Meet PhD student Chaw Thwe, exploring how sunlight may have shaped genetic risk of multiple sclerosis. Using landscape genomics, she’s found evidence some immune genes adapted to UV exposure, opening new perspectives on the disease. #MSResearch #Genomics #PhDLife #MenziesResearch #WomenInSTEM

On Friday our MS Research Flagship hosted its 5th Research with Connections symposium in Hobart, a fantastic event bringing together researchers, people living with MS and the wider MS community 🙌

Prof Alty and Prof Callisa led their teams -from the Wicking Dementia Centre and here at Menzies- to develop the Parkinson’s MOOC, for which they received the WPC Distinguished Collaborative Research Award! Discover their work here mooc.utas.edu.au/course/20392 & here parkinsons.utas.edu.au

Congratulations to Professors Jane Alty and Michele Callisaya, whose work has been honoured at the 7th World Parkinson Coalition Awards. Combining their medical expertise, research excellence, allied health knowledge, and lived experience, they have collaborated to make a meaningful difference.

We're hiring up to five new senior research fellows 🔬 Join one of Australia’s leading medical research institutes and play a key role in delivering world-class research that improves the lives of Tasmanians and delivers global impact. Read more here 👉 careers.utas.edu.au/cw/en/job/50...

May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month, and our researchers are helping to organise the Hobart leg of the Australian Action on Preeclampsia’s (AAPEC) Walk for Preeclampsia day on Sunday, 24 May. Join the walk and support the 1 in 20 women are diagnosed with preeclampsia. Details below!

In part two of our Menzies student experience series, Alumnus Dr Xin Lin and first-year PhD Student Luca Brodribb share their perspectives on studying at Menzies as domestic research students.

Hear from past and current students about their time at Menzies and why they chose to join a community working to create better health and better lives for Tasmanians. Want to study with us? Find out more: www.utas.edu.au/menzies/study

🎓 What can rare genetic differences teach us about #multiplesclerosis? #PhD student Himanshu Saraswat studies families with multiple people affected by MS looking for shared biological pathways to reveal missing heritability 📷 Himanshu (R) with supervisor Dr Nick Blackburn @nickomatics.bsky.social

🎓 Meet Mohammed Obsa, PhD student at Menzies. His research explores how pain is managed in people with MS - what treatments are used, what works best, and how cost affects care. Proud to have him in our research community 👏 📷 Mohammed with supervisor Prof Ingrid van der Mei #PhD #multiplesclerosis

🎓✨ As she completes her PhD at Menzies Surbhi Agarwal (left, with supervisor Dr Fletcher) has explored how brain immune responses contribute to multiple sclerosis. She plans to continue in neuroscience research to better understand how the immune system affects diseases of the brain, including MS.

💬Join us in person or online on 9th April for an engaging seminar to celebrate World Parkinson's Day. The seminar is a collaboration @wickingdementia.bsky.social and Parkinson's Tas. Details in the comments 👇

Menzies supporter Clare Reilly is taking on the 1,000km Munda Biddi Trail in WA in an off‑road wheelchair. Living with MS, Clare’s “Wheelchair meets wilderness” challenge is raising funds for MS research. Good luck on your extraordinary adventure Clare! Learn more: www.utas.edu.au/about/news-a...

A 2025 study by our Cardiovasuclar Research Flagship found people in lower socio-economic groups face a 33% higher risk of stroke. The encouraging news is that around 80% of strokes are preventable & modifiable lifestyle factors play a major role. #CardiovascularHealth #UTAS #Brainawarenessweek

It is Brain Awareness Week, an important opportunity to highlight the impact of stroke, which occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blocked or burst artery. Tassie faces significant challenges with the highest per capita incidence of stroke in Australia #cardiovascularhealth #UTAS

Great things happen when Tasmanians putt their hearts into it! ⛳ A sincere thank you to Ratho Farm and the Bothwell community who are donating the proceeds of their annual golf fundraiser to our Multiple Sclerosis and Cardiovascular flagships. ❤️‍🩹

What does good care look like when cure is not possible? Our researchers share their insights on maintaining connection, independence and identity after a life-changing diagnosis in the latest Island of Ideas recording. Watch it here 🔗 www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gm5...

