Synergy Vol 4 No 2 Winter 2000 Murdoch University

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Leading Edge Research at Murdoch University - Volume 4 No 2: Winter 2000

Marker HOOKWORM'S GRIP SLIPS WITH PILOT STUDY
The scourge of hookworm, a parasite which ravages communities in many tropical regions including northern Australia, could be eliminated following the results of recent research into treatment against the worm.
>> more information on hookworm's grip slips with pilot study

NEWS IN BRIEF

Murdoch has signed an agreement this month for $100,000 funding from the state Department of Commerce and Trade for a two year postdoctoral fellowship under the WA Governments’s Strategic Research Fellowships Scheme. The fellowship has been awarded to Dr John Huisman from the School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology. Dr Huisman will carry out his research into the biodiversity of Western Australia’s tropical algae.


PhD student Jolanta Damas has been awarded the inaugural Alan Villiers and Iris May Peacocke Scholarship to carry out lung research.

Named after the donor and his sister, the $25,000 pa scholarship is for PhD research in agriculture, horticulture or human medicine. The scholarship is held by one person at a time.

Over the next three years Ms Damas will be identifying an enzyme in the serum which destroys the active component of surfactant – a substance the body creates to line the lungs in order to assist proper breathing. The research should assist in the development of treatment to overcome breathing problems experienced by people exposed to fine dust (as might occur in mining accidents) or chemical accidents.

  The first Peacocke Scholarship has been drawn from a donation of $75,000 by Mr Peacocke, who wanted to contribute to Murdoch University because he - and his father before him - had been great fans of the writings of Sir Walter Murdoch, after whom the university was named.

Murdoch biostatisticians are teaming up with Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) immunologists in a new centre opened on May 10. Based at RPH, the Centre for Clinical Immunology and Biomedical Statistics will examine the long term side effects of HIV treatments with a view to refining and optimising the use of drugs to combat the disease. The Centre already has major funding form pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoWellcome and government funding bodies.

Marker HERPES VIRUS IN HUMAN HEARTS
Searching for answers about the potentially dangerous herpes virus found in most of our hearts.
>> more information on herpes virus in human hearts

 HERPES VIRUS IN HUMAN HEARTS

Marker NEW $1.65 MILLION BIOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES PUT WA ON THE MAP
WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre (SABC) consolidates its position as a leading national centre in biotechnology and a resource accessible to all WA researchers.
>> more information on new $1.65 million biotechnology laboratories put WA on the map

Marker DISEASE THREAT FOR AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS
Australian livestock and wildlife face lethal tropical parasite threat.
>> more information on disease threats for Australian animals

 DISEASE THREAT FOR AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS

Marker CONTRACEPTIVE COULD OFFER ALTERNATIVE TO CASTRATION IN MALE DOGS
A safe, easily administered long-term contraceptive could be developed as an alternative to castration for adult male dogs, according to Murdoch University PhD graduate Aris Junaidi.
>> more information on contraceptive could offer alternative to castration in male dogs

Marker RESTORATIVE JUSTICE COMBATING CRIME
Reformed ‘career criminal’ and Murdoch University Honours Scholarship winner Jeff Allen, of Port Kennedy, believes restorative justice could not only keep many offenders out of prison, but also prevent them re-offending.
>> more information on restorative justice combating crime
Marker VIOLENT OFFENDERS ANALYSIS
A review of the Violent Offending Treatment Program by Murdoch researcher Dr Guy Hall is near completion.
>> more information on violent offenders analysis
Marker SOWING THE SEEDS OF IP KNOWLEDGE IN AGRICULTURE
The success of an Australian Academy of Agricultural Sciences Master Class has drawn Murdoch’s Asian Pacific Intellectual Property Institute (APIPLI) into discussions with the Department of Foreign Affairs to potentially disseminate the three volumes of course material generated by the Master Class.
>> more information on sowing the seeds of IP knowledge in agriculture
Marker SHINING THE LIGHT ON MEDIEVAL IRISH LAW
Ireland’s reputation as the Celtic Tiger positioned at the economic forefront in the 21st Century economy is nothing new - in medieval times the country boasted a culture that relit the Dark Ages and an ancient legal system that outshone all others in Europe.
>> more information on shining the light on medieval Irish law
Marker NEW LEGAL GUIDE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
Murdoch University is building a reputation for social justice through the research of Senior Law lecturer Dr Chris Kendall into the impact of discriminatory laws surrounding gender and sexuality.
>> more information on new legal guide for social justice
Marker TIP O'NEILL FELLOW RETURNS
Dr Fernand de Varennes, Senior Lecturer at the School of Law, recently returned to Murdoch after six months in Northern Ireland conducting research on ethnic conflicts.
>> more information on Tip O'Neill fellow returns

MarkerDO DRUG BANS CHEAT THE ATHLETES?
Why do we test for drugs in sport? A new book analyses the legal implications.
>> more information on do drug bans cheat the athletes?

 DO DRUG BANS CHEAT THE ATHLETES?

MarkerADVERTISING BREAKS THE DIGITAL FRONTIER
On the brink of revolutionary advertising through digital television.
>> more information on advertising breaks the digital frontier

ADVERTISING BREAKS THE DIGITAL FRONTIER
Marker VET RESEARCHERS STRENGTHEN LINKS WITH CHINA
Chinese Veterinary Professor Zhang Xiaofei believes the six months he is spending as a visiting research fellow at Murdoch’s Centre for Production Animal Research will help encourage stronger links between Murdoch and the People’s Republic of China.
>> more information on vet researchers strengthen links with China
Marker GIVING RACEHORSES A LEG UP
We may soon be a step closer to successfully preventing and managing carpal lameness in racehorses thanks to Murdoch researcher Dr Kate Steel.
>> more information on giving racehorses a leg up
Marker GREENING THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Two Murdoch researchers, David Annandale and John Bailey, have recently completed a feasibility study of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) directed by the Asian Development Bank.
>> more information on greening the Asian development bank
Marker INDUSTRY FUNDING HIGHLIGHTS ONGOING SUCCESS OF BIOMEDICAL PARTNERSHIP
Murdoch's Centre for the Biomolecular Control of Disease (CBCD) is proving collaboration can pay dividends after the recent announcement it will receive funding of $500,000 over three years from European drug giant SmithKline Beecham.
>> more information on industry funding highlights ongoing success of biomedical partnership
Marker NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK BACKS MURDOCH VETERINARY RESEARCH
The study of viral respiratory tract infection in horses - the horse equivalent of asthma - and improving meat quality in prime lambs are two of the major research projects currently being funded by a three-year $240,000 scholarship from National Australia Bank.
>> more information on National Australia Bank backs Murdoch veterinary research

Marker DOG DISEASE SCREENING MAY LEAD TO HUMAN CURES
Canine research may hold the key to curing human kidney disease.
>> more information on dog disease screening may lead to human cures

 DOG DISEASE SCREENING MAY LEAD TO HUMAN CURES
Marker GIVING GIBBONS A HELPING HAND
Study brings new hope for gibbon rehabilitation success.
>> more information on giving gibbons a helping hand 		GIVING GIBBONS A HELPING HAND

Marker CARING ACROSS CONTINENTS
The image of Australia as the ‘land of milk and honey’ draws thousands of migrants to our shores, but as Murdoch sociologist Professor Cora Baldock has discovered, settling far away does not mean that people choose to escape their family responsibilities back in their home country.
>> more information on caring across continents
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Editor Pepi Smyth
Writers Lachlan McCrudden, Michael Peeters, Chris Smyth, Pepi Smyth, Marissa Williams
Design Peter Roots
Photography Grace Banks, Geoff Griffiths, Brian Richards
All material may be used without permission but correct reference to persons quoted and the University is requested.
Enquiries to The Editor, Synergy (editorcr@central.murdoch.edu.au)
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