The AustralianSociety for

Medical Research

Suite 702, Level 7, 37 Bligh Street,

Sydney NSW 2000ACN 000599235 · ABN 18000599235

Catherine WestSnr. Executive Officer

Ph: 02 9230 0333Fax: 02 9230 0339

Email:asmr@alwaysonline.net.au

Web: www.asmr.org.au

Newsletter Editor-in-Chief,Dr Bree Foley

Print Post Approved25500300067

With deep sighs of relief resonating around the Australianhealth and medical research (HMR) sector followingthe end to another gruelling round of major grantsubmissions, I take this opportunity to reflect on thepast 4 months and look ahead to the rest of 2017.

Pre-budget submissionIn January the ASMR submitted its recommendationsto Treasury ahead of the 2017–18 Federal Budget(http://www.asmr.org.au/Pre-Budget_ 2017_ FINAL.pdf).As many of you will be acutely aware, investment intothe NHMRC has remained static for the past 5 years anddecreased considerably as a proportion of total healthsystem expenditure. As both NHMRC data and our ownworkforce survey data attest, this funding stagnationhas resulted in considerable losses from the HMRworkforce, placing the sector in a precarious position.

As always, our pre-budget advice to Government wasgrounded in a solid evidence base. While our submissiondrew on many of our previous reports and surveys, afocal point was the silver lining that emerged from ourrecent Deloitte Access Economic report on theexceptional value of the HMR workforce. This reportshowed that the implementation of a sustainableinvestment model, in which investment into NHMRCis benchmarked against total health system expenditure,would create a windfall of $58 billion in net returns.

Our recommendation to Treasury for the 2017-2018Federal Budget is an immediate injection of anadditional $350M into the NHMRC MedicalResearch Endowment Account (MREA). The reasonsfor this recommendation are two-fold. Firstly, we believethat this will provide some short-term stability to theHMR sector, with the potential to raise Project Grant andCDF funded rates from the current lows to historicnorms of ~25%. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly,this injection will meet the first incremental target ofour 10-year goal of NHMRC investment beingbenchmarked at 3% of total health system expenditure.

Research investment The NHMRC Structural Review continues to roll on(highlighted on page 3), with a public announcementexpected sometime in the next few months. While theresearch community is no doubt eager to learn aboutthe revised structure, I encourage everyone to exercisepatience. Restructuring a national grants program is amajor undertaking with implications that extend well

into the future; it is critical that NHMRC be allowed toprioritise rigour over rapidity in this endeavour andleave no stone unturned in their evaluation of therevised model.

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) remains a bitof a mystery. Strategies and priorities were released latelast year yet there is still no information on how fundswill be allocated and whether this will be subject to acompetitive application process with independentexpert review. There is $61 million earmarked forallocation before the end of this financial year, and it isour understanding that new Health Minister Greg Huntand his team are currently working feverishly to developthe mechanism for initial MRFF disbursements.

Our 2016 Deloitte Access Economics report on thevalue of the NHMRC-funded workforce (see article page4) has provided fresh ammunition for our conversationswith Government, showing that every dollar investedin the NHMRC-supported workforce returns $3.20, thatthis rate of return is maintained if the size of the workforceis increased, and that gradually increasing investmentin NHMRC to 3% of total health system expenditure overa 10 year period would yield $58 billion in net returns.In addition to this report, the ASMR conducted a snapsurvey of the HMR workforce at the end of 2016. Sadly— but not surprisingly — the findings of this survey ofover 1200 researchers confirmed the results of our moreextensive 2015 workforce survey, revealing that ~25%of researchers were uncertain of employment in 2017and 44% of researchers were considering leaving theHMR sector. Job security remains a clear problem thatneeds to be addressed.

Ministerial reshuffleSince the resignation of Sussan Ley as Health Ministerin late January, there has been a ministerial reshuffle of

April 2017

In this issue:

Reviewing the 3structure ofNHMRC’s grant program

New Data — 4A Beacon of Hopefor Australia

Consumers and 5community members having a say in research

The intersection of 6science and business — taking a sidestep inMedical Research

Professional 7Development Report

Next-Generation 8Healthcare: MergingBiology & TechnologyHighlights from NSC2016

56th ASMR 9National ScientificConference

asmrAustralianSociety forMedicalResearch

asmr newsletterAustralianSociety forMedicalResearch

Dr Daniel Johnstone

President’s Report

April 2017 2

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direct relevance to the HMR sector. Greg Hunt is nowthe Minister for Health, David Gillespie is the AssistantMinister for Health, Ken Wyatt is the Minister for AgedCare and Indigenous Health and Arthur Sinodinos is theMinister for Industry, Innovation & Science.

