Bulletin 01.05.2009

1. Message from President
2. ASPR Committee Contacts
3. ASPR Matters
4. Conferences and Related
5. Scholarships, Positions and Awards Available

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1. Message From President

I recently sent out an email concerning the 2010 ASPR Conference. I have included the body of the email below for those who may not have received it:

As President of the ASPR, I am writing to you regarding the 2010 ASPR Conference, as several matters have arisen in relationship to the timing and nature of the conference. The annual ASPR Conference has traditionally been run during the very last week of November or the very first week of December, with locations ranging across Australia and New Zealand. So far, there have been no bids from ASPR members to host the 2010 ASPR Conference.

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the 2008 ASPR Conference the sentiment expressed by ASPR members from the floor was overwhelmingly in favour of retaining ASPR as a separate stand-alone organisation with its own independent conference. 

Since then, organisers for the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Congress have contacted me regarding the possibility of ASPR being involved in the ASMR Congress. ASMR has scheduled their 2010 Congress for the 14-19th November, 2010 to be held in Melbourne.

The ASPR Executive has agreed that I as President should discuss various options with ASMR and determine the best way forward for ASPR in this regard. Various possibilities exist:

1. The ASPR Conference remains in early December and is run independently of the ASMR Congress – the location still to be be decided. This would be business as usual;
2. The ASPR Conference is fully embedded within the ASMR Congress;
3. The Conference is run adjacent to, but separate, from the ASMR Congress (i.e., there is no overlap);
4. The Conference overlaps with the ASMR Congress (e.g., two days separate and one day embedded in the Congress); or
5. SPR runs a series of symposia/workshops within the ASMR Congress and does not hold its usual independent annual conference; OR
6. ASPR runs a series of symposia/workshops within ASMR and does hold its usual independent annual conference

An advantage to holding the 2010 Conference concurrent with or adjacent to the ASMR Congress would be avoiding potential conflict with the usual timing of the ASPR meeting (end of November/early December), as the International Early Psychosis Association meeting will be in Amsterdam 28th November to 1st December, 2010, which could draw away considerable numbers of ASPR members.

It would bring ASPR a bit closer to the 2010 Australian Schizophrenia Conference meeting in Sydney, scheduled for 22nd-25th September. This is less than two months away from the ASMR week. I am unclear whether this might affect ASPR members.

Please note that another limitaton of options 2, 3, and 4 is that we would be committing ASPR to holding the annual Conference once again in Melbourne. It was held here recently in 2007.

The ASPR Executive Committee is keen for any feedback regarding these possibilities, and I would welcome members to provide any comments by Friday 15 May to Jenny Kirsner at jkirsner@unimelb.edu.au who will collate your responses.

In response to this email we have received more than 15 responses in which people have expressed a variety of opposing views. I still seek further responses and reiterate that the deadline for these responses is 15th of May.

We will then collate these responses and present them in the next bulletin.

I should say that no ASPR member has yet volunteered to host the 2010 ASPR Conference whether or not it is independent of ASMR. This is concerning as by this time of the year I would usually have received at least one bid for the subsequent year’s conference. I would welcome any expressions of interest at this point in time as such conferences require a long lead-in time.

All the best
Henry

2. ASPR Committee Contacts

Professor Henry Jackson (President)                 henryjj@unimelb.edu.au
Professor Helen Christensen (President Elect)   Helen.Christensen@anu.edu.au
Dr Claire Kelly (Secretary)                                ckel@unimelb.edu.au
Assoc Professor Robyn Langdon (Treasurer)     robyn.langdon@mq.edu.au         
ACT:  Dr Peter Butterworth                              Peter.Butterworth@anu.edu.au
NSW: Dr Anthony Harris                                  aharris1@mail.usyd.edu.au
NZ:    Dr Caroline Bell                                      caroline.bell@chmeds.ac.nz
NZ:    Dr Sunny Collings (co-opted)                  sunny.collings@otago.ac.nz
QLD: Dr Tom Burne                                         t.burne@uq.edu.au
SA:    Professor Cherrie Galletly                        cherrie@drgalletly.com
VIC:  Dr Elizabeth Scarr                                   elscarr@unimelb.edu.au
WA:  Ms Giulietta Valuri                                   giulietta.valuri@uwa.edu.au
TAS: Dr Kristy Sanderson                                kristy.sanderson@utas.edu.au
Dr Eoin Killackey (co-opted)                            eoin@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Flavie Waters (Early Career Researcher)      Flavie@ccrn.uwa.edu.au

Dr Butterworth is also the 2009 Conference Organiser

3. ASPR Matters

3.1       Early Career Researchers

Call for Volunteers on the 2009 Working Party for Early Career Researchers

Flavie Waters is the 2009 ASPR representative for Early Career Researchers and is looking for a team of volunteers from several Australian states to help develop a program of activities aimed at researchers early in their careers

The ASPR Early Career Researchers working party is committed to provide a comprehensive program of activities and opportunities aimed at developing the skills and strategic knowledge of researchers early in their career

Volunteers can be at any stage of their career to contribute.  

If you have knowledge, ideas, enthusiasm or skills, apply now!

Please contact Dr Flavie Waters for more details: Flavie.Waters@health.wa.gov.au

Tel: (08) 9347 6650 or 9347 6429
Fax: (08) 9384 5128

3.2       Research Update

ASPR is currently assembling documents for the Mental Health Council of Victoria (MHCA) in the area of Borderline Personality Disorder. A working party has now been developed, including Janine Stephenson, Carol Hulbert, Andrew Chanen, and Henry Jackson.

