Adelaidean November 2011

November 2011 | Volume 20 | Number 7 | Free Publication Rhodes Scholar’s global health challenge Story on page 5 DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR (RESEARCH) Adelaidean is the offi cial newspaper of the University of Adelaide. It provides news and information about Creating a healthy future the University to the general public, with a focus on Life Impact. Circulation: 9,000 per month Online readership: for us all 140,000 hits per month (on average) www.adelaide.edu.au/adelaidean I doubt anyone would dispute that support for health Editor: David Ellis and medical research is absolutely fundamental to Design: Chris Tonkin building and sustaining a healthier society. Writers: Candy Gibson Kate Husband When the Federal Minister for Mental Health Research Institute. Collaborative research Robyn Mills and Ageing, Mark Butler, announced the 2012 allows us to reach for new frontiers and harness Intern writer: National Health and Medical Research Council expertise from an even greater pool of talent. Sarah Bown grants last month it was a timely reminder of the The University has a long and distinguished Contributors: value and impact of university-based medical history in research with the likes of Florey and Connie Dutton, Rebecca Pym research. the Braggs having transformed our world Cover photo: The University of Adelaide received a record- through their remarkable discoveries. Rhodes Scholar Mark Hassall breaking $44.8 million in funding for more than But only recently did I become aware Photo by Matt Turner, courtesy of The Advertiser 60 projects, winning the most funding in Australia of another good story in the annals of the Deadline for December issue: relative to size, and the sixth most in absolute University’s research. Friday 11 November terms. This wonderful result is a very signifi cant Thorburn Brailsford Robertson gained Do you receive too many Adelaideans? increase on the amount awarded for 2011 and a degree in physiology at the University in Not enough? Want to be added to our refl ects the prestige of the researchers and 1905 (and almost turned to physics on being mailing list or taken off? the University’s strong commitment to building taught here by William Bragg). After stints at Contact us to let us know. capacity across health sciences and sciences. University of California, Berkeley and Toronto as Editorial enquiries: The grants awarded will help advance the a professor, he returned to Adelaide to take up Phone: +61 8 8303 5414 Email: [email protected] careers of many of the University’s researchers a Chair and worked in the areas of physiology, and, more importantly, trigger new medical biochemistry, and pharmacology. Mailing address: Adelaidean discoveries and deliver tremendous health One of his many impressive achievements Marketing & Strategic Communications benefi ts for our community. was that he established and improved a method The University of Adelaide Especially pleasing was the success of our key for producing insulin in bulk very shortly after SA 5005 Australia research partners, based in our neighbourhood its discovery at Toronto. Remarkably, the Royal CRICOS Provider Number 000123M – SA Pathology, the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide Hospital was using his supply of insulin Printed by: the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Women’s on diabetics in 1923 – just one year after the Lane Print & Post and Children’s Hospital, the Lyell McEwin published discovery. Registered by Australia Post Hospital, and the Women’s and Children’s Health Tragically, Thorburn Brailsford Robertson died No 565001/00046 at 45, in 1930; he apparently succumbed to infl uenza. Overwork and asthma were thought to Adelaidean is printed on Alpine be contributors. Coated paper which features the So affectionately was he regarded that a following environmental profi le. stained glass window tribute was created in his dalton.com.au honour. I decided to track down this window, and it turns out that it is a mere six metres from my offi ce next to the inner staircase in the Mitchell Building! Superb it is too. This is only one of many stories that exemplify the collaboration, high-quality basic research and translation that we value so highly as a Follow the University of Adelaide on University and as a community. Facebook and Twitter: facebook.com/uniofadelaide twitter.com/uniofadelaide PROFESSOR MIKE BROOKS Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research) 2 Adelaidean Volume 20 | Number 5 | September 2011 Contents $44.8 million for medical 4 discoveries COVER STORY Rhodes Scholar’s 5 global health challenge Event celebrates the 6 history of History Student on-campus 7 space revolution 8 Graduations 2011 Family heirloom to 9 mark graduation Helping stroke patients 10 who can’t swallow Sports lab a winner 11 for students Boost to education access 12 $100,000 win for cataract drug Remembering an acclaimed What does the future author Drug to combat problem hold for learning? 