I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new cohort of 1st year Pharmacy students. I hope that your next 4 years are full of challenges, new discoveries, and new friendships...but most of all, enjoyment.

I also want to welcome back our 2nd, 3rd & 4th year students and convey to them my best wishes for the year ahead.

For the second time the School held its 1st Year Student Engagement Ceremony and it was a great success for all involved.  I would like to express my gratitude to those distinguished industry professionals who were present and took part in the ceremony. 

They, and the students, very much enjoyed the event.  The focus of the ceremony was integrity and professionalism, and a strong message that came across was that our students are the future of the profession – so in short, work hard, study hard and most of all have fun on the journey ahead.

The School continues to develop its engagement with current students and graduates through the Alumni Network; see news item below. On the same theme, the School has, for the first time, developed a Pharmacy Futures Appeal. 

This appeal, developed in collaboration with distinguished members of the School’s alumni, seeks funding to help the School establish scholarships for talented students who may need financial assistance to study pharmacy at UQ, and to support our research programs, accelerating their progress and enabling patients to benefit from the research at the earliest possible opportunity.

An exciting development for UQ and for the School is detailed in a news item below relating to the much anticipated opening of the Annerley UQ Healthcare Clinic.  This clinic will provide multi-professional healthcare for local patients and will, in due course, house a dispensing pharmacy.

The School is always keen to acknowledge excellence throughout its various activities.  In this edition of the newsletter we recognise and congratulate those students who have achieved excellence and have been awarded prizes at a recent awards evening. For the full details read below.

The year ahead is shaping up to be a busy one.  The best way to stay in touch with what is going on is to subscribe to these e-bulletins or visit our website regularly..

Regards,

Professor Nick Shaw
Head of School

White Coat Ceremony Welcomes Record Cohort

The School of Pharmacy welcomed a record 350 strong 1st year cohort in an innovative “White Coat” ceremony in March.

The 2011 intake of Bachelor of Pharmacy students took part in a student engagement ceremony that saw them receive a white dispensing coat and a written "Statement of Commitment".

The ceremony is the first of its kind in an Australian pharmacy school, but follows in the footsteps of institutions in Canada and the US.

Members of the pharmacy profession were on hand to personally greet the students and welcome them after the official proceedings, which included a group reading of the Statement of Commitment.

The School of Pharmacy began the tradition in 2010, after Dr Lisa Nissen, an Associate Professor at the School, saw similar ceremonies receive positive feedback from students and academics overseas.  

"The idea behind the engagement ceremony is to welcome our incoming pharmacy students to not only the school, but importantly to the profession as a whole. The concept has been adapted from similar ceremonies undertaken in pharmacy (and medical) schools around North America." said A/Prof. Nissen.

"In a nutshell, the students are given a dispensing coat by the school. With an important part of the ceremony being the reciting of a student Statement of Commitment, whereby they promise to uphold the principles of the profession and to focus on health care throughout their university studies and beyond.

"A number of distinguished guests from the profession and our alumni then shake hands with the students and welcome them to the “family”.

"We see the ceremony as our opportunity to provide the students with some sense of the history, pride and professionalism that is pharmacy and the highlight the responsibility and crucial role we play in the community as a whole. We hope it will give them a sense of community, as students and as health professionals in training.

"The 'coat' itself is designed to be used as a symbol of professionalism and a commitment to health care provision. Students will wear the coat in the professional components of the course, including in counseling and dispensing tutorials and for their oral exams.

"It will be an expected requirement for these sessions and we hope it will reinforce some sense of responsibility and accountability in the students.

"Pharmacy is such a wonderful profession, steeped in history and with an exciting and challenging future – this ceremony is to remind the students that they are a critical part of it." said A/Prof. Nissen.

The School's 1st Year Coordinator, Dr Lynne Emmerton, spoke to the gathering, and later said:

"We’ll be seeking student feedback on what this ceremony meant to them, but they did seem to enjoy the concept. 

"The lecture theatre, full of around 350 white coats, looked quite spectacular and the students sensed that.  However, it wasn't only about the coats. This was hopefully just the start of the students’ ongoing commitment to professionalism as both undergraduates and future pharmacists, and the earlier they engage with the concept of professionalism, the better” she said.

