Bosch Institute News - January to March, 2010
Doctors find new way to control blood pressure - 10 March 2010
The control of blood pressure is central to people's wellbeing. One in three Australians suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension), a condition which can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke and kidney failure.
Low blood pressure (hypotension), in comparison, is most commonly harmless. But when it is a side effect of life threatening diseases like malaria and sepsis blood infection, it can lead to death. If a person's blood pressure falls too far the organs of the body cannot function properly, and in this case low blood pressure can be life threatening.
In a scientific breakthrough, a recent study headed by Professor Roland Stocker from the University of Sydney's Bosch Institute and Sydney Medical School has discovered a new way to control blood pressure. Professor Stocker and a team of 15 other scientists in Australia, Germany and the US have discovered the existence of a new regulatory pathway in the blood vessels which affects blood pressure, and they have have unlocked the secret of how it works.
"Excitingly, the new pathway is particularly effective in conditions where presently known pathways fail," Professor Stocker explained.
This discovery is significant because it potentially opens up a whole new method of treating blood pressure conditions. By manipulating the operation of this regulatory pathway, doctors may in the future be able to save lives by using novel drugs to control the relaxation of blood vessels in those suffering from severe infections and disease.
"Our discovery is likely relevant to human sepsis where blood pressure control remains a major problem," said the Professor.
The study, published in the March issue of the Nature Medicine journal, received funding from the National Health & Medical Research Council and the Heart Foundation of Australia.
Media inquiries: Stephanie Whitelock tel (02) 9351 2261 or 0421 598 678 or stephanie.whitelock@sydney.edu.au
Bosch Young Investigators & School of Medical Sciences
New Researchers Program 2010
The Annual Bosch New Investigators Program, supported by the School of Medical Sciences, was held on the mornings of March 9 and 10, 2010, in the Medical Foundation Building Auditorium.
This program primarily serves to introduce our new biomedical researchers to the facilities on offer, as well as some of the basic fundamentals of working in a laboratory and undertaking and completing a research project.
It was well attended with close to 80 students, comprising primarily of Honours students from the four School disciplines of Anatomy & Histology, Physiology, Pathology and Pharmacology. A small number of Masters and PhD candidates, new to the Faculty, were also involved. The students were given an excellent overview covering Occupational Health & Safety, Intellectual Property and Ethics as well as an introduction to research facilities, including the core Bosch molecular and microscopy facilities.
On a more practical note, they were instructed on how best to design their experiments, how to present their work, as well as put together a thesis, with insights into digital imaging and managing their literature.
Executive Director of the Bosch Institute, Professor Jonathan Stone, entertained the students with a warm welcome, followed by a welcome by the Head of School, Professor Chris Murphy who put on lunch. It was a very productive and informative program that owes much of its success to the assistance and time of many, including Roland Smith, Anna Grocholsky, Janette Burgess, Kevin Keay, Jeremy Cullis, Donna Lai, Sabita Rana, Louise Cole, Stephanie Leung, Rachel Codd, Nick Hunt , David Allen, Charean Adams and Yvonne Smythe.
The second phase of this program will be held in the first week of Semester 2 and will be focused on Postgraduate opportunities.
A sincere thanks to all.
Frank Lovicu
Bosch Young Investigators Coordinator
Professor Brian Morris gave an invited state-of-the-art lecture on the molecular genetics of hypertension at the 14th International Congress of Endocrinology in Kyoto 26-30 March 2010. He also was also a session chair at the conference.
Bosch Young Investigator Retreat, Kioloa - 23 February 2010
On Tuesday 23rd February a group of young investigators and academics set off for the 4th annual Bosch Young Investigators Retreat, held at ANU’s Kioloa Coastal Campus on the South Coast. We arrived just after lunch and started the first session in which all participants practiced and developed public speaking and presentation skills. Other workshops held during the retreat were focused on career development, scientific writing, and life after a PhD. All young investigators had the opportunity to take part in a mentoring session with a senior academic, to seek guidance on future career choices.
During the free time, participants made the most of the beautiful Shell Beach at Kioloa, just across the road from the campus. Body surfing, beach cricket and “nippers” were amongst the activities on offer. On the second night of the retreat a trivia night was held, showcasing the excellent team work and analytical skills of all participants. Late nights were spent chatting around the campfire and dodging kangaroos.
“The retreat was a valuable experience for me and my fellow peers. It incorporated learning in a leisurely manner which was great. Interactions with latter year PhD students as well as the academics was invaluable. It was helpful for me to set my priorities right at this early stage of my PhD studies. Will definitely recommend going for one to everyone next year.”
-1st year PhD student
"The retreat was such a good experience! I really liked the opportunity to speak to the academics in a more informal way and to get to know that there are so many ways to become what you are aiming for! Also, sharing experiences with students from different research areas was really cool!"
-2nd year PhD student
“Retreat was a great opportunity to get to know people from other disciplines as well as the academics that came. I was personally encouraged by the stories of academics when they were sharing their experiences after completion of PhDs and their career paths.”
[[i|-3rd year PhD student]]
“Once again I thoroughly enjoyed the retreat. The balance of academics, post-docs, later PhDs and early PhDs was the best so far. It was also great to see new faces in all areas (especially academics Rachel Codd, Claire Goldsbury and Nick Cole). I sincerely hope that the retreat continues into the future!!”
-Late stage PhD student
“Yet again, the Bosch retreat was a lot of fun! The academics were full of excellent advice and inspiration. I found it to be a very motivational experience.”
- Postdoc
“I really liked the mix between PhD students at any point in their candidature (not yet started, 1-3 year etc) and the postdoctoral scientists. I think it’s really valuable for the PhD students to see there is a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ and the various stepping stones towards an academic career. I also liked the ‘everyone needs to pitch in and help’ atmosphere.”
-Academic
Thanks must go to the five senior academics who attended, Frank Lovicu, Steve Assinder, Rachel Codd, Nick Cole and Clare Goldsbury, for their expert advice and direction. On behalf of the Bosch Young Investigators Committee I would like to pay a special thank you to Frank Lovicu for the extra organizational effort that he puts into events such as this retreat, year after year.
