News Archive

1st August2 2018 - Henry Kaye (Kaye) Ibbertson 26/11/1926 – 12/7/2018

Professor Henry Kaye (Kaye) Ibbertson, Emeritus Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Auckland and previous Head of the Department of Endocrinology at Auckland Hospital, died on 12 July 2018 age 91 years. Kaye graduated from the University of Otago in 1951 and, after working at Auckland Hospital as a junior doctor, did postgraduate training at the Hammersmith Hospital in London under Professor Russell Fraser, and at the Royal Free Hospital in London working with Dr Shelia Sherlock. He returned to New Zealand in 1963 to head the Radioisotope Unit at Auckland Hospital and went on to establish the Department of Endocrinology at the Hospital in the mid-1960s. As Head of Department, and Professor of Endocrinology at the University (1970-1992), he was responsible for training a large number of younger physicians who have gone on to senior positions in New Zealand and beyond.

His influence extended well beyond the University and Hospital. He held important positions in the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Medical Research Council, the Child Health Research Council, the Auckland Medical Research Foundation, and was a foundation member of both the NZ Society of Endocrinology and the Australian and NZ Bone and Mineral Society. Both these societies have established ongoing awards named in his honour.

Kaye travelled to Nepal with Edmund Hillary on 3 occasions between 1966 and 1972 and studied the effects of iodine deficiency among the Sherpa population, leading to a programme of iodinisation which led to a profound improvement in the health of the Sherpa population. He helped establish a programme for growth hormone replacement in deficient children in NZ, and did much early work on treatment of Paget’s disease and osteoporosis with bisphosphonates.

Kaye had a deep interest in medical history and was a founding member of the Auckland Medical Historical Society which he chaired for many years. He was instrumental in establishing the Ernest and Marion Davis Memorial Library and Lecture Halls on the Auckland Hospital site, a great asset to the local medical community. Kaye was a keen trout fisherman, beekeeper and antiquarian. He made an immense contribution to medical research and practice in New Zealand and Australia, and he will be greatly missed by his many friends and colleagues.

Obituary contributed by Prof Ian Holdaway and Prof Ian Reid

16th July 2018 - Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society – Webinar

Please find below the registration details for ANZBMS’s first 2018 webinar.

Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society – Webinar

Presenter: Professor Peter Ebeling

When: Wednesday, 18 July 2018 at 6:00 PM (Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney)
Topic: Post-transplant osteoporosis/bone health (including solid organ and bone marrow transplant)

To participate in this webinar you are first required to register via the following link:

https://racp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QJAsa6gCQc66Rc3hbXAM9w

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

This webinar is part of the Specialty Society Webinar Service pilot that is being undertaken by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in partnership with its affiliated specialty societies.

Please confirm your computer/mobile device meets the system requirements in advance in order to avoid frustration or delay in joining the webinar on the day.

The recording will be available two weeks after the live webinar through the RACP website using the following link:

https://www.racp.edu.au/fellows/resources/specialty-society-webinar-series

Please also save the date for the following ANZBMS webinar sessions:

Professor Emma Duncan – Tuesday 18 September. Pre-menopausal osteoporosis (including POI and the female athlete)

Professor John Eisman – Wednesday 17 October. Stopping osteoporosis mediations- when, why and how.

Further details will be provided closer to the time of presentation.

Kind regards, Sabashini Ramchand and Jasna Aleksova (ECIC Clinical Representatives)

10th July 2018 - ECIC Committee Applications Now Open

The ANZBMS Council has established an early career investigator committee (ECIC). This committee has developed a forward thinking agenda for early career investigators within ANZBMS. The committee aims to advocate for and increase engagement of early career researchers within the ANZBMS.

We are currently seeking applications from early career investigators* who would like to become an ECIC committee member.

*A member of the ANZBMS who is currently enrolled in a higher degree or a current researcher within 10 years of award of a PhD/MD.

We would ask that individuals interested in joining the committee submit applications to Ivone Johnson (ijohnson@anzbms.org.au) by 1st August 2018 at 5pm AEST.

In your applications, please include the following information:

1. A short statement (approximately 200 words) outlining who you are, why you would like to join the early career investigator committee, what you would bring to the committee and what is your ambition for the committee.

2. A brief curriculum vitae.

4th July 2018 - Christine & T. Jack Martin Research Travel Grant extended to 18 July 2018

This grant is offered by the ANZBMS in memory of Christine Martin and to honour the outstanding and major scientific contributions of Professor T Jack Martin to bone and mineral research and his contributions to associates and trainees in teaching, research, and administration.

The aim of the Grant is to facilitate travel to undertake bone and mineral research in any aspect of basic or clinical science. It is expected that travel would be initiated in the year after the award is made.

The award is open to financial members of the Society, and preference will be given to applications from members who are in the training phase of their careers.

Applications up to $15,000 (AUD) will be considered, based on merit, and funded with consideration of the proposed budget. Proposals may include attendance at major conferences and visits to laboratories, but the major purpose should include a substantially justified cooperative project, or acquisition of expertise in a particular technique or techniques. These should result in publishable outcomes, facilitate progress or completion of a higher degree, provide preliminary data for applications to major granting bodies or service to the Bone and Mineral Community.

