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November 2007 E-Newsletter of the
Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists
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Welcome to the November edition of ASCEPT eNews. In this issue of eNews we have a travel grant report from Dr
Snezana Kuslijc who attended the 5th Congress of the International
Society for Autonomic Neuroscience in Kyoto, Japan. We are informing members about the graduate diploma in drug
evaluation and pharmaceutical sciences to be run at the University of
Melbourne in 2008. We encourage members to attend consultation sessions with the
CEO of the NHMRC, Professor Warwick Anderson at meetings to be held around
Australia in 2007 and 2008. Several conferences are advertised including the 4th
National Symposium on Advances in Urogenital Research, the World Conference
on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, the Western
Pharmacological Society meeting in Hawaii and the joint
SEAWP-ASCEPT meeting. Furthermore,
we congratulate Professor Andrew Somogyi, who was the recipient of the
best oral presentation at the 10th International Association of Therapeutic Drug
Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology Congress in Nice (France) for his paper
"Pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics of high dose methadone in
maintenance subjects". We continue to encourage members
to seek sponsorship for seminar programs and remind you that the 2007
Australian Medicines Handbook is still available at a discounted rate. 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 |
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REPORT: ASCEPT TRAVEL GRANT SUPPORT 5th Congress of the International Society for
Autonomic Neuroscience Dr Snezana Kusljic, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology,
Victorian College of Pharmacy, Monash University My trip
to Japan (attending the 5th Congress of the International Society
for Autonomic Neuroscience) commenced with my arrival in Tokyo on Wednesday 3rd
October 2007. Thursday October 4th allowed me to spend the day
visiting Tokyo Tower and the famous shopping district Ginza as well as organising
my train trip to Kyoto. On Friday October 5th I took the bullet
train (Shin-kan-sen) to Kyoto. The same evening I went to the conference hall
(Kyoto Terrsa) to register and together with my colleagues attended the
Welcome Reception. The next
day October 6th was spent attending a symposia and oral sessions
on neural control of the gastrointestinal system (GIT). Given that a major
interest in our laboratory is the characterisation of the electrical activity
underlying prostate myogenic properties in the guinea-pig, it was good to see
the effect of electrical stimulation of GIT smooth muscle on membrane
potential and intracellular [Ca2+]. The same evening was spent presenting my poster
entitled ‘Distribution of interstitial cells and connexin 43 in guinea-pig
prostate gland’. I discussed my research findings with researches from
Belgium and Germany and received a very positive feedback. Considering that
there is not much literature on the role of prostatic interstitial cells in
prostate diseases, my talk led to a number of helpful conversations in the
context of differences in the layout of prostatic interstitial cells and
their communication proteins in the gastrointestinal system, urinary bladder
and prostate. The
following day October 7th was spent attending a seminars and oral
sessions during the day and poster session in the evening. The oral session
entitled “Basic neuroscience” was probably the highlight of the conference
incorporating presentations with pharmacological and physiological aspects.
The topics ranged from use of Ca2+ imaging for studying purinergic
P2 receptors in satellite glial cells to brain localisation and changes in
expression of novel oestrogen receptor GPR 30 during rat oestrous cycle and
spontaneous activity in the prostate gland. On
October 8th I enjoyed keynote lecture by Dr Janet R. Keast
(Australia) on the trophic effects in the pelvic autonomic nervous system.
During the lecture, Dr Keast focussed on the role of androgens and the glial
cell-line derived neurotrophic factor in injury and the development of
pro-regenerative therapies. The same afternoon provided some welcome free
time and allowed me to spend the day visiting the Nijo Castle and
Kyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto. On
October 9th I caught a train back to Tokyo where I had spent a
couple of days sightseeing before returning to Australia. I am very grateful
to ASCEPT for financial support that allowed me to attend ISAN 2007 in Kyoto
(ASCEPT support acknowledged on poster). The opportunity to meet new scientific
colleagues and discuss future and ongoing research directions was extremely
worthwhile. |
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SOFTWARE LAUNCH ASCEPT - SEAWP joint Meeting Monday December 3 at 1.00pm TCIWORKS - Target Concentration Intervention Software.
