ISSUE 5 - 2013

PartnersREAL OUTCOMES> PA Research

Grant Appointments> Head and neck cancer

research breakthroughs > PA High Tea -

Getting royal for charity> Tony’s story -

“I’m a cancer survivor”

Professor Ian Frazer - CEO Translational Research Institute. (Inventor of the world’s �rst cancer vaccine)

CEO Message

Date claimers

Please join us for morning tea at 10am then hear about the amazing research being done at the PA starting at 10.30am.

To book a seat please call 3176 2359 or visit pafoundation.org.au

BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER – Friday 15th March 2013 Felicity’s Wish Foundation will be hosting their fourth Annual Cocktail Fundraising Party to help PA Hospital researchers in their search for better treatments and outcomes for women with breast cancer.

To purchase your ticket and help support a great cause visit felicityswish.com.au

March 2013 PA HIGH TEA During the month of March the PA Hospital will be hosting its annual PA High Tea to help raise funds for medical research.

If you would like to host a PA High Tea at your workplace, school or home please contact the PA Research Foundation on (07) 3176 2359 or visit pafoundation.org.au for more information.

COMMUNITY HEALTH FORUM - Tuesday, 12th March 2013 Translational Research Institute, Ground Floor Auditorium, PA Hospital Campus

You’re invited to attend our FREE “Healthy Living, Healthy Ageing” Forum on current research projects at the PA Hospital into Dementia, Nutrition and Preventing Falls.

With the New Year well and truly underway it gives me great pleasure to present to you our successful 2013 Research Grant recipients. Your support of the Foundation will enable these wonderful projects to advance health and medical care for those closest to us.

Many of our researchers will be part of the new Translational Research Institute (TRI) -the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere - bringing research to life from the lab to the bedside. The range of grant recipients this year continues our mission of funding multidisciplinary collaborative research.

It is our role to support researchers’ projects in their early stages. We are very proud of the fact that much of the research you enable goes on to receive major funding and support from government and private investors. Without the early investment from the Foundation to prove concepts and gather data these projects may never proceed.

One of our funding success stories is Professor Michael Stowasser and his team of researchers from the Endocrine Hypertension Research Centre (EHRC), who are focusing on creating early diagnostic tools for high blood pressure/hypertension, a leading indicator of not only heart disease, but also stroke, and kidney disease.

This team has been internationally recognised with the largest experience in the world in primary aldosteronism, once thought to be a rare condition, but in fact the most common form of hypertension.

I invite you to join with us to help ensure these projects make the next medical discovery a reality. I look forward to working with you this year to bring more amazing medical discoveries to life.

CEO CEO CEO MessageMessageMessageMessageMessage

Recent UpdatesPA Translational Research Institute making breakthroughsThe Translational Research Institute (TRI) is now complete and our PAH researchers have moved into the building ready to make the next big discovery.

TRI, led by Professor Ian Frazer, AC, has the capacity to translate medical research into therapies and treatment that will position it as a world-leader in managing complex human disease and chronic illness.

The TRI will allow - for the first time in Australia - biopharmaceuticals and treatments to be discovered, produced, clinically tested and manufactured in one location.

With a focus spanning common and serious diseases including cancers, diabetes, inflammatory diseases, HIV, malaria, bone and joint diseases and obesity. The TRI will be home to some of the world’s next medical breakthroughs.

PA New technology treats regional patientsMedical specialists are harnessing technology to reach patients in regional areas with a new Telehealth Centre at PA Hospital.

The purpose built centre includes four consult rooms and is equipped with the latest video conferencing technology allowing patients in remote areas to have face-to face consultations

with specialists hundreds of kilometres away, but with none of the inconvenience and expense of travelling to the city.

To purchase your ticket and help support a great cause To purchase your ticket and help support a great cause

Damian Topp

PA Research Grant Appointments 2013The Boards of the PA Research Foundation and the PA Private Practice Trust Fund are pleased to announce the 2013 PA Research Support Scheme Recipients.

A total of $1.7 million in research grants has been awarded to 22 researchers based at the hospital in a broad range of fields.

