ASCEPT May E-news 2009
In this issue:
May E-Newsletter
of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists
Welcome to the May ASCEPT eNewsletter.
If any would like to contribute any items to eNews, please send it along to Meetings First for consideration.
Roselyn Rose'Meyer
ASCEPT Newsletter Editor
ASCEPT 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting
The 43rd ASCEPT Annual Scientific Meeting will be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, November 29 - December 2, 2009.
The theme of the meeting is the "The Rights of Medicines", with sub-themes of "The Right Drug, The Right Patient, The Right Dose and the Right Result" woven into each of the symposia. Distinguished plenary speakers include Professor Shuh Narumiya, the Japanese Pharmacological Society Lecture, in addition to the Rand Anglo-Australian visitor and the Rand medallist.
The program includes 8 symposia and 2 workshops that feature high quality speakers and 'cutting edge' science. In addition to the invited presentations, there will be time for free communications (oral and poster). More details will be provided later.
Please note the following deadlines for registration and abstract submissions.
Abstract submission deadline - September 1, 2009
Early Bird Registration deadline - October 20, 2009
Registrations and abstract submissions are now open! Please visit the website for more information.
ASCEPT Lecturer to the BPS 2009 - Professor Alastair Stewart
Member Profile
Alastair is a Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Melbourne, where he heads the Immunopharmacology Laboratory. He holds BSc Hons (1980) and PhD (1984) degrees from the University of Melbourne. His research interests focus on inflammation and tissue remodelling in asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. He has secured research contracts from major pharmaceutical companies, including GSK and Australian biotech companies, including AMRAD and Progen. In 2001 he co-founded Cryptopharma, a company involved in discovery and development of new anti-inflammatory drugs and served as its CEO from 2001-2006. His basic research has been funded by peer-reviewed grants from NHMRC, NHF, ACCV and charitable trusts including the Asthma Foundation of Victoria. He periodically consults to major Pharma and Biotech companies. He has over 150 published scientific articles including peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, review articles and granted patents. Dr Stewart currently serves on the scientific advisory committees of the Bernard O'Brien Institute and the Woolcock Institute and has served on NHMRC grant review discipline panels (2000-2002; 2007-08). He is a former member of the Council and Executive of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ), chairing the Education and Research subcommittee. He also serves on the editorial boards of several international journals. He joined the board of Research Australia in 2008. His laboratory has a strong track record of Graduate Research Training and he maintains wide interests in research, research training and research support structures.
Selected Recent Publications
- Konopka, TE, Barker, JB, Bamford, TL, Guida, E, Anderson, RL, Stewart, AG. (2001). Nitric oxide synthase II gene disruption: implications for tumour growth and vascular endothelial growth factor production. Cancer Research 61:3182-3187.
- Hughes, R.A., Harris, T., Altmann, E., McAllister, D., Vlahos, R., Robertson, A., Cushman, M., Wang, Z. & Stewart, A.G. (2002). 2-methoxyestradiol and analogues as novel anti-proliferative agents: analysis of three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships for DNA synthesis inhibition and estrogen receptor binding. Molecular Pharmacology 61:1-17.
- Hirst, S.J., Martin, J.G., Bonacci, JV., Chan, V., Fixman, E.D., Hamid, Q., Herszberg, B., Lavoie, J-P., McVicker, C.G., Moir, L.M., Nguyen, T.T., Peng, Q., Ramos-Barbon, D., & Stewart, AG. (2004). Proliferative aspects of airway smooth muscle. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 114: S2-S17.
- Stewart, A.G., (2004). Editorial. Emigration and immigration of mesenchymal cells: a multicultural airway wall. Eur. J. Respir. Dis. 24; 1-3.
- Tran, T., Fernandes, D.J., Schuliga, M., Harris, T., Landells, L. & Stewart, A.G. (2005). Stimulus-dependent glucocorticoid-resistance of GM-CSF production in human cultured airway smooth muscle. British journal of Pharmacology, 145, 123-131.
- Sutherland, T.E., Schuliga, M., Harris, T., Eckhardt, B.L., Anderson, R.A., Quan, L., & Stewart, A.G. (2005). 2-methoxyestradiol is an estrogen receptor agonist that supports tumor growth in murine xenograft models of breast cancer. Clinical Cancer Research 11:1722-1732.
