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April 2020
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This monthly newsletter shares the latest news and updates from the UNSW Medicine Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction Theme and Maridulu Budyari Gumal - SPHERE Clinical Academic Group (CAG).
The Theme and CAG support the development of collaborative groups that bring together research, education and clinical partners to address the burdens imposed by neurological, mental health, and drug and alcohol disorders.
If you would like to submit information for inclusion please email Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction by COB on the second Thursday of every month.
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News
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The Lancet: Dementia care during the COVID-19 pandemic
Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty, Co-Director of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) at UNSW Sydney, co-authored a letter recently published in The Lancet that addresses dementia care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The authors outline the vulnerabilities and challenges impacting older adults during the pandemic and recommend measures to support people living with dementia and their carers.
Read more.
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Two world first studies of depot buprenorphine completed
Professor Nicholas Lintzeris, Director of Drug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, shared an update on two world first studies of depot buprenorphine that have salience as part of the COVID-19 response.
Depot buprenorphine medications enable more effective social distancing and isolation as clients attend monthly for dosing, as opposed to daily or several times a week.
Read more.
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Urgent research needed to tackle global impact of COVID-19 on mental health
A new paper published in The Lancet Psychiatry, highlights an urgent need to tackle the harmful impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and potentially the brain, and calls for research on these areas to be central to the global response. Read more.
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Telephone screening test increases access to cognitive assessment for older Australians
Dr Adam Bentvelzen from the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) at UNSW Sydney, has been exploring the potential of a telephone-based cognitive screening test for dementia in the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study. Read more.
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Are smokers more likely to catch COVID-19? Will they experience worse outcomes?
Professor Christine Jenkins AM, Conjoint Professor of Respiratory Medicine at UNSW Sydney, and Associate Professor Freddy Sitas, Director of the Centre for Primary Care and Equity at UNSW Sydney, answer questions about smoking and COVID-19. Read more.
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NDARC’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19)
The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and responding through new and existing projects, including the ADAPT Study which will explore impacts on Australians who use illicit drugs. Read more.
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COVID-19 in immunocompromised people: Study launched
A world-first Australian study will observe and evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on people with compromised immune systems to uncover potentially life-saving information about how alterations in the immune system affect COVID-19 infection. Read more.
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NCCRED launches webinar series to discuss current challenges
The National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED) will hold webinars every Friday at 2.00pm to explore the unique challenges currently being experienced by the alcohol and other drugs sector. Read more.
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Remaining active while staying at home
Associate Professor Kim Delbaere from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), has worked with thousands of Australians to reduce risk of falling and recommends dividing physical activity into day-to-day movement and structured physical exercise. Read more.
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FAQs: COVID-19 and NHMRC grant processes
The NHMRC has put together information to address frequently asked questions from stakeholders about the effect of COVID-19 on applications for funding, peer review, grant management and other NHMRC processes. Read more.
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COVID-19 clinical trial guidance
The NSW Office for Health and Medical Research has drafted guidance for sponsors, researchers, human research ethics committees and research governance officers on conducting clinical trials affected by the COVID-19 situation. Read more.
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More news
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- Associate Professor Jackie Curtis MBBS FRANZCP appointed Director of Mindgardens Neuroscience Network (Mindgardens). Read more.
- Thirteen projects successful in the first round of the UNSW COVID-19: Rapid Response Research Fund. Read more.
- Additional $6 million in funding to support drug and alcohol services during COVID-19. Read more.
- The Australian Research Council (ARC) provided an update on how they are supporting the research sector during COVID-19. Read more.
- Mental health services need to prepare for a rise in suicides due to COVID-19. Read more.
- Spatial distancing rules for health workers may be insufficient: review. Read more.
- Rapid COVID-19 testing available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Read more.
- Q&A with Mary-Louise McLaws: How the world is coping with COVID-19. Read more.
- How to help your relatives stay connected online during COVID-19. Read more.
- Documenting the COVID-19 pandemic for future generations. Read more.
- Making the most of isolation with your kids. Read more.