CMJ Kirkpatrick(1), L Van den Berg(1), SB Duffull(1,2) 1. School of Pharmacy,
University of Queensland, QLD, 4072, 2 School of Pharmacy, University of
Otago. Dunedin. New Zealand. TCIWorks is a computer program designed for
dose optimisation for individual patients to be used as a part of routine
clinical care. TCIWorks is capable of running on any operating system that
supports JAVA applications e.g. Windows, Linux, & Mac. TCIWorks comprises
a combination of proprietary freeware including JAVA runtime, MySQL, and a
number of freely available numerical applications for JAVA including a
numerical integrator and nonlinear regression search tools. The compiled
software has all the necessary JAVA packages for the complete running of the
TCIWorks. The compiled version will auto-install MySQL and set up the
database with three sample drug models, gentamicin/tobramycin, enoxaparin,
and gentamicin dosing for haemodialysis. This software design project has received financial support from
PSA(QLD), Pfizer Pty Ltd (Project #2005002067) and ASCEPT. This presentation
will demonstrate the addition of a new drug into TCIWorks and show examples
of dosing patients for the standard drugs provided in the software. For
further information see www.tciworks.info |
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GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN DRUG EVALUATION & PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES: 2008University of Melbourne, AustraliaToday’s potent
drugs, combined with the complex issues of their production and use has created
a growing need for evaluation of their safety and efficacy. For such evaluation, wide ranging
expertise is required in the areas of Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology
and Toxicology, Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Legal and Ethical Considerations. This diploma course gives a systematic
overview of these areas and how they affect the very practical issues of drug
evaluation and is aimed at Pharmacists, Research Nurses, Scientists, Medical
Practitioners and others involved in regulatory affairs. For more information
please click here. |
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THE CEO OF NHMRC, WILL PRESENT NHMRC'S RESEARCH FUNDING OUTCOMES
AND FUTURE CHALLENGES AROUND THE COUNTRY
Professor Warwick Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of NHMRC is
holding a series of open discussion sessions around the country during late
2007 and early 2008. These sessions will cover a wide range of issues
including success rates in the 2007 funding round, improving peer review,
supporting our health and medical researchers, the rising costs of research,
supporting biomedical, clinical, public health and health services research,
the commercialisation of research and an analysis of NHMRC supported research
achievements. This is an opportunity to hear, and discuss NHMRC's current
research support outcomes, and NHMRC's consideration of addressing the
forthcoming challenges in health and medical research in the 21st century.
All are welcome and the sessions have been planned for: Melbourne -
Melbourne University Melbourne -
Monash University Brisbane -
University of Queensland. Sydney -
University of NSW Sydney -
University of Sydney Further sessions in Perth, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin and regional
centres will be held in 2008. I urge all ASCEPT members wanting to find out
what the future may or may not hold for NHMRC funding mechanisms in Australia
to attend. This is also our opportunity to provide feedback to the NHMRC re
the process this year. Rebecca Ritchie |
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4TH NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ADVANCES IN UROGENITAL RESEARCH Date: 23rd November, 2007 Location: Victorian College of Pharmacy, Monash
University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VICTORIA Registration deadline:
12th November, 2007 Abstract submission
deadline: 12th November, 2007 The 4th Advances in Urogenital Research Symposium will be held in
Melbourne. The purpose of this scientific meeting is to bring together basic
and clinical scientists with interests in urogenital physiology, pharmacology
and disease to address the recent advances in their areas of basic and
clinical research. The meeting also aims to promote improved collaboration in
the area of urogenital research and medicine amongst scientists and
clinicians in universities, research institutes and hospitals. The one-day symposium will cover advances in bladder research, as
well as female and male reproductive health.
Free poster communications will also be a feature of the symposium. Registration
will be free for all students. Travel
support will be available to interstate students and eligible post-doctoral
fellows. For information regarding registration or abstract submission,
please contact Liz Burcher (e.burcher@unsw.edu.au) or Sab Ventura (sab.ventura@vcp.monash.edu.au), respectively. Please click here to download the registration/abstract form. Confirmed speakers and chairs include: -
Anna Rosamilia (Melbourne) -
Helen O’Connell (Melbourne) -
Helena Parkington (Melbourne) -
Jocelyn Pennefather (Melbourne) -
Russ Chess-Williams (Gold Coast) -
Kate Moore (Sydney) Local Organisers: -
Sab Ventura -
Betty Exintaris -
Jocelyn Pennefather -
Elizabeth Burcher |
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JOINT
SEAWP – ASCEPT MEETING 2007
On behalf of the Southeast Asian
Western Pacific (SEAWP) Regional Federation of Pharmacologists and the
Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and