Official proceedings were followed by refreshments in PACE's Level 4 Interaction Space, where students were able to mingle with members of the profession, staff and alumni.

The School will continue to hold an engagement ceremony for each incoming cohort in the future.

Virtual Learning for UQ Pharmacy Students

The UQ School of Pharmacy is amongst a select group of international universities working in collaboration to develop innovative online pharmacy learning resources in a virtual world.

On 22 March, School of Pharmacy academics Ms Jacqueline Bond and Dr Sally Firth, and 4th year honours student Helender Singh, launched the 3D “Pharmatopia” to an excited group of 1st year pharmacy students in one of their pharmaceutical calculations lectures.

Pharmatopia is a virtual island, developed by project leader Monash University, that exists within the online “Second Life” platform.The “land” is divided into 4 zones, each with specific teaching and learning objectives. These include the Manufacturing Zone, Clinical Zone, Community Zone and Industrial Zone. 

The University of Queensland’s contribution to Pharmatopia is a virtual compounding dispensary located in the manufacturing zone.  According to Jacqueline Bond, “This resource allows students to practice pharmaceutical calculations required for the compounding process”. 

Calculations are presented as prescriptions from virtual patients, phone enquiries or ‘chats’ with virtual nurses, doctors and patients.  Students select the required ingredients from an extensive selection of drugs and raw materials and measure out the correct amount or provide other dosage related data as prompted. 

“It’s a much more fun way to learn calculations than the way we were traditionally taught and it’s been a very exciting project to develop. ” Ms Bond said.

Honours student, Ms Helender Singh has been conducting an evaluation of Pharmatopia as part of her Honours project. “One of the real strengths of the UQ Pharmatopia compounding laboratory is that students can work in whatever location they choose. Whether this is in the classroom, library or home, students can complete as many exercises as they want in a safe, anonymous and non-judgemental environment.” Ms Singh said.

The virtual environment provides real-time feedback on a student’s progress, and allows students to practice an exercise many times without consuming actual resources, occupying laboratory space or needing the guidance of a tutor.

The online platform also allows for communication between students within the virtual environment, providing an opportunity to work together to solve problems.

The Pharmatopia project brings together expertise from each of the collaborators in a shared practice model, in which each university builds a teaching module on the virtual world, and then shares it with the rest of the Pharmatopia community.

Collaborators include:

• Monash University, Australia
• University of Sydney, Australia
• University of London, UK
• Nottingham University, UK
• University of Keele, UK
• Uppsala University, Sweden
• University of Copenhagen, Denmark
• University of North Carolina, USA
• University of Kansas, USA

“The project is currently in its Beta phase, and will continue to expand as new practice environments are added, but it seems that the sky is the limit for this revolutionary new learning model” said Dr Sally Firth, lecturer at UQ School of Pharmacy.

Pictured above left: The UQ School of Pharmacy's contribution to Pharmatopia, a virtual compounding dispensary.
Pictured above right: The avatar of Pharmacy honours student Ms Helender Singh, at work in the compounding dispensary.

School Launches Pharmacy Futures Appeal

The School of Pharmacy has launched the Pharmacy Futures Appeal, a fundraising venture aimed at supporting scholarships and research at the School.

The appeal, formulated in collaboration with distinguished members of the School’s alumni, seeks funding to:

• assist the School in establishing scholarships for talented students who may need financial assistance to study pharmacy at UQ, and
• to support our research programs, accelerating their progress and enabling patients to benefit from the research at the earliest possible opportunity.

The School of Pharmacy has focused on meeting the needs of our profession by providing excellent education and conducting effective research over the past 50 years.

As we embark on the next 50 years, we look to members of the profession, our alumni, to support the School's vision for students and research, helping to shape the future of Pharmacy.

Why Give?

The power of investing in our alma mater is possibly the most inspiring and engaging way to contribute to the School of Pharmacy.

When our alumni decide to invest in pharmacy at UQ, it is a statement made to the world that we believe in our University.

