Bulletin 03.04.2009

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

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1. Message From President

The committee had their first Executive Meeting on 27th March, during which various issues were raised:

1. Arrangements for the 2009 Canberra ASPR Conference are proceeding well under Peter Butterworth. The venues for the conference and conference functions are organised, and the call for symposia is drafted and will be circulated in the next fortnight. The central issue presently involves covering costs/gaining sponsorship for international speakers.
   
   
2. Three members were formally co-opted: Sunny Collings was formally re-co-opted as the second New Zealand representative, Eoin Killackey was re-co-opted as the knowledge dissemination representative, and Flavie Waters was newly co-opted to assume the Early Career Researcher portfolio from Claire Kelly, who is now the ASPR Secretary.
   
   
3. The Membership Report from the Membership Working Party (authored by Elizabeth Scarr) was to be discussed at the 2008 AGM; however, time did not permit. The report is appended to this Bulletin, and any comments or suggestions should be directed to Jenny Kirsner (jkirsner@unimelb.edu.au) or Elizabeth Scarr (elscarr@unimelb.edu.au).  Please do read the suggestions made by Elizabeth’s group as a major issue for ASPR is the lack of growth in membership numbers and this Report does make a number of important and specific suggestions to address this issue.
   
   
4. At the AGM in 2008, concerns were raised about updating the ASPR Mission Statement, and members of the Executive Committee will discuss this prior to the 2009 AGM.
   
   
5. Concerns were also raised regarding the decision-making processes for the awarding of prizes to ASPR members. The committee agreed that these procedures need to be revised and formalised, with the possible introduction of an explicit rating system attached to various selection criteria, in addition to structuring and condensing the length and format of award applications.
   
   
6. Voting for Executive Committee members has previously required ASPR members to attend the AGM. To encourage and enable more members to vote and become involved in the Committee, the Committee is investigating the possibility of electronic voting that can be completed online prior to the AGM. Position descriptions and biographies of nominees were also suggested to better inform voting members.
   
   
7. At the 2008 AGM, the committee and members agreed on the importance of retaining the independence of the ASPR annual conference. However, I was subequently approached by Rosemary Keogh, the conference organiser for the Australian Society of Medical Research (ASMR), to discuss the possible involvement of ASPR with the large-scale ASMR conference to be held in Melbourne in 2010. I discussed this issue with Helen Christensen (President Elect) and the Executive Committee, who agreed that I should discuss with Dr Keogh how the 2010 ASPR Conference might be run adjacent to the ASMR Conference. I will proceed with these tentative discussions on the proviso that there is no interest from ASPR members to run the 2010 ASPR conference in a city other than Melbourne.  However, if ASPR members in other states do wish to run the 2010 ASPR Conference please let me know as soon as possible. Also, if you have objections to me exploring this issue please contact me directly on henryjj@unimelb.edu.au

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       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

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

Alzheimer’s Australia Research (AAR) would like to announce the 2009 Dementia Grants Program.

This year, AAR is proud to offer a range of grants, such as:

New Researcher Grants

• ·       4 AAR Dementia Research Grants of $20,000
• ·       2 Hazel Hawke Research Grant in Dementia Care of $20,000

Travel Grants

• ·       Rosemary Foundation Travel Grant of $15,000

Postdoctoral Fellowships

• ·       3 AAR Postdoctoral Fellowship in Dementia ($45,000 per year for 2 years with payments matched by applicants’ institution)

Applications for all awards close Monday 27 April 2009.

Application forms and further information can be found at http://www.alzheimers.org.au/content.cfm?topicid=250

Pfizer Australia Neuroscience Research Grants
Grants of up to $44,000 (incl. GST) to be awarded in 2009

The Pfizer Neuroscience Research Grants program invites applications from Australian medical graduates who have obtained specialist qualifications within the last 5 years, or are currently in advanced training, or have returned to research after an appropriate break. Research funding is provided to successful applicants for basic and clinical research across the broad field of neuroscience including:

• Pain Medicine

• Psychiatry

• Neurology

Application closing date 14th April 2009

For more information or to obtain an application form visit: www.nsrgrants.com.au