The Early Career Investigator Committee (ECIC)

 Twitter @ANZBMS_ECIC

 

Definition of an Early Career Investigator

Current higher degree or current researcher within 10 years from the award of a PhD/MD.

 

Mission

The mission of the Early Career Investigator Committee (ECIC), formed in February 2017, is to help shape the future of bone and mineral research in Australia and New Zealand by fostering active engagement of early career investigators within the Australia & New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS), supporting professional development of early career investigators and facilitating interactions between junior and senior members of all disciplines.

 

Objectives

 

Committee

Co-Chairs   

Ayse Zengin and Melissa Cantley

Career Development Representatives 

Laura Laslett, John Kemp, Sarah Hosking

Clinical Training Representatives

Eleanor Thong, Alicia Jones

Communications Representatives 

Melissa Cantley, Victoria Leitch

Events Representatives                            

Ayse Zengin, Marc Sim, Natalie Hyde

ECIC representative to ANZBMS POC

Sabashini Ramchand

 

 

Dr Ayse Zengin

Roles: ECIC Co-Chair, Events

Research Fellow, Bone and Muscle Health Research, Monash University

Researcher Profile: https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/ayse-zengin

Twitter: @DrAyseZ

Email: ayse.zengin@monash.edu

Dr Ayse Zengin is a Research Fellow investigating global musculoskeletal health and diseases – in particular osteoporosis, fracture risk and sarcopenia. Her studies are based in the ageing populations of low-middle income countries (The Gambia, West Africa and India) and Indigenous Australians. Using the latest bone imaging modalities in combination with novel muscle functional assessment (e.g. jumping mechanography) and assessing the effects of lifestyle factors (diet, physical activity, vitamin D), her findings will shed light on the prevalence of these diseases and formulate preventative strategies for the global ageing population.

 

Dr Melissa Cantley

Roles: ECIC Co-Chair, Communications

NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow, Myeloma Research Laboratory, Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide

Researcher Profile: https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/melissa.cantley

Email: melissa.cantley@adelaide.edu.au

Dr Melissa Cantley is a NHMRC Early Career Fellow working in the Myeloma Research Laboratory at the University of Adelaide, located at SAHMRI. Her research interest focuses on targeting bone cells, osteoclasts and osteoblasts to suppress pathogenic bone loss in chronic inflammatory diseases and understanding the role these cells and abnormal bone remodelling processes play in the progression of pre-cancerous stages to the haematological malignancy multiple myeloma.

  

Dr John Kemp

Role: Career Development

NHMRC Leadership Fellow

University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland.

Researcher Profile: http://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/8866

Email: j.kemp2@uq.edu.au

Dr John Kemp is a genetic epidemiologist, and National Health and Medical Research Council Leadership Fellow. His research aims to identify pharmacological targets for osteoporosis intervention by applying innovative statistical and molecular genetic methods to the world’s largest genetic study of osteoporosis.

 

Dr Laura Laslett

Role: Career Development 

Senior Research Fellow, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania. Hobart

Researcher Profile: http://www.utas.edu.au/profiles/staff/menzies/laura-laslett

Email: Laura.Laslett@utas.edu.au

Dr Laura Laslett is a musculoskeletal epidemiologist and NHMRC Early Career Fellow at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania. She completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours), Master of Medical Science and Graduate Diploma of Public Health at the University of Adelaide, before moving to Hobart, Tasmania in 2009. She completed a PhD (Medical Research) at the University of Tasmania in 2013 on correlates, determinants and modifiers of musculoskeletal pain. She has expertise in musculoskeletal pain, clinical trials in osteoarthritis and back pain, and is interested in the role of bone in musculoskeletal health.

 

Dr Sarah Hosking 

Role: Career Development 

Dean’s Research Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria

Researcher profile: https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/sarah-hosking

Twitter: @smhoski 

Email: s.hosking@deakin.edu.au

Dr Sarah Hosking is a postdoctoral research fellow within the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University. Her research focuses on the influence of health literacy in osteoporosis prevention and management. Dr Hosking is currently investigating associations between health literacy and appropriate use of medications to prevent low-trauma fracture.