When drawn together in a common cause, our alumni are a formidable force – your talents and connections will strengthen our University and influence the world.

Help us establish scholarships for talented students who may not have the financial means to study pharmacy at UQ.

Support our research programs to accelerate their progress and enable patients to benefit from the research sooner.

To discover how you can make a difference, visit: www.uq.edu.au/pharmacy/giving.  

Further Information & Enquiries

Please contact:

• Fiona Sutton
  Advancement Manager
  Phone: 07 3346 5316
  Email: f.sutton@uq.edu.au

UQ Health Care Clinic Opens at PACE

The newest UQ Health Care Clinic opened its doors within the PACE precinct in February 2011.

The clinic, which occupies a purpose-built space on Level 4 of PACE, will help deliver high-quality care for patients, new opportunities for health professionals and excellent training for UQ Pharmacy students.

The services provided by the clinic are based on research that shows that when health professionals with diverse expertise work together, their patients have better outcomes.

The unique UQ Health Care Clinics model is a proven success, with the joint UQ – Queensland Health Inala Primary Care Centre facility winning the 2009 Royal Australian College of General Practitioners “Practice of the Year” award.

Importantly, UQ Health Clinics will help student health professionals understand the high value of interdisciplinary teamwork, and offer them experience in primary care research.

Professor Nick Shaw, Pharmacy Head of School said “Our students will have the opportunity of front line learning in a professional context; they will be able to join pharmacists and become involved in a pharmacy functioning within an integrated inter-disciplinary healthcare team environment”.

The clinic not only offers the services of GPs, pharmacists and nurses, but a host of allied health professionals and services such as pathology.
For more information visit the UQ Health Care Clinic website.

Open Day to Showcase PACE

The School of Pharmacy is hosting its 2nd Annual Open Day for secondary school students, parents, teachers and guidance officers on Sunday 28 August, 2011.

The event, to be held at PACE, will allow students to get a taste of what studying a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree at UQ is like.

High school students years 9 - 12, mature aged students, parents, guardians and career advisors are invited along to take part in a series of activities which will include:

• Seminars detailing entry requirements and what's involved in study
• Tours of the PACE precinct
• Practical exercises in a real teaching lab
• Dispensing and patient counseling exercises
• Meet and greet with current students
• Free BBQ lunch

The event will run from 10:00am to 1:00pm, followed by a BBQ lunch with our staff and current students. Free parking is available in our covered car park.

Registration for the event is essential.

For further information and to register, please visit www.uq.edu.au/pharmacy/openday prior to 20 August.

High Achieving Students Honoured

The School of Pharmacy held its annual awards evening on 14 April.

The event celebrated student excellence in the 2010 academic year, with 26 prizes being presented to students across all years of the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, as well as the Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy programs.

Held at PACE, the awards evening incorporated students, their family, partners and friends, as well as staff, alumni, distinguished guests from the industry, and prize sponsors.

The School of Pharmacy would like to thank its generous sponsors:

• Agilent Technologies
• Alphapharm
• Amgen
• Guild Insurance
• Pharmaceutical Defence Limited
• Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
• Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia
• The Estate of Miss Eleanor Chalmers
• The Hildegard Reuther Memorial
• The Pharmacy Interests Women's Group
• Think Pharmacy

Congratulations to all this year's winners:

If you are interested in sponsoring and naming a student award in 2012, please contact:

• Stephanie Dunn
  Phone: 07 3346 1926
  Email: s.dunn@uq.edu.au

Pictured above right: A historic moment as Dr Lynne Emmerton, who received the the Hildegard Reuther Memorial Prize 25 years ago, meets this years winner, Ms Amy Baillie.

Graduate Recognised for Research Excellence

Recent School of Pharmacy PhD graduate, Dr Ashley Wilkinson, is amongst a group of UQ graduates who have been recognised with the Dean’s Award for Research Higher Degree Excellence.

Introduced in 1998 by the UQ Graduate School, these awards formally acknowledge PhD and MPhil graduates who receive unanimous commendations from their external examiners and advisors for a substantial contribution to their field of research.

Dean of the Graduate School, Professor Zlatko Skrbis, said no more than 10 percent of research higher degree graduates were recognised in this way each year.