13 drinking Adopted greyhounds make A major event at the University of Adelaide this month will 14 great companions for focus on one of the most important aspects of university life: Roseworthy vet clinic teaching and learning. A decade of support 15 Alumni privileges The program for each day will include Professor Quester said delivering the keynote addresses, interactive workshops, best learning outcomes for students was open forums and showcases of the latest paramount. 16 Coming Events thinking on the educational experience. “It goes without saying that learning and “The University of Adelaide is keen to teaching is not the same as it was when ensure we continue to innovate on teaching the University was fi rst established, and it and learning,” said the Deputy Vice- will always change. It’s important for us to Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic), look at what the future holds for learning Professor Pascale Quester. at our University, how we can engage “With quality, equity, and learning and with students, and how we can deliver teaching outcomes being key themes meaningful outcomes that will be relevant leading Australia’s higher education reform, to our graduates throughout their lives,” the time is right for us to hold an event that Professor Quester said. discusses these issues and helps to inform While most of the events for the Festival the way forward.” of Learning & Teaching will be run at Professor Quester said the Festival of the North Terrace Campus, a number of Learning & Teaching would bring together workshops and keynote speeches will academic and professional staff from also be held at Roseworthy Campus and across the University, as well as students videoconferenced to North Terrace and and external stakeholders to “engage, Waite. discuss and co-create”. For more information about the festival, “This event aims to spark momentum including the program of events, go to: around new approaches to teaching and www.adelaide.edu.au/festival-lt learning. My hope is that it will produce lively and spirited discussion; we should be passionately debating the future of learning at our University, for the benefi t of all.” Story by David Ellis Volume 20 | Number 5 | September 2011 Adelaidean 3 RESEARCH $44.8 million for medical discoveries The University of Adelaide has cemented its reputation as one of the premier health and medical research institutions in Australia after being awarded a record $44.8 million in Federal Government funding. The Federal Minister for Mental Health Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the • $1 million to Professor Jennifer and Ageing, the Hon. Mark Butler, Women’s and Children’s Health Research Couper: Early environmental determinants announced the 2012 National Health and Institute and the Lyell McEwin Hospital. of type 1 diabetes; Medical Research Council grants at the “The projects earmarked for funding • $909,580 to Professor Sharad Kumar: University’s North Terrace Campus last from 2012 will ultimately result in many new Control of sodium and chloride transport month. medical discoveries and improved health by an enzyme involved in protein A total of 61 health and medical grants outcomes for the community,” Professor modifi cation; were awarded to University of Adelaide Brooks said. researchers, representing the lion’s share of NHMRC Project Grants awarded to • $429,231 to Professor Maria Makrides: funding awarded in the State. In total, South University of Adelaide researchers included: Does n-3 LCPUFA (such as from fi sh oil) Australian institutions were awarded nearly supplementation in pregnancy reduce • $4.8 million to Professor Gary Wittert: $60 million. asthma and allergies in school age Testosterone for the prevention of Relative to size, the University achieved children? diabetes mellitus in high risk men; the best result in Australia and was the sixth Twelve University of Adelaide researchers most successful in absolute terms. • $1.9 million to Professor Caroline and affi liates received $6.3 million in total Professor Mike Brooks, the University’s Crowther: Does antenatal magnesium for Early Career and Research Fellowships, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), said sulphate given to women at risk of preterm and two Centres of Research Excellence the result was “a brilliant outcome” for the birth between 30 and 34 weeks’ gestation focusing on nutrition and dental health University and the State. reduce the risk of death or cerebral palsy services were awarded $2.5 million and “It justifi es an ambitious investment in their children?; $2.4 million respectively. and growth strategy we are undertaking • $1.8 million to Dr

Load more