Former EMCR Committee Members
Dr Andrew BrooksAndrew is a Senior Research Officer at the Institute for Molecular Biology (University of Queensland, Australia) and joined the research group headed by Prof Michael Waters in 2006. Andrew completed his Honours research on Flaviviruses in 1996 at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at James Cook University and then moved the Department of Biochemistry to study Dengue Virus where he completed his PhD in 2002. He then moved to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, USA where he researched the role of Epstein-Barr Virus in oncogenesis. Andrew’s research interests are in cell signalling, oncogenesis, and virology. He is currently investigating the molecular mechanism of Growth Hormone mediated signalling via the Growth Hormone Receptor (GHR), the role of GHR in oncogenesis, and the role of Growth Hormone signalling in liver regeneration. He is also involved in several collaborative projects.
Andrew is a chief investigator on three NHMRC grants with Prof Waters and was previously awarded a UQ Early Career Researcher grant for the establishment of a retroviral and lentiviral system to delivery genes to specific somatic cell types in mice. He is also an associate investigator for a NHMRC project grant awarded to Dr Ulett. Andrew is member of the editorial board of the journal JAK-STAT and is a reviewer for the Journal of Pediatric Biochemistry. Andrew has supervised more than 10 research higher degree students and has lectured in a 3rd year endocrinology course at UQ. He has been a member of the IMB Early Career Researcher Committee since 2007 (president of the committee during 2009) and is part of the IMB Science Ambassador Program.
Dr Ben Chuwen completed his PhD at the Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research at Murdoch University in January 2010 and was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Dr Jeremy Lyle at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania. As an ichthyologist, Ben's work focused on the biological aspects of key fisheries species, such as the Black Bream, and how such biotic variables can change with fishing pressure and/or environmental change. Ben also developed quantitative ecosystem models for estuaries, and published his research in international journals and presented at a number of international and national conferences. Ben had completed the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation's Advance in Seafood Leadership Development Program and was the Tasmanian State representative on the board of the Australian Society for Fish Biology. Ben used to pride himself on being able to effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders and community members to enable the results of his work to be disseminated as widely as possible.
Ben was a founding member of the EMCR Forum in 2011 and joined because he wanted to make a difference. As a passionate scientific researcher with a friendly, easy-going nature, Ben was an advocate for all young scientists, regardless of their professional discipline. With a strong commitment to a healthy work-life balance, Ben wrote in his Forum biography, "I enjoy a balanced work/family life, which I achieve through being as productive as possible during my working time and allowing myself quality time after hours with my family." Ben avidly acknowledged the love and support of his family, and how this helped him juggle the demanding roles as both a young father and an emerging researcher.
On Sunday March 4th 2012, Ben woke with a 'lightning bolt' headache that rapidly became life-threatening. He had a brain arteriovenous malformation since birth which ruptured and caused the first of three severe haemorrhagic strokes. Following multiple surgeries and several weeks in intensive care, Ben passed away peacefully on Friday, April 20th, 2012. He was 37 years old. Our thoughts remain with his family, especially his wife Nicole and their two young daughters Lila and Gracie. As scientists, we know that research groups also spend a lot of time together and what affects one, ultimately affects all. Ben's colleagues at IMAS described him as "a dynamic and enthusiastic young scientist" and they all strongly supported Ben's family throughout this difficult time.
In celebration of Ben's life, commitment and passion for all things science, the Forum holds a Chuwen Keynote address at its national meeting Science Pathways. We all admired Ben's love for both his work and his family, and we all want to make him proud.
Dr Dunstone is an NHMRC CDA fellow in the School of Biomedical Scienes, Monash University. Through the support from ARC funding, Dr Dunstone's work focuses upon Membrane Attack Complex / Perforin (MACPF)-like proteins, a family of proteins that perform key roles in human immunity, including elimination of bacterial pathogens, virally infected cells and pre-cancerous cells. Recently, Michelle’s research revealed the unexpected finding that MACPF proteins are distantly related to a lethal family of toxins more generally associated with and produced by bacteria that cause diseases such as listeriosis and anthrax. This discovery provided long-sought after insight into the shape and mechanism of function of the MACPF family. Dr Dunstone performs this research at Monash University.
In 2009, Michelle was awarded was a recipient of the Young Tall Poppy Science Award 2009. This award aims to recognise the achievements of Australia's outstanding young science researchers working in universities, research institutes and laboratories in private industry, private practice and government organisations. The sciences include physical, biomedical and applied sciences, engineering and biotechnology. Young Tall Poppies have the opportunity to act as ‘ambassadors' for science by encouraging interest in scientific careers and keeping science at the forefront of the public agenda. In the same year, Michelle received the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research which is designed to recognise, reward and encourage excellent early career researchers at Monash University.
Dr Rosemary Keogh is a Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Perinatal Medicine (Pregnancy Research Centre) at the Royal Women’s Hospital and an Honorary Senior Fellow of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne. Her current research focuses on cardiovascular reproductive biology specifically arterial remodelling during pregnancy and the causes of pregnancy complications including pre-eclampsia.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science with Honours, Rosemary worked in diabetes research at the Royal Melbourne Hospital before undertaking her PhD in this area. She then moved overseas to undertake postdoctoral training in the UK (University of Cambridge, Royal Veterinary College and University of London) and the USA (Ohio State University). After a decade overseas, she returned home to her current position at the Royal Women’s Hospital.
Rosemary is a director on the board of the Australian Society for Medical Research and is also a member of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Biochemical Society (UK) and the American Society for Investigative Pathology.
