MJA Careers

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C1 FEATURE In the genes C3 Around the universities and In the genes research institutes

Professor Melissa Southey is dedicated to uncovering why some families have such a history of breast cancer, and how to modify their risk

rofessor Melissa Southey is a First up is a graduate diploma, now molecular geneticist. She runs known as a masters, in law, awarded Pa 28-strong team of researchers in 1996. as head of the Genetic Epidemiology “It’s focused on intellectual property Laboratory (GEL) in the University law, particularly around patents and of Melbourne’s Department copyright law,” Professor Southey of Pathology. tells the MJA. To quote her GEL profile page: “Her “If I wanted to I could go be a patent research programs are focused attorney, but I use it from a scientist’s on characterising the genetic and point of view, knowing how to protect epigenetic factors responsible your own intellectual property. The for cancer predisposition and whole space is quite detailed. It’s not progression, including familial just about the institution, it’s also aggregation of cancers”. about [the individual] having a voice.” Specifically, she studies the genetics Go back a little further and Professor of familial breast cancer, and has Southey’s career path has another dedicated her professional life to surprising turn. puzzling out why some families have “Science was always a key thing so much history with the disease, in my life,” she says, “but I started and, ultimately, how to reduce the university doing music at the Con. risk to them. It didn’t take long to realise that Professor Southey puts in long music was my hobby not my career. hours chasing the answer to the Science sort of overran it.” breast cancer puzzle and, like She plays piano and the oboe, other researchers in her field, it but her major at the Melbourne would be easy to stereotype her as Conservatorium of Music was she’s pictured here — white coat, singing, specifically operatic singing, Professor Melissa Southey bespectacled and, no doubt, with an making the most of her soprano voice. “I travel quite a bit and I always try to expensive piece of equipment close “[Music] was a nice therapy, go and hear some music wherever I at hand. I suppose,” she says. “And it am,” she says. “It’s something I don’t She has all the qualifications you’d financially sustained me through have to think about, I guess. Almost expect — she completed her Bachelor university — mostly choral, church mindful rather than thinking.” of Science (Hons) from UoM in 1988, music, weddings, that sort of thing.” An income wasn’t the only positive to and followed that up with a PhD, Although her days of singing come out of music. again from UoM, in 1993. professionally are over, music It’s the non-scientific aspects of her provides essential moments of “I met my husband, Andrew, when resume that surprise. stillness in Professor Southey’s life. I was 13, in a school orchestra. He continued on page C2

Editor: Cate Swannell • [email protected] • (02) 9562 6666 MJA 204 (9) · 16 May 2016 C1 MJA Careers

Professor John Hopper, Director “In 5 years we’ve made a huge difference. In 10 years’ (Research) of the Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the we could make an extraordinary difference” School of Population Global Health at The University of Melbourne, and Professor Graham Giles, was blowing out his trumpet down health” that have changed the face Director of the Cancer Epidemiology the back of my shirt,” she says. They of genetics. Centre at Cancer Council , married in her honours year, and now “The first was polymerase chain were mentors, as is Professor have two daughters, aged 17 and 19. reaction (PCR) becoming affordable Ingrid Winship, chair of Adult He is a psychologist. in the 80s,” she says. PCR is a process Clinical Genetics at the University “I didn’t do the classic postdoctoral used in molecular biology to amplify of Melbourne. thing overseas,” Professor Southey DNA sequences. “That was a huge Professor Southey is doing some says. “We waited until both girls were boost. It gave us an amazing capacity mentoring of her own, as students in primary school and then went to to look at genetics in ways that were come through her department. not possible before. It made genetic France for a while.” “By the time students have found me, testing quicker, easier and cost- Like most working mothers, Professor they’ve already converted,” she laughs. effective.” Southey faces all the usual dilemmas “They’re focused, engaged, and they around work–life balance. The second milestone was the know that just having a degree is not development of gene array “Andrew has been able to pull back all that unusual. They know they have technology in the middle to late 1990s; a little, but it’s tough for a research to find a niche to be employable. and the third was next-generation scientist to do that,” she says, “It blows me over how bright they are.” sequencing. calculating that she logs about 70 The National Breast Cancer Foundation “In the late 80s we could look at hours a week in the lab. has set the goal of zero deaths from 200 base pairs in a week,” Professor “But I work with joy. It’s like being breast cancer by 2030. Does Professor Southey says. “Now we can do a Southey think that’s realistic?1 paid for doing your hobby. I have to whole human genome in a day.” pinch myself sometimes. I even feel “I’m not sure,” she says. “Maybe I’m Running a team of 28 researchers is a bit guilty, because it’s so amazing. too [close to it]. There are so many like herding cats “but in a good way”, I get to see a lot of the world and I’m families where we don’t understand she says. stimulated most of the time. why they have so much family “It’s not like an accounting office. “And I think — I hope — I’m setting a history of breast cancer. We encourage independent thought good example for my daughters.” “But I’m not pessimistic either. We’re and action, so it’s a matter of herding making huge strides in identifying So, why cancer? them in constructive and supportive those who are at risk before they “Cancer always interested me as an ways. It’s a delicate art.” develop breast cancer. The biggest undergraduate. You could clearly Mentors were vital to Professor way forward now is to modify the identify which cells were cancerous, Southey’s early career development, risk. How do we reduce the risk? but what really intrigued me was, she says. why were they cancerous? “In 5 years we’ve made a huge Professor Deon Venter, a consultant difference. In 10 years’ we could make “Like most people, cancer had anatomical and molecular an extraordinary difference.” touched my family so that’s the pathologist, was an early influence. direction I went in.” 1. National Breast Cancer Foundation’s “He knew what molecular genetics Project 2030 http://nbcf.org.au/about- A quarter of a century on from could do for pathology,” she says. national-breast-cancer-foundation/ her undergraduate days, Professor “He was leading the field, and he about-us/project-2030/ Southey nominates three milestones was right. He joined those two dots in the field of “precision public together for me.” doi: 10.5694/mja16.1605C1