Congratulations to all researchers who received a grant and we look forward to following your journey to find a cure.

KIDNEY DISEASEDr Michael Burke Nephrology Department Kidney transplant patients have a 50% occurrence of non melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) due to the requirement of immunosuppression to reduce the rate of transplant rejection.

Dr Burke will undertake his PhD studies to understand how different immunosuppresive therapies influence the risk of non melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in kidney transplant patients with the hope to tailor drug therapy to improve patient outcomes.

Professor David Johnson Nephrology Department This study will investigate whether an inflammatory hormone circulating in the bloodstream of dialysis patients, can be used to identify which patients are at risk of premature heart disease. It is hoped that a simple test will eventually allow doctors to identify at-risk dialysis patients and treat them before they develop serious heart disease.

Ms Megan Rossi Centre for Kidney Research PhD scholarship will enable Ms Rossi to study the emerging role of key kidney failure toxins as novel risk factors for both cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease progression.

Dr Katrina Campbell Nutrition and Dietetics Department This research aims to identify a new, low cost, nutrition intervention that could impact on kidney disease outcomes and decrease the heightened cardiovascular disease risk in this population.

HEART DISEASE Associate Professor Tony Stanton Cardiology Department Type 2 diabetes is the fastest growing chronic disease in Australia today and can lead to cardiovascular disease. Associate Professor Tony Stanton will use state-of-the-art cardiac imaging and biochemical techniques to better understand and track disease progression to identify which drugs and therapies are successful in slowing progression leading to better patient outcomes.

Dr Arnold Ng Cardiology Department In recent years Aortic valve reconstructive surgery has been shown to have benefits for patients over valve replacement. This research will study predictors of successful valve repair, and to potentially improve surgical techniques to maintain long-term successful repair.

Ms Rita Hwang Physiotherapy Department This study will test the effectiveness of delivering a real-time, group-based individualised rehabilitation session into the homes of heart failure patients via an internet-based Tele-rehabilitation system with the aim of decreasing hospital readmissions and mortality.

Dr Mathivathana Indrajith Department of Cardiology Quantifying the net benefit of early revascularistion strategy in ST elevation myocardial infarct patients by cardiac Magnetic resonance imaging.

CANCER Associate Professor Jennifer Martin Early Career Clinical Fellowship - Division of Medicine Will test the hypothesis that obese women with breast cancer have increased mortality because their chemotherapy dose is not appropriately adjusted for their increase in mass.

Dr Jeff Grice Therapeutics Research Centre Investigating the treatment for surgically inoperable Stage II and III melanoma.

Dr Timothy Warren Ear Nose and Throat Surgery Molecular and epidemiological investigation of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with perineural invasion.

REHABILITATION Dr Emma Finch Speech Pathology This research is trialling a program to improve social communication following Traumatic Brain Injury.

Dr Anna Hatton Physiotherapy Department Dr Hatton is investigating ways to improve balance control mechanisms in older adults with hip osteoarthritis, with the aim of decreasing the number of injuries as a result of falls.

Ms Freyr Patterson Occupational Therapy Use of groups in brain injury rehabilitation: a mixed methods study of group processes and effectiveness.

CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE Associate Professor Graeme Macdonald Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department This project is investigating the relationships between gut bacteria to the severity of chronic liver disease. The research will hopefully identify therapeutic targets to limit disease progression.

Professor Elizabeth Powell Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department Progressive fibrosis as a result of chronic liver disease can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. This research project will investigate the pathological mechanisms balancing healing and fibrosis, and provide essential knowledge required to develop safe, effective treatments for chronic liver disease.

ENDOCRINOLOGY Professor Michael Stowasser Endocrine and Hypertension Research Centre Genetic basis of primary aldosteronism as a potentially curable form of hypertension.

Ms Brenda Tai Clinical Pharmacology Department This scholarship will help to develop and validate an alternative and more reliable method of detection and diagnosis of primary aldosteronism - the most common type of high blood pressure which is potentially curable, but expensive to treat.

Dr Sandya Jalapu Department of Endrocrinology Dr Jalapu will research factors enhancing Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) and its role in obesity.

