Occasional series podcasts — 2009
Professor James Best on conflict of interest
6 Aug 2009
A pharmaceutical company offers to fund your biomedical research project, but may have a vested interest in your findings. What should you do? Refuse the offer on principle? Take the money? But then, how do you manage your situation?
At NHMRC’s recent Transparency and Conflict of Interest Workshop in Canberra, experts from all sides of the debate expressed their views. One of those present was Professor James Best, Head of School of Medicine at the University of Melbourne and Chair of NHMRC’s previous Research Committee. Prof Best has been involved with conflict-of-interest debates for more than 30 years.
Speaking with Marilyn Chalkley during the workshop, Professor Best says honesty, openness and peer review is the best policy. He also discusses whether NHMRC should establish more formalised guidelines.
Professor Ian Frazer on research careers (vodcast)
24 Jun 2009
What are the pitfalls in pursuing a career in health and medical research? How can they be avoided?
Towards the end of a televised National Press Club address, a high school student asked former Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer, for advice about entering the field of medical research.
The questions caught the esteemed cervical cancer vaccine developer off guard and raised a nervous laugh, not only from Prof Frazer but also the audience, most of whom were seasoned journalists.
Rising to the occasion, Prof Frazer answered the questions with the aplomb of a person who had been there, done that, in the process providing some valuable personal insights into the world of a medical researcher.
Professor Nadia Rosenthal on human regeneration (multimedia)
17 March 2009
What can starfish and planarium do well that humans simply fail at? The answer lies in their capacity to regenerate their bodies. Starfish can grow back arms in a matter of weeks—and a planarium is so full of stem cells that one becomes more if cut into pieces. So if they can do it, why can’t we?
Professor Nadia Nosenthal, from Monash University, Melbourne, is a regenerative medicine specialist who has held distinguished positions at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Imperial College in London and Harvard University.
She presented a snapshot of her latest research at a reception held on 10 March in conjunction with the 174th session of NHMRC Council in Canberra.
She discusses how she will use her Australia Fellowship to discover ways to enhance our regenerative capacity in ageing and disease. This research has the potential to improve the health of our ageing population.
NHMRC's new alcohol guidelines – what do they really mean?
6 March 2009
The new Australian guidelines aren’t telling people what they can or can’t do. They aim to help Australians make their own informed choices about alcohol and how much risk they want to take with their health. Professor Jon Currie, Chair of NHMRC’s Expert Working Committee on Alcohol Guidelines, talks about it in this podcast.
Occasional series podcasts — 2008
How do we improve the quality of our patients' care?
31 October 2008
Worldwide, 30-40% of patients do not receive care that is based on the best possible research evidence. How do we turn this around?
In this podcast, world renowned director of the Centre for Quality Care of Research in the Netherlands, Professor Richard Grol, says the answer lies in patient centred organisation of care and improved communication between health professionals.
Water: elixir of life or harbinger of disease?
12 September 2008
Water is a vital ingredient for every living thing on earth. But how do we stop that same water from bringing disease, even causing death?
A leading expert on water quality from the World Health Organization, Dr Jamie Bartram, explains to Marilyn Chalkley that it can take more than just the first-world water and sanitation infrastructure we enjoy in Australia.
Direct-to-consumer DNA testing
4 September 2008
How reliable are direct-to-consumer DNA tests? What do the test results really mean and do we need help interpreting them?
Professor Ron Trent, Chair of the NHMRC Human Genetics Advisory Committee, warns that even your doctor may need help interpreting the results before being able to explain them to you.
Your DNA: a case of 'buyer beware'?
21 August 2008
Current Australian laws to protect consumers seeking DNA tests have limited impact on local testing companies and none on those overseas, where many online operators are based. Consumer law expert Vijaya Nagarajan explains why there is a crying need for more education on DNA testing so consumers can make better-informed choices.
Young, groundbreaking and inspiring
6 June 2008
When is being wrong a good thing? What role do enzymes play in human disease? What do genes and computers have in common? Professor James Whisstock on inspiration, discovery and what happens when the knowledge era meets biology.