C2 MJA 204 (9) · 16 May 2016 MJA Careers Around the universities and research institutes

Professor David Wattchow, Pandemic Planning Steering committee cancers, autoimmune diseases, dementia surgeon, clinical researcher and sat on several committees related and other conditions develop, and how to and philanthropist, has to immunisation, including the ATAGI, SA design new strategies for prevention and been made a Companion Immunisation Forum, SA Influenza and treatment. The Centre’s establishment of the University by Pneumococcal Advisory Committee. He will be supported by $5 million in NSW Flinders University. He is says he will remain active on four national Government funding, with matching funds a foundation alumnus and one international Immunisation provided by Garvan, with the assistance of of the School of Medicine, and is Advisory Committees. Weizmann . recognised internationally as an expert in the treatment of complex cancers of http://blogs.flinders.edu.au/flinders- http://www.garvan.org.au/news/joint-sydney- the distal colon. His leadership of the news/2016/04/20/farewell-john-litt-leaving- research-centre-in-the-works-for-garvan-and- Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) Clinician’s the-party-but-not-turning-out-the-lights weizmann-institutes Special Purpose Fund has been influential in the donation of more than $2 million The University of has received The University of Newcastle for neuroscience and cancer research, a $35 million gift from the Susan and (UON) has appointed while his significant personal donations Isaac Wakil Foundation, the largest gift leading endocrinologist have supported PhD scholarships and ever donated to the University since its Professor Roger Smith, fellowships. These activities have been foundation in 1850. In 2015 the Wakils AM, as its next Laureate instrumental in the creation of the Flinders gave $10.8 million to Sydney Nursing Professor to reflect Centre for Innovation in Cancer. A graduate School to establish 12 annual nursing his contribution to the and University Medallist in 1980, Professor scholarships, bringing their total University understanding of human pregnancy. Wattchow received his PhD from Flinders giving to nearly $46 million. The gift will Professor Smith joins a group of only 10 in 1989. He gained his surgical fellowship enable construction of the main building UON academics to receive the highest in 1990, joining the FMC staff as a within the ’s proposed academic honour. The Laureate title is consultant surgeon with academic status Health Precinct. For the first time multiple reserved to recognise individuals for their at the University. He was made Head of health disciplines will come together in a world-class academic achievements and Colorectal Surgery in 1996, and in 2008 purpose-built facility to translate research research impact on an international scale. received professorial status and became into education and clinical services. The Laureate Professor Smith said one of his FMC’s Clinical Director of Gastrointestinal Susan Wakil Health Building will co-locate major discoveries was that the length of Surgery. As well as teaching into the the faculties of Nursing and Midwifery human pregnancy was determined by University’s MD course and supervising and Health Sciences, with components a type of biological clock located in the PhD students, Professor Wattchow is the of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry. placenta. He also noted the important author of 75 peer reviewed publications It will provide state of the art clinical work his team has done in the Indigenous and recipient of 32 research grants. simulation programs and a multi-service community. He is the co-director for the clinic, as well as flexible infrastructure that University’s Priority Research Centre for http://blogs.flinders.edu.au/flinders-news/ supports team-based research programs. Reproductive Science, director of the category/faculty-of-health-sciences/school-of- A professorship will be called “The Susan University’s Mothers and Babies Research medicine and Isaac Wakil Professorship of Healthy Centre and director of the Department of Ageing”, in recognition of both donors. Endocrinology at John Hunter Hospital. Associate Professor of General Practice John Litt http://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/ http://www.newcastle.edu.au/newsroom/ is retiring after 30 years at news/2016/04/21/wakil-donation-to-transform- featured-news/leading-uon-endocrinologist- Flinders University. He has approach-to-health-care-.html honoured-with-laureate-professor also been presented with a Lifetime Achievement The Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Monash University’s School Award from The Lung Sydney and Israel’s Weizmann Institute of of Clinical Sciences’ Foundation, which he can add to his 2014 Science are planning to establish a joint medical student Ben Dean’s Award. In 2015 alone, during his centre for research in cellular genomics. Cailes will present two time as deputy chairman of the Royal The Centre, which will be known as the abstracts at the Annual Australian College of General Practitioners’ Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Meeting of the European Quality Committee, its publications and Genomics, will be housed in The Kinghorn Society for Paediatric guidelines generated more than one million Cancer Centre in Sydney. The Centre will Infectious Diseases (ESPID) this month in website hits. He played a key role, together be Australia’s only multidisciplinary facility Brighton, UK. Ben completed his Bachelor with another public health physician and for cellular genomics — the study of the of Medical Sciences (Honours) last year at South Australian GP, Peter Lake, in raising molecular genetic states of thousands St George’s Hospital University of London, the uptake of flu vaccinations in South of individual cells. The mission of the where he analysed UK neonatal unit data Australia for a major risk group, those over Centre will be to help researchers to to monitor the epidemiology of neonatal 65 years, from 29% to over 80% over a develop a detailed understanding of infection. One of Ben’s submitted abstracts 10-year period, through the formation of how the genomes and gene expression received a “top score” from ESPID and he the SA Influenza Advisory Committee. programs of individual cells in the brain, will give a 10-minute presentation on the A/Prof Litt has been a member of the the immune system and other organs epidemiology of neonatal infections in SA Department of Health Primary Care change over the course of a lifetime, how the UK. Ben and the research team aim