ASTHMA Professor John Upham Respiratory Medicine Professor Upham will be researching anti-micorbial immunity in poorly controlled asthma: relationships to inflammatory phenotypes and clinical outcomes.

EMERGENCY MEDICINE Professor Bala Venkatesh Intensive Care Unit Professor Venkatesh and his team will investigate patient safety and the burden and consequences of interruptions in the intensive care unit. This research is likely to provide guidelines for effective interventions which will lead to improved patient safety and decreased health costs.

The Duchess of Bedford was hungry; fatigue was beginning to overtake her. How much longer until dinner? Too long, she thought. So she invited her friends to join her for tea and assorted snacks.

On the silver platters there were savoury treats and sweet small cakes. How scrumptious, the ladies of high society all thought. Soon her friends all began to copy her and, voila, high tea was born!

Fast forward to 2013 and now it’s your chance to host a royal get together and be part of the PA Research Foundation’s annual ‘PA High Tea’ and help raise funds for medical research at the PA Hospital.

During the month of March you’re invited to host a ‘PA High Tea’ either at work or at home and invite the masses to share in the culinary delights and sweet treats of a high tea while helping our medical researchers bring research to life.

Breakthroughs at the PA have included the cervical cancer vaccine, advances in treating prostate cancer and confirmation of successful melanoma treatments, but there are many more projects that require funding to help bring research to life.

Ms Elaine McDonald, who is a regular PA High Tea host, says it’s a great feeling knowing that the funds raised really do make a difference in advancing treatments and cures for some of the community’s most debilitating diseases.

“I enjoy hosting the High Tea as it’s such a wonderful and memorable experience to share with your family, friends and work colleagues,” Elaine said.

“It’s easy to do and a great way to spend a morning or afternoon while doing your bit to benefit the health of our community.”

If you would like to host a PA High Tea please contact the Foundation on (07) 3176 2359 or visit pafoundation.org.au

Sadly, in Australia falls are the leading cause of death from injury for people aged 65 and over, and rates of falls are higher among older women than older men and continue to increase with age.

The estimated number of hospitalised injury cases due to falls in people aged 65 and over in 2008–09 was 78,600, more than 4,000 cases than in previous years, and costs the Australian Government approximately $24 billion a year.

Thanks to recent funding from the PA Research Foundation, Dr Anna Hatton will use her grant to investigate sideways balance control mechanisms in older people with hip osteoarthritis.

“We know the hip joint is important for controlling sideways balance however what we don’t clearly understand is how, and to what extent, sideways balance is impaired in older adults with this disease.” Dr Hatton says.

“Our aim is to find out how age related physical problems, such as joints wearing out or muscles weakening, contribute to older people losing their balance and experiencing a fall.

“Greater understanding of these problems will assist in the development of new treatment techniques, enabling older people to maintain their independence for longer.”

RESEARCHER Pro�le

PA HIGH TEA “It’s time for tea and charity”

Dr Hatton’s research also involves looking at how footwear devices such as shoe insoles may improve balance and walking, and reduce the risk of falling in older people, particularly those with Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

If you would like to hear more about Dr Hatton’s research then please join us for the free “Healthy Ageing, Healthy Living” Forum on Tuesday 12th March at the PA Hospital.

Enjoy a free morning tea from 10am, with the forum starting at 10.30- 11.30am.

For more details or to reserve your seat please contact the Foundation on 3176 2359 or visit pafoundation.org.au

Dr Anna Hatton - Physiotherapist and Joint Research Fellow in Physiotherapy

then please join us for the free “Healthy Ageing, Healthy Living” Forum on Tuesday 12th March at the PA Hospital.

Enjoy a free morning tea from 10am, with the forum starting at 10.30- 11.30am.

For more details or to reserve your seat please contact the Foundation on 3176 2359 or visit pafoundation.org.au

Dr Anna Hatton - Physiotherapist and Joint Research Fellow in Physiotherapy

Living” Forum on Tuesday 12th March at the PA Hospital.

