Bulletin 02.07.2009

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

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1. Message From President

You will recall that in a previous message to you I expressed concern that we had received no bids to hold the 2010 ASPR Conference. Well thankfully that has changed and in June 2009 the Executive considered three bids to host the 2010 ASPR conference.

I am pleased to announce that the 2010 ASPR Conference will be held in Sydney, NSW. The Conference organiser is Professor Ian Hickie and the host organisation will be the Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney.

The Committee also decided to establish a three year cycle for Conferences so members will have a clear idea as to where future Conferences will be held.  Currently, I am in discussion with people who have expressed an interest in hosting future ASPR conferences (2011 and 2012).

A third related matter is that the Executive agreed to pursue the idea of employing a conference organiser for a three-year period to organise three annual conferences within the three-year cycle. We are drawing up a document citing our requirements and will put this out to tender.

On another note, the Executive has approved some changes to the criteria for our prizes. These will be forwarded shortly to all members for their information and will similarly be updated on the ASPR website.  

Finally, we are planning to implement electronic voting for office bearers in 2010, and this will require some constitutional changes which will be presented at the AGM in Canberra this year.

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       Mentoring Program

Call for Expressions for Interest for the ASPR Mentoring Program

What is the ASPR mentoring program?

The ASPR mentoring program is a semi-formal, time-limited program (12 months) in which a mentor and a ‘mentee’ are matched for the purpose of facilitating a mentoring relationship. The main goal of the relationship is to provide a supported environment in which the mentee can advance their skills, knowledge and experience, and identify and develop a career plan, with the help and guidance of one who has been there before!

The ASPR Early Career Researcher working party would love to hear from you if you believe you could be a part of this program. The aim would be for initial expressions of interest/involvement to be collated by the mentoring program committee and matching the mentors and mentees by areas of interest and specific aims, followed by an informal “get-together” in Canberra for potential mentors and mentees. The program would start officially in early 2010.

Would you like to be a mentee?

The ASPR mentoring program is set up for those who consider themselves “early career researchers”, and who seek greater communication with researchers who are well established in their careers.

The main role for the mentor is to support the mentee in (i) the development of generic skills, such as grant identification and writing, reviewing scientific papers, or improving presentation skills; (ii) providing career advice, such as opinion on research options, or managing life/work balance; and (iii) field-specific requests, including technical or clinical information.

Could you be a mentor?

Would you be willing to help an early career researcher to advance their knowledge, efficacy, confidence, and career?

Mentoring is a vitally important aspect of any field of endeavour and we are seeking senior mental health researchers who would be willing to share a little of their time and expertise to mentor early career researchers. This relationship can be a very positive experience for both the mentor and ‘mentee’.

Importantly, there are defined limits to the expectations of the mentor/mentee relationship to ensure that involvement in the program does not place undue stress on mentors and their time, and does not become a proxy for work or academic supervision.

Please indicate your interest by emailing Felice Jacka, the mentoring program co-ordinator, at felice@barwonhealth.org.au

3.2       Knowledge Dissemination

Call for Volunteers on the Working Party for Knowledge Dissemination

Eóin Killackey is the ASPR representative for Knowledge Dissemination. In this working group we are looking for ways to identify evidence based interventions that are not implemented and examining ways in which we can further their implementation.

The working group has been active in the last few years resulting in a journal publication (Killackey E, Jorm AF, Alvarez-Jiminez M, McCann T, Hides L, Couineau A-L. Do we do what we know works, and if not, why not? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2008;42(6):439-444), and the establishment of a prize for knowledge dissemination sponsored by Australian Rotary Health which last year was won by Professor Helen Christensen and A/Professor Kathy Griffiths for the MoodGYM program.

 I would like to ask for other members of ASPR who have an interest in knowledge dissemination to join this group and help to further the translation of our research into useful clinical applications. If you have some ideas about how we could do this you will be very welcome! I am able to be contacted on the email or phone number below.

Please contact Dr Eóin Killackey for more details:
eoin@unimelb.edu.au
Tel: (03) 9342 2900

3.3       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.

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

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 

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 is €795
Registration and information can be found at:  www.ementalhealthsummit.com

Australasian Society for Bipolar Disorders Conference 2009
22 - 24 October 2009
Sofitel Hotel, Brisbane

This conference aims to cover a broad range of scientific and clinical issues related to Bipolar Disorders and seeks to create an alliance between researchers, teachers, practitioners and clinicians from the scientific community worldwide. International speakers include Professor Joe Goldberg from the USA and Dr Francesc Colom from Spain.

The Society is open to the entire spectrum of mental heath professionals including basic and clinical researchers, psychiatrists, pharmacologists, psychologists, social workers, students, trainees, psychiatric nurses, interested lay groups and individuals.

An opportunity exists for young/emerging investigators to submit an abstract for oral presentation at the ASBD 2009. Awards for winning submissions include economy airfares, accommodation and reimbursement of conference registration; depending on placement.

Early Bird Registration closes Saturday 5 September 2009 - see website at www.asbd2009.com

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

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

Schizophrenia Online Support Group

A new online support group for individuals with Schizophrenia has just been launched as part of MDJunction online support groups. The website offers the opportunity to engage in online discussions, ask questions, and post diary information, and has been developed for individuals with Schizophrenia, as well as partners and family members.

The website is located at: www.mdjunction.com/schizophrenia  

5. Scholarships and Positions Available

Australian Rotary Health: Funding Partner Grants and Scholarships 

Australian Rotary Health Research Companion

• Terry Beslich PhD Scholarship: Investigating Children's Mental Health - available in NSW

Funding Partner Project Grants

• Australian Rotary Health/Sally's Ride: Investigating Youth Suicide; $45,000 for 1 year - available in TAS  
• Australian Rotary Health/Rotary Clubs of Glen Eira, Chadstone, East Malvern and Frankston Sunrise: Investigating the Treatment of Leukaemia & Myeloma; $60,000 p.a. for 3 years - available in VIC

Funding Partner Scholarships

• Australian Rotary Health/Rotary Club of Bondi Junction: Investigating Rehab of Spinal Injury; $25,000 p.a. for 3 years - available in NSW
• Australian Rotary Health/ Rotary District 9640: Investigating Bowel Cancer; $25,000 p.a. for 3 years - available Australia-wide
• Australian Rotary Health/Rotary Club of Adelaide City: Investigating Childhood Cancer; $25,000 p.a. for 3 years - available in SA
• Australian Rotary Health/Rotary Club of Parramatta City: Investigating Youth Suicide; $25,000 p.a. for 3 years - available in NSW
• Australian Rotary Health/Rotary Club of Parkes: Investigating Parkinson's Disease; $25,000 p.a. for 3 years - available in NSW
• Australian Rotary Health/Rotary Club of Parkes (#2): Investigating Parkinson's Disease; $25,000 p.a. for 3 years - available Australia-wide
• Australian Rotary Health/Rotary Club of Glenhaven: Investigating Dementia; $25,000 p.a. for 3 years - available in NSW
• Australian Rotary Health/Rotary Club of Toowong: Investigating Cancer Genome; $25,000 p.a. for 3 years - available in QLD

Deadline for all grants and scholarships: Friday 10th July

Application forms for all the grants and scholarships listed above can be downloaded directly from the website: http://www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/Information-About/Research/Current-Opportunities.aspx