 

Dr Eleanor Thong

Role: Clinical Training

Consultant Endocrinologist at Monash Health, PhD candidate Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI)

Researcher Profile: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/mchri/about/staff-students/thong

Email: eleanor.thong@monash.edu

Dr Eleanor Thong is an Endocrinologist at Monash Health and PhD candidate at the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation. Her thesis aims to examine the impact of Type 1 diabetes on bone and female reproductive health. Her clinical interests include diabetes, metabolic bone conditions and obesity. Outside of her research and clinical work, Eleanor enjoys teaching and plays an active role in medical undergraduate and physician trainee education.

 

Dr Alicia Jones

Role: Clinical Training

Endocrinology Clinical Fellow (Monash Health, Vic), PhD candidate (Monash University, Vic)

Researcher Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alicia_Jones25

Email: alicia.jones@monash.edu

Dr Alicia Jones is completing her final year of Endocrinology advanced training at Monash Health, and in her first year of a PhD at the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, part of the Monash University School of Population health and Preventative Medicine. Her research is on models of care delivery in osteoporosis, to provide equitable access particularly to people living in rural areas. Clinically she works in general endocrinology clinics and diabetes clinics, and has a particular interest in metabolic bone disease and reproductive health.

 

 

Dr Victoria Leitch

Role: Communications

Research Fellow, Manufacturing, Materials and Mechatronics, RMIT University, Victoria

Researcher Profile: https://www.rmit.edu.au/contact/staff-contacts/academic-staff/l/leitch-dr-victoria

Email: leitch.victoria@gmail.com

Dr Victoria Leitch holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and PhD, completed at the University of Adelaide and a Master of Science Communication with the Australian National University. She has worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate with the Origins of Bone and Disease Project based at Imperial College London, and now works on the Just-in-time implants project at RMIT University, Melbourne. Her research interests include the genetics of bone disorders, thyroid hormone and bone, osseointegration and craniofacial development.

  

Dr Marc Sim

Role: Events

Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Lecturer

School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University

Researcher profile: https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/medical-and-health-sciences/our-staff/profiles/post-doctoral-research-fellows/dr-marc-sim

Twitter @marc_p_sim

Email: marc.sim@ecu.edu.au

Dr Marc Sim is a post-doctoral research fellow and lecturer at Edith Cowan University. His research examines the role of nutrition, physical activity and its impact on body composition, musculoskeletal function and fracture risk in older populations. Marc is an accredited Exercise Scientist and Nutritionist that believes in the fundamental role that physical activity and diet play against disease and its progression.

 

Dr Natalie Hyde

Role: Events

Dean’s Research Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Treatment, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria

Researcher Profile: https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/natalie-hyde

Twitter: @nat_hyde

Email: natalie.hyde@deakin.edu.au

Dr Natalie Hyde is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Epi-Centre for Health Ageing, Deakin University in Geelong, Australia. To date her research has largely focused on the role of maternal vitamin D and offspring health outcomes, with a focus on musculoskeletal health. Currently she is developing a program of research investigating the role of the developmental origins of musculoskeletal health, with a particular focus on various exposures during pregnancy and musculoskeletal health in later life.

 

Dr Sabashini Ramchand

Role: Past Co-Chair and ECIC representative for the ANZBMS Program Organising Committee (POC) 

Consultant Endocrinologist and Research Fellow, Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria

Researcher Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sabashini_Ramchand

Twitter: @SabsRamchand

Email: sabs.ramchand@gmail.com

Dr Sabashini Ramchand is an endocrinologist and clinician researcher. She was awarded her medical degree from the University of Melbourne in 2008 and completed her endocrine training at Austin and Northern Health, Victoria. She is currently undertaking a Ph.D. investigating the skeletal and metabolic effects of oestradiol suppression therapy in premenopausal women with early breast cancer at Austin Health, University of Melbourne. As part of her postgraduate research studies, she is currently undertaking a research fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, United States, with Dr. Ben Leder, evaluating the use of combination therapy (denosumab and PTH) for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Sabashini is committed to improving engagement of early career investigators within the Australian and New Zealand metabolic bone field and enhancing training and engagement of advanced trainees in metabolic bone health.