Menzies Institute for Medical Research

30/10/2025

We would like to congratulate Michael Whittle, a member of our Cardiovascular Research Flagship’s Lived Experience Advisory Group, who was announced last night as the winner of the Volunteer of the Year Award at the National Stroke Awards 2025.
Mike is a stroke survivor and passionate StrokeSafe speaker who saw the need for ongoing support for stroke survivors in Tasmania. He co-founded the Hobart Stroke Support Group and now shares his lived experience through his role with us.
Stroke Foundation CEO, Dr Lisa Murphy, said the Awards shine a light on the
extraordinary impact individuals can have within and beyond the stroke community.
👏 Thank you, Mike, for your contribution to stroke awareness, support, and research.

29/10/2025

🧠 A new connection between stroke risk and disadvantaged communities has been revealed today, World Stroke Day.
New research from our Cardiovascular Research Flagship shows that people living in lower socio-economic areas (SES) are significantly more likely to experience a stroke for the first time.
The study found:
• Stroke risk is 33% higher in the lowest SES group compared to the highest.
• Risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease are more common in disadvantaged communities.
• The impact is strongest in younger people, suggesting earlier onset of health issues for this cohort.
These findings, lead by Cardiovascular Research Flagship's Seana Gall, highlight the urgent need for targeted public health strategies to reduce stroke risk in vulnerable populations.

Click on the link in the comments to learn more about this important work.

29/10/2025

Join us on November 10th at 5.30pm in Launceston for an inspiring evening showcasing how research and innovation are transforming Parkinson’s care in Tasmania. The talk will feature:

Professor Jane Alty, Neurologist – How digital technologies are revolutionising precision tracking of Parkinson’s disease.

Professor Michele Callisaya, Physiotherapist – Introducing the ParkinsonNet model to Tasmania: a new multidisciplinary approach to holistic care.

Also, our FREE online course is open! Jump on the link below to learn more 👇
https://mooc.utas.edu.au/course/20278/Parkinson_s_MOOC__2025

https://events.humanitix.com/the-tasmania-parkinson-s-project-community-presentation?fbclid=IwY2xjawNiLodleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHpPvQAvHfn7OdBu498lSkH1xmNBliqwUCwa1xgW1UpE64_yzHQ8d6YG0V7bS_aem_T90l4AbJUYVI1e7o0WWmjw

Join us for an inspiring evening showcasing how research and innovation are transforming Parkinson’s care in Tasmania.

28/10/2025

A reminder that tomorrow is World Stroke Day, and we will be giving free blood pressure measurements at St. Luke's Health Wellness Hubs in Launceston and Hobart. You dont need to be a member or book, just in comments for a link find the details.
Unfortunately, Tasmania has a higher incidence of stroke compared to the rest of the nation, so spreading awareness is an important role of our Cardiovascular Research Flagship.
This year, the World Stroke Day campaign highlights the importance of stroke prevention and encourages us all to take steps to be stroke.
About 80% of strokes are preventable and high blood pressure -also known as hypertension- is the number one preventable risk factor for stroke.

26/10/2025

Researchers from our MS Research Flagship are looking for adults living with multiple sclerosis (MS) to participate in a sleep study.

Participation involves:
⌚ wearing an activity monitor (a research-grade FitBit)
😴 recording your sleep and MS symptoms for 3 weeks

Interested? Go here to find out more:
https://redcap.utas.edu.au/surveys/?s=ATHJP8CLFY3PKCK8

OR contact Dr Laura Laslett, Senior Research Fellow
e: Laura.Laslett@utas.edu.au

This study is approved by the University of Tasmania Human Research Ethics Committee H0029475

22/10/2025

𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙈𝙎 is helping reimagine multiple sclerosis (MS) care, and today it has been recognised as a national example of digital health innovation. 🧠📲

Developed by a team from our MS Research Flagship, 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙈𝙎 is a purpose-built digital health platform that enables people living with MS to self-manage their condition, track symptoms, and coordinate care across multiple specialists, all while sharing real-time data to support informed clinical decision-making.

It’s built on more than 20 years of data from the Australian MS Longitudinal Study (AMSLS), and in close consultation with the MS community, ensuring it meets real-world needs.

We’re honoured that 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙈𝙎 was featured as a case study in the newly launched 'Enabling Remote Care: Funding Pathways for Digital Therapeutics and Remote Patient Monitoring' report from the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), unveiled today at the 2025 MTAA MedTech Conference. The report highlights Australia’s world-class digital health technologies and calls for urgent reform to funding systems so that proven innovations like 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙈𝙎 can move beyond pilots and reach more people.

Jointly funded by MS Australia and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)*, 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙈𝙎 is currently in a research phase for participants of the AMSLS to evaluate its impact on health outcomes before broader rollout. We’re excited about its potential to transform MS care and contribute to a more connected, equitable digital health future.

Learn more about 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙈𝙎 here ⬇️
https://msresearchflagship.org.au/community/informs

*𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘐𝘋 1193008. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘏𝘔𝘙𝘊 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘏𝘔𝘙𝘊.