This change in the ministry represents an opportunityfor ASMR to renew relationships and educate the newministers on the exceptional quality and value ofAustralian HMR. We have already enjoyed veryconstructive meetings with Assistant Minister forHealth David Gillespie and the chief HMR Advisor toGreg Hunt. Further meetings with relevant ministerswill follow. In these discussions, we articulate our visionfor a sustainable and predictable investment modelfor HMR, the evidence underlying this model and theexceptional health and economic benefits that wouldresult from its implementation. It is worth noting thatGreg Hunt has publicly listed HMR as one of the “fourpillars” of health and appears quite supportive of theAustralian HMR sector.

Health policy into the futureIn early March I attended the Labor Health Policy Summit,which provided an opportunity to again present ourevidence-based model for HMR investment (for whichwe seek bi-partisan support), this time to Shadow HealthMinister Catherine King and the ALP. The Summit wasattended by around 150 representatives from a broadrange of interest groups, each with their own suggestionsabout what needed to be done to improve healthcareinto the future. There was clear support for the need tobetter integrate the different arms of our convolutedhealthcare system; this aspiration aligns with ASMR’slong-term goal of a fully integrated healthcare system,and we hope to play a leading role in realising thisvision by bringing together key stakeholders for a forumlater this year.

And the 2017 ASMR Medallist is…“La La Land”… oops, that was a mistake.

As many of you will know, the ASMR Medal is awardedannually to an eminent figure who has madeoutstanding contributions to health or medical research.The ASMR Medallist then tours the country duringASMR Medical Research Week®, giving talks at GalaDinners in all state capitals and at the National PressClub in Canberra.

One of the most pressing health issues facing ourcountry right now is health equity. The recent Closingthe Gap report highlighted the still-dismal healthprospects of Indigenous Australians, while non-Indigenous Australians of low socioeconomic statusare also consigned to poorer health outcomes. We needsome fresh ideas on how we can address these healthinequities and ensure a brighter future for all Australians.

With that segue, I’m delighted to announce that the2017 ASMR Medallist is Professor Richard Wilkinson,Professor Emeritus of Social Epidemiology at the

University of Nottingham and co-founder of The EqualityTrust. Professor Wilkinson is a staunch advocate forsocial equality and has led a distinguished careerexamining the social determinants of health. He isperhaps best known for his best-selling book The SpiritLevel (recently made into documentary film The Divide),which uncovered relationships between inequality anda range of health and social problems and provided somesolutions on how these problems might be addressed.I’m sure Professor Wilkinson will captivate Gala Dinneraudiences with his ideas, and I encourage all of you toattend your local Gala Dinner to discover how we mighttransform our societal structures to set Australia on thepath towards a healthier, more equitable future.

ASMR National Scientific Conference It is with great excitement that we present a new formatto the ASMR National Scientific Conference (NSC) for2017. We have taken note of the changing conferencelandscape, with increased competition among scientificmeetings and less funds available for researchers to attendconferences. We have also noted a scarcity of high-levelprofessional development opportunities for early- and mid-career researchers. With this in mind, NSC 2017 will integrateprofessional development workshops with scientificpresentations, providing a ‘one-stop shop’ for researchers.Some of the exciting offerings of the NSC 2017 arehighlighted on page 9. We understand the financialconstraints on researchers in the current environment andwill be making every effort to keep registration fees aslow as possible. Be sure to mark November 14–15 in yourdiaries for NSC 2017 and we will keep you informed asthe program develops and key dates are set.

Looking forwardsI’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge mypredecessor, ASMR Immediate Past President Dr SarahMeachem, who has left the ASMR in a very strong positiongoing forward, with many key visionary initiativesunderway. Recent changes in the Ministry, coupled withthe generation of important workforce data, provideexciting new opportunities for ASMR to influenceGovernment policies around HMR investment, with theultimate aim of providing a vibrant and sustainableenvironment in which your research can flourish andprovide maximal benefit to the health and wellbeing ofour community. Of course, you too can be an advocatefor health and medical research. I encourage you todownload our updated one -page fact sheet(http://www.asmr.org.au/ Fact%20Sheet %20 2017.pdf)so you are armed with some key facts and figures wheneducating friends, family and the community on howhealth and medical research produces exceptional health,economic and social returns.

I am deeply honoured by the opportunity, as Presidentof the ASMR, to serve a passionate and dedicated HMRsector. I look forward to keeping the ASMR membershipapprised of our progress throughout the rest of 2017.

Dr Daniel Johnstone

3 April 2017

In early 2016, NHMRC CEO, Professor Anne Kelso,announced a review of the structure of NHMRC’s grantprogram. The review was prompted by concerns fromthe health and medical research sector — concernsabout the burden of preparing and reviewing the highnumbers of grant applications that will not be funded,concerns that early and mid-career researchers arebeing discouraged from pursuing a research career,and concerns about conservatism in the way thatresearch proposals are developed and assessed.