Toxicologists (ASCEPT), we would like to invite you to participate in the
combined Scientific Meeting of the two societies. For further information please click here. This month we would like to feature the following seven speakers
of the ASCEPT-SEAWP meeting. Click on the names below to view their
biographies. ASCEPT Scientific Advisory Committee, Chair
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WESTERN PHARMACOLOGY
SOCIETY On behalf of the
Western Pharmacology Society, I welcome you to 51st Annual
WPS Meeting at the Marriott Resort on Hawaii’s beautiful Kona Coast from
January 27 to 31, 2008. The WPS is one of the oldest Pharmacology societies,
holding its first meeting in San Francisco in 1958. WPS
is an international Society with major
membership from the western regions of the United
States, Canada, and Mexico with many other countries represented. Over the
years, the Society has extended a welcome to those who have attended the
annual meetings from Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. This year, we are
delighted to have a joint symposium with Australian Society of Clinical and
Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, which brings scientists from Australia, New
Zealand, and the United Kingdom to the meeting. The goal of the meeting is to share current science and promote
the success of future pharmacologists. This is reflected by this year’s
scientific program, which includes five focused symposia: Estrogen and Woman’s Health, Fetal Origins
of Cardiovascular Disease, DNA Methylation and Cancer Therapy,
Pharmacogenomics, and Emerging Understanding in Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome. In the tradition of the society,
symposia will be held in the morning with afternoons free for golf, swimming,
sightseeing and all around fun and relaxation. The poster sessions will be
conducted in the evenings; wine and cheese will be served. These sessions are invariably well
received as they give our students an opportunity to present their work and
receive constructive criticism and suggestions from many expert scientists in
attendance. I would like to encourage all participants, especially graduate
students and postdoctoral fellows, to take advantage of this and other
opportunities during the meeting for informal collegial interaction and
exchange of ideas. You will find more information at the WPS website www.westernpharmsoc.org. WPS honors two of
its past members who were instrumental in the growth and success of the Society.
The meeting will begin with the Tom Burks Memorial Award Lecture on Sunday
evening at 6:00 pm followed immediately by a hosted reception. I am delighted
that Nobel Laureate, Professor Louis Ignarro from the University of
California Los Angeles will deliver the Tom Burks keynote lecture describing
the history and discovery of nitric oxide as a signaling molecule. This
year’s Keith Killam Award Lecture will be given on Wednesday. I am certain that you will enjoy the meeting
scientifically and socially, and will be pleased with the nature beauty of
the Kona Coast. Please join us, and
we look forward to seeing you in Hawaii! Aloha! Lubo Zhang President Professor of Pharmacology &
Physiology Loma Linda University School of
Medicine Loma
Linda, CA 92350 |
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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS 2nd Asian Pacific ISSX
Meeting | Shanghai, China May 11 - 13, 2008 and 10th European ISSX Meeting | Vienna,
Austria The International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics (ISSX) is
pleased to officially announce the Call for Abstracts for
the 2nd Asian Pacific ISSX Meeting and the 10th European ISSX Meeting. ISSX Meetings offer you a venue to showcase your research; gain
recognition in your field of research by presenting original work; and
network with other researchers and exhibitors. We hope you will submit an abstract of your work for
presentation at the meeting held in Shanghai and/or Vienna. Click Here to submit an abstract for the 2nd Asian Pacific ISSX Meeting or
visit http://www.issx.org/Meetings/Shanghai/ShanghaiAbstract.html. Click Here to submit an abstract for the 10th European ISSX Meeting or
visit http://www.issx.org/Meetings/Vienna/ViennaAbstract.html. Detailed instructions for the abstract submission process can be
found on the abstract submission page. The online abstract submission
deadline is January 4, 2008. Important Dates to Remember
Please note: Registration for both meetings will open in early
2008. We sincerely hope you plan to participate in one of the three
meetings ISSX will hold in 2008. The preliminary program with the
registration information for these meetings will be available online in
December at http://www.issx.org/. If you have any questions, please contact
the ISSX office at information@issx.org. We look forward to seeing you in 2008. |
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WORLD CONFERENCE ON
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS - CPT2008 The Organizing Committee, the
Canadian Society for Clinical Pharmacology (CSCP) and the International Union
of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR), look forward to welcoming
in 2008 a broad cross-section of those interested in clinical pharmacology,
clinical pharmacy, pharmacology and toxicology and improved therapeutics to
support better health outcomes. The Scientific Committee has put together an
exciting program that will appeal to attendees whose interests range from the
molecular to community health. New sciences of pharmacogenomics and
proteomics will be well represented.
