The research led by A/Prof Ville-Petteri Makinen at SAHMRI examines the biological processes of ageing and how these may affect the risk of developing chronic diseases related to old age, such as Alzheimer’s disease. 

The Makinen group is looking to recruit two consumers to join their group to discuss two studies that are currently being developed for grant applications. The consumers will be involved in discussions to identify key priority areas to address for each of these studies, the review of grant applications and lay summaries, and the ongoing engagement with A/Prof Makinen and his team to interpret and disseminate the most important findings to the wider community.

This opportunity will be reimbursed as per the SAHMRI Policy for Reimbursement and/or Sitting Fees, and will be flexible with meeting formats (ZOOM or in-person). Once recruited the key contact would be A/Prof Makinen.   

To find out more about these studies, please click on the links below. If you have questions about the engagement opportunity, please contact the Senior Project Officer for Community Engagement, Agustina Gancia at community@sahmri.com or 8128 4031. 

Click HERE to forward to a friend. 

To apply, please complete the Expression of Interest form below and return to community@sahmri.com by 12 noon ACDT Wednesday 14 April 2021. 

HTSA and SAHMRI are happy to share this opportunity from the Lifelong Health Research Theme at SAHMRI.

Consumers and community members are invited to contribute to this exciting and innovative study. Initial involvement will be to provide input on the upcoming grant application. Led by Associate Professor Christina Bursill, this research is seeking to highlight a new therapeutic strategy that prevents the cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes.

Project synopsis:

Endothelial cells are the ‘building block’ cells that form new blood vessels, a process that is stimulated by low oxygen conditions, but impaired by diabetes, and causing increased risk of heart failure or another heart attack. This is due, at least in part, to a failure of endothelial cells to respond appropriately to the low oxygen conditions that occur in the heart following a heart attack.

An enzyme called ‘PDK4’ controls how endothelial cells respond to low oxygen levels and form new blood vessels. This project is developing a new gene therapy approach to increase this enzyme’s levels specifically in the endothelial cells of the heart. This study will use diabetic mouse models that reflect a heart attack to test this new gene therapy strategy and measure changes in heart function.

Engagement summary:

Associate Professor Bursill is seeking to engage 2 consumers with a lived experience of diabetes and heart problems to review the upcoming grant application and provide feedback on the public messages about the research study.

Should the study receive funding, further engagement may include: 

• meeting with the research team in an advisory role, and
• provide advice about how research findings can be translated into practice, policy or education

This engagement opportunity will be reimbursed as per the SAHMRI CCE policy for reimbursement and/or sitting fees for advisory groups.  

Click HERE to forward  this engagement opportunity to a friend.

To apply, please complete the Expression of Interest Form below and return to community@sahmri.com by Thursday 8 April 2021. 

The AOANJRR and the Victoria Agency for Health Information (VAHI) are currently seeking to recruit consumer representatives interested in contributing to health research to discuss the way they usually access health information and whether it has changed since the COVID19 pandemic arrived in Australia.

Consumers who would like to be part of three one-hour workshops that aim to understand what works best for distributing health information electronically are invited to apply. AOANJRR and VAHI want to explore how patient dashboards can be used to provide health information back to patients in a way that is useful and easy to understand whilst exploring how health information can be best communicated to consumers in general.

For a detailed description of the opportunity please see below. 

To request additional information about this project or position please contact Marta Jasinska on (08) 8128 4301 or by emailing mjasinska@aoanjrr.org.au.

To apply, please complete the EOI Application Form below, with a summary of your experience and statement outlining how you believe you would be suited for this series of workshops. Please send it via email to Marta at mjasinska@aoanjrr.org.au by COB January 8, 2021.