Dr Andrew Vakulin, Dr Lynda Norton, Robert Trott, and Dr Sinead O'Connell (left to right)

How can one access and share international perspectives on how to bring science to market in a face-to-face forum? Flinders researchers and staff had this opportunity at the 6^th International Summer School on Technology Transfer in Life Sciences, Dresden, Germany, 17 to 21 September.

Flinders’ Dr Sinead O’Connell, Dr Lynda Norton, Dr Andrew Vakulin and PhD students Robert Trott and Ahmed Alshehri, participated in the Summer School that focused on preparing researchers for the technology transfer process.

Experts in intellectual property, business, marketing, technology transfer and fund raising helped participants identify the innovative potential in their research and provided valuable insight into the various ways that inventions in the Life Sciences could be brought to the market.

Sinead presented two lectures on pitching to investors and negotiation, and drew on her 10 years’ experience working in technology transfer at Flinders.

Lynda presented the Exercise Science Toolkit(EST), an online software program incorporating a suite of ~40 interactive analytical, graphing and application tools for exercise and health science students and allied health professionals.

The EST was designed to facilitate opportunities to conduct analyses on empirical data collected in laboratories or in clinical practice and also has the capacity to generate an unlimited supply of virtual people (VP) in real-time simulations, designed specifically for distance or online programs.

“Participating in this Summer School provided invaluable exposure to business and marketing expertise on how to get your technology beyond the development stage and into the commercial market. This should be a core component of PhD programs,” said Lynda.

Andrew described his research in Sleep Disorders and his recent work with industry partners to develop online sleep health decision support algorithms and systems. Sleep problems and disorders have an enormous health burden on the community and these novel online technologies will help to screen, identify and provide tailored solutions for sleep disorder sufferers.

“The sleep health decision support algorithms have broader applications in clinical and operational settings, including the shift work industry, transportation, health insurers and defence,” said Andrew.

A bioengineering sensor designed by Robert was one of six Life Science technologies put through the incubator process during the week-long forum. This novel angle sensor has been designed for use in a Controller in Stroke Rehabilitation Robotics. The angle sensor improves on existing devices by offering an ultra-compact form factor while preserving accuracy. The controller seeks to improve Gait Rehabilitation outcomes following stroke.

In Australia, there are approximately 50,000 new cases of stroke each year and currently, around 400,000 stroke survivors. Globally there are 17 million new stroke cases annually, of which a third will result in death. The remainder will experience varying symptoms affecting numerous cognitive and motor faculties, and 80% of survivors will experience some unilateral weakness. In particular, paralysis of one leg profoundly limits participation in activities of daily living and is the single post-stroke deficit with the greatest impact on quality of life. It is hoped Robert’s sensor will assist those affected.

In support of the research objectives in The 2025 Agenda: Making a Difference, and to provide an improved experience for researchers and research support staff, Flinders is investing in new digital technologies that support the research community.

The investment will lead to replacement of our ageing ResearchMaster and associated RePortal environments with a new state of the art research management system and introduction of a streamlined Ethics approval process supported by a new digital solution.

As such, Flinders has recently signed two major contracts with leading research management technology providers:

• Elsevier for their Pure product for research management
• Infonetica for their ERM product for ethics process management

The signing of these contracts represents the start of an exciting journey for Flinders to modernise and streamline our research management technologies and processes.

An extensive consultation process, including product demonstrations, was undertaken with the research community to reach this point. Professor Robert Saint, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), would like to thank members of our research community, Digital Research Services (DRS) and Research Development and Support (RDS) staff and others who have contributed to date.

Implementation of Pure and ERM will be managed by the Research Management Project team, comprising representatives from DRS, RDS and the Library. The project will be governed by a Project Steering Committee and a Project Governance Committee, both of which include researcher representatives from each College and wider representation from the Flinders research support functions.

The next stages of the project are as follows:

• Replacement of the current Publications functionality in ResearchMaster with that provided by the Pure application
• The launch of Flinders Researcher Profiles through the Pure Portal which will provide an enhanced Researcher Profile, building on information already presented on our Staff Profile pages
• Implementation of the Infonetica ERM application for ethics application management, informed by an RDS-led review of the University's Ethics processes.

Replacement of the remaining functionality provided by ResearchMaster and RePortal will commence early 2019.

More information will be shared after detailed project planning has been completed, and further engagement across our community will commence shortly. You can keep up to date with high level progress on these initiatives by visiting the DRS website here, or by contacting any member of the project team via the Research Management Project mailbox.

Applications for the Theo Murphy Initiative (Australia) are now open.