“These students represent some of UQ’s best, brightest and most promising RHD graduates,” said Professor Skrbis.

Recipient and Three Minute Thesis competition runner-up, Dr Ashley Wilkinson (pictured), said she was extremely flattered to be among the awardees.

“My RHD experience has been invaluable for my current research work at the Princess Alexandra Hospital,” Dr Wilkinson said.

“I’ve learned specific techniques that I can use for my research. I’ve also gained confidence and skills in giving presentations, multi--tasking,undertaking literature reviews and analysing research results.”

Dr Wilkinson now works in the Centre for Kidney Disease Research at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

For more information about research opportunities at The School of Pharmacy, visit www.uq.edu.au/pharmacy/research-higher-degrees

Pharmacy Scoops University Medal Trifecta

Three outstanding 2010 graduates from the School of Pharmacy have been announced as University Medallists.

Congratulations go to Ms Kara Marcano, Ms Jennifer Deuis and Ms Thi-My-Uyen Nguyen.

The award of a University Medal recognises the achievement of outstanding academic results throughout the student's program of study.

To be considered for a University Medal, a student must have been awarded a bachelor degree with first class honours and have demonstrated academic excellence.

Currently, a minimum GPA of at least 6.55 including all courses contributing to the relevant program is required, and only the top 1% of bachelor degree graduates in the relevant faculty may be nominated.

Speaking about her medal, Ms Marcano said "Receiving this award is a great honour, and I would like to thank my honours supervisor, Dr Ben Ross, as well as all the fantastically helpful lecturers who were always happy to answer my questions. It is wonderful to have all my hard work recognised in this way."

The 3 recipients graduated in December, after completing the optional on-course honours component of the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree.

• Ms Kara Marcano
  Supervisor: Dr Ben Ross
  Honours Project:"Synthesis of a sulfated peptide glycodendrimer"
  
  
• Ms Jennifer Deuis
  Supervisor: Dr Pete Cabot
  Honours Project: "Effects of a novel peptide opioid agonist on nociception"
  
  
• Ms Thi-My-Uyen Nguyen
  Supervisor: Lynne Emmerton
  Honours Project: "Altering dosage forms - perspectives of health professionals"

Pictured: Ms Jennifer Deuis and Ms Kara Marcano, with the School of Pharmacy's Dr Pete Cabot, on graduation day.

1st Year Students Awarded Pharmacy Bursary

The School of Pharmacy's annual Foundation Year Bursary has been awarded to Ms Chi Tran & Mr Vo Tuan Kiet.

The bursary, valued at $3000 each, is awarded to a student/s who has completed the UQ Foundation Year in 2010, and commenced the Bachelor of Pharmacy in 2011.

The foundation year program, delivered by International Education Services (IES) in Brisbane, provides a bridge between secondary (high school) studies and undergraduate study for international students.

To find out more about the Foundation Year Bursary, visit www.uq.edu.au/pharmacy/undergraduate-scholarships

Prestigious Fellowship for A/Prof. Ross McGeary

The School of Pharmacy's A/Prof. Ross McGeary was recently awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (FRACI), after having been promoted to Associate Professor in 2010.

A/Prof. McGeary holds a joint appointment between the UQ School of Pharmacy and the UQ School of Molecular & Microbial Sciences, where his research group is based.

The research activities of the group centre on synthetic organic chemistry, biological chemistry and medicinal chemistry. Projects within the group encompass a range of areas, from biologically-oriented chemistry, mainstream synthetic methodology, through to physical organic chemistry. 

The group has strong collaborative links with researchers from other Schools and Institutions within the University of Queensland, and internationally.

For further information, visit A/Prof. McGeary's profile at www.uq.edu.au/pharmacy/ross-mcgeary or www.scmb.uq.edu.au/academicstaff/mcgeary

Pharmacy Students Go Rural

UQ Bachelor of Pharmacy students took part in a rural visit program in March.

The Rural and Indigenous Awareness Activities program is an annual event that takes place in Semester 1, and has been designed to give students an awareness of the issues and complexities faced by pharmacists in rural areas. 