Accordingly, the key aims for the review were toconsider if the grant program can be restructured inorder to improve the value of the public investmentin health and medical research by:

reducing the burden on researchers of■

application and peer review,

encouraging greater creativity and innovation, ■

and

providing opportunities for talented researchers■

at all career stages.

An Expert Advisory Group was established to assist inthe rev iew. The exper t i se of th is group wassupplemented by advice from a group of early andmid-career researchers. After considering data aboutNHMRC’s grant program, along with information aboutresearch funding systems in other countries, the ExpertAdvisory Group advised the CEO to consult on threealternative grant program models.

In mid-2016, a consultation paper was released, seekingfeedback from the research sector about the alternativemodels. At the same time, Professor Kelso and membersof the Expert Advisory Group held public forums inmost capital cities to discuss the review. There was

strong engagement from the sector which provideda rich source of information. The diversity anddifferences in views expressed, including from withinsegments of the research sector, highlighted thecomplexity of the issues and the importance ofunderstanding the range of perspectives andexperience the health and medical research workforceand research institutions bring. (A summary of thesubmissions is on NHMRC’s website.)

The Expert Advisory Group carefully considered thesector’s feedback in developing and finalising its adviceon an alternative structure for the grant program. Theadvice of NHMRC Council, Research Committee andother NHMRC Principal Committees on this alternativegrant program has recently been provided to theNHMRC CEO. The Office of NHMRC is now workingthrough a number of details before presenting theproposal to Government.

We appreciate that the sector is keen to hear theoutcome of the review, with many anxious that wetake action to address the challenges facing the sector.The structure of NHMRC’s grant program is importantand changes will not be made lightly. We will advisethe sector about the final decision on the proposednew grant program and its implementation as soonas possible. Any changes would be supported bycomprehensive implementation and transitionarrangements.

More information about the review is available here:https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/grants-funding/structural-review-nhmrc-s-grant-program/structural-review-nhmrc-s-grant-program

Professor Anne Kelso CEO, NationalHealth and Medical Research Council

Release of The Human Research EthicsApplication (HREA)

In December 2016, the National Health and Medical Research Councilreleased the new Human Research Ethics Application (HREA) toreplace the National Ethics Application Form (NEAF).

The HREA is a streamlined and contemporary ethics application thatuses dynamic content and guidance so that only questions relevantto proposed research are asked.

The application will assist researchers consider and address theprinciples of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human

Research and provide the information that Human Research EthicsCommittees (HREC) require to review the research proposal.

Accepted by more than 60 HRECs, and fully in use by a number ofuniversities, there are already over 1300 users of the HREA.

NHMRC will be removing support for the NEAF around July 2017, andis currently working with IT vendors to licence the HREA content forinstitutional IT systems. NHMRC will continue to support NEAF whileresearchers transition to the HREA.

The HREA, help guide and fur ther resources i s ava i lableat www.HREA.gov.au

NHMRC announcements

Professor Anne Kelso

Reviewing the structure ofNHMRC’s grant program

April 2017 4

Do you sometimes get the feeling that governmentsmake their decisions based on a hunch or vibe? It wascomforting to read this quote from former healthminister, Nicola Roxon, whose legacy was plain cigarettepackaging:

“I think it is very rare for ministers orgovernments to want to make decisionswhere evidence is incomplete…”

The ASMR, governed by health scientists, understandthe importance of data and evidence to substantiaterequests for changes to policy — this makes commonsense. Mindful evidence-based policy reform is criticalto advance Australia, and to minimize unintentionalnegative consequences to the community. ASMR hasc o m m i s s i o n e d m a n y v a l u a b l e r e p o r t s(http://asmr.org.au/Publications.html) over the past15 years describing the exceptional economic benefitsof HMR and in workforce planning that have and willcontinue to shape the health sector. The biggest formof flattery is when you are speaking to the PrimeMinister or Health Minister, and they inform you that‘$1 invested in health and medical research returns $5’…and you think…’hey they’re our data’… in that momentyou know the data and reports are working.

Last year ASMR broke new ground and commissionedanother report, which forms part of the mission tocreate a well-planned workforce and a world classhealthcare system that is accessible to everyone, notjust those that live in the affluent postcodes. These goalsare not mutually exclusive, but closely interlinked, asto improve the health care system, one needs dedicatedresearch scientists; a strong workforce that can combatand prevent disease and alleviate the economic burdenof the out-of-control health expenditure Australia

faces. Simply put, clinicians and policy makers neednew information and knowledge from the expertresearchers to make smart choices for their patientsand for the health system to succeed. Australian healthexperts often look to Northern Europe for positivehealth system benchmarks and to the USA to learnlessons from their failing health care system. But whatit has to be about (that the ASMR has known since itsinception in 1961) is PEOPLE. PEOPLE have to be atthe heart of the health systems. The health systemis a human rights issue, it’s an issue of justice.