Through the Theo Murphy Initiative (Australia), the Australian Academy of Science conducts 3-6 activities and events annually to support Australia’s early- and mid-career researcher (EMCR) community. The purpose of these activities is to provide tangible benefits to EMCRs to support their careers and ultimately further scientific discovery.

Activities can be held anywhere in Australia and may take any format (meetings or conferences, training opportunities, incentives or mechanisms to engage EMCRs in existing activities or events, etc). Previous project examples can be viewed in the Theo Murphy Initiative (Australia) event page, however please note that proposed projects are not restricted to those activity formats.

Applications close on 11 November 2018. For more information, please see the Australian Academy of Science website.

Flinders University defines a Mid Career Researcher (MCR) as 9 – 15 years post PhD conferral.

Are you an MCR?

If so, please forward this email with your PhD conferral date to researcherpd.rds@flinders.edu.au.

In 2019 Flinders will be running an increased number of programs and initiatives to foster, support and develop our MCR community.

Contacting us will ensure that we can get communications to you regarding upcoming opportunities in relation to your development, prizes, awards and funding.

The amazing Tonsley Innovation District plays host for a standout event, engaging researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs, and connecting with professionals, managers, investors and potential partners.

Over a drink and a bite to eat, you’ll hear updates on the future of  innovation and Tonsley from our VIP speakers, and each "Icebreaker" will make 20 new contacts, with a short speed networking session, followed by open networking with food and drinks available for purchase.

The New Venture Institute has been working closely with leading edge data scientists, SpiralData to deliver an Icebreaker event that raises the bar on the value that it delivers. Your ticketing information plus a follow up survey will be the basis for our matching you to your table (don't worry, it's a really short survey). 

This event will be just a little more intimate than the first Icebreaker, and focused on the matching process. The space will be warm and inviting, making sure that it is easier to hear not only your matches, but also some great speakers. And to sweeten this pot even a little more, Flinders staff have access to discounted tickets.

Click on the link below and use code FlindersUniversity to unlock a 20% discount!

Innovation...meet enterprise. This is Icebreaker18.

We will see you there!

Wednesday, 21 November, 5.00-8.00pm

Tonsley Innovation District

Tickets $35 - includes welcome drink and shared platter

Link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/icebreaker18-tickets-35804941544?aff=FlindersMarketing

Health Translation SA is holding a forum on Friday 9 November 2018 to showcase ten exciting rapid applied research translation projects.

During 2018 these projects worked collaboratively with health services, consumers and other stakeholders, to translate medical research into solutions that will improve the health of South Australians. Associate Professor Niranjan Bidargaddi, Associate Professor of Personal Health Informatics, College of Medicine and Public Health, and Academic Status holders at Flinders Dr Dan Worthley and Dr Carolyn Astley will be showcasing their successful projects at the Forum.

Conducted as part of the 2018 Rapid Applied Research Translation Program, supported by the Medical Research Future Fund, each of the project teams will provide a short 10-minute presentation highlighting the key outcomes and the impact of their research on South Australian health services.

Where: SAHMRI Auditorium, Ground Floor, North Terrace

When: Friday 9 November 2018, 9:00am to 12:00pm

For further information, please visit the SA Academic Health Science and Translation Centre website.

Over the past 15 years, Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research (ACH2) has supported translational research in the areas of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and now human TLymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1). In 2019, ACH2 will continue to support translational research into these four viruses.

Funding is available from 1 January 2019 to 30 September 2019 for grants up to $100,000. One EoI per chief investigator (CI)-A will be considered. Expressions of Interest close at 5:00 p.m. AEDT on Monday 5 November 2018. The Flinders internal closing date is 12 noon, Thursday 1 November 2018. For application advice and assistance, please contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Officer (NHMRC, MRFF, & Health).

ACH2 is seeking expressions of interest (EoI) in applied research from qualified scientists to fund research projects aimed at:

• developing vaccine candidates for HIV, HBV subtypes, HCV or HTLV-1;
• developing preventatives such as HIV microbicides and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP);
• cure and treatment interventions for HIV, HBV, or HTLV-1,
• novel diagnostics and prognostics for HIV, HBV, HCV, HTLV-1 or hepatitis B/C/HIV/HTLV-1 co-infection;
• molecular tools for tracking epidemics caused by these viruses; and
• development of new tests for supporting vaccine and antiviral trials.

Basic research is not eligible, and grants aimed at development of new direct-acting antivirals against HCV are also not eligible.

Further details, eligibility criteria of this funding, and the EOI application template is available at www.ach2.org.au/apply.

World expert, Professor Maggie Watson, Editor-in-Chief of the prestigious international Psycho-oncology Journal will present a thought provoking lecture, 'Keeping it all together. Why mental health in cancer matters' at Flinders.

The lecture is part of the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer (FCIC) Public Lecture Series 2018, Cancer Insights. The lecture will be held on Tuesday 6 November 2018 from 6 PM to 7:30 PM in the Ground Floor Function Room, FCIC, Flinders Medical Centre.

Cancer Insights is a free public lecture program for the community hosted by FCIC.

Dr Lisa Beatty, FCIC, will follow Professor Watson's lecture with a summary of the challenges and steps involved in developing complex psychosocial web-based interventions, to support women with metastic breast cancer.

Maggie will focus on how Psycho-oncology focuses on improving mental health and quality of life for people affected by cancer. Recently, the question of why mental health services are still not easily or widely available within hospital and community based cancer care services, has arisen. Is there more needed to build bridges between cancer and mental health services? Where are we at present? What’s available, what’s missing and what are the costs of providing cancer services that don’t include adequate quality mental health care? Is there more that can be done at the structural level of health service organisation to provide patients with comprehensive cancer care that takes account of the physical, social and psychological costs experienced? She will finish with how to translate research achievements into care progress.

Maggie was Head of Psychological Medicine at the Royal Marsden Hospital and led a comprehensive psychological and psychiatric service for oncology patients. She founded the British Psychosocial Oncology Society in 1982 and is past President of the International Psycho-Oncology Society. She is Editor-in-Chief of the Psycho-oncology Journal. Maggie’s research interests in the area of psycho-oncology include psychological Intervention, cancer genetics, cancer and families. She is currently a Professor in the Division of Genetics and Epidemiology, Institute of Cancer Research, UK, and a Visiting Professor, Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UK.

RSVP to Michelle Cox on 8404 2842 or email michelle.cox@flinders.edu.au.

The NHMRC has advised that Grant guidelines for the first tranche of funding under the MRFF Million Minds Mission will be made available in late 2018

The Million Minds Mission grant opportunity aims to support multidisciplinary teams of researchers to undertake collaborative, patient-focused research that is transformative, scalable and demonstrates the greatest impact on health outcomes and translation into policy and/or practice.

This grant opportunity will provide up to $25 million over five years to support three initial priority areas for research:

• eating disorders
• mental health of children and young people
• mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Research Development and Support will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available.

The Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission (the Mission) was announced in the 2018-19 Budget by the Federal Government. By supporting innovative and ground-breaking mental health and suicide prevention research, the Mission aims to assist up to one million people affected by mental illness.  For more information, please visit the

MRFF website.

Are you or your team planning to submit an application in the 2020 round or beyond? This session, presented by Professor Jim Mitchell, CSE, and Maya Roberts, Senior Research Grants Officer (ARC), will step through the process for submission and how we can support you.

The session will be held in Lecture Theatre 2, Flinders Medical Centre on Wednesday 21 November from 12:30 - 1:30 PM.

Join this session to learn:

• key considerations when preparing your application
• selection criteria
• assessment process
• tips for success
  

Jim is Chief Investigator on DP, LE and LP grants & is a previous ARC College of Experts member.

There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion.

The session will also be livestreamed.

Enquiries to Kirsty de Reuyter, Researcher Professional Development.

Flinders University has purchased the Idea Puzzle® software for all staff and students to use when designing and planning their research.

The Idea Puzzle® software is a visual decision-making tool for integrative research design based on Philosophy of Science (Morais & Brailsford, 2018). In particular, it integrates the theory, method, data, rhetoric, and authorship of a research project to focus an academic text such as a research proposal, a thesis, or a journal article. The Idea Puzzle® software asks 21 questions, helps answer them, and allows the self-evaluation of each answer. The sequence of 21 questions follows a funnel logic to help focusing the research design.

The output of the Idea Puzzle® software is a research design with around 2000 words, an overall score and a coloured jigsaw puzzle, based on the 21 answers and the respective self-evaluation (examples: Design; Engineering; Management; Medicine; Psychology). The estimated time to complete a research design is of one working day, ideally six months after enrolling in a PhD.

For further information and instructions, please watch the video below.

The main benefits of the Idea Puzzle® software are the coherent design and defence of a research project from the point of view of Philosophy of Science (Morais, 2010). In 2016, the Academy of Management Learning & Education (4.235 5-Year Impact Factor) considered the Idea Puzzle® software "a very useful tool for research across a multitude of disciplines, not only for PhD students as they learn about all of the elements of research project design, but also for reviewers and research project teams" (Parente & Ferro, 2016, p. 645). To date, the Idea Puzzle® software has helped design more than 4,000 research projects worldwide.

You can access the Idea Puzzle® software exclusively online, without installation on the computer upon registration with your Flinders email address. All Flinders students and staff members have access to the software.

Please contact Dr Dani Milos, HDR Education Coordinator, Office of Graduate Research, if you have any queries about Idea Puzzle.

The NHMRC has provided an update on their ongoing development of their new grants management solution, Sapphire.

Recent testing has identified some additional complexities that require resolution. As a result, the NHMRC has decided to defer the planned October pilots to avoid any potential for disruption to applicants.

NHMRC’s cautious approach also reflects advice received from the research sector to minimise potential distractions from the implementation of the new grant program.

All new and existing grant schemes will be managed through RGMS until further notice. This includes CREs, Development Grants, TCRs and Investigator Grants.

Your researcher CV and Profile will continue to be managed through RGMS until further notice and all potential applicants are recommended to ensure that their CV and Profile are up-to-date.

For more information about Sapphire, please visit NHMRC’s website.

Join Gareth Rees, Senior Research Grants Officer (NHMRC, MRFF & Health) and Rebecca Cook, Senior Research Support Officer (CMPH), from Research Development and Support at the upcoming information session on NHMRC Investigator Grants, A guide to preparing an application.

NHMRC has now released the "Investigator Grants 2019 Guide to Applicants on Preparing an Application". This information session will step through this guide explaining aspects of the new scheme, how to prepare your application and how we can support you.

The session will be held on Wednesday 14 November, from 12:30 - 1:30 PM in Lecture Theatre 2, Flinders Medical Centre. The session will also be livestreamed.

There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion.

Enquiries to kirsty.deruyter@flinders.edu.au.

The Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) National Taxonomy Research Grant Program (NTRGP) provides grants for taxonomic research.

Grants are awarded for research projects where the primary aim is to undertake taxonomic research on the Australian biota or to develop products that aid in the dissemination of taxonomic information. The program also supports projects that build Australian taxonomic capacity.

The following funding streams are available under the NTRGP:

• Research Grants — this stream provides support to Postdoctoral Fellows and established career researchers to undertake research relevant to the taxonomy and systematics of the Australian biota. Research Grants of $10,000, $35,000, $70,000 or $90,000 per annum (excluding GST) are available, as well as a $90 000 per annum (excluding GST) Postdoctoral Fellowship grant.
• Capacity-Building Grants — this stream focuses on support for training and/or recruitment of taxonomists, especially for research on critical taxonomic groups. Honours Scholarships, Masters Scholarships and RTP Scholarship ​Top-Up grants are available. Non-salaried researcher grants are also available and are offered on an annual basis to allow the completion of projects by non-salaried researchers.

Both grants close on 29 November 2018 at 2 PM AEDT. The Flinders internal closing date is 15 November 2018. For application advice and assistance, please contact Mary Lyons, Senior Research Grants Officer (IGII).

The Embassy of France in Australia is supporting the establishment of short-term programs in the form of summer (or winter) schools co-organised by French and Australian tertiary education institutions, and bringing together students from both countries around a theme of common interest.

The selected project benefits from the Creative France Australia label as well as financial support from the embassy up to 4000 € (approx. AU$6,300, subject to current exchange rate) to contribute toward the organisation costs of the school.

Applications must be completed before 31 January, 2019. For advice and support, please contact Mr Matt Taverner, Director, International Engagement, Flinders International.

The objectives of the Creative France Australia short program are:

• To support innovative initiatives in Franco-Australian university cooperation,
• To boost student mobility between the two countries (in particular the mobility of Australians toward France),
• To support the construction of ambitious institutional partnerships between French and Australian institutions,
• To contribute to the constitution of sustainable scientific communities around themes of common interest for both countries.

Projects eligible for the “Creative France Australia short program” label are:

• Short-term programs (1 to 4 weeks), which can be held at any time of the year ("summer", "winter" or other schools) in France or Australia;
• Training programs involving students of all levels (L, M or D); this program is not intended to support the organisation of scientific seminars; two programs to support the organisation of scientific seminars are also proposed by the Embassy and the AFRAN Association. However, it is possible to combine these tools by proposing, around the same theme, a scientific seminar and a short program and to apply for funding for both programs.

For more information on the program, please visit the Embassy of France in Canberra website.

