A father’s touch …It’s there at birth when a tiny hand clings to a burly thumb. It’s there when we cross the road. It’s there to apply band-aids and to ruffle hair.

Imagine, then, if it was suddenly taken away. Put yourself in the shoes of Crystal Fitzgibbon who was just 26 when she suffered an acute stroke that paralysed her right side and literally rendered her speechless.

In the critical few hours that followed, Crystal recalls being taken to John Hunter Hospital, whisked through Emergency and thrust into the belly of a CT scanner.

A future rich with promise was now in the hands of her neurologist. But almost as swiftly as stroke had struck, a new drug restored normality. Called Tenecteplase, it was being trialled against the standard drug Alteplase by the HMRI Stroke Research Group.

Within 24 hours Crystal achieved what doctors call the “Lazarus” effect, where she rose off her hospital bed. Three days later she was back home and, two years on, the attractive and articulate woman sipping a coffee shows no ill effects.

“We’d just moved into our new home and we were building a retaining wall. Suddenly I didn’t feel 100 per cent,” Crystal recalls.

“I went inside to the bathroom mirror and could see something wasn’t right. I tried to speak but the words didn’t come out. I then tried to move my right arm and couldn’t.”

Crystal’s partner immediately called an ambulance.

“They gave me the Tenecteplase and moved me to the stroke ward.I’m not sure how long it took but I remember my Dad standing next me, holding my right hand, and when the feeling came back there was no way I was going to let his hand go.”

Findings published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine show two-thirds of the patients treated with Tenecteplase had major neurological improvement within a day and 72 per cent had excellent or good recovery three months after their stroke.

Of those administered Alteplase, 36 per cent showed improvement at

24 hours and 44 per cent had good or excellent recovery after 90 days.

Professor Chris Levi, Director of Acute Stroke Services at John Hunter, said Tenecteplase was very effective as part of a tailored treatment: “Not all patients benefit from clot-busting drugs but because stroke is such a hard illness to treat, any treatment advance is like gold,” he said.

The study was funded by the federal NHMRC following grants from HMRI and donors including the Greater Charitable Foundation.The group is now hoping to deliver a larger scale international study.

“We have to see if this drug benefits stroke patients in the ‘real world’ who may be less likely to experience the dramatic benefits seen so far,” study leader Assoc Professor Mark Parsons from the University of Newcastle said.

For Crystal, going home was a surreal moment. “I was thankful I had the stroke where and when I did. This drug has given me a second chance for sure,” she said.

Rise of a new stroke therapy

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“Dad was next me ... and when the feeling came back there was no way I was going to let his hand go.”

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BRIGHT FUTURE: Stroke survivor Crystal Fitzgibbon with Professor Chris Levi.

searcherwinter 2012

Every parent wants their child to make good choices when, as teenagers, they’re tempted to partake in drinking, smoking and drug use behaviours.

The Healthy Schools, Healthy Futures program was established to counteract these decisions.

The program is delivered to students from years 7 to 10, building on the premise that by increasing self-confidence and resilience in young people they, in turn, make better decisions and are less likely to consider risky behaviours.

Associate Professor John Wiggers and Megan Freund began the pilot study over 10 years ago.

“It was clear that adolescents do not like being told no, so rather than saying don’t do drugs, don’t drink and don’t smoke the study focuses on the decision-making skills that lead them into those situations and

behaviours,” Assoc Professor Wiggers said.

The program, which is integrated into all aspects of the school curriculum, includes confidence-building skills, anti-bullying programs and parent/community engagement activities.

It has expanded from 12 to over 20 secondary schools throughout the Hunter due to a partnership between HMRI and nib foundation.

Results have shown a reduction of over 50 per cent in binge drinking, smoking and drug use.

“No intervention has seen results like this before; it highlights the link between good decision making and self-confidence in young people,” Assoc Professor Wiggers said.

community

HMRI and HVRF (Hunter Valley Research Foundation) Health Research Economists, Professor Chris Doran and Associate Professor Andrew Searles are members of a team engaged by Queensland Health to evaluate initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing in selected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) communities in the Cape York region.

The evaluation framework will provide a pathway to determine whether initiatives designed to improve health and wellbeing have been successful and whether they represent value for money.