So let’s turn to the new data… and its significance. Itis a beacon of hope for the sector and provides a positivefuture pathway for the people and Australia’s economy.I can’t do the 73 page report, bulging with information,justice here in this short article, but as a teaser…

Over the past 15 years, investment into the■

NHMRC-funded health and medical researchworkforce has returned $3.20 for every $1invested. That equates to a $23.4 billion netreturn to the economy.

Three scenarios of future investment into■

NHMRC (2016-2025) were estimated.

Base case (current investment of 0.55% of total■

health system expenditure maintained),expected to yield total net benefits of $17.3B

Static investment in real terms (investment■

decreased to 0.34% of total health systemexpenditure) expected to result in benefits of$13.2B.

Investment incrementally lifted to 3% of total■

health system expenditure – expected to yield$58.7B in net benefits

In a little over decade, Treasury projections of Australiangovernment health expenditure will increase from$51B (2009-10; excluding state and territory healthexpenditure) to $105B (2029-30, IntergenerationalReport 2007). The latter scenario indicates that ifinvestment was raised to 3% of health systemexpenditure, savings of a whopping $58B could berealized — this would no doubt make the Departmentof Treasury and Finance officials smile. Now ASMR’s job,led by President Dr Daniel Johnstone, is to make thecase to the departments. Dan has always had a fire inhis belly to make a difference to the healthcare system(see his President report) but it has taken on a wholenew meaning since the arrival of his first child (onlyweeks ago) because, after all, we want a better andmore affordable healthcare system for our kids!!!

Dr Sarah Meacham

New Data — A Beacon of Hope for Australia

5 April 2017

Consumer and community involvement in researchis where researchers, consumers and community workin partnership to make decisions about researchpriorities, policy and practice. Creating opportunitiesfor consumers and community members to have a‘voice’ at all levels and stages of health research hasbeen the driving force behind the WA Consumer andCommunity Health Research Network.

Formerly known as the Consumer and CommunityInvolvement Program (Involvement Program), it wasfirst established at the UWA School of PopulationHealth and Telethon Kids Institute in 1998. This was indirect response to community concerns about linkeddata research being undertaken in WA at that time.This part-time consumer advocate position aligned withthe principles outlined in the National Health andMedical Research Council and the Consumers HealthForum of Australia’s joint Statement on Consumer andCommunity Participation in Health and MedicalResearch (2002).

Having a long-term strategic plan to manageorganisational and cultural change that was inclusiveof both staff and community aspirations and valuesresulted in a strong, sustained Involvement Programthat was consistent with recommendations outlinedin the NHMRC and CHF Statement. The InvolvementProgram has received national and internationalrecognition as a good practice model for consumerand community involvement in laboratory, clinical,epidemiological and linked data research.

Significant achievements of the Involvement Programhave included:

The development of training workshops; for■

researchers on implementing consumer andcommunity involvement and writing in plainlanguage; for consumers and communitymembers on ‘understanding research’ includingtopics such as, how research is funded, types ofresearch; and being effective on a researchteams. 66 workshops have been held acrossAustralia since 2009.

Developing a range of tested methods for■

involving consumer and community membersin all types of research. There has beensubstantial success in implementing methodsto increase involvement in laboratory basedresearch following changes to fundingrequirements. Currently we have over 280

consumers and community members serve ondecision-making committees.

Securing three-year funding from Lotterywest in■

July 2016 to establish the Consumer andCommunity Health Research Network as aninitiative of the WA Health Translation Network.This enables the Involvement Program to beexpanded across all 21 Partner Organisationswithin the WA Health Translation Network. TheConsumer and Community Health ResearchNetwork’s Strategic Framework includes thePartner Organisations providing:

Senior level support and commitment to■

establishing a consumer and communityinvolvement plan

Shared funding of a Consumer Advocate■

role in their organisation.

The Consumer and Community Health ResearchNetwork anticipates the uptake of opportunities forresearchers, consumers and community members towork in partnership to continue. A shared commoninterest in consumer and community involvementhas led to a changing landscape with researchers nowasking “how do we do this” rather than the “why dowe need to?”

While there is still a way to go before consumer andcommunity involvement is standard practice, there isa definite increase in awareness amongst researchersof the positive benefits and contribution consumersand community members can make to health research.

