The Governor meeting with researchers from the Spinnaker Health Research Foundation Governor visits the Harry Perkins Institute and Spinnaker Health Research Foundation November 9, 2020 By Adele Hollywood The Governor visited the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Spinnaker Health Research Foundation to receive an update on the research being conducted to improve health for the Western Australian community. Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research The Governor was greeted by Professor Peter Leedman – Director and Hon Wayne Martin AC QC – Chair and introduced to Dr Biyanka Jaltotage who has been awarded a Registrar Research Fellowship to investigate whether heart scans of high-risk patients could contain life-saving clues. Dr Jaltotage will undertake a retrospective analysis of more than 400 heart scans of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) – an inherited condition that puts individuals at heightened risk of an early heart attack. The focus of his analysis will be on perivascular (fat that surrounds the arteries) and plaque that has built up inside the coronary arteries of these high-risk patients. The hope is that the research could lead to more targeted treatments for those most at risk as well as further trials in other populations at high risk of heart attacks, including diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis patients. Professor Peter Leedman – Director, Professor Girish Dwivedi – Laboratory Head and Dr Biyanka Jaltotage – Fiona Stanley Hospital researcher The Governor then met with Dr Kennedy, who is Head of the Bioimaging Research and Innovation for Translational Engineering Lab (BRITElab). He and his team of researchers from the Harry Perkins Institute and The University of Western Australia have developed a new way to more accurately detect breast cancer in patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery. The team combined an imaging technique that uses light waves to generate three-dimensional images of tissue, optical coherence tomography, with one that produces three-dimensional maps of tissue elasticity, micro-elastography. Cancer cells are stiffer than benign tissue and by measuring the elasticity of the tissue, the team could more accurately detect cancer cells surrounding the area where the tumour was removed. Associate Professor Brendan Kennedy explaining to the Governor about elastography Spinnaker Health Research Foundation Dr Shail Mehta started by showing the Governor some of the cutting edge equipment used at Spinnaker for newborns and then spoke about the research he is undertaking. His studies look at how pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes and a high BMI can set their child up for future health woes: inflammation can alter the immune and gut microbiome settings and “program your body and immune system to be prone to getting long term complications.” This study will look at restoring a baby’s gut microbiome, especially after having been exposed to antibiotics very early in life. Dr Shail Mehta showing the Governor some of the cutting edge medical equipment used at Spinnaker The Governor then visited with heart and lung research and clinician Warren Pavey. He spoke about the focus of the transplant program being cutting edge and delivering high level results, technology and treatment to the people of WA. Cardiac Anaesthetist – Warren Pavey explained the technology of the TransMedics ‘heart in a box’. Organ Care System Heart is a portable, warm perfusion, and monitoring system designed to keep a donor heart at a human-like, metabolically active state. By monitoring key parameters of the functioning heart, physicians may use their medical judgement to assess a potentially suitable heart’s condition and viability. Cardiac Anaesthetist – Warren Pavey showing the Governor the TransMedics device Lastly, the Governor met with Professor Bu Beng Yeap. His research focuses on epidemiological and clinical studies of hormones and health outcomes in men, and the interaction between hormones, diabetes and cardiovascular risk. He has major interests in testosterone in male ageing, the relationship between testosterone and cardiovascular risk in middle-aged and older men, and the interaction between obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular risk. Professor Yeap explained he was an investigator in the Testosterone for the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T4DM) study, an Australia-wide randomised controlled trial of testosterone to prevent or revert type 2 diabetes in men. Professor Bu Beng Yeap MBBS, FRACP, PhD speaking about Men’s Health and Testosterone Study “This was a great opportunity to see the fascinating research being undertaken at Fiona Stanley Hospital through research institutes Harry Perkins and Spinnaker. Their focus on heart disease, breast cancer, development of new elastography equipment that provide instant reading of cancerous tissue during surgery, issues relating to premature babies, in-depth look at men’s health relating to age and testosterone levels and progress with heart and lung organ transplant technology makes these institutes some of the best in Australia.” The Governor The Governor is proud to be patron of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Spinnaker Health Research Foundation Post navigation Governor hosts Western Australian Aboriginal Leadership Institute GraduationGovernment House hosts reception for Fremantle Press View all Articles
