16 November 2011

University of Queensland researchers from the School of Human Movement Studies have together scooped four of the fourteen prestigious 2011 Australian Sports Medicine Federation Fellows Awards (ASMF Fellow Awards).

The awards were presented at the recent 2011 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport (ACSMS) held in Fremantle, Western Australia, last month.

ASMF Fellow Awards are awarded for research and outstanding achievement and practice in sports medicine, sports science, physical activity promotion and sports injury prevention.

Winners are chosen following careful consideration by the Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport (ACSMS) Conference and Judging Committee.

UQ winners of ASMF Fellows Awards:

>Asics Best Paper – Physical Activity and Health Promotion ($2000)
Wendy Brown, School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland
"Physical activity and all-cause mortality in older women and men"
Co-Authors: D. McLaughlin, J. Leung, L. Flicker, O. Almeida, G. Hankey, D. Lopez, K. McCaul & A. Dobson

>Ken Maguire Award for Best New Investigator – Clinical Sports Medicine ($2000)
Kassia Weston, School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland
"Contribution of autonomic dysfunction to abnormal exercise blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus"
Co-Authors: J. Sacre & J. Coombes

>John Sutton Award for Best New Investigator – Exercise and Sports Science ($2000)
Tina Skinner, University of Queensland
"Does coinciding exercise onset with peak caffeine levels improve cycling performance?"
Co-Authors: D. Taaffe, M. Leveritt, J. Coombes & D. Jenkins

>Wendy Ey, Women in Sport Award ($500)
Wendy Brown, School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland
"Physical activity, sitting and weight gain in Australian women"
Co-Authors: R. Hockey & A. Dobson

PhD student Phil Melville was awarded a 2011 Sports Medicine Australia Research Foundation grant of $2000 to provide support for his PhD studies on hip injuries in waterpolo.

Head of School, Professor Doune Macdonald said the awards reflected the depth of talent in the sports medicine and exercise and sports science fields in the School, and were a positive indication of the quality of research being undertaken.

"I warmly congratulate the winners whose work will contribute to the participation, performance and well-being of Australians engaged in sport and physical activity," she said.

The Australian Sports Medicine Federation Fellows Awards started in 1985 initiated by The Order of A.S.M.F. Fellows (established in 1984). The Fellows are the elite group within Sports Medicine Australia.

The Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport (ACSMS) is a multidisciplinary meeting held every year for professionals with an interest or involvement in sports medicine, sports science, physical activity promotion and sports injury prevention.

The theme of this year’s conference was "Optimising Health and Fitness – Participation, Prevention and Performance".

Details: online.

Media: Caroline Day on 3365 6764.