Anne McKenzie AMHead of the WA Consumer and

Community Health Translation Network

Anne McKenzie AM works as the Head of the WAConsumer and Community Health Translation Networkand is an experienced consumer representative servingon key state and national health and researchcommittees.

Consumers and community members having a say in research

Calendarof EventsUpcomingconferences —

The Joint AnnualScientific Meetings ofthe Endocrine Societyof Australia and theSociety forReproductive Biology 27–30 August 2017Perth Convention &Exhibition Centre

9th World Congresson Melanoma and14th InternationalCongress of theSociety for MelanomaResearch18–21 October 2017Brisbane Convention andExhibition Centre,

46th AnnualScientific Meeting ofAustralasian Societyfor Immunology27 November – 1December 2017Brisbane Convention andExhibition Centre

Anne McKenzie AM

April 2017 6

Astonishingly, it has been 18 years since I enrolled ina Bachelor of Science degree and took my first steptowards building a career in medical research. Thoughadmittedly, it shouldn’t be so astonishing given certainthings I find myself doing in recent times. Like havingto Google some of the acronyms texted to me frommy gen Y siblings, going out on “big nights” thatconclude by 11pm, and the ultimate — listening toAM radio in the car for the news. I would be lying if Isaid I always wanted to be a Scientist. Like threequarters of my cohort, I was aiming to get in to medicineat some point during my 3 year degree. Thoughts ofjob security, remuneration and industry structureswere far from my freshman mind. Simplistically Ithought to myself that if I did well at university, I wouldnot only have a job for the rest of my life but I wouldbe happy doing it.

It was only during my Honours year that I really fell inlove with the idea of biological discovery anddeveloped a real drive for a career in this field. Obtaininga national scholarship, I was easily funnelled into thewell-trodden path beginning with a PhD, a couple ofpost-docs, and establishing a small research team. Ido not need to preach to the ASMR community aboutall the caveats and challenges in that supposedlycogent pathway. During my postdoc I very quicklystarted to see the unsustainable nature of the medicalresearch sector and the deep-rooted issues entrenchedwithin it. Too many of my contemporaries andcolleagues were opting out of this career due tounrelenting funding pressures and lack of support.Extrapolating to where the industry would be in thenear future, I saw a barren wasteland of much-neededskills and expertise, a rising health burden and stagnantgrowth in education. The issues were bigger than justmore funding, and I decided to start an MBA to buildconnections outside of academia and create a platformfor me to potentially work in policy change.

The highlight of my MBA was connecting with peoplefrom such a vast array of backgrounds, and diversecareer paths. Keen to take a break from the lab, I wasseriously considering gaining some experience in theprivate sector, before eventually working in the not forprofit sector. But the economic downturn, thepracticalities of parenthood and a clearer understandingof my own ambition were all contributing factors thatled me away from that decision. I was very keen to putmy MBA learning to use but also highly conscious ofthe fact that most of my training and skills were inmedical research. The biggest gain from my MBA waslearning how to pivot those skills to make themapplicable across a broader range of roles. I spent a fewmonths involved in a couple of projects in international

public health and social impact before an opening fora program coordinator in personalised medicine openedup. This was an opportunity to utilise my MBA learningwhile still having a window into research. Additionally,I was drawn to the idea of being involved in somethingpotentially as significant as patient-led care which isthe core of personalized medicine and I’m excited tosee how the field plays out.

There is an increasing trend towards “multi-disciplinary”skills in the workforce. Employers want you to be ableto do a little bit of everything, a full repertoire perfectlybalanced with hard and soft skills to tackle the volatileworkplace of the twenty-first century. This may soundparadoxical coming from someone working in a cross-disciplinary field such as research management, butI am cautious of this emerging trend. Creating morepeople with jack-of-all-trades proficiency withoutsupporting the development of more specialised andunique expertise will mean that we will never reachour full societal potential. Breadth of knowledge cannotbe at the cost of depth of knowledge, as both arenecessary to truly excel.

Though I’m acutely conscious of the fact that you cannever treat research, or any scholarly institution forthat matter, like a typical business, I can’t help butidentify some lessons we can take away from thebusiness sector. Firstly, we are not good at claiming ourworth. For too long we have not engaged enoughwith government, the public and other sectors ofsociety to ensure they understand the purpose andimplications of improving the standard of health forthe long-term. Science buzzwords such as “frameworks,”“initiatives,” and “roadmaps” so prevalent now amongstgovernment think tanks and international consortia,may seem unsubstantial and unnecessary, but bigideas require a coalescence of resources and musteringof troops to advance complex data-drenched scientificideas. Secondly, a cultural change needs to take placewhich pushes back against a longstanding elitist cultureof nepotism and peremptory stifling of good sciencedriven by less established researchers. Proper processesand guidelines need to be in place to ensureaccountability at all levels of research. And thirdly,strong leadership is imperative for success, be it at thenational, state or organisational level. Science advocacyfor not only academic research groups, but technologicalindustries and areas of government must be convincingand compelling to congregate the requisite actionnecessary for bona fide scientific progress.