Some students attended a rural focused trip, which saw them travel to various towns in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, including Maleny, Beerwah, Mooloolah, Landsborough and Glasshouse, visiting community pharmacies.

Other students participated in an indigenous awareness activity, which took them to Stradbroke Island, where they met with local indigenous leaders. This option catered for only 30 lucky students, and focused on the culture and beliefs of the indigenous people of Australia.

"Rural and indigenous awareness was introduced so that all students get an opportunity to reflect on possible future rural practice through a visit to a rural area." said Dr Therese Kairuz, Senior Lecturer at the School of Pharmacy.

"The students consider aspects that may influence their professional and personal lives.

"The visits are followed by the completion of a pharmacy-based  rural case study which they present to their peers during a tutorial session.  The rural awareness paves the way for students to undertake a (voluntary) rural weeklong placement.

"UQ acknowledges funding through the Pharmacy Guild of Australia for aspects of the activities and placements."

Photo: Courtesy of Ms Quynh Bui, 3rd Year Bachelor of Pharmacy student

Academic Travel Award for Mr Wong Taing

Wong Taing, a PhD candidate in the Calcium Signalling in Cancer Research Laboratory, was recently awarded an Academic Travel Award to travel to the 17th Annual Society for Biomolecular Sciences (SBS) Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida on 27 March.

SBS aims to bring together scholars, academics and industry partners from around the world who share an interest in high throughput drug discovery techniques.

Wong was one of seven applicants accepted for the International Academic Travel Award.

“I had the privilege of presenting my work as a poster presentation and also to compete for a student poster award. It is particularly important for me to network with other scientists, other academics and industry partners at this stage of my PhD.” Wong said.

“Because my research involves high content imaging studies, attendance at this conference allowed me to keep up with the latest developments in these methods, which are mostly used in the pharmaceutical industry.”

"I would like to thank my supervisors A/Prof. Greg Monteith, A/Prof. Ralf Dietzgen, Prof. Nick Shaw, Prof. Mike Gidley and Prof. Sarah Roberts-Thomson for their ongoing support and guidance.”

Wong was provided with airfares, accommodation, as well as full conference registration for the event. He used this opportunity to explore Orlando city, and travel to Washington to attend the 2011 Experimental Biology conference afterwards.

Pictured: Wong Taing at the 2010 calcium signalling in cancer research laboratory retreat (Courtesy of A/Prof. Gregory Monteith)

PhD Candidate Attends Medicinal Chemistry Symposium, Sweden

PhD candidate, Mr Manoj Kumar Palanivelu, participated in the 5th Anglo-Swedish Medicinal Chemistry Symposium in Are, Sweden from 20 to 23 March.

The symposium was attended by international delegates from academia and industry and comprised a series of lectures on drug discovery and drug development. 

Speaking about the symposium, Manoj said “It was an excellent opportunity to present my research results. I received a good response from my peers and many of them offered helpful advice for future experiments.

"The conference was a useful platform for networking and I established new contacts with industrial researchers. 

"I thank my supervisor Dr Ben Ross and School of Pharmacy for providing me with the opportunity to attend the symposium.”

Manoj’s research is focused on the design and development of novel drugs for Alzheimer’s disease and he will complete his PhD later this year.

PhD Candidate Receives Merit Certificate

PhD candidate Mr Venkatesan Moorthy Rao (Venky) attended the 62nd Indian Pharmaceutical Congress held in Manipal, India from 17-19 December 2010. 

The Congress attracted over 9000 delegates with 2800 papers selected for presentation via a thorough peer-review process. 

Venky’s oral presentation, “Effect of extrinsic elements on the fibrillisation of amyloid beta protein Abeta(1-28)” was awarded one of only 14 merit certificates for best papers.
 
“It was a large conference that brought together pharmaceutical scientists from academia and industry within India and internationally.  It was a great opportunity for me to interact with these scientists and I received positive feedback and guidance on my research project." Venky said.

"I was able to establish contacts that will be valuable when I return to India to commence my independent research program.

“I’d like to express my thanks to my advisor Dr Ben Ross for encouragement and the also the Brain Foundation and the School of Pharmacy for co-funding my project.”

Dr Ross’ research group works in the field of Medicinal Chemistry and Venky aims to characterise the structure-activity relationships for a new class of anti-Alzheimer’s drugs called glycosaminoglycan mimetics. For further details visit their website at www.drbenross.com.

Pictured: Mr Moorthy Rao receives a merit certificate from Dr Narendra Kumar Jain, Registrar of Dr Harisingh Gour University, Sagar, India.

Research Degrees the Focus of the Day

The School of Pharmacy hosted it's annual Research Higher Degree (RHD) Day on 17 February. Associate Professor Bruce Charles, the UQ School of Pharmacy Postgraduate Coordinator, chaired the proceedings.

This annual event provides the opportunity for the School of Pharmacy RHD candidates to network with their peers as well as academics and other researchers, allowing them valuable insight into how they can make the most of their research degree candidature.

Several excellent speakers from the UQ Graduate School presented talks on topics related to thesis examination and milestones. Amongst these was UQ Deputy Dean, Professor Sarah Roberts-Thomson, who gave a presentation entitled “Including published work in your research higher degree thesis”.

Participants were also fortunate to hear from a special guest speaker, Dr Jagdev Sidhu, currently the Director of Early Clinical Development at CSL Ltd in Melbourne. Dr Sidhu’s presentation, “The PhD and Pharma industry”, provided our RHD students with a valuable insight into careers within the local and international pharmaceutical industry.

A range of other speakers presented on topics such as, “Organizing and planning your RHD studies” (Dr Lynne Emmerton, UQ School of Pharmacy), and “Success and well being – More than surviving your RHD candidature” (Dr Helen Stallman, UQ School of Pharmacy/School of Medicine).            

Four of our PhD students gave presentations on their experiences as RHD candidates, including Ms Tina Wu, who won the UQ 3-Minute Thesis competition in 2010.

Winners of the UQ School of Pharmacy Research Higher Degree Awards ($1000 each) were announced at the event, with this year’s awards going to:

• Ms Desma Grice (Principal advisors: Prof Sarah Roberts-Thomson, A/Prof Greg Monteith)
  “Golgi calcium pump secretory pathway calcium ATPase 1 (SPCA1) is a key regulator of insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) processing  in the basal-like breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231.” - Published in  Journal of Biological Chemistry, November 2010
  
  
• Ms Yoke Lin Lo (Principal advisor; A/Prof Bruce Charles)
  “Population pharmacokinetics of vancomycin in premature Malaysian neonates: identification of predictors for dosing determination.” – Published in Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy, June 2010

Journal of Biological Chemistry and Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy are very prestigious A* ERA-ranked journals reflecting the extremely high quality of research produced by these very deserving young researchers. The School of Pharmacy congratulates them on their achievement.

To find out more about studying a Research Higher Degree at the School of Pharmacy, visit www.uq.edu.au/pharmacy/research-higher-degrees.

Pictured below: The School of Pharmacy's current RHD cohort attend the 2011 RHD Day at PACE

QUMmap - Add Your Quality Use of Medicines Project Today!

Story courtesy of Dr Remo Ostini

The QUMmap (www.qummap.net.au) is a UQ School of Pharmacy project, in collaboration with the University of South Australia and Monash University, funded by the Department of Health and Ageing since 1998. 

It is a web-based, interactive database of Quality Use of Medicines projects, currently housing 1,557 projects submitted by over 1,000 researchers. 

The web site is searchable, allowing QUM researchers to share their experiences of what works and what doesn't.  Any QUM project is welcome on the QUMmap. 

If you are doing QUM work, put it on the map!  Share your interests, findings and experiences with your colleagues around the country.

Recent projects added to the QUMmap include a project about development of an educational intervention to support informed decisions about new drugs; one about the major bleeding risk associated with warfarin in elderly patients and there are many other recent new additions – almost 200 new projects on the map since November 2010.

Go into the website and have a look – no need for a log on if you are just searching the project database.

