UQCCR UniveRsiTy of Q UeenslAnd C entre fo R C liniCAl Re search 2012 A nnUAl R ePoRT From healthy beginnings, we learn and grow. THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND C E N T R E FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH Thank you to all academic and Editor: Eluca Kim, Shannah O’Brien Building 71/918 professional staff who have contributed Publisher: UQCCR Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital Campus to the production of the UQCCR 2012 Designer: Karmen Chandontrikij Herston QLD 4029 Slower than we want, faster than we realise, a life to cherish. Annual Report. Date: April 2013 +61 7 3346 5555 Place of Publication: Brisbane, Australia Telephone: Facsimile: +61 7 3346 5509 [email protected] © 2013 UQ Centre for Clinical Research www.uqccr.uq.edu.au 02 14 42 MESSAGE FROM A healthier COMMUNITY THE DIRECTOR START ENGAGEMENTS The Power of Touch International FASD Awareness Day Prem Triple P: Clinical Trial Hosting National University Living with Ataxia of Singapore Students APCN: Deep Brain Stimulation Symposium Addiction Neuroscience Workshop at Macquarie University, Sydney Wayne Hall Talk at the University 04 of Cambridge Breast Cancer Awareness Morning Tea Student Workshops HIGHLIGHTS Young Scholars Program FROM 2012 22 Seminar Series RBWH Symposium Ovation 2012 Hot Publications KEEPING Student Success YOURSELF WELL Launch of APCN Hallucinations in Adolescents Launch of TIA – QLD Node Unintended Pregnancy Funding Success Sun, Surf and Illicit Drugs 2012 SGI Summit Rise of the Superbugs 2012 Butterfly Ball Detecting Breast Cancer Progression 46 FUTURE RESEARCH 08 34 World-Class Imaging at HIRF AWA R D S HEALTHIER AND FROM 2012 HAPPIER FOR LONGER Fighting Perinatal Disease Stroke: Time is Brain 50 Helping Smokers Quit Dementia Care on YouTube APCN: Deep Brain Stimulation APPENDICES Appendix 1: Research Grants 2012 Appendix 2: UQCCR Publications 2012 Appendix 3: Awards 2012 Appendix 4: Conference Presentations 2012 Appendix 5: Seminars Held at UQCCR 2012 Appendix 6: Research Higher Degree Students 2012 Appendix 7: Clinical Trials 2012 Appendix 8: Staff Listing 2012 CONTENTS 1 MESSAGE FROM BACKGROUND: Professor Murray Mitchell THE DIRECTOR Transforming lives throughout the human lifecycle PROFESSOR MURRAY D. MITCHELL It is with great pride that I can report The flow of high quality publications from We continue to make progress in building For the year ahead, we are evaluating our again this year on the continued growth the Centre’s researchers also increased the Herston Imaging Research Facility Themes and in particular one new Theme of UQCCR and the many milestones and substantially with total publications across (HIRF) – a joint initiative of UQ, Queensland – Public Health Policy. This innovative and accomplishments seen across the Centre books, book chapters, journal articles and Health, Queensland University of Technology exciting Theme would contribute to the and our major areas of research. conference abstracts jumping to 477 in and the Queensland Institute of Medical UQCCR vision to shape health and funding 2012 (a staggering 70 publications more Research with construction beginning mid- policy by examining public policy issues in two This year you will find our Annual Report to than the year prior). Further to this, many 2013. The facility will be an annex to UQCCR, important health areas: i) women’s health and be a journey through the human lifecycle of our researchers had their work published utilising our clinical facilities, and providing ii) addiction and mental health. The work of with information on how our researchers are in renowned publications including Nature, cutting edge imaging methods to improve the Theme would aim to inform government, transforming lives at every stage of life; from Nature Genetics, the Lancet and PLoS. the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, the public and other bodies in establishing healthier beginnings for babies and children, mental disorders and neurological diseases ethically appropriate and socially effective to keeping yourself well through your teens Our commitment to providing the highest associated with ageing. policies that maximise benefits to health. and adulthood. We aim to help you live quality experience and education for our happier and healthier lives for longer. students is best represented by the 21 Furthermore, we were pleased to announce The new Theme’s two main areas of strategic students who completed their journey with this year the establishment of the ACRF focus would be led by Associate Professor You will also find this report to be a more us by graduating in 2012 and the increase Molecular Oncology Translational Imaging Jayne Lucke for Women’s Health and innovative and interactive space this year. in research higher degree (RHD) students Facility that is to be located within HIRF. The Australian Fellow Professor Wayne Hall Pull out your smart phone and see the leaps enrolling under the supervision of Centre staff procurement of two state-of-the-art scanners for Addiction. and bounds we’ve made in just one year by every year. We now have 148 total