ASMR’S DIAMOND JUBILEE 60 YEARS OF PUBLIC, POLITICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ADVOCACY Australian Society for asmr Medical newsletter AUGUST 2021 Research Public, Political, Scientific Advocacy In this issue: President’s report President’s report | 2 2021 sees the 60th anniversary of the inaugural ASMR impacts from climate change, mean we need a The ASMR continues Board meeting on August 9 and I am extremely Government that is committed to making bold efforts to engage with ASMR — Forging the Future | 3 proud to be leading the Society into its Diamond to better support Universities, Medical Research politicians and other for Health and Medical Jubilee year. The ASMR has provided steadfast Institutes and the researchers within them, in order organisations in the Research in Australasia advocacy for the health and medical research sector to generate service efficiencies, technological sector to advocate over its 60 years and will continue to do so into the innovations and health outcomes that will protect the for increased and ASMR Past Presidents | 4 — Perspectives on ASMR future. One of the greatest aspects of the ASMR nation. Unfortunately, the Federal budget had little adequate support Dr Ryan Davis and Medical Research is its people, from the members and affiliates, to to offer the sector over and above what was already of research and the many Directors, past-Presidents, life members allocated, but with a Federal election expected in researchers, with fair and adequate research 60th Anniversary of ASMR | 6 and staff. We were therefore thrilled to hear that the next year, there is a critical need to advocate opportunity to support our mission of empowering — my personal thoughts our long-serving Executive Officer, Ms Cath West for a commitment from both sides of politics to research for a healthy and equitable Australia. and experiences as OAM, was recognised for her contributions and increase and sustain support of our sector. an ASMR member dedication to the sector with a Medal of the Order With the MRFF now fully capitalised and disbursing Activities Not just a job — of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. | 7 at its intended maximum, the investment into ASMR Medical Research Week® in 2021 was Cath West, OAM discovery research through the NHMRC that has cautious in its execution with the very real threat Advocacy been stagnant for over a decade is in dire need of lockdowns and border closures at any given ASMR Medical Research | 9 ® With the recent release of the 2021 Intergenerational of a considerable investment increase to drive time. Scientific symposia were held online and Week 2021 Report it was indicated that over the next 40 years the progression of Australian health and medical the ASMR Medalist tour was restricted to live ‘Hearing versus Listening’ the population at large will continue to increase in research, support expansion of workforce and sector audiences at the National Press Club and Sydney | 10 ASMR Medalist 2021: age, the economy will grow at a slower rate, and capacity and feed the aspirations and potential of Gala dinner with livestreaming to Western Australia, Professor Kelvin Kong health and aged care will be the fastest growing the MRFF. That said, we await the imminent release Queensland, Newcastle and South Australian Gala areas of Government spending. This combined of the Australian National Audit Office’s report on events. Nevertheless, the 2021 ASMR Medalist, 60th ASMR National | 11 with worsening health issues overshadowed Health’s Management of the MRFF, as the ASMR Professor Kelvin Kong, delivered measured Scientific Conference or unaddressed during the current pandemic, has long advocated for established and transparent and engaging presentations that were greatly Inspiration to Implementation foreboding of more pandemics and the inevitable processes and governance to be legislated. received. He was awarded the medal because his Ph: 02 9230 0333 Suite 702, Level 7, President: Dr Ryan Davis ASMR’S Fax: 02 9230 0339 37 Bligh Street, Senior Executive and Chief Financial Officer: Catherine West Email: [email protected] DIAMOND JUBILEE Sydney NSW 2000 Newsletter Editors: Dr Melissa Cantley 60 YEARS OF PUBLIC, POLITICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ADVOCACY Web: www.asmr.org.au Print Post Approved 25500300067 Australian Society for Medical asmr Research ASMR NEWSLETTER · AUGUST 2021 Public, Political, Scientific Advocacy work encompasses so many facets of the research intentions will be held virtually in late November. professional development sessions and a discussion pipeline, he has lived experience and a drive The theme of this year’s conference is Inspiration panel on positioning research for impact, quality Benefits of being an ASMR member to provide health equity for ear disease across to Implementation, examining the entire and consumer engagement. Please save the date, Australia, has a strong sense of social justice and research pipeline from discovery to translation, submit your abstracts and join us in November as ■ Stay in Touch with the advocacy and embodies many of the personal and commercialisation, prevention and implementation. it promises to be an engaging conference that will Latest Sector Developments professional qualities that are important for driving This year’s Firkin orator will be New Zealand bring together researchers from across the sector ■ Fast Track your Career change to ensure better health outcomes for all neonatologist Dame Professor Jane Harding who at a time when we all need to stick together. with CPD events Australians. Unfortunately, Victoria were in the pioneered the clinical management of neonatal Finally, I am pleased to announce that ■ Networking Opportunities midst of a lockdown and were unable to join the low blood glucose and the Edwards orator will Associate Professor Tony Kenna is the President-elect ■ Advocacy for Health proceedings, but there are plans to hold the event be organic chemist Professor David Craik who and will take over in late November. I commend and Medical Research in the coming months. I would like to congratulate discovered cyclotides and has developed these into Tony for taking on this very important role and look all the State and regional committees who organised ■ Support for Students and an extremely successful drug and toxin development forward to working with him to ensure a seamless and executed events across the country and thank Early Career Researchers program. There will also be a raft of excellent transition into his Presidency. them for their contributions to the society. https://asmr.org.au/ plenary speakers, talks selected from abstracts, the membership/becoming- Peter Doherty Leading Light award, Campion Ma We now look forward to our 60th ASMR National Dr Ryan Davis, President, a-member/benefits/ Scientific Conference, which despite our best Playoust award, oral and poster awards, along with Australian Society for Medical Research ASMR — Forging the Future for Health and Medical Research in Australasia Diamond Jubilee Year ■ Judith Whitworth was the first female President Celebrating ASMR’s long and proud history The Annual Scientific Meeting has been held of ASMR in 1984. of public, political and scientific advocacy every year since 1961. beginning with that first meeting of founding ■ The ASMR Research Fund was established ■ ASMR forged a central, unified lobbying directors back on August 9, 1961 at Barry Firkin’s by ASMR in 1990 with the sole purpose of approach for medical research funding. home in Double Bay. The first ASMR Committee providing research awards to ASMR members, ■ The Royal Australasian College of Physicians consisted of Barry Firkin (our first financial member) in particular early career members. housed the ASMR office from 1976 to 2012 Barry Firkin, President, Gordon Archer President-elect, and Alan ■ Founding director …RENT FREE. Election year 1993 saw the three major parties Skyring Secretary/Treasurer; Arnold Hunt, James and the first ASMR President — 1961 agreeing to lift funding to at least 2% of the McRae and Rodney Shearman were co-directors. ■ Our annual flagship event, ASMR Medical ® total health budget by the year 2000. These visionary young scientists stamped the Research Week , started in 1981. ■ society with the highest ideals and aspirations. ■ The ASMR Ladies Committee was established 1997 — President Kieran Scott The first annual scientific meeting (National in the early years in NSW. The committee invited inaugural ASMR Medalist, Scientific Conference) was held in 1961 with ceased its activities in 1971. Victoria also had a Professor Peter Doherty, to tour the country 66 members attending. Ladies Committee in 1968. during ASMR Medical Research Week®. 3 Australian Society for Medical asmr Research ASMR NEWSLETTER · AUGUST 2021 Public, Political, Scientific Advocacy ■ 1999 — ASMR commissioned a workplace ■ 2008 — ASMR Workforce Survey: a comprehensive report extrapolating the survey to identify areas of concern for “Perceptions of Health and Medical health and economic returns that could be Many things have Australian biomedical researchers. Research Careers: The ASMR generated by the MRFF. changed since 1961 Workforce Survey”. ■ 1998 — President Steve Wesselingh proposed ■ 2015 — Inquiry into the MRFF Bill submitted when the society was a ‘FASEB’ style meeting bringing together ■ 2009 — “Planning the Health and to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation ‘‘ first formed, but there many organisations to highlight health and Medical Research Workforce 2010–2019”, Committee. has been