the plasticity of neuroscience in the digital age · 2019. 6. 13. · networking is a crucial skill...

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The Plasticity of Neuroscience in the Digital Age

The Plasticity of Neuroscience in the Digital Age2019 Professional Development and Networking Dinner

FRIDAY JUNE 14TH

THE ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE

CONTENTS

A/Prof Adrian Carter @NeuroethicsAU Pg 8

Dr Talitha Ford @TalithaCFord Pg 8

Dr Bernadette Fitzgibbon @b_fitzgibbon Pg 9

Dr Dean Freestone @SeerMedical Pg 10

Prof Jeffrey Rosenfeld @JVRosenfeld Pg 10

Dr Damien Bates @BioCurate Pg 16

A/Prof Stefan Bode @DLabMelbourne Pg 11

Prof Alex Boussioutas @UniMelbMDHS Pg 16

Melanie Carew @TheFlorey Pg 17

Dr Nikki Cranna @squarecell Pg 17

Prof Sheila Crewther @latrobe Pg 18

Prof Peter Enticott @CNULab Pg 11

Prof Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis @turnerinstitute Pg 12

Alexandre Guérin @AusNeuroSoc Pg 18

Dr Caroline Gurvich @CarolineGurvich Pg 12

Prof Anthony Hannan @anthonyjhannan Pg 13

Dr Robert Hatch Pg 19

A/Prof Elisa Hill-Yardin @Eli_melb Pg 13

Prof Daniel Hoyer @Pharm_UniMelb Pg 19

Dr Steven Inglis @OxPharmaGenesis Pg 20

Agnes Iwasiw & Declan O’Hara @Symbiotic_Dev Pg 22

Dr Laura Jacobson @TheFlorey Pg 14

A/Prof Jarrad Lum @CNULab Pg 20

Dr Simon McKenzie-Nickson @mcknick85 Pg 14

Dr Simon Murray @UniMelbMDHS Pg 21

Prof Terence O’Brien @CCSMonash Pg 21

Dr Nicholas Price @Monash_FMNHS Pg 22

Prof Susan Rossell @RossellSusan Pg 15

Dr Greg Stewart @MIPS_Australia Pg 23

Dr Chao Suo @BMH_Hub Pg 23

Alyssa Telfer @pofip Pg 24

Dr Natalie Thomas @maprc1 Pg 24

Prof Bruce Thompson @Swinburne Pg 25

A/Prof Naotsugu Tsuchiya @conscious_tlab Pg 15

Prof Tissa Wijeratne @brainfoundoz Pg 25

Foreword Pg 5 Background Page 6 Theme Pg 7 Sponsors Pg 26

STAGE PRESENTERS

GUESTS


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PROCEEDINGS

18:00 – 18:45

18:45 – 18:55

18:55 – 19:00

19:00 – 19:05

19:05 – 19:20

19:20 – 19:30

19:30 – 20:00

20:00 – 20:45

20:45 – 20:55

20:50-20:55

20:55-21:00

21:00 – 21:30

22:00

Arrival, Drinks and Networking in Foyer

Guests Seated in Pavilion Room

Welcome by 2019 SOBR President, Isabella Bower

Introduction by MC, Dr Talitha Ford

Keynote Speech by A/Prof Adrian Carter

Keynote Q & A Chaired by Dr Talitha Ford

Dinner

Panel Discussion and Q & A with A/Prof Adrian Carter, Dr Bernadette

Fitzgibbon, Dr Dean Freestone and Prof Jeffrey Rosenfeld

Concluding Remarks by Dr Talitha Ford

Partner Sponsor Address by Prof Tissa Wijeratne

Acknowledgments by Isabella Bower

Dessert & Networking

Event close

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FOREWARD

Students of Brain Research (SOBR) is an extraordinary Victoria-wide volunteer organisation that is unique in Australia. In 2020 we will celebrate a decade bringing together students involved in brain research across the state. Over the past nine years we have grown in number, reach and reputation, encompassing students from every Victorian institution with a committee as varied as our membership.

This year I am delighted to take on the role as the 9th SOBR President. However, unlike your usual candidates, I have launched into brain research from a background in Architecture. I think this is an important moment, to recognise that we can strengthen our knowledge and mindsets through breaking barriers between traditional academic divisions to learn new ways of approaching questions and different vocabularies and epistemologies to address challenges.

Networking is a crucial skill for young professionals to develop. It can be challenging approaching other students, colleagues and ‘neuro-stars’ when it’s a departure from our regular day-to-day experiences that are often solitary in nature. It’s very important as young professionals that we find ways to learn and strengthen our skill sets while we’re on the verge of the highly competitive early career research (ECR) arena.