🎉We’re underway with a major national project to improve Parkinson’s care — addressing the world’s fastest‑growing neurological condition. Prof Michele Callisaya is leading a team to adapt the proven ParkinsonNet model for regional communities #Parkinsons #HealthResearch

Our devil facial tumour team has been fortunate to work with the University of Cambridge to advance understanding of the genetics. We hosted Prof Elizabeth Murchison Cambridge — on the left w Menzies researchers Dr Ruth Pye and A/Prof Andy Flies— who shared valuable insights with our researchers.

🎙️ Hear our MS Research Flagship's Dr Julie Campbell & Prof Bruce Taylor on MS Australia’s Raw Nerve podcast as they unpack findings from their new report Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence and Health Economic Impact in Australia 2025. 🎧 Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/4wmi... #employment #qualityoflife

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Jon Kudelka. A longstanding and valued supporter of Menzies, Jon will be fondly and gratefully remembered by us, and his legacy continues through the research he has helped fund. Our heartfelt thoughts are with his family and friends.

💡👏 On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrate our PhD candidate Kimiya Padidar. She is a heart health researcher dedicated to inspiring the next generation of women and girls in science. Read about her journey from Iran to Tasmania here: tinyurl.com/4a7ajndh

🐾 Congratulations to our Devil Immunology Group, featured in the cover story of Australian Geographic 🎉🌿 Our researchers are developing solutions to increase survival rates of our much-loved faunal emblem. Read the full story here 🔗 www.australiangeographic.com.au/.../saving-o...

Is it MS or something else? New research led by our MS Research Flagship's Dr Nicholas Blackburn @nickomatics.bsky.social and Dr Bennet McComish @drmcstrange.bsky.social examined whether rare genetic conditions are being mistaken for MS. The answer may surprise you. www.utas.edu.au/about/news-a...

💬💡Come along to Island of Ideas: Beyond Cure, a free, thought-provoking discussion on the future of care for people with progressive health conditions. Ticket are free but limited. Register now so you don't miss out! www.utas.edu.au/events/2026/...

Did you see our researchers on ABC yesterday? Check it out www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

Survival rate of cardiac arrest in Australia is approx 10%, but with CPR and an AED, it can jump to 60–70%! Tassie has a ⬆️incidence of cardiac arrests, but ⬇️rate of bystander intervention. To save a life: ✅ Recognise a cardiac arrest ✅ Call 000 ✅ Start CPR ✅ Find an AED - it's simple to use!

New Year, new skills? Do you know how to perform CPR or use an AED? If not, why not make it a goal for 2026! Our Cardiovascular Research Flagship team have re-released Shock Verdict – this powerful yet fun video featuring the cast of ABC’s Rake ➡ www.utas.edu.au/.../cardiovascular.../shock-verdict

☀️ Have you checked out the Summer edition of our quarterly Bulletin yet? ➡️ lnkd.in/gSaFvuZr We’ve packed it with highlights from some of our favourite events and exciting projects we're working on!

📢 Our final MS Research Flagship newsletter for 2025 is here! It’s packed with insights and updates you won’t want to miss: ✅ Cost of MS in Australia ✅ Global collaborations in action ✅ Digital innovation spotlight ✅ New research on sleep and MS. 👉 Read it in full here: bit.ly/4a70zTx

We are enormously proud of our very own Professor Bruce Taylor who received the 2025 MS Research Award at MS Australia's Progress in #MultipleSclerosis Research Conference last week in Brissy. MS Australia: "His work has shaped much of what we know about MS today." #MSresearchconf2025 📷MS Australia

Thanks to our MS Flagship's Mustafa Kamal, Bennet McComish (@drmcstrange.bsky.social) Laura Laslett (@lauralaslettphd.bsky.social) + Tadeg Amale for sharing their research posters on gender-based income gaps for people with MS, sleep disorders in MS and more at last week's #MSResearchConf2025 👏

Presenting their research posters at MS Australia's #MSResearchConf2025 were our MS Flagship's Mohammed Obsa, Bec Banham, Glen Henson + Valery Fuh-Ngwa. Their projects covered everything from evaluating MS treatment effectiveness to NDIS participation influences for people with #multiplesclerosis

👏 Congratulations to Dr Holly Emery @utas.edu.au for her standout presentation at MS Australia’s #MSResearchConf2025 in Brisbane! She shared insights from her important research into how changes in psychosocial factors shape self-concept in people with #MultipleSclerosis

Dr Alice Saul captivated a full room of MS community members, plus many tuning in via livestream, at MS Australia’s #MSResearchConf2025, sharing her work on identifying pain type profiles in people with #MultipleSclerosis.