MJA 204 (9) · 16 May 2016 C3 MJA Careers

to publish their results in a peer-reviewed funded Centre will pursue research into first two CSL Centenary Fellowships (to journal later this year, adding to a review the prevention of obesity in childhood, commence 1 January, 2017) will open on article on this topic Ben published last year examining the crucial early years of life 1 June, 2016. in Early Human Development. to better understand the importance of good nutrition, exercise and the effects of https://www.burnet.edu.au/news/665_csl_ http://www.med.monash.edu.au/news/2016/ screen time in children aged 0–5 years. launches_25m_fellowship_program monash-medical-student-research-recognised- The $2.5 million Centre, which is funded at-world-meeting.html until 2020, will bring together specialists Professor Rob Medcalf, from a variety of disciplines including from the Australian Professor Dan Lubman, Director of paediatricians, dietitians, health experts, Centre for Blood Diseases Turning Point and Professor of Addiction economists and exercise physiologists, at Monash University, Studies at Monash bringing a multidisciplinary approach to has been awarded The University, has been the complex childhood obesity problem. International Society appointed to a new for Fibrinolysis and Victorian Government http://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/ Proteolysis (ISFP) Prize for 2016. Prof Mental Health Expert news/2016/04/20/leading-health-experts-join- Medcalf’s area of expertise is in molecular Taskforce, to guide the implementation of fight-against-childhood-obesity.html neurotrauma and haemostasis. The Victoria’s new 10-year mental health plan. ISFP Prize is awarded bi-annually for The taskforce brings together a significant and the School of outstanding contributions to the field of level of experience and expertise, and Medicine and Health Science (SMHS) fibrinolysis, thrombolysis and proteolysis. “reflects the Victorian Government’s at the University of Papua New Guinea Prof Medcalf will deliver a honorary ongoing commitment to work with have signed a 5-year memorandum plenary lecture at the joint meeting of the mental health sector, and people of understanding (MOU) to create the ISFP and the Plasminogen Activation affected by mental illness to achieve opportunities for academic collaboration, Workshop, to be held in Shizuoka, Japan, better outcomes for all Victorians”. This student and staff exchanges, joint 17–21 October, 2016. appointment recognises the significant research, project tenders and grant state and federal work conducted by applications. The MOU nominates public http://ccsmonash.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/ Prof Lubman and his team at Turning health, infectious diseases, women’s and congratulations-to-prof-rob-medcalf-for.html Point. Prof Lubman is also a member of children’s health and health systems as the Victorian Government’s Ice Action areas providing opportunities for academic Australia’s first robotically assisted hip Taskforce, which was first convened by collaboration. replacement operation was performed Premier Daniel Andrews in 2014. in Brisbane late last month under https://www.burnet.edu.au/news/667_burnet_ the leadership of QUT’s Professor of http://www.med.monash.edu.au/news/2016/ university_of_png_forge_new_ties Orthopaedic Research, Ross Crawford. dan-lubman-vic-gov-mental-health-expert- Robot technology for hip operations has CSL has announced the establishment of taskforce.html been used for some years in the US, but a new $25 million fellowship program for the 19 April operation on a patient at A world-first research centre exclusively early stage and translational research in Brisbane’s Holy Spirit Northside Hospital focused on tackling the childhood obesity Australia. The CSL Centenary Fellowships was the first time the technology has been epidemic has launched at the University will be high-value awards available used for a hip replacement operation in of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre (CPC). to outstanding Australian researchers Australia. Experts from seven universities across seeking to consolidate their career Australia, New Zealand and the UK and undertake medical research in an https://www.qut.edu.au/institute-of-health- will join forces through the new Centre Australian academic institution. Two and-biomedical-innovation/about/news/ of Research Excellence in the Early 5-year fellowships, each valued at $1.25 news?news-id=103549 Prevention of Obesity in Childhood, to be million, will be awarded each calendar housed at the CPC. The new NHMRC- year, for 10 years. Applications for the doi: 10.5694/mja16.1605C3

C4 MJA 204 (9) · 16 May 2016