Work-based wellness programs may not make us healthier but we think they do

Publicly released: Wed 27 May 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

A  trial of a two year workplace wellness program has shown no benefit on health measurements, medical diagnoses, or medical use, but it did improve employees' beliefs about their own health. The randomised controlled trial conducted in the US Read more about Work-based wellness programs may not make us healthier but we think they do

Preparing for a COVID-19 vaccine roll-out

Publicly released: Wed 27 May 2020 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

As the world waits for a COVID-19 vaccine, Perth researchers are getting one step ahead – embarking on a new study designed to prepare parents and government for a potential Australia-wide vaccination program. Funded thanks to generous support Read more about Preparing for a COVID-19 vaccine roll-out

New approach to stress out cancer cells is effective in ovarian cancer

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 1900 AEST | 2100 NZST

Nature Communications

Overall survival from ovarian cancer has not improved for several decades. Now, scientists from Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, John Curtin School of Medical Research and Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research have discovered a new Read more about New approach to stress out cancer cells is effective in ovarian cancer

Scientists synthesise anti-inflammatory tick spit protein for first time

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 1800 AEST | 2000 NZST

PNAS

The evasin protein found in tick saliva offers a promising pathway for anti-inflammatory medicine, according to Australian researchers. Read more about Scientists synthesise anti-inflammatory tick spit protein for first time

EXPERT REACTION: WHO suspends hydroxychloroquine trial amid safety fears

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 1400 AEST | 1600 NZST

The World Health Organization has announced it will temporarily suspend a trial into anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 due to safety concerns. The decision follows a study published in The Lancet that found people taking Read more about EXPERT REACTION: WHO suspends hydroxychloroquine trial amid safety fears

Could public transport fail to return to 'normal'? Expert available

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 1230 AEST | 1430 NZST

N/A

Professor David Levinson from the Faculty of Engineering’s School of Civil Engineering is an expert in transport engineering and is available to comment on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transport. Read more about Could public transport fail to return to 'normal'? Expert available

Gig economy may hold some hope for jobs in age of COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

With more than 100 digital platforms operating in Australia, the gig economy could offer a lifeline to some who have lost their regular jobs due to COVID-19. But it won't suit everyone and may even create further competition and a 'race to the Read more about Gig economy may hold some hope for jobs in age of COVID-19

Miniature rock art expands horizons

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

Antiquity

Australian archaeologists have discovered some of the most detailed examples of rare, small-scale rock art in the form of miniature stencils in a rockshelter traditionally owned by the Marra people. The research, published in the journal Antiquity, Read more about Miniature rock art expands horizons

Multicultural and settlement services support women experiencing family violence

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

Multicultural and settlement services are an integral part of the family violence system, regularly encountering and supporting women experiencing family violence, according to new research. Read more about Multicultural and settlement services support women experiencing family violence

Barcoding Salmonella bacteria to track outbreaks

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

Eurosurveillance

UNSW Sydney researchers have developed a new method to tag Salmonella strains using their genetic code, by converting the genetic composition of more than 4 million letters of a strain into a barcode. Much like a barcode in a supermarket, this Read more about Barcoding Salmonella bacteria to track outbreaks

Antiviral drug may cut COVID-19 recovery time, reduce death rate

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 0956 AEST | 1156 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

Preliminary results from a thousand-patient trial of the antiviral drug remdesivir has found it shortened the time to recovery in adults hospitalized with COVID-19. Patients taking remdesivir had a median recovery time of 11 days, and an estimated Read more about Antiviral drug may cut COVID-19 recovery time, reduce death rate

HRC announces 2020 Emerging Researcher First Grant recipients

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

The Health Research Council of New Zealand has announced the results of its 2020 Emerging Researcher funding round, with more than $4 million going to 18 researchers. This includes funding for two researchers through the Rangahau Hauora Māori Read more about HRC announces 2020 Emerging Researcher First Grant recipients

Astronomers see ‘cosmic ring of fire’, 11 billion years ago

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Astronomy

Unusual galaxy set to prompt rethink on how structures in the Universe form. Video available here. Read more about Astronomers see ‘cosmic ring of fire’, 11 billion years ago

A new law in laser physics could make eye surgery simpler

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Photonics

New soliton laser pulses deliver high energy in a trillionth of a second. Scientists expect these simpler lasers could have uses in eye and heart surgery and in the engineering of delicate materials. Read more about A new law in laser physics could make eye surgery simpler

Identifying obscure protein responsible for advanced breast cancer

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Cell Biology

South Australian scientists have discovered how an obscure protein causes breast cancer to develop and grow more quickly. Read more about Identifying obscure protein responsible for advanced breast cancer

The deep ocean is warming slowly – but dramatic changes are ahead

Publicly released: Tue 26 May 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Climate Change

The world’s deep oceans are warming at a slower rate than the surface, but it’s still not good news for deep-sea creatures according to an international study. The research, led by University of Queensland PhD student Isaac Brito-Morales, looked Read more about The deep ocean is warming slowly – but dramatic changes are ahead

Acute lower respiratory infections in Indigenous infants in the NT

Publicly released: Mon 25 May 2020 at 1530 AEST | 1730 NZST

Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

A recently-published study by Menzies senior research fellow Dr Michael Binks examined acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) hospital admissions among Indigenous infants in the Northern Territory from 2006 to 2015, across three periods of Read more about Acute lower respiratory infections in Indigenous infants in the NT

Building bricks from plastic waste

Publicly released: Mon 25 May 2020 at 1458 AEST | 1658 NZST

Chemistry - A European Journal

Revolutionary ‘green’ types of bricks and construction materials could be made from recycled PVC, waste plant fibres or sand with the help of a remarkable new kind of rubber polymer discovered by Australian scientists. The rubber polymer, itself Read more about Building bricks from plastic waste

Trump’s ‘game-changer’ COVID-19 drug may increase risk of death

Publicly released: Mon 25 May 2020 at 1400 AEST | 1600 NZST

The Lancet

A study has found use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine is linked to increased rates of mortality and serious heart problems among hospital patients with COVID-19. Researchers analysed data from nearly 15,000 patients receiving the drugs and Read more about Trump’s ‘game-changer’ COVID-19 drug may increase risk of death

First published COVID-19 vaccine study promising

Publicly released: Mon 25 May 2020 at 1400 AEST | 1600 NZST

The Lancet

The first coronavirus vaccine to make it to a phase one clinical trial has been found to safely generate an immune response. Within a month of getting the Ad5 vectored COVID-19 jab, most of the 108 participants saw a four-fold increase in binding Read more about First published COVID-19 vaccine study promising