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 a guaranteed 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 Degree and 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 to [email protected] by December 16th 2014.

For further enquiries please email Linda Downes, [email protected]

About the Centre for Research Excellence in the origins, outcomes and optimal management of PCOS Affecting one in five young Australian women and one in four Australian Indigenous women, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common, under-recognised and increasingly prevalent condition, with serious health and psychosocial impacts for women and their families. PCOS is the primary cause of female infertility; dramatically increases the risk of pregnancy complications (such as miscarriage, high blood pressure and gestational diabetes); increases obesity and quadruples the occurrence of type II diabetes, with younger onset; increases cardiovascular risk factors, cancer of the uterus, psychological disturbance, and poor quality of life. PCOS is 80% heritable, and its health burden extends to the next generation, with significant adverse impacts on children of affected mothers. Importantly, PCOS identifies women from puberty with high reproductive and metabolic risks, who are prone to gain weight (thus further exacerbating their condition), and who are in need of targeted prevention and management.

1 | P a g e Centre for Research Excellence in the origins, outcomes and optimal management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) 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: o Improve PCOS diagnosis o Advance fundamental understandings of biological origins, aetiology and pathology of PCOS o Define the natural history of PCOS o Improve fertility treatments o 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 o National o International o Consumers o Health Professionals o 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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Personal details

Family name:

First name(s):

Preferred first name or alias:

Phone (landline): Mobile:

Email:

Are you of Aboriginal or ☐ No ☐ Yes, Aboriginal descent Torres Strait Islander ☐ ☐ descent? Yes, Torres Strait Islander Yes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent descent At which University are you currently enrolled: Who are the primary supervisors on your project? Undergraduate and post graduate qualifications: ☐ APA ☐ NHMRC

☐ What is your current Institutional [please specify] scholarship type: ☐ Other [please specify]

☐ I don’t have a scholarship ☐ PhD top up Which scholarship are you ☐ applying for: 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 to [email protected] by December 16th 2014.

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