Enjoy a free morning tea from 10am, with the forum starting at 10.30- 11.30am.

on 3176 2359 or visit pafoundation.org.au

FIRST NAME SURNAME CONTACT NUMBER EMAIL ADDRESS

STREET SUBURB STATE POST CODE

CARDHOLDER’S NAME CARDHOLDER’S SIGNATURE

$30 $50 $75 $100 $150 OTHER CARD NUMBER EXPIRY

CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO THE PA RESEARCH FOUNDATION

VISA MASTERCARD PLEASE CHARGE THIS CARD:

I AM INTERESTED IN RESEARCH INTO PLEASE SEND ME INFORMATION ON

MONTHLY CREDIT CARD DONATION OF

$

$

/

HEART DISEASE

BEQUESTS/FREE WILL SERVICE

PROSTATE CANCER

REGULAR GIVINGSAY THANK YOUDIABETES COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING

MELANOMA OTHER

Please complete this form and post to PA Research Foundation Reply Paid 77401, Woolloongabba Q 4102 or fax (07) 3176 7303. Donate online www.pafoundation.org.au or phone (07) 3176 2359. Should you not wish to receive further updates from the Foundation please phone us on (07) 3176 2359.

Donation Form - Yes, I would like to support health research!

PA head and neck cancer research “Cancer research is very complex and stimulating work. We all have friends and family that have been affected by cancer and it is very rewarding to know that we are doing work that may have significant impacts on so many people.” Dr Matthew Foote – Consultant Radiation Oncologist - PA Hospital.

Dr Matthew Foote’s passion in head and neck cancer has led him and a team of medical experts to develop a new technique that look at ways certain drugs target tumours in patients with head and neck cancer. Approximately 4000 people in Australia (70% men and 30% women) are diagnosed with a type of head and neck cancer each year. Head and neck cancer includes cancers of the mouth, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, throat, and lymph nodes in the neck. Most begin in the moist tissues that line the mouth, nose and throat. Many patients with advanced head and neck cancer at the PA Hospital are treated with radiotherapy and a specific targeted drug known as, ‘Cetuximab’. Although this drug improves the outcome for a proportion of patients, it doesn’t work in all cases. Dr Foote along with clinicians Prof. Bryan Burmeister, A/Prof Sandro Porceddu and scientists Dr Fiona Simpson and A/Prof Nicholas Saunders, are working together to find the answer to two important questions – “How do we predict which patient will respond to the therapy?” and secondly “How can they make more patients respond to the therapy?”

Dr Simpson says some drug targets currently used to treat the tumour/s get stuck on the surface of the cells, which is important in how patients respond to treatment.“We’ve found out why this may be helpful in therapy response and we’ve worked out a way to make the target stick on the tumour cell surface in all the patients,” Dr Simpson says. “To move this research forward we need to look at more tumours to see if we are correct every time in predicting who will respond to therapy. “Secondly, we need to test a combination therapy to see if it makes therapy-resistant tumours now disappear. We have to do a lot of testing before we can take this to the clinic and our patients, but hopefully it is a way to greatly increase cure rates in advanced head and neck cancer.”The discoveries, made by this team of clinicians and scientists, will not only help those with head and neck cancer but may also be used to help patients diagnosed with skin cancer, blood cancers, metastatic colorectal cancer and other epithelial cancer.

With your support this research has the potential to help so many people affected by various types of cancer by funding the testing of their theory to take the research to clinical trial. If sufficiently funded this research may have impact beyond our lifetime and might just save the life of someone you know and love. To be a part of this life saving research project make a donation today so we can help save lives tomorrow.

What are the causes? • Smoking-smokingcigarettesorpipes,using

chewing tobacco and dipping snuff causes about 85% of head and neck cancers.

• Alcoholuse-aperson’sriskincreaseswiththe amount of alcohol consumed, using both tobacco and alcohol together further increases a person’s risk.

• Age-mostcommoninpeople50+.• Sex-menareabout3timesmorelikelyto

develop head and neck cancer.• Inhalationofcertainchemicalsordusts-

breathing in sulphuric acid mist, asbestos fibres, dry-cleaning solvents, certain types of paint or nickel may increase the risk.

• Sunexposure-UVradiationmaycauselipcancer, and is the biggest cause of skin cancer in the head and neck area.

