some of the recent findings from this work? It is still in the early stages, and we have yet to perform the vaccine trial, but an extension from my PhD work suggests that alloantigens
research project called InforMS, which is creating an online ‘one-stop-shop’ for people with MS to view and manage their MS-related health information. Once it is developed, our team will then conduct research on whether InforMS is useful for people with MS and improves their health. I am also the inaugural Professional Staff representative on the Menzies Leadership Team. What is the most interesting aspect of this work? It’s complex and very rewarding. I enjoy variety and being challenged, and this role is perfect for that – I am often working out the best approaches to a number of different
(i.e., antigens of a tissue from another individual of the same species, as in the case for DFTD) are candidate targets for vaccine development. We are still in the process of making those antigens for serodiagnosis, but we should get an answer by the end of this year if all goes well. What is the most interesting aspect of this work? Learning and understanding how the devil’s immune system responds to the tumours and being up close to wild devils on field trips.
What other research-based activities have you been involved with? I give talks to the general public at Science in the Pub Tasmania, and I’m part of the organising committee for the Australasian Cytometry Society (ACS) Conference that will be held in Hobart next year. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I love baking and hiking, but my new obsession is pottery.
and complicated challenges that occur when developing a new piece of digital health technology. This means I get to work closely with lots of different people, such as researchers, heath professionals, people living with MS, MS societies, lawyers, IT companies, and procurement and communications teams. I enjoy getting everyone’s perspectives and expertise, and then using all that information to collaboratively find a solution.
MS – they are key members of our decision-making committees, brainstorming groups, software experts and product testers. It is so important to make sure that a new piece of health technology works well for the people it’s aimed at, and no one is better equipped to provide that expertise than the people themselves! I love hearing all the positive feedback about how much people with MS anticipate InforMS will help.
What is the part of your work that makes you the proudest? I’m proud of how much InforMS has been co-designed with people with
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Anything out in nature. Kayaking, bushwalking and bike riding are my favourites.
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