Dr Mitali ManzurProgram Coordinator Personalised

Medicine Telethon Kids Institute

The intersection of science and business— taking a sidestep in Medical Research

Dr Mitali Manzur

7 April 2017

We are living in an era of innovation and discovery.Yet many in the health and medical research workforcemight feel as if they are walking paths that are leadingthem into a seemingly fragile future. Perhaps the starkcontrast between the passion to pioneer medicaldiscoveries to improve the health of humankind andthe challenges that one faces due to the currentclimate of the health a medical research sector has ledone to ask oneself, “What options do I have?” This isindeed a pertinent question. Does an individualcontinue on the path less travelled and carry ontenaciously with the hope that they will still be aroundwhen things eventually get better? Or does onebecome strategic and understand that they need toadapt, evolve, and develop new knowledge and skillsthat will allow them cultivate or maintain success(whether it be in the same career or a completely newone) during the challenging times?

Career development can be def ined as “ thedevelopment of skills and knowledge that enables youto plan and make informed decisions about youreducation, training and career choices”. The ASMRunderstands the critical role that professionaldevelopment plays in the careers of our health andmedical researchers, and we have always held a strongstance on the importance of career development forAustralia’s early- and mid-career researchers. Historically,our State Committees have run numerous careerdevelopment initiatives throughout each calendaryear, and we have also placed an emphasis on careerdevelopment activities during the ASMR NationalScientific Conference to support and foster thedevelopment of skills and knowledge of our members.

As we venture into a world of innovation that sees agrowing emphasis on multi- and trans-disciplinaryresearch, and a growing significance in industry andphilanthropic linkages and engagement in the healthand medical research sector, ASMR knows that wemust create new opportunities for development andsuccess. We also know that we must be dynamic andfresh. With that in mind, I am proud to say that we willbe rolling out new career development events thatwill complement our current initiatives but that willalso offer the exciting edge that we need as we moveforward.

ASMR has a long and proud history in the area ofprofessional development. Our commitment tosupporting and fostering the development of

leadership skills allows us to support the growth ofour members and past Directors, many of whom arenow opinion leaders who have gone on to becomehighly influential across the health sector. In anincreasingly competitive environment, ASMR asks theimportant questions. How do we make ourselves standout from the crowd? How do we go from being goodleaders, to great leaders? ASMR will continue ourapproach to tackling these relevant issues and gapsin the sector that can be filled through professionaldevelopment training. Our National MentoringProgram, which has been running since 2008, willcontinue to provide excellent mentors to an increasingnumber of equally excellent mentees. We will continueto offer unique networking opportunities betweenhealth and medical researchers and senior opinionleaders with the goal to provide our researchers withkey insights and skills that will allow them to effectpositive influence and change in our sector. We willalso run events that will focus on the honing of essentialcross-disciplinary skills that will help to not only drivethe ongoing success of our current research leaders,but that will also foster the transition of our early- andmid-career researchers into becoming our futureleaders in the health and medical research sector.Moreover, ASMR will launch a new award to recognisethe outstanding contributions of Australia’s healthand medical researchers.

We are proud of our career development initiatives,and we are looking forward to continuing to supportthe career development of all researchers acrossAustralia. As ASMR injects new life and vigour into theway we approach career development, we have everyconfidence that you will be prepared to invest in yourongoing professional development. Every individualhas the power to choose to become involved in careerdevelopment initiatives. By seizing the opportunitiesthat ASMR will offer, you can put strategies in placeto make informed choices about your education,training, and career. Undeniably, this will help youbuild a foundation of expertise that will drive success.

Dr Shyuan Ngo

Professional Development Report

Dr Shyuan Ngo

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Dr Ivan Poon from La Trobe University who was recently a recipient ofthe Victorian Tall Poppy Award

April 2017 8

What will healthcare look like in 10 years’ time?

This was the central question posed at the 55th ASMRNational Scientific Conference (NSC), and if the qualityof research presented at this meeting is anything togo by, the future of healthcare looks very bright indeed!