• HumanPapillomavirus(HPV).

What are the symptoms? • Alumporsorethatdoesnotheal • Asorethroatthatdoesnotgoaway • Troubleswallowing • Achangeorhoarsenessinthevoice.

Tony’s Story….My name is Tony Leff, and I’m a cancer survivor!

After suffering what I thought was a mild case of flu for most of June 2008, I was admitted to the PA Hospital with pneumonia but further tests revealed something that I never thought would happen to me… I was diagnosed with cancer.

I was in shock when the doctors said I had ‘Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma’, a type of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Weeks of chemotherapy and radiation followed but I was also given the option of taking part in a clinical trial of a new drug to treat this type of cancer.

My thoughts at the time were that my future was uncertain, wether I elected to take part or not, but I thought at least by taking part in it I could give something to science and humanity.

In early 2009, I was given the news, that I had been in the control group for the clinical trial (and had not received the new drug in my treatment).

I was also told, that I was in ‘remission’ - the sweetest word, I had ever heard!!!

That was 4 years ago now, and although I am still under the PA’s care my doctors have told me, that with the type of cancer I had, if it was going to come back, chances are it would’ve done so within the first year.

For everything I’ve been through, to get to where I am now, I must say that the cancer hasn’t been an entirely negative experience. It has changed me profoundly, and made me value life, my time, and those close to me even more.

Those that know me will know that I’ve never been one to shy away from ‘living’, but I’m far less inclined these days, to ‘put stuff off’ than I was prior to the cancer.

DONOR Story

Tony Leff

A New Year and a new you…. Over 60% of Australian adults are now overweight or obese, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, so it’s not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions.

Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss program, and are the keys to success for those who made a commitment to shed extra pounds. So, if your resolution is to take better care of yourself you’ll have a much better year if your resolution sticks so here are a few tips to help get you started.

• Removeallbadfoodsfromyourrefrigeratorandpantry: This includes all snack foods such as cakes, pies, sweet biscuits, chips, soft drinks, crackers and any “empty calorie” foods that will impede on your weight loss goals.

• Fillyourkitchenwithhealthyfood:suchas-Leanprotein(chicken breast, turkey breast, fish, egg whites) Fresh fruits (oranges, apples, grapes, strawberries) Vegetables (Carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, green beans, lettuce, tomato, cucumber).

• Healthy snack foods (non-fat cottage cheese, protein bar, almonds)

• Chooseanobtainablegoal:Resolvingtolooklikeasupermodelis not realistic for the majority of us, but promising to include daily physical activity in our lives is very possible.

• Walkthisway:Burnmorecaloriesthroughoutthedayby taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking an extra block to the office and parking the car in the spot furthest away. These tricks can all add up and make a difference on the scale.

• DrinkWater:Youcanoftenmistakedehydrationforhunger.Keeping your body hydrated will keep more of those snacking urges at bay. You don’t have to limit yourself to water; low-calorie alternatives include herbal teas and sparkling water with lime, as well as fruits and vegetables high in water content.

•Getactiveratherthanslumponthesofa-takeabriskwalk, play an indoor game or maybe just crank up the music and dance away those kilojoules!

Healthy tips with Dietician Jessica Abbott

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, so it’s not

Your privacy. We will treat any information you disclose with the utmost respect, and complete confidentiality.

Your family. We understand, and 100% support, that ‘family comes first’ when considering your Will.

Your choice.We believe medical research can contribute to a healthier world for all, and gifts in Wills bring us one step closer to this vision. Ultimately, leaving a gift in your Will is always your decision.

You can tell us - or not.

Please feel free to notify us if you have left a gift that will support future medical breakthroughs through the PA Research Foundation. If you’d prefer to keep the details private, we will always respect this decision.

Your opportunity to be involved.

We encourage our supporters to learn more about the work of the PA Research Foundation, and can arrange for you to see, firsthand, how your gift may one day be put to work… and make a difference.

Charter for Gifts in WillsWe truly value the generosity of our supporters. We want to assure you that when it comes to gifts in Wills, we are committed to the following: