Welcome to the June 2022 newsletter. In this edition:
- A message from our President
- Queen’s birthday honours
- Annual meeting – save the date
- Sector news and opportunities
- Congratulations
- Staying in touch
A message from our President
Dear friends and colleagues,
We have already reached the halfway point of the year, and as we look ahead, the Academy has a packed agenda for the remainder of 2022. The pinnacle of our year’s events is the Annual Meeting, offering a great opportunity to meet in person to discuss matters central to our Academy and the Australian community, and to network with friends and colleagues. This year’s meeting will be held in Melbourne on 13-14 October. This will be our first annual meeting in person for three years and, with an exciting program planned on the theme of “Future health and transformative technologies”, it is sure to be a fantastic event – please do save the date.
For the past year, we have worked alongside the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC), the four other Learned Academies, and the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) on a project to ensure researchers have access to the best tools and resources for data-led research. In the coming weeks, ACOLA will release the final report outlining data and infrastructure requirements between the disciplines, highlighting common opportunities and challenges, and recommending how Australia can best use data in research to address society’s most pressing issues. I welcome the release of the ACOLA report and look forward to sharing our own report outlining how these areas are reflected in the health and medical sciences.
Our recent Life as a Clinician-Scientist – Allied Health symposium was a resounding success, with more than 400 registrants from around the country. I am pleased to announce that the upcoming events for Victoria and New South Wales will be held in person, as will our very first LACS symposium in South Australia. Visit our events page for more details.
Finally, it has been a month of welcome announcements, with the Queen’s Birthday honours released this week, and new Fellows announced for the Australian Academy of Science in late May. I am delighted to congratulate six of our Fellows who received Order of Australia honours, including Professor Brendan Murphy AC FAHMS, appointed Companion of the Order of Australia, Professor Peter Choong AO FAHMS, Professor Basil Donovan AO FAHMS and Professor Guy Marks AO FAHMS, named Officers of the Order of Australia, Professor Clare Scott AM FAHMS, appointed Member of the Order of Australia and Professor Donna Cross OAM FAHMS, awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.
I would also like to extend my warmest congratulations to four of our Fellows elected to the Australian Academy of Science: Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM FAA FAHMS, Professor Michelle Haber AM FAA FAHMS, Professor Tim Hughes FAA FAHMS and Professor Sarah Medland OAM FAA FASSA FAHMS.
All of these achievements recognise our Fellows’ outstanding and ongoing contributions to health and medical sciences, and our Academy is honoured to count these individuals amongst its Fellows.
Best wishes,
Professor Ingrid Scheffer AO FRS FAA PresAHMS
President
Queen’s birthday honours
Congratulations to the following Fellows on their recognition in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for outstanding service and contributions to health and medical sciences.
Professor Brendan Murphy AC FAHMS has been appointed Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Order of Australia in recognition of his eminent service to medical administration and community health, particularly as Chief Medical Officer, and to nephrology, to research and innovation, and to professional organisations.
Professor Peter Choong AO FAHMS has been appointed for distinguished service to orthopaedic medicine, to research and tertiary medical education, and to professional associations.
Professor Basil Donovan AO FAHMS has been appointed for distinguished service to medicine in the field of sexual health through tertiary education, research and advisory roles
Professor Guy Marks AO FAHMS has been appointed for distinguished service to respiratory medicine and research, and to tertiary education.
Professor Clare Scott AM FAHMS has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to gynaecological oncology.
Professor Donna Cross OAM FAHMS received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition for service to youth mental health and wellbeing.
This recognition is a tremendous achievement and acknowledges the hard work and ongoing commitment of our Fellows. Congratulations to you all.
Forthcoming events
NHMRC Research Translation Symposium
The annual NHMRC Research Translation Symposium will be held from Thursday 17 November to 22 November 2022. Discover more about what to expect and how to submit an abstract on the Research Translation Symposium site.
Conversations on Ageing
The National Ageing Research Institute will host a free online conversation on how older people can contribute to public discourse on ageing and identity on Wednesday 22 June from 6pm-7pm AEST. This free, public lecture will be followed by a Q&A. Register for this free event.
Sector news and opportunities
ATSE Award Nominations Open
The Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) Awards are open for nominations. The ATSE Awards recognise outstanding senior and emerging innovators. Nominations close 5pm AEST 20 June. Learn more about the awards.
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Consultation
Public consultations on the National One Stop Shop for clinical trials and health-related human research are now underway. Three consultation forums to be held this month on 17, 24 and 29 June – register here. The Commission is also inviting written submissions via [email protected] on the draft single national Site-Specific Assessment (SSA) core elements, until 30 June 2022. Learn more on the commission’s website.
NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research
Submissions are now open for public consultations regarding the NHMRC revision to Chapter 2.1 in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007 (updated 2018). Feedback on draft guidance is sought from interested parties, particularly to determine whether the revised chapter provides sufficient guidance to address key ethical issues and whether it is presented in an appropriate manner for the target audience. Submit comments via the website consultation page by 5pm AEST 1 August.
Congratulations
Australian Academy of Science
We are delighted to congratulate four Fellows on their election to the Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Science. The Academy warmly congratulates Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM FAA FAHMS, Professor Michelle Haber AM FAA FAHMS, Professor Tim Hughes FAA FAHMS and Professor Sarah Medland OAM FAA FASSA FAHMS. Learn more about this achievement.
ACTA Trial of the Year
Congratulations to Professor Steve Webb, Chief Investigator of the REMAP-CAP trial, recently named ACTA Trial of the Year. The Randomised, Embedded, Multifactorial Adaptive Platform trial for Community-Acquired Pneumonia employed a novel design to simultaneously evaluate potential treatments, and efficiently and rapidly generate evidence, which had a significant impact on the care of critical patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ASMR 2022 Medallist
Professor Fiona Wood has been named the Australian Society of Medical Research (ASMR) 2022 Medallist. We warmly congratulate her on this achievement. Learn more.
Fellows in the News
Are we becoming complacent about COVID? Professor Brendan Crabb co-wrote an article warning about the danger of complacency for the Sydney Morning Herald and on how reducing transmission by 20% could save 2,000 lives this year for The Conversation.
A new pre-print article looking at healthworkers in Qatar suggests those who had a flu jab stood a much better chance of dodging severe COVID-19. Professor Dale Godfrey comments on whether a vaccine designed for one disease could offer protection against another for RACGP.
Professor Peter Doherty examines the history of long COVID for his column for The Doherty Institute.
Booster shots for children and the need for fourth COVID-19 doses—Professor Terry Nolan gave advice to the Herald Sun ahead of winter.
Professor Stephen Duckett spoke to Life Matters on ABC Radio National about the future of aged care in Australia.
Are coronary artery calcium scans aa useful risk assessment tool for cardiovascular disease? Professor Paul Glasziou co-authors an article examining this topic for The Medical Journal of Australia.
Falls are common but not inevitable as we age, writes Professor Cathie Sherrington in a piece co-authored with Associate Member Professor Anne Tiedeman and Kim Delbaere in The Conversation.
Professor Fiona Wood addressed the National Press Club following being awarded the ASMR Medal for 2022.
Professor Sharon Lewin discussed the need for up-to-date national data in Australia’s pandemic response with The Sydney Morning Herald and COVID-19 antiviral drugs for AAP.
Does a diet high in fish increase melanoma risk? Professor Clare Collins reviews a new study in her article for The Conversation.