Launched as a pilot program in 2017, the Nicolas Baudin "Internship in France" initiative offers students from participating Australian universities the opportunity to undertake a research internship at a French host university in collaboration with an industry partner.

The internship offers are jointly created by the French host university and its industry partner, and when relevant with the Australian partner university if the intern is enrolled within the framework of a pre-existing scientific collaboration.

The French universities, schools or group of establishments participating propose laboratory internship topics of 3 to 6 months destined towards Australian students at an Honours (4th year Bachelor), Master or doctoral level. The topic of the internship is developed through exchanges with their industry and Australian university partners. The involvement of French companies with a presence in Australia is an advantage.

Flinders University students are eligible to apply as Flinders is a member of the Innovative Research Universities. The deadline for internship topic propositions to be sent is 31 January 2019. Internships must commence before 31 December 2019.

For more information, visit the Embassy of France in Canberra website.

Perpetual distributes more than $100 million annually from the charitable trusts and endowments they manage. Many of these trusts and endowments are created with specific directions around the charities that will benefit.

However, where trusts and endowments have a more flexible approach to grant making, Perpetual undertake a rigorous application program that matches their clients’ wishes with suitable organisations.

The IMPACT Philanthropy Application Program allows philanthropists and Not-for-Profits (NFPs) to connect, and allows NFPs to demonstrate how they improve outcomes for the communities in which they operate.

Flinders University is eligible to apply for the IMPACT program, but Universities are restricted to a maximum of one application per department and three in total. Intending applicants from Flinders must advise Research Development and Support (RDS) via research.grants@flinders.edu.au by 5 November 2018.

The closing date is 7 December 2018. The Flinders internal closing date is 23 November 2018. For application advice and assistance, please contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Officer (NHMRC, MRFF, & Health).

Visit the Perpetual IMPACT funding website for more information, including application documents.

This Targeted Call for Research (TCR) aims to encourage research that addresses how frail persons can be supported to avoid hospitalisations, receive optimal care when admitted, and achieve the best health recovery outcomes, through integrated and coordinated in- and post-hospital interventions.

The TCR is now open and will close in RGMS on 30 January 2019. Minimum Data is due in RGMS by 16 January 2019. For application advice and assistance, please contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Officer (NHMRC, MRFF, & Health).

This TCR was prioritised by the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) Working Committee. A TCR is a one-time solicitation for grant applications to address a specific health issue.

The Council of Australian Governments agreed that AHMAC work with the NHMRC to identify areas of priority research that could be funded, possibly jointly with States and Territories, through the TCR programme.

For more information, visit the NHMRC website.

The Coalition Government is offering National Science Week grants of between $2,000 and $20,000 for exhibitions, expos and workshops that will help make science more accessible to the Australian community and showcase the contributions of Australian scientists.

Projects need to be largely for general public audiences and be held in National Science Week (10 – 18 August 2019), or in the week immediately before or after.

Click here for more information

Deadline for applications is 20 November 2018.

Cassandra Star has been awarded a Fellowship and a Scholarship to assist in advancing her research and leadership skills. The ARC Kathleen Fitzpatrick Laureate Fellowship Mentoring Scheme at the University of Melbourne targets outstanding early career female researchers in the humanities and social sciences to complete an intensive mentoring programme.

The programme involves workshops on all aspects of developing, sustaining and enhancing leadership in a research career and is run by Professor Joy Damousi, University of Melbourne.

Cassandra said, “The programme provides an excellent opportunity to work with other outstanding female scholars and build on my research leadership skills. Such programs are rare in Australian higher education and of great value to female researchers.”

Following on from this programme, Cassandra will be a visiting fellow at the Australian National University (ANU) in 2018 at the Centre for the Study of Australian Politics (CSAP). “My visit to CSAP will advance and expand my ongoing project on environmental non-government organisations (ENGOs),” said Cassandra.

This project aims to analyse the climate politics of ENGOs in Australia, investigating the strategies, tactics and foci of current ENGO climate campaigns in the Australian context, and their efficacy within the policy arena. Arising from this larger project has been a smaller sub-project, analysing the role of class and gender within the environment movement, with particular implications for the political voice and ongoing commitment of young female activists. This will be the focus of her time at ANU.

While at ANU, Cassandra will also undertake project fieldwork, including interviewing climate activists located in the ACT from a myriad of organisations (e.g., the Australia Institute, the Canberra Environment Centre, Climate Action Canberra, Conservation Council ACT, FossilFreeANU, See-Change, AYCC and 350.org). She will also deliver a HDR masterclass/workshop on research ethics in fieldwork with NGOs.