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September 2007 E-Newsletter of the Australasian
Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists
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Welcome to the September edition of ASCEPT eNews. In this issue we congratulate Dr Hala Raghib for winning the
2007 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes People’s Choice Award. We call for nominations for a suite of new ASCEPT awards to be
presented at the 2007 AGM in Adelaide. Several meetings are advertised including the 4th
National Symposium on Advances in Urogenital Research, the World Conference
on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and a reminder that the joint
SEAWP-ASCEPT meeting early bird registrations close October 31st. Colin Raper has provided the following obituary for Anne
Stafford (1932-2007), the foundation Head of Pharmaceutical Biology at the
Victorian College of Pharmacy. The Minister for Education Science
and Training, has released the final specifications for the 2008 RQF, for
further information see the links below. 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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AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM – EUREKA PRIZES PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD ASCEPT congratulates Dr Hala Raghib, a PhD graduate of
RMIT and an ASCEPT member since 2002, for winning the Congratulations
Hala! Rebecca
Ritchie Secretary,
ASCEPT |
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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:
12thNovember, 2007 Abstract submission
deadline: 12thNovember, 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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NEW ASCEPT AWARDS
- CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
ASCEPT council are
delighted to announce the following 4 new awards: 1.
ASCEPT Early Career Best
Paper Award in Pharmacology and Toxicological Science 2.
ASCEPT Mid Career Best Paper
Award in Pharmacology and Toxicology Science 3.
The ASCEPT Achievement
award (for outstanding service to Australasian pharmacology or Toxicology),
and 4.
the ASCEPT Teaching
Excellence Award We are now calling for
applications and nominations for these 4 awards 1. ASCEPT members who are
more than 3 years and less than 7 years post PhD are eligible for the ASCEPT
Early Career Best Paper Award in Pharmacology and Toxicological Sciences.
We will consider one original (not review) research paper per nominee only,
published in the previous calendar year (ie Jan 1 2006 - Dec 31 2006 for the
2007 award). Your application is to include a copy of the paper, a
statement addressing the significance of the paper within pharmacology and
toxicology (100 words). Applications will be judged by the SAC. These awards
will be called for once a year. Applications for the 2007 award are now open
and are due COB Friday November 2nd 2007. The successful candidate
will be awarded a plaque and $1,000 at the 2007 AGM. 2. ASCEPT members who are
more than 7 years and less than 13 years post PhD are eligible for the ASCEPT
Mid Career Best Paper Award in Pharmacology and Toxicological Sciences.
We will consider one original (not review) research paper per nominee only,
published in the previous calendar year (ie Jan 1 2006 - Dec 31 2006 for the
2007 award). Your application is to include a copy of the paper, a
statement addressing the significance of the paper within pharmacology and
toxicology (100 words). Applications will be judged by the SAC. These awards
will be called for once a year. Applications for the 2007 award are now open
and are due COB Friday November 2nd 2007. The successful candidate
will be awarded a plaque and $1,000 at the 2007 AGM. 3. We are now also seeking nominations
(not applications, you can't put your own hand up) for the ASCEPT
Achievement Award (for outstanding service to Australasian pharmacology
or toxicology). Nominees can be at any career stage (young or less young, working or retired), but have made a
significant (beyond-the-call of-duty) contribution to the society itself or
to the disciplines of pharmacology or toxicology. Each nominee should be
nominated and seconded by two ASCEPT members, rather than individuals
applying. Please include in the nomination a summary statement illustrating
why you think this person should be recognised by ASCEPT in this way, a brief
CV of the nominee, and of course an indication that the nominee is willing to
be nominated. Nominations for the 2007 award are now open and are due COB Friday
November 2nd 2007. The ASCEPT Executive will select the successful
candidate from the nominees, and they will be awarded a plaque and $1,000 at
the 2007 AGM. 3. We are now also seeking nominations
(not applications, you can't put your own hand up) for the ASCEPT Teaching
Excellence Award (for outstanding service to Education in the fields of
Australasian pharmacology or Toxicology). Each nominee should be nominated
and seconded by two ASCEPT members, rather than individuals applying. Please
include in the nomination a summary statement illustrating why you think this
person should be recognised by ASCEPT in this way, a brief CV of the nominee,
and of course an indication that the nominee is willing to be nominated.
Nominations for the 2007 award are now open and are due COB Friday
November 2nd 2007. The ASCEPT Executive will select the successful
candidate from the nominees, and they will be awarded a plaque and $1,000 at
the 2007 AGM. Please send applications
and nominations (as appropriate) for these awards to the team at Meetings
First ascept@meetingsfirst.com.au We look forward to being
inundated with these!! If you have any queries,
please do not hesitate to contact Angela, Athina or Jennifer. Rebecca Ritchie ASCEPT Secretary |
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ANNE WYLIE STAFFORD
(1932 - 2007) The University of Sydney
initiated studies towards the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the early 1950’s.
