St George & Sutherland Hospitals Medical Research Symposium

The annual St George and Sutherland hospitals Medical Research Symposium was a little different this year, with staff tuning in virtually. The event was broadcast from the St George Hospital Research and Education Centre auditorium, with presenters available to answer questions that were submitted online.

The symposium showcased current research projects from St George and Sutherland hospitals with keynote speakers Professor Chris Semsarian and Professor Gregory Dore delivering thought-provoking presentations.

Tobi Wilson, Chief Executive, SESLHD, opened the event noting that in this challenging year the world has been focused on medical research as scientists continue to work towards developing a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19.

“The pandemic has shone a spotlight on medical research and highlighted just how significant this work is,” Mr Wilson said.

“This symposium not only provides a platform for our researchers to present their work, it is a wonderful opportunity for clinicians to hear from a range of speakers and is the largest educational and networking programme in the local health district.”

Cathy Yunken, Chair, St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation (SSMRF) and Leanne Dib, Chief Executive Officer, SSMRF provided an update on the organisation’s recent achievements and planned future projects.

Science and research prizes were awarded to a number of staff, including:

• 1st prize Basic Science - Dr Jason Behary: Impact of the gut microbiome and metabolome on the peripheral immune response in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• 2nd prize - Ms Chloe Hicks: Differential oral, vaginal, and stool microbial signatures in women with and without endometriosis
• 1st prize Clinical Research and Presentation by an undergraduate - Ms Leanne Wang: Changes in the Gut Microbiota of Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: a MUMS (Microbiome Understanding in Maternity Study) sub-study
• 2nd prize Clinical Research - Dr Salim Maher: Community screening identifies undiagnosed chronic liver disease in high-risk population
  and Dr Matthew Miller: Assessing the validity of two-dimensional carotid ultrasound to detect the presence and absence of a pulse
• Best Posters – Mr Yicong Liang: Evaluation of the Toxicity of Glucocorticoids in Patients with Autoimmune Blistering Disease (AIBDs) Using the Glucocorticoid Toxicity Index (GTI) and Mr Xupeng Bai: Activation of the eIF2α/ATF4 axis drives triple-negative breast cancer radioresistance by promoting glutathione biosynthesis
• People’s Choice Best Posters - Dr Osborn Jiang: Discharge checklists and their role in COPD patient management and Dr Matthew Miller: A retrospective data-linkage study of post-operative nausea and vomiting to compare the results of manual physician to electronic data abstraction for routine audit.
• 1st prize Lions Healing Narrative Award - Melissa Cullimg, Senior Palliative Care Nurse, Broken Hill
•  Intern of the Year: Dr Gina Davis
• RMO of the year: Dr Kerry Chen