Please contact Henry Jackson if you have an interest in joining this working party or in contributing to this research area: henryjj@unimelb.edu.au

4. Conferences And Related

ASPR CONFERENCE
2- 4 December 2009
Canberra, ACT, Australia

The annual ASPR conference is being held in Canberra, ACT - planning is underway to bring you an exciting, varied and innovative program.

Register your interest in the ASPR Annual Conference 2009 via e-mail to: aspr@consec.com.au

48th Annual National Scientific Conference of the Australian Society for Medical Research
November 15-17 2009 
The Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hobart

The theme for the conference is "Neurogenetics on the Apple Isle"

Speakers include Firkin Orator, Professor Jonathan Flint of the University of Oxford, UK who is investigating the genetic basis of psychiatric disorders
 
The program covers diverse topics such as epilepsy, neuromuscular diseases, motor neurone, schizophrenia, stroke, Huntington's disease, ataxis, MS, neuropathies, brain development, mental retardation, Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder, neurofibromatosis, muscular dystrophy and neurological diseases. 
 
Abstract submission and online bookings are now open at: http://www.asmr-nsc.org.au/ 

Submissions for Oral selection close Friday August 14th 2009

Submissions for Poster-Only selection close Friday September 25th 2009

FIRST INTERNATIONAL E-MENTAL HEALTH SUMMIT 2009
14-16 October 2009
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The First International E-Mental Health Summit 2009 will present the results of the most recent evidence-based developments, research studies and implementation projects in the field of e-mental health, a domain which is currently seeing the introduction of a whole new generation of applications. A variety of prominent professionals, scientists and innovators from countries, spearheading the development and application of internet and other new media in mental health care, will give presentations and workshops. In other words: the state of the art on a silver platter!

Registration and information can be found at:  www.ementalhealthsummit.com

Early bird registration for ISRII-members: €695, 15th of June 2009

Registration after 15th June: €795.

You are warmly invited to submit an abstract for presentation at the Summit. Submissions can be made on the Summit website (see above).

The deadline for abstract submissions is Friday 1st of May 2009.

4th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders
17-20th March 2010, San Paolo, Brazil

The ISBD is the premier global bipolar disorder research and advocacy group, and this is the official biennial meeting of the Society. The ISBD is committed to diversity and inclusiveness in all its activities, and aims to bring together international scientists and clinicians to advance shared goals.

Bipolar disorder is one of the most active and rapidly evolving areas of psychiatry, and this meeting will provide an opportunity to hear cutting edge findings, presented by a select panel of internationally recognized experts in the area. The educational program will comprise plenary lectures, symposia, workshops, oral communications and poster sessions, and a forum for involving patient advocacy and support groups.

More information can be found at:

www.isbd2010.org

Annual National Dementia Research Forum
24-25 September 2009
Wesley Conference Centre, Sydney

Hosted by the Dementia Collaborative Research Centres (DCRCs), the theme of the Forum is ‘Translating Research into Practice’ and there will be an emphasis on how lessons from academia can translate into best practice at the clinical coalface. The Forum will showcase the latest research in diagnosis, treatment and management of dementia, as well as providing updates on drug treatments, prevention of dementia and maintaining quality of life with dementia.

Registration and more information can be found at the DCRC website: www.dementia.unsw.edu.au 

Call for Poster Abstracts

Abstracts are now being sought for the Forum and this year we are excited to announce that accepted abstracts will be published in Alzheimer's &

Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

For full details, an information flyer is available on the DCRC website (see above).

Application closing date: 5pm Friday 5 June 2009

Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia
20th Anniversary Conferences 2009

These Conferences are being hosted by our Association in an effort to bring information and support to people affected by Tourette Syndrome. The keynote speaker for this Conference is Prof. Perminder Sachdev, Professor of Neuropsychiatry at University of NSW in Sydney and Clinical Director, Neuropsychiatric Institute, The Prince of Wales Hospital.

SYDNEY: May 9th Revesby Workers’ Club, 2B Brett St, Revesby
ADELAIDE: June 12th Disability Information & Resource Centre, 195 Gilles St, Adelaide
PERTH: June 13th The Niche,11 Aberdare Rd, Nedlands
LAUNCESTON: Date & Venue TBA

Sydney Registration and payment is required by 19th April 2009
Adelaide & Perth Registration and payment is required by 18th May 2009
Launceston dates to be advised later in the year

Registration and more information can be found at: www.tourette.org.au

5. Scholarships, Positions and Awards Available

Ph.D Scholarship in Neuroscience - Neuroplasticity and TMS - 2009

The School of Psychiatry, University of NSW is offering a Ph.D. Scholarship investigating mechanisms of Neuroplasticity, to commence in 2009. The scholarship is for $27,500 p.a. for a maximum of 3 years, based at the Neuropsychiatric Institute and Black Dog Institute (Sydney).

For further details, please contact Assoc. Prof Colleen Loo (colleen.loo@unsw.edu.au)

Clinical Assessment Officer, Schizophrenia Research Institute

The Schizophrenia Research Institute (SRI) is recruiting for a Clinical Assessment Officer for the Brisbane centre of the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank. This full-time position will be responsible for the recruitment and clinical/neuropsychological assessment of schizophrenia patients and control participants.

Please see the Careers section of the SRI website (www.schizophreniaresearch.org.au) for more information and application procedures.