Within the next decade a number of distinguished scientists who have had an
association with ASCEPT since its inception in 1967 were awarded the degree
in the Department of Pharmacology headed by Roland Thorp. Among these were
Mike Rand (1957), Anne Stafford (1959), Bruce Cobbin (1960) and Jo
(Pennefather) O’Neil (1961). Anne Stafford’s PhD thesis was
entitled “The relationship between chemical structure and pharmacological
action in a series of semi-synthetic derivatives of digitoxigenin and digoxigenin”.
Her interest in the pharmacology of cardiac glycosides paralleled that of
Mike Rand, and their collaboration resulted in a number of publications. Mike
and Anne later married. In 1957 Anne and Mike left
Sydney for the UK, where Mike had been offered an appointment as Departmental
Demonstrator by Professor J.H.Burn in the Department of Pharmacology at
Oxford, and Anne, as a Charles Gilbert Heydon Travelling Fellow of the
University of Sydney, undertook further research at the Oxford University Nuffield
Institute for Medical Research. In 1960, Mike and Anne moved to London where
Mike took up a Welcome Research Fellowship, and later, an academic staff
position in the Department of Pharmacology at the London University School of
Pharmacy, while Anne obtained a staff position in the Department of
Pharmacology at the London Hospital Medical School. During their time in Oxford and London both Mike and Anne
became well known figures in pharmacological and physiological circles,
publishing widely and presenting their results in meetings of learned
societies. It was during their time in London that Mike, in conjunction with
Bill Bowman and Geoff West, academic colleagues at the School of Pharmacy,
commenced writing the Textbook of Pharmacology, the first edition of
which was published in 1968. Anne played a major role in the preparation of
this text, her incisive mind, broad knowledge and well-known attention to
detail being invaluable in the critical reading of the text and the proofs.
Anne was similarly involved in the 2nd edition of the book (1980),
a major revision authored by Mike Rand and Bill Bowman that was considered
internationally to be a major textbook of pharmacology. Late in 1965, Anne and Mike Rand
returned to Australia, Mike to take up the Chair of Pharmacology at the
University of Melbourne and Anne to fill the position of Dean (Pharmacology)
and foundation Head of a newly created School of Pharmaceutical Biology at
the Victorian College of Pharmacy (VCP). The appointment of a woman to such a
post raised a degree of disquiet in some quarters, enough, in those non-PC
days, to induce a male journalist to ask ‘What would happen if you became
pregnant?” Anne’s reply (with customary wit) ‘Well, I would probably have a
baby” sufficed to arrest any further probing! When Anne arrived at the College
it was envisaged that over time, she would be responsible for employing staff
for the newly created School of Pharmaceutical Biology. This School would be
responsible for the teaching of biology, physiology, biochemistry and
pharmacology to pharmacy students. Prior to this time, the pharmacological
and the bulk of the physiological components in the course had been taught by
external lecturers, largely contracted from the University of Melbourne. On her
arrival, Anne’s existing departmental staff consisted of Dorothy Newman, who
taught biology, Mal Hutson, an “all-purpose” demonstrator who also acted as a
purchasing and budgeting officer for the new department, and Tony Kerr, a
technician. Starting with this small but very willing and enthusiastic crew,
Anne, with a personal research, teaching and administrative load that could
only be classified as Herculean, gradually took on new staff and, with her
encouragement and their help saw through to fruition a well structured course
for undergraduate pharmacy students and the firm establishment of a research
base within the School. Among the pharmacology staff that Anne introduced to
the department during her tenure, Michael Nott and Sandra Webb (Student Demonstrators),
Amanda Clark, Bob Miller and Roy Goldie (Full-time Demonstrators), and Jean
Cornish and Fred Mitchelson (Lecturing staff) would be known to ASCEPT
members. Anne’s marriage to Mike Rand was
dissolved in 1970, and in 1972 she resigned from her position at the
Victorian College of Pharmacy and returned to the UK, where she later married
Professor Bill Bowman, then Head of the Department of Physiology and
Pharmacology at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. After her marriage to Bill, Anne became
what she regarded as a “part-time” pharmacologist, collaborating in research
at Strathclyde, doing part-time research into NANC transmission with John
Gillespie’s group at the University of Glasgow, being a joint author of a
small Dictionary of Pharmacology with Bill and his daughter Alison,
and helping with the prospective 3rd edition of the Bowman and
Rand Textbook of Pharmacology (a project left uncompleted following
Mike’s death in 2002). In her “spare” time, she read widely, painted, took up
spinning and weaving, rode horses, learnt some Gaelic, tramped around
Scotland (falling in love with the place), and kept abreast of developments
in pharmacology. When Bill retired from
Strathclyde, he and Anne sold their house in Hamilton and moved into
“Moorshiel”, their holiday house at Rockcliffe on the Scottish coast