Dr Remo Ostini, Professor Susan Tett and Associate Professor Greg Monteith run the QUMmap project from UQ, together with Professor Carl Kirkpatrick from Monash and Associate Professor Libby Roughead from Uni SA.

These collaborators enjoy the opportunity to collate this information for the benefit of all QUM researchers and welcome the chance to meet with new (and old!) QUM researchers at the conferences they attend to promote the QUMmap.

Look for the bright yellow, roll-out poster at the next conference you attend and make sure you join us on www.qummap.net.au . 

Commencing RHD Candidates

Welcome to the following Research Higher Degree candidates who have commenced their PhD:

• Ms Naghmeh H. Asvadi
  Advisors: Associate Professor Allan Coombes, Dr Mark Turner and Associate Professor Nicholas Davis-Poynter
  Project Title: Polymeric matrix devices for controlled delivery of agents to prevent bacterial and viral infection
  
  
• Mr Utpal Bose
  Advisors: Dr Amitha Hewavitharana, Professor Nick Shaw & Professor John Fuerst
  Project Title: Study of the chemical diversity of the actinobacteria genus Salinispora, isolated from Great Barrier Reef Sponges
  
  
• Ms Nematullah (Nemat) Kahn
  Advisors: Professor Maree Smith and Dr Bruce Wyse
  Project Title: Molecular and cellular insights to develop novel therapeutic targets for clinical management of multiple sclerosis-induced neuropathic pain
  
  
• Ms Yassmin Samak
  Advisors: Associate Professor Allan Coombes, Professor Tim Florin and Associate Professor Andrew Barbour
  Project Title: Controlled drug delivery to the colon
  
  
• Mr Dhfer Al Shayban
  Advisors: Associate Professor Neil Cottrell and Dr Adam La Caze
  Project Title: Choosing a drug to lower blood pressure: determining factors that influence patients and prescribers
  
  
• Ms Wendy Thompson
  Advisors: Dr Therese Kairuz, Dr Clair Hughes and Ms Christy Noble
  Project Title: Exploring and addressing the challenges of preparing students to become life-long learners
  
  
• Dr Angela Williams
  Advisors: Associate Professor Bruce Charles, Associate Professor Ross Norris, Dr Helen Liley and Dr Rod Hunt
  Project Title: Pharmacokinetics of selected anticonvulsant medications in newborn infants with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy undergoing treatment with therapeutic hypothermia

Graduating PhD Candidates

Congratulations to the following students, who have been awarded their PhD:

• Dr Joanne Bradbury
  Date Awarded: 17/03/2011
  Project Title: The use of repertory grid technique in heart failure: A novel method to determine patients' understanding and beliefs of their medicines
  Advisors: Professor Stephen Myers, Dr Lyndon Brooks & Associate Professor Baraber Meyer
  
  
• Dr Yoke Lin Yo
  Date Awarded: 18/04/2011
  Project Title: Towards more effective physiotherapy in critical care patients on sedatives and antibiotics using mixed pharmacokinetics modelling techniques
  Advisors: Associate Professor Bruce Charles & Mr Toong Chow Lee
  
  
• Dr Defang Ouyang
  Date awarded: 28/02/2011
  Project Title: The rational design, synthesis and evaluation of non-viral gene delivery systems based on computer aided drug design
  Advisors: Dr Harry Parekh & Professor Sean Smith
  

Alumni Spotlight - Dr Defang Ouyang

Lecturer in Pharmaceutics
School of Life & Health Sciences
Aston University
Birmingham, UK

Just months after completing his PhD at the School of Pharmacy, Dr Defang Ouyang has been appointed as Lecturer in Pharmaceutics at Aston University in the UK.

Dr Ouyang completed his BSc (Pharmacy) and MSc (Pharmacy) at Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China, completing in 2005.

He was awarded his PhD from UQ on 28 February this year, with his research project entitled The rational design, synthesis and evaluation of non-viral gene delivery systems based on computer aided drug design, supervised by Dr Harry Parekh and Professor Sean Smith.

Soon after, Dr Ouyang relocated to the UQ, where he began his position at Aston University.

"The academic life is quite different from that of a PhD." said Dr Ouyang.

