Archived News for Health Sector Professionals
The New South Wales Government has announced a record number of intern training positions across the state, with 850 new interns starting training at 49 hospitals and 15 HP practices.
The trainee doctors will now work on a rotating basis within a network of hospitals, which include tertiary level teaching hospitals and smaller regional or rural facilities, and will be exposed to a gamut of scenarios.
Some interns will spend time in GP clinics to gain experience in primary health care.
Chairperson appointed for THOs
The Tasmanian Minister for Health, Michelle O’Byrne, has confirmed Graeme Houghton as the first chairperson of the state’s three Tasmanian Health Organisation (THO).
Applications open for Victorian Mental Illness Research Fund
The Victorian Government has called for submissions to the $10 million mental illness research fund that will aim to bolster collaborative research and achieve improved outcomes for Victorians affected by a mental illness.
Funding for better dementia outcomes
Australia’s first Partnership Centre will focus on for better dementia outcomes with the theme of ‘Dealing with Cognitive and Related Functional Decline in the Elderly’.
New centre to research tailored cancer treatments
A new cancer research centre established at the University of Adelaide will focus on treatment options tailored to the individual, taking into account DNA and genetic variations between people.
The Centre for Personalised Cancer Medicine brings together researchers with strengths in blood cancers and solid tumours, particularly breast, lung, sarcomas and melanoma.
Headed by Professor David Callen, the team will use tumour profiling and animal and cellular models to develop new drugs that target particular molecular changes in individual cancer patients.
"This centre reflects the trend towards a new, individualised approach to cancer medicine, taking into account genetic variations between people and their reaction to specific drugs," Professor Callen says.
"We will focus on improving the outcomes for cancer patients at all levels, from prevention through to treatment, survival, rehabilitation and palliative care, exploring novel and innovative approaches to cancer research.
"The big thrust at the moment is DNA sequencing. While it is still in the developmental stage, there are enormous resources being poured into this overseas and it looks like we will follow this lead in Australia."
The centre is already making headway in some areas, particularly in the treatment of sarcomas − rare malignant tumours which disproportionately affect young people and have a high mortality rate.
Dr Paul Neilsen, who oversees the Sarcoma Research Group, is collaborating with Royal Adelaide Hospital surgeon A/Prof Susan Neuhaus to trial new drugs on individual patient's tumours in a laboratory setting.
"Currently these patients are treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy but their outcomes are very poor and have not improved in the past decade," Dr Neilsen says.
"We have identified weak points in these tumours and are targeting them with new agents. The next step is to support pre-clinical trials in Australia."
For more information on the new Centre go to www.adelaide.edu.au/cpcm/
Funding supports National Institute of Complementary Medicine
More information is at http://www.nicm.edu.au/
Review of Health and Medical Research set to go
The Panel of the Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research in Australia held its second meeting on 19 December 2011 in Melbourne.
Hammett resigns from TGA
National Manager of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Dr Rohan Hammett, has resigned from the position.
$105 million allocated in NHMRC Program Grants
Funding totalling more than $105 million has been allocated to ten research programs under the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Program Grants to commence in 2013.
$20m for new Port Macquarie health and medical education campus
Commonwealth funding of $20 million has been announced for a health and medical education campus in Port Macquarie – the first of its kind in regional Australia.
Queensland Health abolished as Bligh promises new start
The Queensland Government has announced plans to abolish Queensland Health in a bid to create a ‘new beginning’ in health services in the state.
University of Sydney researchers develop Alzheimer's vaccine
A vaccine that slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia has been developed by researchers at the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI).
WA calls for health council members
The Western Australian Government has called for expressions of interest members of Western Australia’s five new public health service governing councils.
Government announces cancer research funding
The Federal Government has outlined nearl $10 million in funding under a scheme to assist Australian researchers search for new ways to prevent and treat the disease.
Nanopatch wins innovation award
The Australian Innovation Challenge has recognised the revolutionary Nanopatch technology with top honours at an award ceremony held last week, winning the manufacturing and high-tech design category.
Federal Government announces healthy Internet CRC
The Federal Government has announced the formation of a new Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) that will conduct research into new ways of using the Internet, social media and other applications.
Government receives interim dental report
The Federal Government has confirmed the it has received an interim report on dental health reform options from the independent National Advisory Council on Dental Health.
NHMRC honours top researchers
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has held its annual awards ceremony in Canberra, recognising the country’s leading health and medical researchers.
New agency to design NDIS
The Federal Government has announced the formation of a new agency that will be tasked to lead the Government’s designing of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
NHMRC holds health symposium
The National Health and Medical Research Council has held its 75 anniversary symposium, analyzing the best way forward to translate research into better health outcomes for all nations.
Monash leads malaria breakthrough
A team of research scientists have discovered new ways in which the malaria parasite survives and develops in the victim’s bloodstream, paving the way for the development of new drugs to treat the deadly disease.