- Bonacci JV, Schuliga M, Harris T, Stewart AG. (2006). Collagen impairs glucocorticoid actions in airway smooth muscle through integrin signalling. Br J Pharmacol;149(4):365-73.
- Shepherd, M.C., Harris, T., Schuliga, M., Neylon, C.B. Brightling, C, Bradding, P. & Stewart, A.G. (2007). Intermediate conductance calcium-activated potassium channels are expressed in human airway smooth muscle cells and regulate proliferation. Am J Resp Cell Mol Biol 37(5):525-31.
- Ward, J.E., Harris, T., Bamford, T.L., Mast, A., Pain, M.C.F., Robertson, C.F., Smallwood, D., Tran, T., & Stewart, A.G. (2008). Cytokine production is increased but proliferation is reduced in airway fibroblasts from asthmatics. Eur Resp J 32(2):362-71.
- Tara E. Sutherland, Robin L. Anderson, Richard A. Hughes, Emile Altmann, Michael Schuliga, James Ziogas & Alastair G. Stewart. 2-Methoxyestradiol - a unique blend of activities generates a new class of anti-tumour/anti-inflammatory agents. Drug Discovery Today, 12: 577-584.
Itinerary
- 8 Dec - Division of Infection, Inflammation & Repair, School of Medicine, University of Southampton
- 9 Dec - William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London Medical School, London
- 10 Dec - Division of Therapeutics & Molecular Medicine, University Hospital Nottingham
- 10 Dec - Department of Medicine, University Leicester
- 11 Dec - Department of Medicine, University of Glasgow
- 14 Dec - National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London
- 15 Dec - Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, Kings College, London
- 15-17 Dec - British Pharmacological Society Meeting, London
- 18 Dec - GSK, Stevenage
Call for Student Applications for ASCEPT Pharmacogenomics SIG award to attend the Australian Pharmacogenomics Summit
The Pharmacogenomics SIG is inviting ASCEPT PhD student members to submit applications for awards to cover registration for the Australian Pharmacogenomics Summit in Sydney from July 30th - 31st 2009. A total of four awards will be provided. Application is via submission of a pdf containing the following:
- Statement demonstrating eligibility - only students who are ASCEPT members (for at least 1 year), in 2nd or 3rd year of their candidature and whose research incorporates some aspect of pharmacogenomics are eligible;
- Current curriculum vitae;
- Statement addressing why it is important for the applicant to attend the summit; and
- A letter of support from their current supervisor
All applications should be emailed to Dr Janet Coller (co-chair Pharmacogenomics SIG), janet.coller@adelaide.edu.au by Monday June 1st 2009 4pm.
RACP Ethics Expert Advisory Group: Call for comments on revision of guidelines for ethical relationships with industry and code of professional behaviour
The Ethics Expert Advisory Group (EEG) is responsible for strengthening the capacity of the College to respond to ethical issues. The "Guidelines for ethical relationships between physicians and industry" and the "Code for Professional Behaviour" are reference documents used throughout the College and its training and education programs to assist with decisions about relationships with patients and colleagues and other organisations.
The EEG works with the divisions, faculties and chapters of the College and the Policy and Advocacy Committee. Work undertaken by the Ethics Expert Advisory Group includes (among other things):
- developing procedures for management of dualities and conflicts of interests throughout the College and in its activities;
- advising the organisers of the RACP Congress on both ethics content and sponsorship issues;
- contributing at an editorial level to the Internal Medical Journal;
- developing educational materials, including modules on ethics and relations with industry, for the RACP curricula;
- conducting discussion panels on ethics at RACP meetings;
- preparing submissions for the RACP on ethical matters; and
- providing a resource for fellows who seek assistance in relation to ethical issues of any kind.
The Ethics Expert Advisory Group is in the process of reviewing the 3rd edition of the "Guidelines for ethical relationships between physicians and industry" (available at http://www.racp.edu.au/page/health-policy-and-advocacy/ethics) as well as the "Code for Professional Behaviour" (available at http://www.racp.edu.au/page/publications-and-communications). We would greatly appreciate comments and suggestions to help us in these tasks.
