Centre for Research Excellence in the Origins, Outcomes and Optimal Management of Polycystic

Centre for Research Excellence in the origins, outcomes and optimal management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Scholarship support is available for research projects relevant to improving health outcomes for women with PCOS

The Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) in the origins, outcomes and optimal management of polycystic ovary syndrome is offering the following 1 year scholarship support to students who are working in PCOS and addressing the research priority areas outlined in this document in the section describing the CRE “Generation of new knowledge”.

• PhD top-up scholarships for one year (four available, up to $6,000 each) for students who have aguaranteed scholarship (NHMRC, APA,University scholarship or other source) to work in PCOS.
• Part scholarships for one year (two available annually, $12,500 per annum each) for students who are entering or in their first year of their PhD or undertaking a Masters Degreeand may not meet the criteria for National and University scholarships. Applicants from allied health including nutrition and dietetics, psychology, physiotherapy, exercise physiology, nursing etc. as well as those of Indigenous background are particularly welcome to submit for this scheme

How to apply: Complete the scholarship application form and submit with a cover letter, CV and academic transcript by December 16th 2014.

For further enquiries please email Linda Downes,

About the Centre for Research Excellence in the origins, outcomes and optimal management of PCOS

Affecting oneinfiveyoung Australianwomen andoneinfourAustralianIndigenouswomen, PolycysticOvary Syndrome(PCOS)isacommon,under-recognisedandincreasingly prevalent condition,withserioushealthandpsychosocialimpactsforwomenandtheirfamilies.PCOS is theprimarycauseof female infertility; dramaticallyincreases therisk ofpregnancycomplications (suchasmiscarriage,high blood pressureandgestationaldiabetes);increasesobesityandquadruples theoccurrenceoftype IIdiabetes,withyoungeronset;increasescardiovascularriskfactors,cancer oftheuterus,psychologicaldisturbance,andpoorqualityoflife. PCOSis 80%heritable, andits health burdenextends to thenext generation, withsignificantadverseimpacts onchildrenofaffectedmothers.Importantly,PCOSidentifieswomenfrompuberty withhigh reproductiveandmetabolicrisks,whoarepronetogainweight(thusfurtherexacerbating their condition), and who are in need of targeted prevention and management.

Our Centre for Research Excellence in the origins, outcomes and optimal management of PCOS is funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council for a period of 5 years, commencing January 2015.

The Centre will:

• Generate new knowledge to:
• Improve PCOS diagnosis
• Advance fundamental understandings of biological origins, aetiology and pathology of PCOS
• Define the natural history of PCOS
• Improve fertility treatments
• Establish effective lifestyle and pharmaceutical interventions
• Ensure effective transfer of research into health policy and practice including expansion and update of the guidelines
• Develop the health and medical research workforce
• Facilitate collaborations
• National
• International
• Consumers
• Health Professionals
• Researchers

The Centre has an active healthcare improvement and public health research in PCOS training program that seeks to attract, train, mentor and build careers of those wishing to directly improve clinical health outcomes for women with PCOS. We are a dynamic, national, multi-campus, growing team of multidisciplinary clinicians and researchers, supported by capable ancillary staff. The Chief Investigators for the Centre are:

• Professor Helena Teede, Monash University
• Professor Robert Norman, University of Adelaide
• Professor Roger Hart, University of Western Australia
• Professor David Handelsman, ANZAC Research Institute, the University of Sydney
• Professor Michael Davies, University of Adelaide
• Professor Elizabeth Sullivan, University of New South Wales
• Professor John McNeil, Monash University
• Dr Lisa Moran, University of Adelaide
• Professor Ray Rodgers, University of Adelaide
• Professor George Patton, University of Melbourne

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Scholarship application form

Personal details
Family name:
First name(s):
Preferred first name or alias:
Phone (landline): / Mobile:
Email:
Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent? / ☐No / ☐Yes, Aboriginal descent
☐ Yes, Torres StraitIslanderdescent / ☐Yes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent
At which University are you currently enrolled:
Who are the primary supervisors on your project?
Undergraduate and post graduate qualifications:
What is your current scholarship type: / ☐ APA / ☐ NHMRC
☐Institutional [please specify]
☐ Other [please specify]
☐I don’t have a scholarship
Which scholarship are you applying for: / ☐ PhD top up
☐ First year PhD or Masters Degree student (including those in Allied Health), who may not meet the criteria for National and University scholarship.
Provide a brief outline of your project? [Approximately 500 words]
Describe how your project aligns with the objectives of the Centre for Research Excellence in the origins, outcomes and optimal management of PCOS. [Approximately 300 words]
Describe the research environment you are/ will be working in and the support you will be provided with. [Approximately 150 words]

How to apply: Complete the above scholarship application form and submit with a cover letter, CV and academic transcript by December 16th 2014.

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