The Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) is thrilled to welcome new appointment Associate Professor Pieter Eichhorn, from Curtin’s School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, to its cancer research team this year.

Pieter’s research focuses on the use of functional genetic screens to identify novel mechanisms of resistance to targeted cancer therapies. Over the past few months, he is being acquainted with CHIRI and it turns out the appreciation is mutual.

“I was taken with the environment here at CHIRI and thought it would be an excellent place to advance my career,” Pieter said.

“CHIRI is an outstanding institute with a number of groups focused on age-related diseases including a number of groups working on cancer.

“The institute provides a nexus of basic, translational, and clinical research allowing investigators collaborative opportunities at all levels.” Read more…

Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) Research Fellow Dr Virginie Lam recently put up her hand to promote Curtin University’s biotechnology capabilities at the AusBiotech conference in Brisbane.

Virginie, who is from the School of Public Health, represented Curtin as part of Team Perth. Her role, along with fellow Curtin representative Deputy Director IP Commercialisation, Russell Nicholls, was to engage delegates and bring awareness to all things biotech, including the university’s broad-ranging capabilities, innovation hubs, institutes (including CHIRI) and graduate research school.

The conference was also an opportunity to fly the Curtin flag amongst the wider life sciences community, including attending biotech and pharmaceutical companies, investors, service providers and researchers, and to identify opportunities for industry collaborations. Read more…

Having your research published in the prestigious publication Science is such a momentous achievement that Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) researcher Professor Marco Falasca, from Curtin’s School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, received an additional award for it.

The Curtin Research Office recognised Marco’s achievement and significant contribution to the university’s research at its recent Research and Innovation Awards. The achievement earned him a prize of $10,000 towards his research.

Co-authored by Marco and Curtin/CHIRI Adjunct Professor Giuseppe Danilo Norata, from the University of Milan’s Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences in Italy, Science published the paper “mTORC1 activity repression by late endosmal phosphatidylinositol 3, 4-bisphosphate” in June 2017. Read more…

New research led by Curtin University and involving several Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) researchers has shed new light on the role of immune cells known as macrophages in the growth and progression of mesothelioma tumours during the ageing process.

With these immune cells found in tissues and tumours making up about 50 per cent of some cancers during ageing, it’s hoped the research findings may help to inform future treatments for mesothelioma cancer in humans. Read more…

Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute researcher and Curtin School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences Senior Lecturer, Dr Hani Al-Salami, was recently a guest speaker at a special seminar sponsored by the School of Pharmacy at New Zealand’s University of Otago in Dunedin.

The seminar explored the latest advancement in bio and nano technologies in drug delivery and tissue engineering and their place in treating diabetes.

Hani’s presentation focused on bio-nanotechnological advancement in pharmaceutical formulation, biomaterials and the treatment of diabetes. His involvement in the seminar was part of an ongoing collaboration with the Otago Pharmacometrics Group, headed by Prof. Stephen Duffull from the University of Otago.

Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) and Curtin School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences researchers Professor Marco Falasca and Professor Arunasalam Dharmarajan were recently part of an impressive line-up of invited speakers at the 4th International Conference on Translational Research in Goa, India.

Speakers came from across the host country as well as Australia and the United States to provide research insights under the conference theme of ‘Recent developments and Innovations in Human Health and Agricultural Research’. In particular, the focus was on pre-translational to translational research in human health and agriculture research. Read more…

The Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute’s (CHIRI) new Technical Support Officer Ben Hunter is likely to have mass appeal among its research team.

Ben’s role involves providing support for CHIRI’s Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) technologies and prior to his arrival, he’s been busy amassing some impressive experience in their use.

Ben completed his undergraduate studies in Biomedical Science at Murdoch University and has been studying with their Separation Science and Metabolomics Laboratory ever since. He’s due to complete his PhD next year, looking at iron metabolism in critically ill patients by through the identification and quantification of hepcidin and integrating systemic metabolism using untargeted metabolomics.

LCMS technologies have played a starring role in Ben’s research and he’s looking forward to helping grow CHIRI’s already sizable research capabilities through his support role and providing development opportunities in the LCMS area. Read more…

Each year, Curtin University’s Faculty of Health Sciences pays tribute to a distinguished scholar and leader by showcasing the diverse and innovative research being undertaken by the Faculty’s doctoral and research masters students.

About 130 students and staff attended the Mark Liveris Student Research Seminar this year, including representatives from the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI).

CHIRI researchers and students were involved in both the proceedings and some of the 77 poster and paper presentations held over the course of the day.

Associate Professor Cyril Mamotte (School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences) welcomed guests and paid tribute to Emeritus Professor Mark Liveris OBE. An opening address by the faculty’s Dean of Research, Professor Torbjorn Falkmer, followed. Read more…

The Australia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology (ANZSCDB) has a newly elected Western Australian representative and it’s no other than the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute’s own Dr Carl Mousley.

Carl will be assisting with ANZSCDB in its efforts to promote and enhance research and education in cell and developmental biology in Australia and New Zealand.

One of ANZSCDB’s aims is to encourage international collaborations through the likes of providing forums for discussion and dissemination of information about the latest research trends and ideas; advocacy with government bodies; the presentation of awards; travel scholarships; and advertising opportunities for career advancement.

As a Senior Research Fellow at CHIRI, Carl uses cell and developmental biology to examine how the structure and function of cells influence diseases and disorders common in older-age. Read more…

When the Local Organising Committee of the Tertiary Education Management Conference (TEMC) put out a call for interns for their 2018 event, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) Research Facilities Manager jumped at the chance to take part.

The TEMC is the annual conference for the Association for Tertiary Education Management and the Tertiary Education Facilities Management Association. The conference brings together tertiary education management from Australia and New Zealand with some delegates from Asia and representatives of partner organisations in the UK, America and South Africa, with an attendance of around 800 people.

Topics are diverse and look at university systems, building and laboratory design and more sustainable campuses, amongst others. Read more…