- How to best quarantine yourself at home: 10 tips by virologists. Read more.
- Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet has developed a new cultural safety portal for health professionals. Read more.
- Online now: New resources from the Drugs and New Technologies (DNeT) project. Read more.
- UNSW Professor launches 2020 Australian Mental Health Prize. Read more.
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Australians’ Drug use: Adapting to Pandemic Threats (ADAPT) Study
ADAPT is exploring the impacts of COVID-19 on Australians who use illicit drugs. Take part or share the confidential survey and enter the draw to win one of 20 $100 GiftPay vouchers.
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Funding and award opportunities
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- Applications are now open for the 2020 Triple I Clinical Academic Group Seed Grant Scheme. Deadline extended: Mon, 4 May. Read more.
- Applications are now open for the Australian Museum Eureka Prize. Deadline extended: Fri, 15 May. Read more.
- Applications are now open for NHMRC Ideas Grants. Deadline: Wed, 10 June. Read more.
- Applications are now open for the 2020 Translational Seed Funding Scheme. Deadline: Mon, 15 June. Read more.
- Expressions of interest are now open for the NSW Health Translational Research Grants Scheme. Deadline: Wed, 8 July. Read more.
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Watch now
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- The COVID-19 pandemic update: Transmission, herd immunity and is an exit strategy possible? presented by Professor Raina MacIntyre as part of the Kirby Institute Seminar Series. Watch now.
- Coronavirus: Reassuring young people about the unknown presented by Dr Aliza Werner-Seidler as part of the Black Dog Institute’s Settling the Mind: Mental Health and Coronavirus Webinar Series. Watch now.
- Working from home: Tips for your mental health during coronavirus presented by Dr Jill Newby as part of the Black Dog Institute’s Settling the Mind: Mental Health and Coronavirus Webinar Series. Watch now.
- Preventing dementia and enhancing brain health presented by Professor Henry Brodaty as part of TEDxBlighStreet. Watch now.
- Smoking among disadvantaged and vulnerable groups presented by Dr Veronica Boland as part of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Knowledge Centre Webinar Series. Watch now.
- The case of the vanishing criminal presented by Professor Don Weatherburn as part of the 2020 NDARC Webinar Series. Watch now.
- Attention, reward and compulsive behaviour presented by Dr Poppy Watson as part of the 2020 NDARC Seminar Series. Watch now.
- A standard outcome set for substance use and addictive behaviour disorders presented by Dr Nicola Black as part of the 2020 NDARC Webinar Series. Watch now.
- Trauma and substance use presented by Professor Katherine Mills as part of the Matilda Centre Webinar Series. Watch now.
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Upcoming Events
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Thurs, 30 April
The NSW Users and AIDS Association is holding a webinar, On the AOD frontline: Providing quality healthcare for PWUD during COVID19. Read more.
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Fri, 1 May
Sophie Carter is presenting, Effects of hypnotics on sleep spindles and Sam Owens is presenting, Alterations in androgen- and dopamine-related molecules in schizophrenia as part of the NeuRA Seminar Series 2020. Read more.
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Fri, 1 and Tues, 12 May
The Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Clinical Academic Group is holding Applied Cultural Proficiency Workshops. Read more.
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Thurs, 14 May
Scientia Professor Carla Treloar is presenting, Stigma and people who inject drugs: Surveillance and interventions to reduce stigma as part of the 2020 NDARC Webinar Series. Read more.
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Online now
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- The April 2020 edition of South Western Sydney Local Health District News. Read more.
- The Autumn 2020 edition of South West Thrive. Read more.
- The April 2020 editions of Sydney Health Weekly. Read more.
- The Autumn 2020 edition of the NeuRA Magazine. Read more.
- Coronavirus and your mental health: A newsletter from the Black Dog Institute. Read more.
- The April 2020 edition of Kirby Institute News. Read more.
- The April 2020 edition of the AAMRI newsletter. Read more.
- Latest news from South West Sydney Research. Read more.
- UNSW Ageing Futures Member Update. Read more.
- The CHeBA Chronicle. Read more.
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