overlooking a tidal estuary where the Waters of Urr flow into the Solway
Firth. Bill and Anne shared their happiness and pleasure at “Moorshiel” with
friends and colleagues from every part of the globe. Together they enjoyed
good food, drink and company, and much laughter, discussion and debate
embracing art, music, science, literature, politics, history etc, and, of
course, pharmacology. In late August of this year,
Anne, after a long illness, died in her sleep in this home that she loved. Despite her very obvious love of
Scotland and all things Scottish, Anne always retained deep Aussie roots and
attitudes (and even her Passport!), facts keenly appreciated by her Scottish
friends and colleagues as well as her family members. At her funeral, a local
friend George Stewart was the organist, and as people left the Church he
played as a tribute to Anne a classically constructed piece that he had
composed using “Waltzing Matilda” as its theme. Outside the Church, Bill
Dryden (Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Alberta and an old
friend and colleague of Bill and Anne), played on the pipes a Lament for Anne
based on “The Flowers of the Forest” and “Australian Ladies”. Vale Anne Stafford Colin
Raper |
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COMPOSITION OF NEW RQF PANELS ANNOUNCED Minister Bishop has today announced the panellists for each RQF
panel. Please click here to view the names
and affiliation of the science and technology panels. Most boards have 2 –3
international academics and there doesn’t appear to be many industry people
whereas I recall the intent being there should be a number of end-users on
each panel. The RQF specifications have also been released today (which I
have not examined as yet). These can be accessed by clicking here. Also FYI – there is an article on the bleak prospects of young
science researchers in today’s Chronicle of Higher Education (a USA journal).
One figure that caught my eye was age of scientists with HIH grants. Average
age of researchers writing their first grant in 1970 was 35.2 in 2005 it was
42.9 and the average age of all researchers was 40.9 in 1970 and 51.7 in
2005... Rebecca Ritchie ASCEPT Secretary |
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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. Please mark these
three key dates into your diaries! October 5 - Accommodation
bookings close October
31 - Early bird registrations close This month we would like to feature the following nine speakers
of the ASCEPT-SEAWP meeting. Click on the names below to view their
biographies. ·
Associate
Professor Kathie Knights ASCEPT Scientific Advisory Committee, Chair
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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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SPONSORSHIP FOR PHARMACOLOGY/TOXICOLOGY SEMINAR SERIES ASCEPT is
offering sponsorship for pharmacology seminar series. As announced at
the 2006 AGM, ASCEPT will offer an incentive to departments to encourage or
invite members to present. When 5 members
within an institution renew their membership, the institute will be able to
apply for $500 for use in their seminar program. The seminars must have the
ASCEPT logo appear at the start and end of the seminar, by using a PowerPoint
slide provided by the Secretariat and have membership brochures provided
available on the day. Up to 10 members from each institute may apply with a
maximum of $1000 available. ASCEPT will advertise the seminar
programs on the ASCEPT website/e-news. The Institute should nominate a
contact person. They can be student or full members, but their fees must have
been paid for 2007. Please click here and complete the form. |
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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 |
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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) Media release -
ABS data on business R&D AusBiotech Royal Society of New
Zealand Royal Society Symposium: Working across
Boundaries---science industry in society 16 October 2007, Lecture Theatre 2, Rutherford House,
Wellington. The Royal Society aims to promote a critical awareness of
science and technology in industry and society. This symposium will support
that aim by bringing together participants from science-based industries,
research organisations and policy bodies to focus on major issues shared by
these groups in relation to the development, commercialisation and subsequent
adoption of new technologies. For more information and to register, please see www.rsnz.org/events/boundaries07
2007 Carrick
citations for outstanding contributions to student learning Please click here to view list. Subscribe to
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology (CEPP): When renewing your ASCEPT membership, why not take up the discounted
subscription to CEPP for regular updates on the results of clinical and
experimental work from around the world. For more information on CEPP click here. To renew or subscribe, contact ascept@meetingsfirst.com.au.
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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 Wednesday 17 October 2007. If
there is information you would like to include, please email it to athina@meetingsfirst.com.au by Wednesday
10 October 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 |