"For example, I now need to look after my lab setup, as well as independently deal with the teaching, research, collaboration and grant application in the new position. This is a big change compared to just focusing on my PhD project.

"It has been a challenging transition process, but I enjoy the academic life. My PhD training at the School of Pharmacy has equipped me to be an independent researcher and  I very much appreciate the supervision and help of my PhD supervisors, Dr. Harry Parekh and Prof. Sean Smith." he said.

Dr Ouyang's research focus is computational drug delivery/pharmaceutics, which will combine experimental approaches and computer modelling technique to explore the mechanisms of drug delivery and then develop novel drug delivery systems, including:

• Improving the solubility of poor-soluble drugs by experimental approaches and computer simulation
• Stability of protein/peptide formulations using physicochemical methods and computer simulation
• Gene delivery in eye diseases using biological approaches and computer simulation

Selected Publications:

• D. Ouyang, H.Zhang, H. Parekh and S.C. Smith, Structure and Dynamics of multiple polymers-siRNA Complexation by Molecular Dynamics Study. J. Phys. Chem. B., 2010, 114, 9231–9237
• D. Ouyang, H.Zhang, D.Herten, H. Parekh and S.C. Smith, Structure, Dynamics and Energetics of siRNA-Cationic Vector Complexation: A Molecular Dynamics Study. J. Phys. Chem. B., 2010, 114, 9220–9230.
• D. Ouyang, H.Zhang, D.Herten, H. Parekh and S.C. Smith, “Flexibility of Short-Strand RNA in Aqueous Solution as Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulation: Are A-RNA and A’-RNA Distinct Conformational Structures?” Aust. J. Chem., 2009, 62, 1054-1061.
• D. Ouyang, N. Shah, H. Zhang, S.C. Smith and H. Parekh, “Reducible Disulphide-Based Non-Viral Gene Delivery Systems”, Mini-Rev. Med. Chem., 2009, 9, 1242-1250.

For further information, visit Dr Defang Ouyang's profile here: www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/staff/az-index/defang-ouyang/

About the School of Pharmacy Alumni Network

The UQ Pharmacy Alumni Network was established in 2006, in order to re-connect with alumni and foster mutually beneficial links between graduates of the School, the University and the wider community.

The network allows graduates to stay connected with the university and take an active role in the rich university life of UQ through social, educational and intellectual activities

Some of the benefits offered to UQ Alumni include:

• Maintain valuable links with industry, allied health professionals, community organisations, fellow alumni and UQ
• Networking with past students, staff and industry professionals through invitations to alumni functions, professional seminars and conferences
• Opportunities for professional development through invitations to continuing education courses and lectures
• Stay connected with your graduating class through reunions, social events, school newsletters and Graduate Contact magazine
• Reduced rates for library access
• Email for life
• Continued access to UQ Employment Services
• Reduced rates for internet access via UQ Connect
• Reduced rates for membership of UQ Sport
• Membership of the UQ Staff and Graduates Club

The Alumni network is open to all graduates of The University of Queensland's School of Pharmacy. Associate membership is now being offered to current students as well. Membership is free, and you can request to leave the network at any time. To register for membership, or to update your details, please click on the button to the right. Click to update your details

Alumni Network Enquiries:

• Ms Stephanie Dunn
  UQ Pharmacy Alumni Coordinator
  Phone | 07 3346 1926
  Email | s.dunn@uq.edu.au

2011 Class Reunions - Start Spreading the Word!

The School of Pharmacy Alumni Network will run another round of class reunions during 2011.

2011 Reunions will include:

• 40 Year Reunion | Class of 1970 & 71 | 13 August 2011
  
  
• 30 Year Reunion | Class of 1980 & 81 | 10 September 2011
  
  
• 20 Year Reunion | Class of 1990 & 91 | 08 October 2011
  
  
• 10 Year Reunion | Class of 2000 & 01 | 19 November 2011

Reunions will be held at the School of Pharmacy's new home, the Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence. As well as enjoying the party, guests will have the option of a guided tour of the facility.

Date claimer letters and emails will be sent soon, so update your details (please include an email address) to be sure you don't miss out!