Remote ATSI communities generally experience significant health disadvantages compared with non-Indigenous Australians.

Indigenous people in Cape York die at a substantially earlier age than people in Queensland overall: between 2002 and 2005 the median age of death for Indigenous people in Cape York (52 for males and 56 for females) was about 20 years lower than the comparable medians for Queensland overall.

Furthermore, the leading causes of death were diseases of the circulatory system, cancer, injuries and metabolic diseases, all of which were potentially preventable.

The project initially required the prioritisation of health issues based on a measure that represents the length of time lived in good health. Called Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE), it is a measure of the number of years lived from birth in full health.

In 2006, the average HALE for ATSI people in Cape York was 55.6 years. This compares with 73.6 years for Queensland overall.

The next stages of the project will involve the identification of community-based indicators that are related to these priorities.

* Article courtesy of HVRF

Good decisions start herePath to longer life

Greater Building Society staff swapped their ties and heels for running attire to participate in the 2012 Sparke Helmore/NBN Television Triathlon Festival. The Greater sponsored the 5km run leg of the festive, held on the Friday evening, with all proceeds going to HMRI.

Jogging for the Greater good

RISKY BUSINESS: John Wiggers, centre, with the HS-HF research team.

Health and medical researchers will move into the new HMRI Building from early July onwards, following a decision to extend the relocation timetable.

A five-week addition to the $90 million project will allow for enhanced commissioning and ensure an optimal working environment from day one.

“We had been working towards vacating the David Maddison Building by June 12, however Stronach Property has kindly supported an extension to the occupancy period,” HMRI Director Professor Michael Nilsson said.

The initial vision for the building, conceived by the then-named Hunter Medical Research Cooperative in 1990, included the comment: “In essence the building is expected to be a two-storey medium quality structure, brick veneer and tile roof”.

What now stands is a world-class, four-storey structure with 16,000 square metres of laboratory and office space to accommodate 400 researchers.

From mid August the new phone number for HMRI Corporate will be 4042 0000, and 4042 1000 for the special Donation Line. General email is info@hmri.com.au.

Anticipation is Building!

researchAn interdisciplinary

team of scientists at the University of Newcastle has shown the potential of a simple blood test to identify people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

They spent a year studying data from an international Alzheimer’s disease database and assessed the levels of 190 proteins in blood.

Of those proteins, 11 can provide a predictive test with more than 85 per cent accuracy. Brain imaging or spinal punctures have previously been used for diagnosis.

“Our study makes a considerable step towards cheap, non-invasive testing,” Professor Pablo Moscatto said.

HMRI and the University of Newcastle funded the study.

With winter here, HMRI researchers hope to shed light on the potential side effects of common asthma medications.

Researchers are seeking people over

18 with a confirmed diagnosis of asthma to participate in a study investigating whether Prednisolone (the standard treatment for moderate to severe asthma attacks) causes changes in body composition.

“There is anecdotal evidence that oral corticosteroid medications may increase appetite and lead to weight gain when used to treat other conditions,” Professor Peter Gibson said. Co-investigator Dr Lisa Wood added that obesity can make asthma worse.

Phone Bronwyn Berthon on 4985 5649.

A study has identified a diet dilemma for pregnant women and those trying to conceive – avoiding “risky”’ foods while maintaining adequate nutrition.

Researchers found that women who frequently ate foods potentially containing Listeria had a 20 per cent greater risk of miscarriage but also had the highest intake of nutrients essential for a healthy pregnancy.

“It is important for pregnant women to achieve a balance between an adequate intake of nutrients such as folate, iron, zinc and protein, and reducing their risk of Listeriosis,” Professor Clare Collins said.

See the latest video tour at hmri.net.au

PROJECT MILESTONES

May 2008: Project Director appointed

Oct 2009: Plans go on display.

Mar 2010: NSW Governmentapproves project.

Aug 2010: Site preparation begins.

Feb 2011: Concrete slab poured.

Sep 2011: Fitout work starts.

Jul 2012: Relocation begins.

June 2010

June 2011

June 2012

Aerial photograph by Valley Panoramicwww.valleypanoramic.com.au

Lookout Road,New LambtonLocked Bag 1, HRMC NSW 2310 T 02 4921 4030 F 02 4985 5909 E info@hmri.net.auABN 27 081 436 919

FAIR WAYS: Perfect weather and manicured greens greeted

players in the HMRI Golf Day at Newcastle Golf Course on

April 27. Bragging rights in the ambrose event went to the Little Green Frog team (above)

with a 10-under-par 62!