students with Hybrid Molecular Imaging Technology scanning the QR codes for more information associated with UQCCR researchers of will provide researchers and students with In closing, I would like to take this on your favourite stories. which 127 are RHD students; 38 of which unique, world-class technologies that give opportunity to thank all staff and students were new enrolments in 2012. (For student them a competitive advantage in their studies, for their tremendous efforts throughout 2012. Our researchers took pleasure in more funding We are proud to have a dedicated team of success throughout 2012 with overall grant success see Highlights from 2012, page 6). grant applications and ability to diagnose and treat patients (see Future Research, page 48). academic, professional and research staff monies awarded to UQCCR totalling over $19 The new multimillion dollar Asia-Pacific who share our vision and work tirelessly to million – the highest the Centre has received Centre for Neuromodulation (APCN) was Our Clinical Floor on Level 3 continues save, transform and improve the lives of since beginning operations four years ago. launched in 2012, in strengthening our to enjoy significant growth thanks to our people across the community. In a welcome reward for our efforts in this partnership with St Andrews Hospital and efforts in further developing partnerships direction for the Centre, total funding from the UQ Faculty of Health Science (UQ), with with clinical colleagues and hospitals across Many of the stories you’re about to read external sources (other than NHMRC and UQCCR Professor Helen Chenery appointed Brisbane. In 2012 the total number of reflect our principal vision of providing ARC) increased by over 170% to around as Director. Helen is a leading researcher patients participating in investigator-driven health benefits to the community through $12.3m, making up the lion’s share (64%) in the area of the neurobiology of language clinical trials at UQCCR increased by almost excellence in research, clinical partnerships, of our funding achievements for the year. in Parkinson’s disease and the impact of 90% (to 1,542 patients) when compared to mentorship and service. We hope you will be Deep Brain Stimulation on cognition. the year prior. (2012 Clinical Trials, page 87). inspired by the lives we’ve changed through (APCN featured, page 40). our patient-orientated research. 2 MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR 3 01 HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2012 CE EL BRATING another year OF accomplishments UQCCR 2012 ANNUAL REPORT Ovation 2012 2012 Butterfly Ball Professor Sunil Lakhani Professor Peter Silburn presenting at launch of APCN TIA – QLD Node Launch OVATION 2012 HOT PUBLICATIONS STUDENT SUCCESS TIA – QLD NODE LAUNCH FUNDING SUCCESS 2012 BUTTERFLY BALL The annual UQCCR fundraising gala ball, Many of our UQCCR researchers had their In 2012, more than 70% of UQCCR honours Australian Life Sciences researchers will UQCCR enjoyed its most prosperous year The RBWH Foundation’s annual Butterfly Ball Ovation, was held on Friday, 1 June, 2012 work appear in prestigious journals in 2012. students graduated with Class 2 A grades. translate their discoveries into commercial ever in 2012 with overall grant money raised over $70,000 in 2012 for the Brain at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Some notable publications that appeared A number of UQCCR students were awarded products faster thanks to a newly established awarded to the Centre totalling $19 million. Research Advances in Newborns (BRAIN) Centre, South Bank. Guests dazzled as they in the Lancet include ‘A comparative risk Best Poster Awards at the RBWH Healthcare Queensland Node of the Therapeutic This includes $2 million awarded by the Project being conducted by the UQCCR arrived in their best cocktail attire to support assessment of burden of disease and Symposium, including Nabeel Sheikh (PhD Innovation Australia (TIA – QLD Node). Australian Cancer Research Foundation Perinatal Research Centre based at RBWH. the research and development programs injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk student) and Adeline Chan (Honours student). (ACRF) to help establish the ACRF Molecular Celebrating ten successful years, the black run by UQCCR’s extraordinary group of factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a UQCCR is one of five leading Translational Oncology Translational Imaging Facility at tie event was held at the Sofitel Brisbane gifted and dedicated researchers. Hosted systematic analysis for the Global Burden of PhD student Benjamin Rogers received the Research Centre’s based in South East HIRF (see Future Research, page 48) and on Saturday, 27 October, 2012 and was by Davina Smith (Nine Network Australia), a Disease Study 2010’ and ‘Extent of illicit drug 2012 American Society for Microbiology Queensland who are members of the TIA – over $12 million from external sources other a celebration of Spring, transformation captivated audience enjoyed an evening of use and dependence, and their contribution Student Travel Grant and Emma Schlieger QLD Node.