Tonight, I encourage you all, whether a student or guest to challenge yourself and strike up a conversation with as many people you don’t know as possible. The relationships you form are critical and can become life-long friendships. The accepting and kind community SOBR has built, is one of our greatest strengths, so no matter how you feel, embrace the event. (After all, I challenge you to beat my ‘imposter syndrome’. I trained to be an architect, you just won’t win.)

Tonight, we will discuss the influence of digital technology on neuroscience. We ask our guests to reflect on the way digital technology has influenced their research, be it through the data we are now able to generate, or the way in which we work with virtual processes and systems. We will also delve into the future of neuroscience – will the digital age ever reach a stage in which traditional ways become dismissed? Guided by our keynote speaker and panel, together we will unpack the future possibilities afforded by technological innovation, while taking into consideration the ethical challenges we may encounter along the way.

Isabella Bower 2019 SOBR President


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BACKGROUND

Students of Brain Research (SOBR) was formed in 2011 to connect graduate students and early career researchers in the fields of neuroscience and brain research from across Victoria. We were founded with the aim of creating an “academic network to connect early-career brain researchers across all Universities and Institutes in Victoria”.

Since 2011, SOBR has hosted events every year to provide members with the opportunity to network, transfer knowledge and establish collaborative partnerships with other early career researchers who encompass a broad range of labs, schools, departments, institutions and backgrounds. SOBR has continually expanded its membership diversity across Victorian organisations and institutions. In 2019, our membership has soared to over 300 students across all major Victorian institutions involved in brain research.

THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING DINNER

The Professional Development and Networking Dinner is about connecting students outside of their labs and immediate network with academics and other students from a broad array of specialties, career stages and institutions. We are delighted that our 2019 event is the largest to date with record-breaking ticket sales and a diverse array of institutions represented.

Save the date and block your calendars!

Our 2019 Student Symposium will take place on

Tuesday November 12th 2019 at the Florey Institute

of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University

of Melbourne, Parkville.

THEME

The Plasticity of Neuroscience in the Digital Age It is undeniable that scientific research has rapidly evolved over the past few decades with the advancement of technology. Scientists have been thrust into a new digital and technologically advanced world where much of our research depends on how we gather data, what state-of-the-art technology we are using and how we share the data we have. The introduction of techniques such as those in microscopy, brain stimulation and artificial intelligence has aided in answering the critical questions and sharing those questions with individuals all over the world. This has opened new avenues of research opportunities that were once ideas that started with ‘wouldn’t it be great if we could…’

However, the utilisation of new digital technologies has raised concerns on how scientists ensure integrity and utility of data. We are now inundated with an array of high-tech laboratory tools that make data collection easier and powerful statistical software that may be misused or misconstrue what our data is really demonstrating.

Tonight, we will discuss the influence of digital technology on neuroscience. What we should be wary of and how we can take advantage of this new digital age? We ask our guests to reflect on the way digital technology has influenced their research, be it through the data we are now able to generate, or the way in which we work with virtual processes, systems and environments. Guided by our keynote speaker and panel, together we will unpack the future possibilities afforded by technological innovation, while taking into consideration the ethical challenges we may encounter along the way.

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER

A/Prof Adrian Carter Associate Professor Adrian Carter is an NHMRC Fellow and Head of the and Society Group, School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University. He is also Director, Neuroethics Program, ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function and Co-Chair, Neuroethics Committee for the Australian Brain Alliance, Australian Academy of Science. His research examines the impact of neuroscience on our understanding and treatment of mental and neurological disorders. Dr Carter has been an advisor to the WHO, OECD, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

——— NEUROETHICS, ADDICTION, DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION

——— AUTISM, AUDITORY PROCESSING, SCHIZOPHRENIA

MC

Dr Talitha Ford

Dr Ford completed her Ph.D. in 2017 at Swinburne University of Technology, in which she investigated the neurobiology of social processing difficulties that span multiple spectrum conditions, including autism and schizophrenia. Dr Ford then took up a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship role at Swinburne’s Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, where she led the neuroimaging arms of several clinical trials, and ran a clinical trial looking at the combined effects of prescription benzodiazepines and alcohol on driving and cognition. In March 2019, Dr Ford commenced a Dean’s Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Deakin University, to pursue her primary research interests of characterising the neurobiology of specific symptom domains of multi-dimensional spectrum conditions, particularly the social processes deficits central to autism. Dr Ford served as Treasurer for SOBR in 2013, and is thrilled to MC the 2019 Professional Development and Networking Dinner.


——— NEUROETHICS, ADDICTION, DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION

——— AUTISM, AUDITORY PROCESSING, SCHIZOPHRENIA

PANELLIST

Dr Bernadette Fitzgibbon

Dr Bernadette Fitzgibbon is a Senior Research Fellow at Monash University where she heads the “Pain and Affective Neuroscience Unit”. Her research is dedicated to understanding the neurobiology of pain and the development of novel pain therapeutics. In mid-2019, she will relocate to the Epworth Centre for Innovation in Mental Health to establish the “Pain, Addiction and Mental Health Group”. Her research has been funded by a number of bodies including the National Health and Medical Research Council, Equity Trustees and Arthritis Australia. She is the recipient of several awards including the 2018 Australasian Brain Stimulation Society Early Career Award, the 2014 Young Tall Poppy Science Award, the prestigious national Bethlehem Griffiths Research Foundation Young Investigator award (2014), the Sonoray MagVenture Post-Doctoral Travel Award and the 2012 Vice Chancellor’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence. Beyond her academic achievements, Dr Fitzgibbon is dedicated to scientific advocacy. In 2017, she was elected the chair of the Australian Brain Alliance Early-Mid Career Research Network and became an Executive Member of the Australian Brain Alliance.

——— BRAIN STIMULATION, PAIN, THERAPEUTICS


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PANELLIST

Dr Dean Freestone

Dr Freestone is the CEO and cofounder of Seer Medical, a medtech company focused on at-home diagnostic testing for epilepsy. Seer harnesses the power of a range of new technologies including wearable devices, web-platforms, cloud computing and machine learning to deliver its’ services. Dr Freestone is also a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne at the University of Melbourne. His research is focused on reverse engineering the human brain.

He completed a postdoc fellowship at Columbia University (NY, USA), has a PhD in Engineering from the University of Melbourne, and B. Eng from La Trobe University.

———

COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE, ENGINEERING, EPILEPSY

PANELLIST

Prof Jeffrey Rosenfeld

Jeffrey Rosenfeld AC, OBE is Senior neurosurgeon at the Alfred Hospital; Professor of Surgery, Monash University; Adjunct Professor in Surgery at the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of The Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, MD, USA; Adjunct Professor of Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Honorary Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Papua New Guinea. He was the Foundation Director, Monash Institute of Medical Engineering (MIME). His main research interests are traumatic brain injury and bionic vision. Professor Rosenfeld is one of Australia’s leading academic neurosurgeons and senior military surgeons.

———

BIONIC VISION, CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS, NEUROSURGERY

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VIPATTENTION, DECISION-MAKING, PATTERN ANALYSIS

A/Prof Stefan Bode

Stefan studied psychology at the University of Göttingen, Germany, and the University of Zurich, Switzerland. He received his PhD in psychology/cognitive neuroscience from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig & University of Leipzig, Germany, in 2010. Since 2011, He has been working in the Melbourne School for Psychological Sciences at the University of Melbourne, first on a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, from 2014-2016 as an Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, then as a Senior lecturer and now as an Associate Professor in Cognitive Psychology/Neuroscience. He is the Head of the Decision Neuroscience Laboratory and the Director of the Decision Science Hub in the school. He is also an Affiliate Professor (Privatdozent) at the University of Cologne, Germany. His research focuses on the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying perceptual, health-related, and voluntary decision-making, as well as decision errors and preference formation in humans.

VIPAUTISM, BRAIN STIMULATION, NEUROBIOLOGY

Prof Peter Enticott

Peter G. Enticott (PhD, Monash University, 2006) is Professor of Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience) and Director of the Cognitive Neuroscience Unit (CNU) in the School of Psychology, Deakin University. After completing his PhD in forensic neuropsychology, he undertook postdoctoral work in clinical neuroscience at Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc). He joined Deakin University in 2013, and is currently supported by a Future Fellowship from the Australian Research Council. Peter uses a range of neuroscience techniques, including brain stimulation, electrophysiology, and neuroimaging, to examine autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related developmental social cognitive phenomena.


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VIPCOGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE, NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS, NEUROIMAGING

Prof Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis

Professor Georgiou-Karistianis is the Deputy Dean, Academic and Graduate Affairs within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University. She is also a world-leading cognitive neuroscientist with an established reputation in mapping selective impairments at a brain, cognitive, psychiatric and motor level in neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Huntington’s disease and Friedreich ataxia. She heads the Experimental Neuropsychology Research Unit within the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, which uses brain imaging methods, cognitive and motor tools to understand brain structure and function, as well as behaviour in health and disease. She has attracted funding from the NHMRC, ARC Linkage and Philanthropic organisations and has over 200 peer-reviewed publications. She is widely sought after as a PhD supervisor and is passionate about training the next generation of cognitive neuroscientists.

VIPEYE-TRACKING, GENETICS, PSYCHOSIS

Dr Caroline Gurvich

Caroline is a Senior Research Fellow and a Clinical Neuropsychologist. She is the Deputy Director of the Women’s Mental Health Division at Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre and Head of the Cognitive Neuroscience Group. Caroline’s research aims to better understand biological and lifestyle contributors to cognitive health and cognitive dysfunction across a range of disorders in psychiatry. She is particularly interested in hormonal and genetic influences on cognition and their interactions with psychological and lifestyle factors, such as stress and early life trauma. Caroline combines neuropsychological assessments with eye movement research to clearly characterise cognition. She works across a range of disorders including schizophrenia, complex trauma disorders, perimenopausal depression and Alzheimer’s disease with a focus of women’s mental health.

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VIPEPIGENETIC INHERITANCE, GENE-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS

Prof Anthony Hannan

Professor Anthony Hannan is an NHMRC Principal Research Fellow and Head of the Epigenetics and Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne. He has been awarded a Nuffield Medical Fellowship, NHMRC RD Wright Career Development Fellowship, ARC Future Fellowship and NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship. Prof. Hannan and colleagues provided the first demonstration in any genetic animal model that environmental stimulation can be therapeutic. This has led to new insights into gene-environment interactions in various brain disorders, including Huntington’s disease, dementia, depression, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. His team explores how genes and the environment combine via experience-dependent plasticity in the healthy and diseased brain. This includes models of specific neurological and psychiatric disorders investigated at behavioural, cellular and molecular levels to identify pathogenic mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets. Most recently, this has included studies of intergenerational and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.

VIPAUTISM, GASTROENTEROLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY

A/Prof Elisa Hill-Yardin

A/Prof Elisa Hill-Yardin is an ARC Future Fellow and Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow at RMIT. She leads the Gut-Brain Axis research team focused on understanding how the nervous system interacts with microbes in health and disease including gut dysfunction in autism. She received her PhD in 2001 investigating neurochemical signatures in the mouse neocortex. Dr Hill-Yardin was then recruited to the ESPCI ParisTech University in France as a CNRS Postdoctoral Fellow to study neurophysiological properties of cortical neurons. She returned to Melbourne in 2006 as an NHMRC Howard Florey Centenary Fellow. Dr Hill-Yardin regularly communicates research to the public including via mainstream media and New Scientist Events. She is a founding member and Chair of Frontiers in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (FiND), which enables leading international researchers to engage with scientists, clinicians and families.


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VIPCOGNITION, NEUROPHARMACOLOGY, SLEEP DISORDERS

Dr Laura Jacobson

Dr Jacobson conducted her PhD studies at the University of Basel and Novartis Institutes of Biomedical Research in Basel (Switzerland), exploring the neuropharmacology of anxiety, depression and cognition (2004-2006). After a brief postdoctoral fellowship at F. Hoffmann - La Roche Ltd (Basel), Dr Jacobson re-joined Novartis in 2007 to lead a preclinical pharmacology laboratory, where she conducted drug discovery, compound pharmacological profiling and drug development research for neurodegenerative, sleep and psychiatric disorders. In 2013 Dr Jacobson joined the Florey Institutes of Neuroscience and Mental Health (Parkville, Australia), inaugurating her Sleep and Cognition laboratory in March 2016. Her laboratory investigates the interface between sleep and cognition and the implications thereof in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Dr Jacobson’s research is supported by NHMRC (Australia) and the Alzheimer’s Association (USA). She is Associate Editor for Translational Pharmacology (Frontiers in Pharmacology), Sleep and Circadian Rhythms (Frontiers in Neuroscience) and Medicine in Drug Discovery.

VIPNEUROBIOLOGY, NEUROPHARMACOLOGY, SCHIZOPHRENIA

Dr Simon McKenzie-Nickson

Simon completed his PhD in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne where, using metal ionophores, he investigated the therapeutic potential of CNS copper delivery in multiple models of neurodegeneration. Simon is now a postdoctoral fellow at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science investigating the role muscarinic receptors may play in alleviating symptoms of schizophrenia. This work involves looking at novel compounds targeting muscarinic receptors in novel ways but also investigating combination therapy alongside gold-standard antipsychotics looking at interaction/synergy. His work tracks compounds efficacy from neuronal cultures, to in vivo neural communication (particularly hippocampal-prefrontal connectivity), through to behavioural models of schizophrenia across multiple symptom domains.

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VIPMOOD DISORDERS, PSYCHOSIS, SCHIZOPHRENIA

Prof Susan Rossell

Susan Rossell is a Professorial Research Fellow and the inaugural Director of Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University. She has honorary appointments at Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre and Psychiatry, St Vincent’s Health. She is a cognitive neuropsychologist. Her research has focused on understanding the cognitive and neurobiological processes involved in psychosis and related disorders. She has extensive experience in neuroimaging. Prior to coming to Australia, Susan studied at the University of Manchester, the Institute of Psychiatry (part of King’s College London) and Oxford University. She gained experience in neuroimaging whilst undertaking a position at the world renowned Functional Imaging Lab, Queens Square, London, UK. In 2000 she was awarded a prestigious International Wellcome Post-doctoral Fellowship during which she spent part of her time at Macquarie University in Sydney. From 2004 to 2007 she was Head of the Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Department at the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, Melbourne. In 2008 she moved to Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre. In 2010, she took up her Professorial position at Swinburne.

VIPATTENTION, CONSCIOUSNESS, SUBJECTIVITY

A/Prof Naotsugu Tsuchiya

Dr Tsuchiya was awarded a PhD at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2006 and underwent postdoctoral training at Caltech until 2010. Receiving a PRESTO grant from Japan Science and Technology (JST) agency, Dr Tsuchiya returned to Japan in 2010. In Jan 2012, he joined the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University as an Associate Professor. Since 2013, he is an ARC Future Fellow. His main research interest is to uncover the neuronal basis of consciousness. Specifically, he focuses on 1) the scope and limit of non-conscious processing, 2) the relationship between attention and consciousness, and 3) the neuronal correlates of consciousness by analysing the multi-channel neuronal recording obtained in animals and humans and 4) testing a theory of consciousness, in particular, integrated information theory of consciousness. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, he uses a variety of research approaches, ranging from empirical (lab-based or online-based psychophysics, neuroimaging), computational (information theoretic/causal analyses/modeling of neural activity), to theoretical (including conceptual analysis and category theory) methods.


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SPONSOR VIPANGIOGENESIS, REGENERATION, TISSUE ENGINEERING

Dr Damien Bates

Dr Damien Bates is a senior healthcare industry executive specialising in global preclinical and clinical development, medical affairs, marketing authorisation and lifecycle management of biologics and devices. He has held scientific & medical leadership positions in multiple US based companies including Baxter, Organogenesis, Allergan and SanBio with a proven track record in the successful execution of preclinical development programs, clinical trials and post-marketing medical support for approved and cleared products, and FDA, EMA, PMDA and SwissMedic negotiation & approvals.

SPONSOR VIPGASTROENTEROLOGY, GENOMICS, ONCOLOGY

Prof Alex Boussioutas

Professor Alex Boussioutas is the Associate Dean Graduate Research for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) at the University of Melbourne. An academic clinician, Prof Boussioutas also holds clinical positions at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Epworth HealthCare. Prof Boussioutas leads a research program in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer, and has published in the field of Gastrointestinal oncology in journals including Nature, Cancer Cell, New England Journal of Medicine and Gastroenterology. His multi-disciplinary research encompasses: population health and screening; use of novel technologies to aid early detection of cancer and; genomics in the investigation of molecular pathology of gastric cancer.

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SPONSOR VIPMENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING, SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

Melanie Carew

Melanie Carew is the Head of Strategy and Public Affairs at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. Melanie has over 10 years of experience as a communications manager where she became Head of Corporate Affairs at the Cooperative Research Centre for Mental Health. At the CRC for Mental Health, Melanie was the co-developer of Write Smart: Feel better, a peer mentoring and wellbeing program designed to encourage PhD students to take a proactive approach to their mental health. She has guided and provided PhD students with opportunities to solve real-world problems for not-for-profit organisations.

SPONSOR VIPSCIENCE ANIMATION & ILLUSTRATION, CANCER BIOLOGY

Dr Nicki Cranna

Nicki Cranna completed her PhD in cancer biology at University of Melbourne in 2015, during which she also completed a Graduate Certificate in Commercialisation at the Melbourne Business School. She is now co-founder and Creative Director of SquareCell, a visual science communication collective and works at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute as a scientific education and professional development program developer. She has lectured in science communication at Deakin University, is a director at Lateral Magazine, developed a PhD program and managed communications and events in Neuroscience at University of Melbourne, was an editor at a sustainability consulting firm, a science communicator at Science Gallery and has received multiple collaborative project grants.


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SPONSOR VIPADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE, DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY

Alexandre Guérin

Alexandre Guérin is a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne and The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, under the supervision of A/Prof Jee Hyun Kim, Prof. Susan Rossell (Swinburne), and Prof. Andrew Lawrence. His research focuses on adolescent drug abuse, with a particular interest in methamphetamine use disorder. Alexandre is the current Victorian State Representative on the ANS Students Body Committee, a subcommittee of the Australasian Neuroscience Society aiming to plan and implement programs to support neuroscience students and encourage student participation in ANS.

SPONSOR VIPAUTISM, MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE, VISION

Prof Sheila Crewther

Sheila began her studies at Melbourne University with a double major in Zoology & Psychology, Hons and MSc in Pharmacol/Comp Physiology under Prof G. Burnstock. She completed her PhD in Behavioural & Molecular Neuroscience at Caltech USA under Nobel Prize Winner Professor Roger Sperry. SGC is currently leader of a very active multidisciplinary laboratory at La Trobe studying the behavioural, cognitive and molecular neuroscience associated with environmental effects on vision, and neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative anomalies in humans and animal models. SGC has published widely with over 200 peer reviewed publications, and has professional qualifications in Neuropsych, Optometry and Education. The aim of her research is to understand and design better therapeutic and behavioural management regimes for myopia, amblyopia, neurodevelopmental disorders and adults post-stroke.

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SPONSOR VIPBIOTECHNOLOGY, ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, EPILEPSY

Dr Robert Hatch

Dr Robert J Hatch completed his PhD in 2014 at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health with Prof Steven Petrou, where he was trained as an electrophysiologist studying disease mechanisms in epilepsy. Attending the Australasian Course for Advanced Neuroscience in 2012. Dr Hatch then completed two post doctoral positions at the Queensland Brain Institute, Brisbane (2014-2016) and the Centre for Eye Research, Melbourne (2017-2018), working on dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and glaucoma research. Current Dr Hatch is work at the Florey along with Praxis Precision Medicines on developing precision therapeutics for genetic brain disorders.

SPONSOR VIPEPILEPSY, PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, SLEEP DISORDERS

Prof Daniel Hoyer

Hoyer studied Pharmacology (Strasbourg, France), post doc (University of Pennsylvania Med School, Philadelphia). > 30 years of drug discovery / development experience in Pharma and Academia. Sandoz Basel: 1983-1997; Scripps San Diego: 2004-, Novartis: 1997–2012. Hoyer lead drug discovery programs, translational biology and extensive cross disciplinary internal & external collaborations. Chaired learned societies (5-HT Club, Neuropeptide club) and had/has numerous editorial activities. Hoyer has >31,700 citations, H index > 86 and published > 350 papers/articles. Hoyer and Prof Bill Charman (Dean of Pharmacy at Monash) conceptualized BioCurate, an 80 Mio AUD joint venture between University of Melbourne, Monash University and Victorian State Govt to accelerate translational research, drug development


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SPONSOR VIPCHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, LANGUAGE AND SPEECH, LEARNING

A/Prof Jarrad Lum

Dr Jarrad Lum is an Associate Professor in cognitive neuroscience at the School of Psychology at Deakin University. Before taking up this position he held post-doctoral researcher and lectureships at the University of Bangor (UK) and the University of Manchester (UK). Dr Lum’s primary research focuses on understanding how the neural mechanisms that support learning in general, help us learn and use language. His research uses EEG, non-invasive brain stimulation (both tDCS & TMS) and eye-tracking. Jarrad was part of one of the first groups to document procedural memory problems in children with language impairment problems.

SPONSOR VIPCLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

Dr Steven Inglis

Steve leads the Melbourne office of Oxford PharmaGenesis, a global HealthScience communications consultancy founded in Oxford, UK. Steve started an academic career obtaining a PhD in medicinal chemistry in Adelaide, before undertaking post-doctoral research in Sydney and Oxford, and then moving into HealthScience communications. He now has almost a decade of experience in this industry with particular expertise in publications planning and medical writing in medical research.

Steve would be keen to connect with talented individuals who are interested in learning more about potential exciting opportunities in this field.

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SPONSOR VIPMYELINATION, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, NEUROTROPHINS

Dr Simon Murray

Simon Murray is a Lecturer and Laboratory Head in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience. He graduated as a Physiotherapist in 1992, worked for several years before returning to study and graduating with his PhD in 2000. He spent 3 years as a post-doctoral fellow at the Skirball Institute at the New York School of Medicine, before returning to Australia to work at the Florey Neuroscience Institutes in the Multiple Sclerosis Research Division. He moved his laboratory to the Centre for Neuroscience in 2005, and joined the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience in 2010. His research primarily focuses on myelin biology, in particular understanding the nature of the signals between neurons and glia that regulate normal myelination during development and myelin repair after nervous system injury. He has a particular interest in a family of growth factors known as the neurotrophins, and how neurotrophin-based strategies could be developed to promote myelin repair in the context of demyelinating disease such as multiple sclerosis.

SPONSOR VIPEPILEPSY, NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE, NEUROINFLAMMATION

Prof Terence O’Brien

Terence J. O’Brien, MB, BS, MD, FRACP, FRCPE, FAHMS, FAES, is The Van Cleef Roet Professor of Medicine (Neurology), Head, Departments of Neuroscience and Medicine, and Deputy Head of School, Central Clinical School, Monash University. He is also Program Director, Alfred Brain, Director of Neurology and Deputy Director of Research at Alfred Health. He was formally The James Stewart Chair of Medicine, The Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospitals (2008-17). Prof O’Brien is a specialist in neurology and clinical pharmacology, with particular expertise in epilepsy and related brain diseases, including traumatic brain injury, brain tumours and neurodegenerative diseases, neuropharmacology and in-vivo imaging in animal models and humans. He leads a large translational research team focused on improving treatments for people with epilepsy and related brain diseases. He has been a Principal Investigator in more than 100 commercially sponsored and investigator initiated trials, and is Chair of the Australian Epilepsy Clinical Trial Network (AECTN). He published more than 395 peer-reviewed original papers in leading scientific and medical journals which have been cited around 14,000 times.


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SPONSOR VIPNEUROIMAGING, NEUROMODULATION, NEURONAVIGATION

Declan O’Hara & Agnes Iwasiw

Representing Symbiotic Devices is Declan O’Hara and Agnes Iwasiw. Symbiotic Devices was founded in 2012 on a passion not only for neuroscience and neurotechnology, but also to provide clients with uncompromised quality, reliability and assistance. Striving to contribute to a sustainable successful research and clinical sectors across Australia and New Zealand, Symbiotic Devices aims to balance quality, accessibility and customisation. They offer solutions for EEG, ERP/EP, EEG & fMRI, EEG/& MEG, EEG & TMS, BCI, Behavioural Sciences, Sleep, Education, Neuromodulation, Neuroimaging and Neuronavigation.

SPONSOR VIPNEURONAL SENSITIVITY, PERCEPTION, VISUAL PROSTHESIS

Dr Nicholas Price

As an undergraduate, Nic completed degrees in Electronic engineering and Physiology at the University of Western Australia. After completing his PhD in 2006 with Professor Michael Ibbotson at the Australian National University, Nic worked as a postdoc with Professor Richard Born at Harvard Medical School until 2009. At the start of 2010, Nic returned to Australia as a Lecturer at Monash University. Dr Price is affiliated with the Neuroscience Program of the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, the ARC Centre of Excellence in Integrative Brain Function (CIBF) and the Monash Vision Group, which is developing a Bionic Eye based on direct brain stimulation.

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SPONSOR VIPMOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY, PARKINSON’S, SCHIZOPHRENIA

Dr Greg Stewart

Dr Greg Stewart received his PhD in Molecular Pharmacology from the Department of Pharmacology at Monash University in 2009. After receiving a fellowship from the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, he undertook postdoctoral studies on Montpellier, France – studying the role of GABAB receptor dimerization. Upon returning to Australia, Dr Stewart took up a position at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Monash-Servier Collaborative Research Program, where he is the project leader of the CNS target group, specialising in schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. He coordinates translational studies from molecular to in vivo across multiple targets for both academic and commercial projects.

SPONSOR VIPADDICTION, MULTI-MODALITY MRI, NEUROGENESIS

Dr Chao Suo

Dr Chao Suo received his Bachelor of Physics in Nankai University and his Masters of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne. After working at the animal MRI facility at the Howard Florey Institute, Chao conducted his PhD research from 2009-2013 at the University of NSW and Sydney University, focusing on neurogenesis and brain plasticity using multi-modality MRI. Dr Suo is the technical manager of the Brain and Mental Health Lab. Also, as a research fellow, he applies advanced MRI method to understand OCD and addiction, as well as other intervention-related brain changes for these cohorts.


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SPONSOR VIPELECTRONICS & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTATION, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Alyssa Telfer

Alyssa is a Biomedical Engineer with a strong background in electronics and medical instrumentation. She has experience drafting, prosecuting and conducting patent oppositions in the areas of optimisation methodology, imaging, robotics, workflow management and equipment tracking, as well as IT and ‘business method’ inventions. Alyssa established Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick’s Medical Technology team in recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of innovation in medical devices and healthcare. In 2012 Alyssa was elected to the FICPI Australia Council.

SPONSOR VIPBORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER, DEPRESSION, SCHIZOPHRENIA

Dr Natalie Thomas

Dr Natalie Thomas is a Research Fellow at Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc), at Monash University. She completed her PhD studies in 2016 at The University of Melbourne, in the field of molecular psychiatry. This laboratory work aimed to dissect the syndrome of schizophrenia using molecular biology methods, allowing for progress toward clinically useful biomarkers. Working within the Women’s Mental Health Division, Dr Thomas involved in clinical research programs investigating novel treatments in borderline personality disorder, depressive disorders, and schizophrenia. Using her skills in both molecular psychiatry and clinical research, she aims to further our understanding in psychiatric biological markers and molecular mechanisms of psychiatric disease. She is particularly interested in the areas of psychoneuroendocrinology, stratification of patients, and treatment response. Having now co-established a research biobank, Dr Thomas is committed to developing a unique skill set that bridges molecular knowledge and techniques with clinical research, ultimately contributing to the evolving field of translational psychiatry, with the aim of making a ‘real world’ difference.

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SPONSOR VIPLUNG FUNCTION, PHYSIOLOGY, SLEEP

Prof Bruce Thompson

Dr Bruce is the head of Physiology Services at the Alfred Hospital, where his group performs lung function tests on more than 7000 patients per year. Dr Thompson completed a degree with a combination of Physiology and Electronics and stumbled upon lung function while doing some clinical rounds. After finishing his degree he worked in a repatriation hospital and completed his PhD. He then studied his for a Masters and worked for 13 years in the area of ‘sleep’.

SPONSOR VIPHEADACHES, NEUROLOGY, STROKE

Prof Tissa Wijeratne

A/Prof Tissa Wijeratne (MD FRACP FRSM FAAN FAHA FRCP (Edin) FRCP (London) is the Chair, Department of Neurology at Western Health, Melbourne, Australia. He is the Director, Academic Medicine , Director, International Affairs, a senior Neurologist and the Director of the stroke Unit, Neuroscience Research Unit, Movement disorders program, Headache program at Western Hospital, Melbourne. Tissa is a Professor in Neurology and clinical Associate Professor in Medicine, Western Health Clinical School, and University of Melbourne, Australia. He leads a successful stroke care program at Western Health where the team manages a large volume of stroke and TIA patients in western metropolitan Melbourne. He is a principal investigator for many international multi centres randomised clinical trials in Stroke and other neurological disorders at Western Health.


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The Brain Foundation is a nationally registered charity dedicated to funding world-class research Australia-wide into neurological

disorders, brain disease and brain injuries. It is the largest, independent funder of brain and spinal injury research in Australia.

Established in 1970 by neurologists and neurosurgeons, the Brain Foundation funds ground-breaking projects that aim to advance

diagnoses, treatment and patient outcomes. The Brain Foundation annually provides research grants to candidates who are selected by

eminent neurological practitioners.

You can learn more and join the mailing list at brainfoundation. org.au. Twice a year you will receive newsletters highlighting research funding

information, research results, and Headache Australia news!

facebook.com/BrainFoundationOz twitter.com/brainfoundoz

instagram.com/brainfoundationoz linkedin.com/company/brain-foundation youtube.com/user/TheBrainFoundation1


PLATINUMPARTNER

GOLD

Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University

School of Health Sciences,Swinburne University

Symbiotic DevicesFaculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne

Brain Foundation

Faculty of Medicine,

Dentistry and

Health Sciences

Biocurate The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

Australasian Neuroscience Society

School of Psychology and Public Health & La Trobe Institute for

Molecular Science

Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute

School of Psychology,Deakin University

School of Clinical Sciences Monash Health,

Monash University

Oxford PharmaGenesisCentral Clinical School,

Monash University

Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, The University of

Melbourne

Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick

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SILVER

Square Cell

Institute for Social Neuroscience

Department of Pharma-cology & Therapeutics, The

University of Melbourne

Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research

Centre

Sonoray

Brain and Mental Health Research Hub

Praxis

Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

An event like this would not be possible without an array of people. First and foremost, Daisy Spark, our Dinner Event Manager who coordinated and put tonight together. To our 2019 committee, a huge thank you for all the behind-the-scenes work and passion you bring to every meeting.

We are always grateful to the exceptional array of speakers and distinguished guests who volunteer their time to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for brain research.

Lastly, thank you to our sponsors who we could not run an event like this without.

FEEDBACK

We welcome feedback on the 2019 Professional Development and Networking Dinner. Please fill out this feedback form using the link or QR code.

Link: https://forms.gle/UeiwoyNuGr1v6hTz6 Loved the event? Join SOBR as a member each year to keep up to date with our events and opportunities. Membership is free and quick and easy. We look forward to seeing you at our future events.

For more information about SOBR or how you can join the team, please contact: [email protected]

2019 COMMITEE

President: Isabella Bower Vice-President: Eveline Mu Secretary: Jennyfer Payet Treasurer: Katie Drummond Media & Marketing Manager: Flavia Gomes Media and Marketing Assistant: Anahita Ghanbari

Media Team Support: Nhi Tran Events Manager (Symposium): Felicia Reed Events Manager (Dinner): Daisy Spark Events Team: Annai Charlton Events Team Support: Teresa Wulandari General Support: Louisa Selvadurai General Support: Catherine Offer Program Design: Sam Donaldson


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@SOBRNETWORK #SOBR2019

@SOBRNETWORK

@STUDENTS_OF_BRAIN_RESEARCH

the plasticity of neuroscience in the digital age · 2019. 6. 13. · networking is a crucial skill...

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