The Katie Jane Sutter Memorial Day on April 21, honouring a young woman who passed away on her 28th birthday in 2011, raised over $20,000 in just 12 hours for cervical cancer research.

It kicked off with breakfast at RAW Café in Newcastle, followed by great support from Southern Beaches rugby club, which had a post-match charity auction.

It is a credit to their family and friends that they have been able to turn such a tragic loss into something so positive.

Sport support for cancer

Upcoming events

SAVE THE DATES:June 17 Ski4Kids, Manly to NewcastleJune 23-24 Ken Russell Bike RideJuly 7 HMRI BallJuly (TBC) Pulse Trivia NightAugust 19 PULSE High TeaSeptember 15 Stroud RodeoSeptember 30 PULSE Grand Final

events

Done like dinners ...The 2012 Gastronomic Lunch of the Year

held in May raised more than $134,000 for medical research, making it the most successful year on record.

Organised by restaurateur Neil Slater with support from other harbour-front eateries, the event attracted a full house of 165 diners at Fort Scratchley Function Centre.

HMRI Director Professor Michael Nilsson commended Mr Slater (pictured centre) and the organising team for creating an event that celebrated the best of Hunter food, wine and medical research.

“It was a wonderful day, with exceptional food and wine, and to raise in excess of $134,000 is just tremendous. The money will go towards a project of vital importance to young diabetics and their families.”

The biennial Pink Frangipani Ball - organised by Andrea Rufo, his two daughters and a ball committee - yielded $80,000 in April, taking the total raised since 2006 to a remarkable $291,000.

Mr Rufo’s wife Sandra died of breast cancer in 2005, and funds from the ball will be used for vital research into breast cancer and to improve local services; $50,000 for HMRI grants, the other $30,000 to establish a nursing scholarship at Calvary Mater Newcastle .

“I made a promise to Sandra that her love, tenacity and courage would live on to help inspire others,” Mr Rufo said.

GOLFDAY

From diamond slippers to ice palaces, the HMRI Ball has offered a night of finery and frivolity for more than a decade.

It’s a chance for supporters and researchers alike to kick up their heels and mingle.

The 2012 Ball will be no exception; fine food and exquisite entertainment in a unique setting.

The venue is the old David

A ball for all

Jones Building in Hunter Street and we can now reveal that the theme is “Secret Garden”.

It’s on Saturday, July 7, and tickets are selling fast. Phone 4921 4030 for details.

SEE THE WEBSITE FOR FULL DETAILS

2011 Ball

Photo by Ed Cross

You can make a real differenceThe Hunter has one of the highest incidences of Type-1 diabetes in the world. It’s a lifelong disorder that can lead to blindness, kidney or heart failure, stroke, amputation and damage to the nervous system if not managed correctly.

Clinicians here in the Hunter are achieving world-leading treatment results, yet it remains a constant struggle for young sufferers and their families.

There are finger pricks, day and night, to check glucose levels. Then comes the insulin injections - either by pump or needle - and continual dietary supervision. Parents often shoulder the burden of responsibility.

Bright and bubbly 11-year-old Emma Burns is typical of young Type-1 diabetics. Since being diagnosed at just two years of age, her life has been ruled by complex food charts – everything she ate was measured and weighed exactly.

Friends were cautious about inviting Emma to their house and rarely could she enjoy parties. That was until Emma participated in a diabetes diet study conducted by Paediatric Endocrine Dietician Carmel Smart.

Carmel’s research proved that estimating carbohydrate portions worked as effectively as carbohydrate counting down to the last gram. It meant life-changing results for Emma, and children just like her.

The next step is to perfect a food management system that can allow the new-generation closed-loop insulin pumps to automate the blood monitoring and dosage procedures.

“I feel like everybody else now, I can do whatever I like to do,” Emma said. “I just need to do a few extra things than my friends.”

You can help make life better for people like Emma and her family. Please donate today by completing the form overleaf, or online.

Your support helps fund life-changing research!

www.hmri.net.au

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