We are also very keen to hear from members of the College about any other ethical issues you would like us to take up. We will be very grateful for any thoughts you might have. Please feel free to contact me directly to e-mail Mary Osborn at mary.osborn@racp.edu.au
Paul Komesaroff (Chair)
ASMR Medical Research Week®
There is only one month to go before the ASMR Medical Research Week®. It kick starts off in the Apple Isle, in Hobart on the 27th May and finishes in Perth on the 5th June. ASMR Medical Research Week® is our major public outreach event which raises awareness of the benefits of research in the area of health and medicine. Now more then ever it is important to share with the community Australia's effort in curing and preventing diseases and ensure the health needs of our citizens are met. Medical Research does that!
A main attraction of the week is the tour by the ASMR medalist. The medalist is always an extraordinary individual who has gone beyond the call of duty and contributed significantly not just to health and medical research but to their country and the scientific community. This year's medalist is no exception, Professor Josef Penninger, Director of the Institute of Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna. The main focus of his research work is on heart and lung, autoimmune, cancer and bone diseases. Josef Penninger is one of the 10 most cited scientists in the world, one of the 10 of the most interesting people to keep your eye on and recently named Austrian Scientist of the Year. He is a gifted and charismatic man... a man, a clinician, scientist and will reinforce the human aspects of the impact of ill health, the effects and outcomes of research and the possibilities it represents for the future. He is well versed in innovative initiatives in health and medical research funding mechanisms in Europe and Canada. ASMR has coined him the 'Renaissance Man'. ASMR is proud to have him as part of ASMR Medical Research Week. He will give his national address on Wed 3rd June at the National Press Club. Don't miss him - book yourself a seat at any of the gala dinners. You will not be disappointed - he is an incredibly inspiring human being.
Other activities during ASMR MRW® will include cinema events, expos, career days, scientific meetings, seminars, dinners, public forums, lunches, and award ceremonies. This broad spectrum of activities will target all communities (scientists, researchers, politicians, the public, industry).
Keep a keen eye on our nations premier newspaper on the 29th May, The Australian, there will be a Special Lift-out showcasing great discoveries from some of Australia's medical researchers and highlighting all the exciting events happening around the country during ASMR Medical Research Week®.
Until then please visit www.asmr.org.au/MRW.html for all the different state activities.
Hope to see you during ASMR Medical Research Week®
Dr Sarah Meachem President
The BJCP Young Investigator Prize
The British Pharmacological Society (BPS) will award an annual prize of £1000, a certificate and 1-year honorary BPS membership for the best paper by a trainee published in the print version of BJCP during a calendar year. Those eligible will be clinical trainees (of whatever specialty), or basic scientists in training registered for a PhD (or equivalent).
On acceptance of a manuscript the authors will automatically, as part of the Manuscript Central system, be sent a reminder about the BJCP prize and will be invited to fill in an application form, giving information about the provenance of the work and the precise role played by the potential award-winner. The judges will be the editors of the Journal, but they may call for expert assistance in making their decision, which will be final.
Andrew Somogyi (BJCP- Australasian Editor)
News from Other Organisations
Please click on the relevant links for any news from other organisations that may be of interest to ASCEPT members.
Royal Society of New Zealand
Alert 569: 30 April 2009
Research Australia
In the issue:
- Trends in Health and Medical Research Funding 2009
- "Thank You" Day 2009 - Friday, 20 November
- Save the Date - "Thank You" Day Awards
- Research Australia Philanthropy
- E-Newsletter contributions
- Staff changes
BPS -Pharmacology Matters e-Bulletin
Positions Vacant
Looking for a new job? Listed below is a position currently vacant that you may be eligible to apply for. Please click on the link for jobs you're interested in.
Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor [Pharmacology] (one post)
Fiji School of Medicine
Click here for more information
Lecturer 2 / 1 [Pharmacology] (one post)
Fiji School of Medicine
Click here for more information
The next e-news will be sent out on Monday 15 June 2009. If there is information you would like to include, please email it to athina@meetingsfirst.com.au by Monday 8 June 2009.
Roselyn Rose'Meyer
ASCEPT Newsletter Editor