World first trial of cannabis to treat epilepsy

Associate Professor Udaya Seneviratne

Monash researchers are studying the effects of cannabis on epilepsy patients in a world-first international clinical trial.

Monash Medical Centre is among other Victorian hospitals to participate in the large-scale, multicentre study. 

A common medical condition, epilepsy affects around 1 per cent of the population. 20-30 per cent of epilepsy patients continue to have seizures despite taking current antiepileptic medications, and ongoing seizures carry a risk of serious injuries, psycho-social and mental health problems and sudden death.

“Many centuries ago in China, cannabis was used as a medicinal agent to treat several ailments and in the early 1800s, western medicine started using it as a painkiller,” said Monash University’s Associate Professor Udaya Seneviratne.

“More recently, there has been resurgence in interest of the use of cannabis to treat epilepsy, chronic pain, spasticity, and nausea.”

“Some studies have highlighted dramatic improvement in seizure control with cannabis, in patients with uncontrolled epilepsy,” said Associate Professor Seneviratne, who is also Monash Health’s leading epileptologist.

Cannabis contains over 80 chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most studied chemicals.

“THC has psychoactive properties producing a “high”, a property sought by recreational users, however, CBD has medicinal properties, and unlike THC, does not cause addiction,” said Associate Professor Seneviratne.

CBD has potent antiepileptic properties demonstrated in animal studies. Its value as an antiepileptic drug to control seizures has been shown in small studies in humans.

Associate Professor Seneviratne said patients with focal epilepsy who are still having seizures despite taking standard antiepileptic drugs are being selected to take part in the trial.  

“At the moment, we do not have sufficient evidence on efficacy and safety of cannabis to recommend it as an antiepileptic agent to treat epilepsy.”

“Both the medical community and patients are eagerly waiting for the results of this trial—it will be an important milestone in establishing the place of CBD as an antiepileptic drug, bringing hope to those living with epilepsy.”

In Victoria, Monash Medical Centre, Austin Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital and St. Vincent’s Hospital are involved in this clinical trial.

Award to aid diabetes research

Monash Health’s Head of Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research, Professor Sophia Zoungas, has been awarded the inaugural Australian Diabetes Society Ranji and Amara Wikramanayake Clinical Diabetes Research Award. 

This award recognises the career of a leading clinical diabetes researcher and was made possible by the generosity of Dr Ranji Wikramanayake, a long-standing member of the Australian Diabetes Society.

The award will support Professor Zoungas’ research on the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes and its complications.

Professor Zoungas says she is “looking forward to leading the organisation during this period of escalating diabetes prevalence and considerable need for greater efforts to prevent and manage the disease”.

The award will assist Professor Zoungas in enhancing the welfare of individuals with diabetes through improving knowledge and understanding, producing management guidelines, training of health professionals and supporting diabetes research. 

Monash research to improve cognitive and psychological recovery for patients with stroke

Associate Professor Cadilhac

Improving cognitive difficulties for patients with stroke is the aim of two collaborative research studies at Monash University, funded by the Victorian Stroke Clinical Network (VSCN).

It is estimated that approximately one third of stroke survivors will develop memory problems, yet stroke rehabilitation centres tend to focus on physical rehabilitation rather than cognitive difficulties and psychological recovery.

Associate Professor Dominique Cadilhac from the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) with Dr Rene Stolwyk and Dr Dana Wong of the Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences will undertake two projects relating to the subacute care of patients with stroke.

Associate Professor Cadilhac, Head of Translational Public Health and Evaluation (Stroke and Ageing Research), and her team will conduct program sustainability and feasibility evaluations for both projects.

“The ultimate goal is to provide evidence from these projects that will support further expanding of the availability of these neuropsychological services to patients with stroke throughout Australia,” said Associate Professor Cadilhac.

The first project, led by neuropsychologist Dr Wong, focuses on increasing access to a group rehabilitation program for patients with stroke who have memory problems.

“In collaboration with Monash Health and Austin Health, we will roll out and evaluate the effectiveness of the Monash Memory Skills Group, which has helped improve everyday memory functioning for patients with stroke,” said Associate Professor Cadilhac.

Barry Moore, a stroke survivor who has participated in the Monash Memory Skills Group, said

“With physical issues from a stroke you have access to the support of physiotherapists.  For the mental stuff, however, I really did not know where to go. The Memory Skills Group at Monash was wonderful for me; my brain suffered fairly badly in my stroke and this was the first time anyone had addressed it. The course had many practical aspects relating to memory but also treated how the mind could work better. It was terrific for us to have those discussions with experts."

Developing and evaluating a new teleneuropsychology rehabilitation service for Echuca Regional Health, a collaborating partner organisation, is the aim of the second project led by Dr Stolwyk.

“The hospital’s stroke survivors have not previously had access to such a service, which will provide assessment and treatment for stroke-related cognitive, behavioural and mood impairments,” said Dr Stolwyk.

Echuca Regional Health’s Stroke Coordinator Lauren Arthurson said the VSCN-funded research grants will enable Echuca Health to collaborate with Monash’s leading researchers to provide the necessary support to their stroke patients.

“These grants acknowledge the collaboration between the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health and the Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences and enable translational research with health and industry partners,” said Associate Professor Cadilhac.

“Together we are making a difference to the health of Victorians through the provision of access to cognitive assessment and rehabilitation for people living with stroke.”

Douglas Blank takes out People's Choice Award

Congratulations to Douglas Blank, PhD student in the Ritchie Centre, who won the People's Choice Award at Monash University's Three Minute Thesis Competition University Final last month.

Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship

The Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS) is currently calling for applications for the Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and Entrepreneurship programme.

Background
The programme provides funding to support women in STEM, to eliminate barriers for women’s participation in STEM education and careers, including entrepreneurship. The programme supports outreach programmes targeting girls and women to foster interest in entrepreneurship, to develop innovation and entrepreneurial skills, and to build professional networks. The programme also provides funding to identify and celebrate STEM role models in science and research, entrepreneurship and corporate leadership to inspire school-age girls.

The funds available for a grant are between $5,000 and $250,000 for a maximum duration of 24 months. Full applications are submitted electronically and due externally to Business.gov by 5pm AEST 6 October 2016.


Please refer to the DIIS website for a complete list of eligibility criteria, Factsheet, Application Form and Scheme Guidelines

SCS Women in Medicine & Science Workshop Develop a Brilliant CV, 11 October

Bookings link:

https://my.monash.edu.au/news-and-events/bookings/mmcbs/view/175978/

Enquiries:  jinleng.graham@monash.edu

CiiiD seminar "Structure-function of the type I interferon ligand-receptor interactions" 4 October: Dr Nicole de Weerd

This week's CiiiD Tuesday seminar, 4th October, will feature Dr Nicole de Weerd from the Hertzog Lab.

Natalie Bitto will chair the seminar, which will be held 1-2pm in the TRF Seminar Room 1.

The CID seminar will be held from 12-1pm in the same room. More information about the CID seminar series can be found here:http://www.med.monash.edu.au/scs/medicine/cid/seminar-series.html

A light lunch is served at 11.45am in the TRF Level 2 foyer area.