What an incredible showing from @utas.edu.au Menzies and Tassie-based MS community members at MS Australia’s #MSResearchConf2025 in Brisbane! With the theme Causes | Care | Cures it was an inspiring few days of sharing #MultipleSclerosis research, knowledge, sparking ideas and building connections 🧠

Dr Nicholas Blackburn (@nickomatics.bsky.social) of our MS Research Flagship, and session chair at #MSResearchConf2025, expertly sets the scene for a deep dive into genetics, neurobiology and the disease mechanisms of #multiplesclerosis on day two of MS Australia's conference in Brisbane.

How does sleep quality affect work productivity for Australians living with #MultipleSclerosis? Professor van der Mei from our MS Research Flagship shares key findings from her research, including the potential benefit of developing a sleep intervention, at #MSResearchConf2025

Congrats to our PhD student Panteha Khaledi on her fantastic presentation at MS Australia’s #MSResearchConf2025! Her work, in collaboration with QIMR Berghofer, explores T cell immunity and Epstein-Barr virus in #MultipleSclerosis, and reveals exciting progress in understanding this complex disease.

"Multiple sclerosis is costing Australians more than $3b a year and number of people with MS up 77% since 2010" - Professor Bruce Taylor presents about the Health Economic Impact of MS in Australia report at MS Australia's Progress in MS Research Conference #MSResearchConf2025 #MS #multiplesclerosis

👏 Huge congratulations to Dr Yi Chao Foong @ycfoong.bsky.social from our MS Research Flagship! On the final day of #PACTRIMS in Osaka 🇯🇵 he shared his important work on treating older people with #multiplesclerosis based on real-world data from the MSBase registry 🌏 #MSResearch #PACTRIMS2025

Professor Bruce Taylor from our #MS Research Flagship is in Osaka 🇯🇵 for the 17th #PACTRIMS Congress! He shared results from TAURUS 2, a phase II randomised controlled clinical trial exploring magnetic brain stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment for #MultipleSclerosis.

We wish to congratulate Michael Whittle, a valued member of our Cardiovascular Research Flagship’s Lived Experience Advisory Group, who was announced last night as the Volunteer of the Year at the National Stroke Awards 2025.

[email protected], from our Cardiovascular Research Flagship, recently represented our team at the Artery Society Conference in Valencia, Spain. She presented her team’s important work on vascular ageing in youth, vital work for understanding and preventing cardiovascular disease late life

Tomorrow is Ride2Work day! Our research shows that a lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for many chronic conditions. But small lifestyle changes like cycling to work is a great way to incorporate physical activity into your day! We are proud to pledge our support to Ride2Work Day 2025

Isis Loos, a PhD candidate with our Cardiovascular Research Flagship, whose research is part of Communities for Walkability project, recently spoke to the U3A, Rosny, sharing data insights into how walking more can shape healthier communities. Sharing our research is an important part of what we do!

🌟 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐌𝐂𝐑 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: 𝐀⁄𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐲 🌟 We’re thrilled to introduce @piptaberlay.bsky.social, Principal Research Fellow and Cancer and Genomics Theme Lead at @menzies-research.bsky.social, @utas.edu.au, and incoming Chair of @aepia.bsky.social

Congrats to Dr Serah Kalpakavadi on delivering her final PhD seminar, under the supervision of Prof Seana Gall in the Cardiovascular Research Flagship! Her research, “Better prediction of stroke through identifying preceding health service encounters,” is part ofan NHMRC-funded grant, STOPstroke.

By bringing together diverse voices, we’re working to ensure scientifically robust AND socially relevant research. These conversations are central to our co-design approach, and places lived experience at the heart of our strategy #CardiovascularResearch #CoDesign #LivedExperience #Researchworkshop

This workshop was 3rd in a series of engagement activities designed to ensure our research is deeply connected to the values, needs, and aspirations of the Tasmanian community—particularly in relation to cardiovascular disease #CoDesign #LivedExperience #Researchworkshop