SoMS Newsletter - August 2005
Staff
Wendy Wartho on Leave
Wendy Wartho will be on leave for two months from Monday 8th August. Sue Povaly, will be Acting Assistant to the Head of School during Wendy’s absence. For all Human Resources matters, please contact Jenny McLoughlin, ext 53469.
Arrivals and Departures
Michelle Price has joined us as our new OH&S Coordinator. You can contact her on ext. 58288. Michelle joins us from the School of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry where she has been working as their Safety Officer. Vimal Kapoor and Rajna Kapoor have left the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology to take up new positions in Western Australia. Bret Church has also departed for the University of Sydney. We wish them all the very best for the future.
Research
Paper of the Month
The Research Committee is please to announce that the Paper of the month award for June goes to Farid Rahimi and coauthors for the study "FGF-2, IL-1¾ and TGF-¾ regulate fibroblast expression of S100A8" by Rahimi F, Hsu K, Endoh Y & Geczy CL published in FEBS, 2005, 272(11):2811-2827. Farid completed the study as a PhD student in Carolyn Geczy's lab and was invited to submit one of his figures for the cover of the journal.
For July, the award goes to a research paper by Michael Lee and Tim Carroll. The study is entitled "The amplitude of Mmax in human wrist flexors varies during different muscle contractions despite constant posture" and was published in J. Neurosci Methods online. This is the first paper to appear from research in Tim's lab at UNSW and also the first paper produced by his first PhD student. Well done to all the authors! We hope to present the awards at the next SOMS Seminar.
Century Club
The Research Committee is pleased to announce that the SOMS Century Club has its first 3 members! Congratulations go to Prof Roland Stocker, Prof Levon Khachigian and A/Prof George Smythe who all have over 100 publications. Well done to our 3 inaugural members, we now have to find a suitable reward - suggestions welcome. And please keep publishing, we would love to welcome further members.
We would like to make a change to the criteria for membership, to include Books and Book Chapters in addition to papers, in the total publications that can be counted. Thus all DEST category A, B and C1 publications can be summed to reach the "century".
Grants and Awards
Muscular Dystrophy Grant
Stewart Head and John Morley have been awarded a 3 year grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association USA of $305,000 for the project "CNS dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy". Congratulations to John and Stewart on their successful application.
International Campaign for the Cure for Spinal Cord Paralysis Outstanding Young Investigator Award
This award has been established to recognize the recent contributions of a promising young investigator and in so doing encourage and facilitate his/her lifelong commitment to the field of spinal cord repair. The Outstanding Young Investigator Award of ICCP is open to all spinal cord injury (SCI) researchers who are currently Postdoctoral Fellows (or Research Associates) within the first seven (7) years of their doctoral award (e.g. PhD, MD, DDS, DVM).
Research Office Deadline: 18 August 2005
Website: http://www.campaignforcure.org/Young%20Investigator%20Award.htm
Young Tall Poppy Science Awards
These awards recognise the achievements of outstanding young Australian researchers, with up to ten years’ post-doctoral experience, working in a broad range of sciences. Award winners act as role models for younger Australians, to encourage interest in careers in science, engineering and medicine.
Deadline: 19 August 2005
Website: http://www.tallpoppies.net.au
NHMRC Ageing Well, Ageing Productively Research Program
The aim of this collaboration is to foster research into ageing which crosses sectors, research disciplines and institutions to develop an authoritative evidence base to underpin more effective and well informed policy and practice. Up to $10 million will be available for this program. Projects will be awarded up to $500,000 per annum for up to five years.
Research Office Deadline: 22 August 2005
Website: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/funding/apply/granttype/strategic/agewell.htm
Australian Academy of Science – Gottschalk Medal
The Gottschalk medal recognises outstanding research in medical sciences by scientists under 40 years at the closing date. The award is made annually and is restricted to candidates who are normally resident in Australia and for research conducted mainly in Australia. An honorarium of $1,000 will be paid and in the case of a shared award it will be divided.
Research Office Deadline: 23 August 2005
Website: http://www.science.org.au/awards/gottschalk.htm
National Heart Foundation Travel Grants
The sponsor offers Travel Grants to researchers working in the area of cardiovascular disease or related areas. Travel grants are open to Australian citizens or permanent residents to present at conferences/meetings, visit laboratories or to take up an overseas position.
Research Office Deadline: 25 August 2005
Website: http://www.heartfoundation.com.au/index.cfm?page=113
Department of Education, Science and Training International Science Linkages
The ISL programme supports Australian scientists, from both the public and private sectors, to collaborate with international partners on leading edge science and technology in order to contribute to Australia's economic,
social and environmental wellbeing. As part of this package $55.5 million over five years will be provided to support international collaboration through the programme.
Research Office Deadline: 1 September 2005
Website: http://www.dest.gov.au/science/isl
Museum
Medical, Science, Specialist Pathology students and other visitors are currently entering the Museum in droves. Apart from the outstanding appearance of the new glass shelving units, the Museum’s image has been enhanced by the addition of new model organs funded by a U Committee grant, new microscopes partly sponsored by Australian Instrument Services and high quality computer and projection facilities funded from Museum income. Several historical medical instruments have been donated by the SEALS Pathology Unit at POW Hospital and accessioned by the Museum.
The Museum is assisting the UNSW Media Unit and other organizations with the use of models and images appropriate for approved publication purposes. Work on the next special exhibition called “Gutsy Stuff ” has started and apart from the use of the Museum resources, much of the supporting material has come care of a U Committee Grant. This exhibition looks at medical conditions related to the digestive system ranging from gallstones and typhoid through to the problems of obesity and the effects of eating disorders.
Renovations Update
Work has been completed on the 5th floor! Residents and neighbours are all very impressed with the quality of work and finishes to the new academic and research spaces. In the next few weeks new signage will be installed to assist our students in navigating to the Athol Lykke, 502 and our Pathology staff.
Demolition work has commenced on the 4th floor with a view to finish all work on the 4th floor within 6 weeks. I also understand the BRC on the 5th floor have renovations scheduled and that work will be done later in the year. When I have more information I will ensure that people are notified.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Soo Han Chup who has assisted me greatly in the coordination of the building works by organising all the data points, phones and removalists. Again, thanks to everyone for their patience and tolerance during this rather noisy and dusty time and we will all breath a sigh of relief in 6 to 8 weeks time when we can enjoy our new facilities without the hum of building works down the corridor.
Jenny McLoughlin
School Retreat: Report
Thank you to everyone who attended the 2005 SOMS Retreat. This years Retreat focussed on critical topics relating to Gender, Family and Climbing the Academic Ladder. We explored many interesting avenues the School can pursue to ensure that we increase female participation within the School and put practices in place to nurture the careers of young academic staff. The participation at the Retreat was excellent and holding the Retreat within the Wallace Wurth building allowed staff to attend sessions around their busy work schedules. I am confident that the proposed action plan we have in place will be implemented and will assist us to grow and develop as a school and an innovative academic community.