Eligibility criteria
Any financial member of the ANZBMS with continuous membership for 12 months, or more, will be eligible to apply. Preference will be given to members in the training phase of their careers, and current members of Council are not eligible to apply. Applicants with a PhD or MD degree (or equivalent) should have completed this degree within the past 10 years. Award Amount: Up to $15,000 Apply now: https://www.anzbms.org.au/grants-and-awards-chrstine-and-t-jack-martin-research-travel-grant.asp

8th June 2018 - Decision to fund denosumab for osteoperosis

Notification of PHARMAC’s decision to fund denosumab (Prolia) for the treatment of severe, established osteoporosis, subject to certain clinical criteria being met. This decision relates to a proposal detailed in a consultation letter dated 16 March 2018. The final criteria are wider than those consulted on in that the restriction by gender has been removed.

If you need any further information please visit https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news/notifications.

4th June 2018 - Expression of interest in joining the Therapeutics Committee of ANZBMS

Therapeutics Committee addresses not only questions referred to us by Council but to become proactive in developing position papers as do many other societies (eg APEG https://apeg.org.au/clinical-resources-links/guidelines-and-consensus-statements/)

Potential topics for therapeutics committee to pursue

Introduction of spinal fracture physical therapy into Australian practice

Introduction of ASBMR a Strategic Roadmap to Prevent Secondary Fractures into Australian practice

Introduction of Burosumab for hypophosphatemic rickets into Australian practice

Introduction of abloparatide for osteoporosis into Australian practice

Role of vertebroplasty for osteoporotic spinal fracture in Australian practice

Introduction of DXA measurement and therapy for survivors of breast cancer

Expressions of interest to be sent to richard.prince@uwa.edu.au

4th May 2018 - ASM Call for Abstracts

ANZBMS Annual Scientific Meeting, 2nd-5th September 2018, Queenstown
Website: http://anzbms.qteventmanagement.co.nz/

The 28^th annual scientific meeting of the ANZBMS will be held in Queenstown from the 2^nd to the 5^th of September 2018.

Chaired by Rachel Davey and Rory Clifton Bligh, together with members David Findlay, Jill Cornish, Tim Cundy, Jackie Centre and Christina Vrahnas, the POC have put together a varied program of cutting-edge science that will appeal to both clinician and basic scientists in the musculoskeletal field.

Topics to be presented by our invited speakers from France, the USA, Australia and New Zealand include bone and vascular biology, osteoarthritis, fracture healing and 3D printing, exercise, nutrition and sarcopenia, designing the skeleton, bone cell biology, as well as an update on anabolic and anti-resorptive therapies. Our scientific program also includes basic and clinical abstract presentations, young investigator awards and an interactive poster tour session. The Early Career Investigator Committee will be hosting a ‘Building your research profile” symposium and an evening networking event. There will be ample time in the scientific program for networking and discussion including a free afternoon allowing delegates to make the most of our beautiful location, with the local organising committee organising a trip to one of Queenstown’s nearby ski slopes. The depth and breadth of the scientific program, together with Queenstown’s breath taking scenery, ensures for a vibrant and valuable meeting for all attendees.

Abstract and award deadline: 1 June 2018 Early-bird registration deadline: 4 July 2018

3rd May 2018 - Pre-conference satellite seminar

This year the ANZBMS Early Career Investigator Committee (ECIC) is pleased to be hosting a pre-conference satellite seminar to be held on Saturday 1st September at 6pm - Clinical Cases in Metabolic Bone Disease.

The highest ranked abstracts from physician advanced trainees will be selected for oral presentation during a 3 course dinner. Presentations will be adjudicated by a judging panel and a winner selected.

This is a fantastic opportunity for advanced trainees and we would really appreciate it if you could circulate this email and/or flyer attached to your advanced trainees and encourage them to submit an abstract.

Further information regarding the event and abstract submission is contained in the flyer attached. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any queries.

Abstract submission deadline: 1st June 2018.

Sabs Ramchand and Jasna Aleksova (ANZBMS ECIC - Clinical Representatives)

1st May 2018 - the ANZBMS Award Applications

Career Achievement Award

Applications close 1 May 2018

Apply: https://www.anzbms.org.au/grants-and-awards-anzbms-career-achievement-award.asp

Prof Philip Sambrook Award

Applications close 5pm (EST) Friday 18th May 2018

Apply: https://www.osteoporosis.org.au/sambrook-award

1st May 2018 - Sydney Bone group

Sydney Bone group meeting will be held on Tuesday 29th May 2018.

The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron The Sirius Cove Room (1st Floor) 33 Peel Street, Kirribilli (Parking available underneath, free of charge)

Co-conveners for the 2018 SBG are: Hala Zreiqat (hala.zreiqat@sydney.edu.au) and

Dr Kirtan Ganda (kirtan.ganda@sydney.edu.au)

Tuesday 29th May 2018 Time: 6:00 pm drinks for a 6:30 pm start

6:30 -7:00 pm + 10 min discussion Title: "TBA” Dr Jakub Jagiello

7:10 -7:40 pm + 10 min discussion Title: “Bone and Beyond: Exercise for Fracture Prevention and Treatment”

Prof Maria Fiatarone Singh, John Sutton Chair of Exercise and Sport Science, Exercise, Health and Performance Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney