FACULTY OF MEDICINE,
DENTISTRY AND HEALTH
SCIENCES
Research Opportunities in the Faculty
George Yeoh
Associate Dean (Research FMDHS)
Why UWA? Why FMDHS?
Two new rankings have confirmed The University of Western
Australia’s growing national and international reputation:
•The Shanghai Jiao Tong World University Rankings - UWA ranks
in the top 100 (#96, top 1%) of Universities in the world
– 26th in the world in Life and Agricultural Sciences
– 51-75 ranking band for Clinical Medicine and Pharmacy
– 76-100 subject band for Chemistry
•The Good University Guide (2011) - rated UWA as the State’s
leading university and one of the nation’s best
– UWA rated equal first on key performance measures – giving UWA
five-star ratings for graduate starting salaries, positive graduate
outcomes, staff qualifications, student/staff ratio, research
intensity, research grants and student demand
Research Excellence, Breadth and Depth
Schools
• Dentistry (Oral Health Centre of Western Australia)
• Medicine and Pharmacology
• Paediatrics and Child Health
• Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
• Population Health
• Aboriginal and Rural Health Care
• Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
• Surgery
• Women's and Infants' Health
Research Excellence, Breadth and Depth
Institutes & Centres
• Telethon Institute for Child Health Research (incorporating
the UWA Centre for Child Health Research)
• Western Australian Institute of Medical Research
(incorporating the UWA Centre for Medical Research)
• Lions Eye Institute (incorporating the UWA Centre for
Ophthalmology and Visual Science)
• Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders
• Centre for Genetic Epidemiology and Biostatistics
• Clinical Training and Evaluation Centre
Collectively, schools and institutes offer:
Postgraduate courses
• Honours
• Higher Degrees by Coursework
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Graduate certificates (one semester of study)
Graduate diplomas (two semesters of study)
Master's degrees (four semester of study)
Professional doctorates
• Higher Degrees by Research
– Masters by Research (MSc)
– Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
– Doctor of Medicine (DM)
Honours Courses
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
•Honours involves undertaking an additional year of study at the end
of your bachelor's degree
•Honours students conduct a research project, developing valuable
skills in advanced problem-solving, critical thinking, independent
learning and communication - qualities that are highly regarded by
employers.
Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
•Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) will take
honours as part of their four-year course. Advanced training in
research and communication skills will commence in the first year of
the course.
What do I need?
• A graduate degree
• A strong undergraduate record
• A minimum of 65% average in the major or
discipline which qualifies for the higher degree
• A good background in the chosen area of research
• Strong commitment to succeed
Where do I start?
• Choose a subject area that is appropriate for your
skills and interest
• Choose a mentor/supervisor
• Choose a research area that motivates you
• Choose a specific project
• Acquire as much information as you can about the subject
• Meet with the laboratory head and discuss your aspirations
• Speak with past members of the laboratory to gauge their experience
Which research area?
• Faculty Schools are rich and diverse and all are
fully committed to undertaking research
• Faculty Institutes engage in mission oriented and
cutting edge research
• Affiliations with independent research centres and
groups afford increased opportunities for staff and
students
• Strong national and international links ensure world
class outcomes
A sample of what is available
• Seek details from the Faculty website
• There are two collections of presentations from
schools from the FMDHS Research Day I and II
• This presentation will be made available after today
• Please contact the School/Insitute Postgraduate
Coordinators for more information
• Discuss your intentions with potential supervisors
UWA Centre for Medical Research
Western Australian Institute for Medical Research
• WAIMR undertakes world class research into the
prevention and causes of adult disease
• Currently 40 students – Honours/B Med Sci/PhD
Research Teams:
•Cancer
•Epidemiology
•Diabetes
•Genetics
•Molecular Endocrinology
•Emergency Medicine
2013 WAIMR will take up residence in the
new WAIMR Building on the QEII Medical
Centre
MEDICAL RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
FOR
SCIENCE STUDENTS
IN THE
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
& PHARMACOLOGY
FOR ENQUIRIES FOR PhD studies
Contact the School Postgrad Coordinator
A/Prof JANE ALLAN
Tel: 9431-2641
Email: Jane.Allan@uwa.edu.au
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The School of
Medicine & Pharmacology
Medicine and Pharmacology is the largest School in the
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, and
is one of the largest Schools in the University.
Research may be carried on campus, at the
QEII Medical Centre, including the
Western Australia Institute for Medical Research,
at the
Shenton Park Biomedical Research Centre,
or at any of the major hospitals:
Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner, Fremantle, Graylands
Major Areas of Research
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Biosciences - exploring the science of biology, including the application of
biostatistics, and analysis of education, safety, promotion and economics in health
Cancer - ranging from cancer biology and colon cancer to psycho-oncology.
Chronic and preventable diseases - studies of preventable diseases
Endocrinology and cardiovascular disease - studies of the vascular system, and
diseases of the bones, metabolism, thyroid and cardiovascular systems.
Gastrointestinal and liver diseases - molecular hepatology, hepatitis and the
metabolism of iron as well as other studies related to the stomach, intestines and
liver.
Geriatrics - range of subjects relevant to ageing and age-related diseases or health
issues such as dementia, depression and falls.
Infectious diseases and immunity - relationship between the immune system and
transplants, infectious diseases, tumours and other diseases.
Neurosciences- the nervous system, investigating diseases such as dementia,
Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia, at every level including clinical research.
Pharmacology and Anaesthesiology Unit - effect of drugs on respiratory,
immune and nervous systems (neuropharmacology, psychopharmacology and
anaesthesia) and their role in pain management and disease treatment
Respiratory diseases - respiratory system and associated diseases such as asthma
and pneumonia
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Wound healing and occupational performance research
group (Fremantle Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital)
 W Prof Michael Stacey, A/Prof Jillian Swaine
 Research from bench, to bedside to home
 Research Funding - $3 million
 Clinical and laboratory research
 Multidisciplinary team
 Spinal cord injury – prevention of sitting pressure ulcers
 Self management preventative program
 Ultrasound and CT evaluation of soft tissues of buttock
 Mathematical modelling of strains in tissues of the buttock
 Wound healing
 Evaluation of biomarkers of healing
 Genetic polymorphisms in chronic wound development
 Trials of topical growth factors
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
Centre for Child Health Research, UWA
100 Roberts Road Subiaco
Interested in studying with us? We have projects in
• Asthma, allergy and respiratory disorders
• Child Development
• Diabetes, obesity and related disorders
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Disability and development disorders
Environmental impacts on health
• Infectious disease
• and much more
For further information about our research areas and the honours and
postgraduate projects available visit childhealthresearch.org.au
Info: study@childhealthresearch.org.au
Name of Unit
School of Paediatrics and Child Heath
Key areas of research:
Causes of asthma in young children. (W/Prof Peter Le Souef)
Contact: Dr Joelene Bizzintino, ph: 9340 8518, email: joelene.bizzintino@uwa.edu.au
Development and evaluation of clinical services for adolescents and young adults. (A/Prof Donald Payne)
Contact: A/Prof Donald Payne, ph: 9340 8917, email: donald.payne@health.wa.gov.au
Eating disorders and adolescent nutrition. (Prof David Forbes)
Contact: David Forbes, ph: 9340 8122
Co-operative group clinical trials in children and adolescents with Cancer. Translational research in
leukemia and brain tumours. Epidemiology of childhood cancer and leukemia. (W/Prof Catherine
Cole)
Contact: W/Prof Catherine Cole, email: catherine.cole@health.wa.gov.au
Key area of research: Optimising therapeutic aerosol delivery to children. (A/Prof Sunalene
Devadason)
Contact: Dr Jasminka Murdzoska, ph: 9340 7065, email: Jasminka.Murdzoska@uwa.edu.au
Medical education research. (A/Prof Helen Wright)
Contact: A/Prof Helen Wright, ph: 9340 7538 Helen.Wright@rcswa.uwa.edu.au
Centre for Cell Therapy and
Regenerative Medicine
Respiratory
• International research networks
• Making new discoveries to treat
cancer and chronic diseases
• Multidisciplinary PhD opportunities
Bioengineering
CCTRM
m
• Training in state of the art
techniques
PhD Scholarships /
PhD Top Up scholarships
available for 2013
For information please contact – Cecilia Prele cecilia.prele@uwa.edu.au
The University of Western Australia
FACULTY OF MEDICINE, DENTISTRY AND HEALTH SCIENCES
SELECTED AREAS
OF RESEARCH
SCHOOL OF WOMEN’S AND INFANTS’ HEALTH
The School of Women’s and Infants’ Health of The
University of Western Australia is recognised as one of
Australia’s premier sources of academic leadership in
the health care for women at all ages, and infants before
and soon after birth. Through its pursuit of excellence
and innovation in research and teaching strategies, the
School provides an optimal scientific foundation for the
education and training of current and future medical
practitioners and other health-care providers.
Research Area:: Prevention of preterm birth
Investigators: Winthrop Professor John Newnham, Professor Jeff
Keelan, Dr Matthew Kemp, Dr Matthew Payne and Dr Demelza
Ireland
Specific keywords: Intrauterine infection and inflammation;
maternal, fetal and amniotic fluid microbiome; Ureaplasma
infection – detection, diagnosis and treatment; fetal infection and
its immunological and life-long consequences; placental cellular
inflammation and oxidative stress; delivery of therapeutics to and
across the placenta; placental uptake and transport of
nanoparticles.
Student projects available: PhD (2); Hons (3).
Graduate Research Coordinator: Professor Jeff Keelan
Email: Jeff.Keelan@uwa.edu.au
Tel: +61-8-9340-1880
Fax: +61-8-9381-3031
Research Area: Genetic risk factors for PreEclampsia
Investigator:
Winthrop Professor Eric Moses and
Associate Professor Craig Pennell
In collaboration with the Centre for Genetic
Epidemiology and Biostatistics, the School of Women’s
and Infants’ Health is offering research projects for
potential Honours and PhD level students that will use
contemporary genomics approaches to identify genetic
risk factors for pre-eclampsia, a common and serious
hypertensive disorder of human pregnancy.
Research in the Rural Clinical School
The RCSWA’s research agenda focuses on health issues that are relevant to rural
and remote locations, especially on questions that cannot be readily explored in a
city context and that provide some real possibilities of outcomes within our
communities. A particular priority is Aboriginal Health.
“Research in the bush is challenging and presents an opportunity to do new
and meaningful work that hasn’t been done before”.
Examples of Projects
The
Art
impact of environmental change on human health
and Medicine
Improving
Rural
Indigenous health
obstetric outcomes
Health
systems in the country
For further information please contact The Research Steering Committee
Secretary Kate McRae on telephone 9842 0811 email: Kate.McRae@rcswa.edu.au
Chair of the Research Steering Committee
Professor Kirsten Auret on telephone 9842 5555 email: Kirsten.Auret@rcswa.edu.au
Centre for Genetic Epidemiology and
Biostatistics
• Advancing global health through the application of statistical
genetics, bioinformatics, functional genomics and human
phenomics.
• Current Honours and PhD project opportunities include:
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Cardiovascular diseases
Cancer (e.g. melanoma, mesothelioma)
Pregnancy disorders
Psychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia)
Sleep disorders
• Contact Winthrop Professor Eric Moses: eric.moses@uwa.edu.au
Centres & research groups within the
School of Population Health
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Centre for Health Services Research
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Centre for the Built Environment and Health
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Occupational Respiratory Epidemiology
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The Cardiovascular Research Group
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Environmental Epidemiology
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Busselton Health Study
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Contact: Angus Cook
Ecology and Health
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Women's Health
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Aged Care Research and Evaluation
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Nursing Research
Email:
angus.cook@uwa.edu.au
Centre for Neonatal
Research and Education
• Projects available in:
– Respiratory physiology and ventilation
– Gastrointestinal disease
– Nutrition and lactation
– Infection and immunology
– Neurodevelopment
• Honours scholarship ($6,000) in infant
nutrition/human milk banking –
www.cnre.uwa.edu.au
Research at the Lung Institute
of Western Australia
The Lung Institute of Western Australia (LIWA) has a
generous scholarship program. A number of exciting
opportunities for further study are being offered each
year to exceptional applicants.
Students are included in all aspects of LIWA’s activities.
They receive extensive support and encouragement
from senior scientists who have a strong track record of
student project supervision.
•PhD Top Up Scholarships - $10,000 per year over 3 years
•Honours/BMedSci Scholarships - $5,000 per year
•Vacation Cadetship Scholarships - 10 weeks paid employment
Full-time medical & science undergraduates earn $500/ week for up to 10 weeks (full-time).
Visit liwa.uwa.edu.au for more information or call 9346 3198
Applications close Friday 5 October 2012
LIWA facilitates the Centre for Asthma Allergy and Respiratory Research within the School of Medicine
In summary
• This University provides a world-class,
internationally competitive environment for you to
engage in research.
• Research in the Faculty is diverse and embraces an
range of disciplines. It is also moving with the times
as much of it is increasingly multi-disciplinary.
• Cutting edge research requires state-of-the-art
facilities and instrumentation which are available at
UWA.
• Strong national and international links ensure what
you produce is relevant and significant on the world
stage.
I am happy to take questions