Over 100 researchers converged on Bond Universityon the sunny Gold Coast from 13 to 15 November forNSC 2016, which served as a unique transdisciplinaryforum for the exchange of cutting-edge ideas andtechniques to address the major health-related issuesof the future. The need for such a conference wasprecipitated by rapid recent advances in technology(e.g. high-throughput biomolecule sequencing,nanoscale engineering, stem cell manipulation, tissueengineering, improvements in telecommunications)that have opened up research and translationalopportunities that were unimaginable only years ago.By adopting an applications-based approach ratherthan a discipline-focussed approach, NSC 2016 broughttogether researchers from a broad range of fields,including ‘omics and systems biology, personalisedand precision medicine, nanotechnology, real-timemonitoring, tissue engineering, imaging and robotics.

As with all ASMR NSCs, two true highlights of theconference were the Firkin and Edwards Orations. We

extend our deepest thanks to Professor Alim-LouisBenabid, who travelled from Grenoble, France (sansluggage!) to deliver an outstanding Firkin Oration thatblended physics, engineering and neuroscience toshowcase a tour de force in neuromodulation research.Professor Benabid was deeply engaged in all aspectsof the conference, being ever-present in the symposiaand generously giving hours of his time to interact withstudents and post-docs – a true gentleman of medicine.For the Edwards Oration we were treated to a thought-provoking presentation from Professor Alan Trounson,who drew on examples from his own sterling careerto explicate how disruptive, non-linear research canaccelerate discovery and push the boundaries ofbiology and technology.

The broader conference program consisted of 8 invitedtalks, 25 talks selected from abstracts, 17 rapid-firetalks and 46 poster presentations. A particular hit wasthe rapid-fire session, a new format in which presentersare given only 2 minutes to provide a snapshot oftheir research and encourage the audience to visittheir poster in the subsequent session. This challengingexercise in conciseness really brought out the best inthe presenters’ communications skills and enabledmore attendees to present their work in an oral formatthan has traditionally been possible.

Special congratulations go to Joshua Horne-Debetsfrom QIMR Berghofer who, despite having to overcomesome computer issues on the morning of hispresentation, was awarded the prestigious Campion-Ma-Playoust award for the best presentation by anASMR student member. Congratulations also go to KateRedgrove, who received the new ECR Presentationaward.

The ASMR NSC relies on sponsorship to ensureaffordable registration fees, and we gratefullyacknowledge the generous support of CSL, HudsonInstitute of Medical Research, QIMR Berghofer,Shimadzu and Bond University. My deepest thanksalso to Annette McClellan and the staff of ASN Events,as well as the incredibly helpful event co-ordinatorsat Bond University. Finally, I take this opportunity toonce again thank Dr Jamie Fletcher and the ProgramOrganising Committee for delivering an excitingprogram featuring a diverse range of experts leadingthe push towards “next-generation healthcare”.

I look forward to seeing everyone in Sydney inNovember for NSC 2017!

Dr Dan Johnstone

Professor Alan Trounson,

Dr Dan Johnstone

and Professor Alim-Louis Benabid

Next-Generation Healthcare:Merging Biology & TechnologyHighlights from NSC 2016

9 April 2017

Save the date and join the 56th ASMR NationalScientific Conference (NSC) to be held in Sydney,at the Charles Perkins Centre, from November 14th to15th, 2017. Entitled “Science and Survival —equipping you with the tools to further yourresearch career” the 2017 NSC features an engagingand exciting new format encompassing both scientificsessions and professional development workshops.

In these highly competitive times, the 2017 NSC willprovide invaluable insights into:

Achieving scientific excellence and ■

Developing sound career strategies using the■

right tools.

We believe this conference will fulfil an important yetunmet need for the early to mid-career Australianscientific community.

This year’s ASMR NSC will showcase Australia’s scientificresearch excellence. Distinguished ProfessorChennupati Jagadish, an eminent transdisciplinaryresearcher and nanotechnology pioneer, head of theSemiconductor Optoelectronics and NanotechnologyGroup at the Australian National University, will deliverthe prestigious Edwards Oration.

Professor Jagadish’s research on innovat ivenanotechnologies has huge potential in the field ofcommunications, data storage, solar cells and medicalapplications.

His latest research on neuromorphic cells, “brain on ac h i p”, i s p a v i n g t h e w a y f o r a n e w f i e l d i nnanotechnology with enormous implications formedical research.

Professor Jagadish was awarded Companion of theOrder of Australia (AC) last year.

We anticipate that this two-day meeting will attractan audience of researchers from a wide range ofdisciplines with an emphasis on transdisciplinaryresearch.

!!! Abstracts from all fields of Health andMedical research are welcome !!!

Join the NSC this year to survive, thrive and be inspired!

Dr Jordane Malaterre

56th ASMR NationalScientific Conference (NSC) — SAVE THE DATE!!!