21/10/2025

🌍✈️ From Hobart to Valencia!
Dr Rachel Climie from our Cardiovascular Research Flagship recently represented us at the Artery Society Conference in beautiful Valencia, Spain. She shared exciting research on vascular ageing in young people — a vital area of study for preventing heart disease later in life. Dr Climie has also launched the Youth Vascular Consortium, bringing together data from over 40,000 young people across 34 research groups worldwide 🌐
On top of that, she’s leading the Artery Society’s public outreach efforts and presented their 2025 initiatives at the conference.
👏 We’re proud of Dr Climie and her team for driving global collaboration and helping shape a healthier future for young Tasmanians and young people around the world.

20/10/2025

🧠World Stroke Day is around the corner on 29th October and, thanks to St.LukesHealth, our Cardiovascular Research Flagship team will be conducting free blood pressure measurements at their Hobart and Launceston wellness hubs, in collaboration with the University of Tasmania's School of Nursing.
⏲This simple check can help you understand your blood pressure and increase awareness about the relationship between blood pressure and Stroke risk.
🩺Checks will take approximately 15 minutes - you can walk into either of the wellness hubs and make your booking on the day during the designated times.
Check the comments for links to the events ⬇️

16/10/2025

Would you step in to help someone who was having a cardiac arrest? Today is Restart a Heart Day- which is all about raising awareness of CPR and encouraging everyone to learn this life-saving skill ❤️

We know that every minute a patient does not receive CPR or defibrillation, their chance of survival falls by 10%, making this initiative an important one for all Tasmanians.

If are with someone having a cardiac arrest:
1⃣ First, call 000.
2⃣ Start chest compressions
3⃣ Send for an AED (automatic external defibrillator).

Remember- any attempt to restart their heart is better than none- and bystanders are protected by Good Samaritan laws across Australia.

You can learn more about what to do to help from the Heart Foundation, strong supporters of our Cardiovascular Research Flagship ➡www.heartfoundation.org.au/shockingly-simple

If you know how to respond, consider registering on GoodSAM - a free smartphone app that connects registered community members to people suffering a cardiac arrest before emergency services arrive - learn more about it here ➡ www.health.tas.gov.au/goodSAM

15/10/2025

🌟 Help us decode multiple sclerosis 🌟
Our researchers need your help to advance our understanding of multiple sclerosis (MS) in an Australia-wide study.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 We urgently need:
• People diagnosed with MS
• People without MS (YOU can still contribute!)
Complete our screening survey to find out if you're eligible 👇
https://redcap.utas.edu.au/surveys/?s=94EW7377K3M8483X

🧬 Why participate?
We’re investigating the connection between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and MS, and your contribution could lead to improved diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of MS. This study is recruiting a broad group of people with and without MS from across Australia to donate saliva samples. Your participation is critical to understanding how EBV impact the immune systems in MS development.

✅ Participation is easy!
• Complete a brief questionnaire
• Provide three saliva samples (postal submissions are welcome!)
• Optionally, give a blood sample

🔍 Ready to make a difference?
Complete our screening survey 👇
https://redcap.utas.edu.au/surveys/?s=94EW7377K3M8483X

This study is approved by the University of Tasmania Human Research Ethics Committee, H0027273 (H-85821) and funded by the Australian Government, Medical Research Future Fund and National Health and Medical Research Council

14/10/2025

🚴‍♀️ Remember: Tomorrow is Ride2Work Day!
Leave the car at home and hop on a bikes—because every pedal stroke is a step toward better health. 💪
Our research repeatedly shows being inactive is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases like stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and dementia. But the good news? Even small changes—like riding to work—can make a big difference.
At Menzies, many of our researchers already ride to work to stay active—and we’re encouraging all Tasmanians to join in!

“Being active daily plays a critical role in preventing chronic diseases and improving mental health,” says Professor Ingrid van der Mei.
“Events like Ride2Work Day remind us that movement doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. It’s about building healthy habits into everyday life.”

Network Tasmania is hosting events across the state to help riders connect and celebrate- and we are proud to have pledged our support to this national celebration of cycling and healthy living!

12/10/2025

💙💚This National Carers Week, we'd like to take the opportunity to recognise, celebrate and raise awareness about the role carers play in our consumer and community involvement (CCI) program here at Menzies.

Carers are a vital group of people with lived experience who bring unique and valuable perspectives to health research. Recognising and including carers ensures that research reflects real-world needs and priorities.

Some of the ways carers are involved in our CCI activities include:

• Community Conversations. These are events where carers can share experiences and provide feedback on emerging health issues and research directions.

• Research Priority Setting. These are structured workshops that bring together carers, consumers, clinicians, and researchers to identify and prioritise the areas of research that matter most.

• Ongoing Advisory Roles. Carers contribute through consumer advisory panels or project steering committees, providing ongoing guidance to ensure that projects remain relevant and meaningful.

These activities strengthen research outcomes, validate the experiences of carers, and highlight their role as partners in shaping health research.

💐Thank you carers, we acknowledge and appreciate all that you do

CC Carers Australia