ACCOMMODATION A limited
number of rooms have been reserved on behalf of participants in several
hotels located in downtown Québec City and in the vicinity of the Québec City
Convention Centre. Reservations will be managed through the Central Housing
Bureau of Québec City Tourism, to take advantage of the special rates
negotiated for the Conference. You are
reminded to reserve your accommodation early. July is a peak tourist season
in Québec City. Also, due to the 400th Anniversary of the Founding of Québec
City, hotel rooms may be more difficult to find. BOOK YOUR ROOM NOW FOR CPT 2008 Map (location
of the hotels) MORE INFORMATION For the
meeting website, please click here For the
current program at a glance, please click here For the
full list of symposia, please click here |
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AHMRC 2008The 4th
Australian Health and Medical Research Congress will be held November 16-21,
2008 in the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The 2008 ASCEPT Annual
Scientific meeting will run within the Congress. Organisers have commenced
preparation of the congress program, so please send any ideas for symposia to
Rob Vandenberg (robv@med.usyd.edu.au), Chair of the ASCEPT Scientific
Advisory Committee. Roselyn
Rose’Meyer Queensland member on Council |
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AUSTRALIAN MEDICINES HANDBOOK ASCEPT Members can save up to $77 when they buy AHM, the
independent medicines reference preferred by Australian health professionals. Australian
Medicines Handbook has become the preferred independent, evidence-based
medicines reference for Australian health professionals. The print
version of our 2006 edition went to a second printing less than six months
after its release – and still sold out in record time. AMH has
tens of thousands of users throughout the health-case system, including
pharmacies, medical practices, hospitals, aged care facilities, universities
(including medicine, pharmacy and nursing facilities) and a wide range of
health professionals with an interest in the Quality Use of Medicines. Our
independence provides assurance in an uncertain world. AMH has no
advertising, sponsorship or editorial input from drug manufacturers or any
other commercial organisations. Our
editorial staff, reviewers and Editorial Advisory Board members are all
Australia-based pharmacists, medical practitioners, scientists, researchers
and academics. AMH
includes information on drug classes, as well as individual drug monographs
containing new/revised evidence and comparative data covering indications,
dosage information, formulations, adverse effects, practice points, special
populations, etc. The appendices include a substantial drug interactions
guide. AMH is a joint project of the Australasian Society of Clinical
and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT), the Pharmaceutical
Society of Australia (PSA) and the Royal Australian College of General
Practitioners (RACGP). Please
visit www.amh.net.au
or email amh@amh.net.au
to order. |
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FORTHCOMING CONFERENCES Please click here for a list of
meetings that may be of interest to members. These are displayed on the
ASCEPT website. ASCEPT Meetings Joint SEAWP:
ASCEPT Meeting 2007, 3-6 December 2007, Adelaide 9th International
Symposium on Resistance Arteries 2008 Early
registration closes November 30th |
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NEWS FROM OTHER ORGANISATIONS Please click on the relevant links for any news from other
organisations that may be of interest to ASCEPT members. Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies
(FASTS) 2007 APESMA/FASTS
science remuneration survey Media Release:
Australian Scientists contribute to IPCC Nobel peace Prize RQF Advisors -
Call for Expressions of Interest Media release:
Government's science initiative combats skills shortages Royal Society of New
Zealand Public talks: Paul Callaghan’s vision for New Zealand Member alert:
Issue 495, 25 October 2007 Constituent
Organisations' Meeting, Tuesday 20 November
As you will know from previous correspondence, this year's
Constituent Organisations' meeting will be held in the Fullwood Room at the
Dunedin Town Hall on Tuesday, 20 November 2007, from 12 noon until 4.15 pm,
and we invite one person from your Society, Branch, or Affiliate
Organisation, preferably the President (but otherwise a nominee), to attend. The Agenda for the afternoon is: 12 -12.45pm
Lunch 1- 1.15pm
Welcome by Society President, Neville Jordan 1.15--2 pm
Overview of RSNZ by CEO, Di McCarthy. 2--3 pm
General Discussion 3--3.15 pm
Afternoon tea 3.15--4.15 pm Discussion and feedback from Constituent
Organisations (chaired by the Branches' representative on RSNZ Council, Dr
David Hutchinson 4.15 pm Close After the Constituents' meeting, the Science Honours
Dinner will be held in the Dunedin Town Hall starting at 7pm. You are all
welcome to attend at your own expense. IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO, PLEASE ADVISE ASAP IF A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM YOUR ORGANISATION WILL BE ATTENDING.
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INFORMATION FROM PREVIOUS ISSUESPlease click here for more news, jobs and information that have appeared in past
issues of the ASCEPT newsletter that are now displayed on our ASCEPT website. |
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The next E-News will be sent out on Friday 14 December 2007. If
there is information you would like to include, please email it to athina@meetingsfirst.com.au by Friday 7
December 2007.
ASCEPT Newsletter Editor
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Please do not hesitate to contact Meetings First, our ASCEPT
Secretariat, if you have any queries: Angela, Athina and Jennifer Phone +61
3 9739 7697 Fax +61
3 9739 7076 Email ascept@meetingsfirst.com.au
Web www.ascept.org |