Professor Chennupati Jagadish

April 2017 10

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11 April 2017

ASMR Directors 2017Executive DirectorsDr Daniel Johnstone

— PresidentDr Roger Yazbek

— Honorary Treasurer/ Membership/President-Elect

Dr Emma Parkinson-Lawrence— Sponsorship

Associate Professor Phoebe Phillips — Honorary Secretary

DirectorsAssociate Professor Joanne Bowen

— Professional DevelopmentDr Matt Dunn

— MediaDr Bree Foley

— Newsletter EditorDr Demelza Ireland

— ASMR Medical Research Week Dr Jordane Malaterre

— NSC 2017Dr Shyuan Ngo

— CommunicationsDr Maree Toombs

— Indigenous Health and Research

Executive OfficeCatherine West

— Senior Executive OfficerPriscilla Diment

— Administrative Assistant

ASMR State BranchConvenorsDr Siva Purushothuman

— New South Wales ConvenorDr Lena von Schuckmann andDr Gregor Tevz

— Queensland ConvenorsDr Phillippa Taberlay andDr Brad Sutherland

— Tasmania ConvenorsMiss Kiera Flynn andDr Brooke Harcourt

— Victoria ConvenorsDr Belinda Brown andDr Sonia Fernandez

— Western Australia ConvenorsDr Ian Johnson

— South Australia ConvenorDr Farzaneh Kordbacheh

— ACT ConvenorDr Nicole Ryan

— Newcastle Convenor

Contact detailswww.asmr.org.au/Statebranch.html

ASMR Affiliate MembersANZAC Research Institute Australasian College for Emergency MedicineAustralasian College of DermatologistsAustralasian Faculty of Occupational and

Environmental MedicineAustralasian Gene Therapy Society IncAustralasian Neuroscience Society Inc. Australasian Sleep AssociationAustralasian Society of Clinical Immunology

and AllergyAustralasian Society for HIV Medicine IncAustralasian Society for ImmunologyAustralasian Society for Infectious DiseasesAustralasian Society of Clinical and

Experimental Pharmacologists andToxicologists

Australian and New Zealand Association ofNeurologists

Australian and New Zealand Bone & MineralSociety

Australian and New Zealand College ofAnaesthetists

Australian and New Zealand Obesity SocietyAustralian and New Zealand Orthopaedic

Research SocietyAustralian and New Zealand Society for Blood

TransfusionAustralian and New Zealand Society of

NephrologyAustralian Atherosclerosis SocietyAustralian College of NursingAustralian Diabetes SocietyAustralian Medical Students’ Association Ltd Australian Physiological SocietyAustralian Rheumatology AssociationAustralian Society for Biochemistry and

Molecular Biology IncAustralian Society for Parasitology Australian Vascular Biology SocietyBaker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute Bionics Institute of Australia Brain and Psychological Sciences Research

GroupBurnet Institute Cardiac Society of Australia and New ZealandChildren’s Cancer Institute Australia Children’s Medical Research InstituteDeeble Institute for Health Policy ResearchEar Science Institute AustraliaEndocrine Society of AustraliaEskitis Institute Fertility Society of AustraliaHaematology Society of Australia and New

ZealandHigh Blood Pressure Research Council of

AustraliaHuman Genetics Society of Australasia

Hudson Institute of Medical ResearchIllawarra Health and Medical Research InstituteInstitute of Health and Biomedical InnovationInstitute of Mind & Behavioural SciencesKolling Institute of Medical Research Lions Eye Institute LimitedMater Research Institute National Association of Research FellowsNutrition Society of Australia Inc.Opthalmic Research Institute of Australia Paramedics AustralasiaPerinatal Society of Australia and New ZealandQueensland Eye Institute & Prevent Blindness

FoundationResearch Centre for Clinical & Community

Practice InnovationRoyal ANZ College of Obstetricians and

GynaecologistsRoyal Australasian College of SurgeonsRoyal Australian and New Zealand College of

Radiologists Royal Australian and New Zealand College of

Psychiatrists Royal Australasian College of PhysiciansRoyal Australian College of General

Practitioners Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Society for Free Radical Research (Australasia)Society for Reproductive Biology Society of Mental Health ResearchThoracic Society of Australia and New ZealandTransplantation Society of Australia and New

ZealandUniversity of Queensland —Diamantina

Institute Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical

Research

ASMR Associate MembersArthritis AustraliaAustralian Red Cross Blood ServiceAustralian Respiratory CouncilClifford Craig Foundation TrustFoundation for High Blood Pressure ResearchHaemophilia Foundation of AustraliaJuvenile Diabetes Research FoundationKidney Health AustraliaLupus Association of NSW McCusker Alzheimer’s Research Foundation Muscular Dystrophy Association IncNational Heart Foundation of AustScleroderma Association of NSW IncQueensland Government

ASMR Supporting MembersCSL LimitedResearch AustraliaWiley Australia