January 13, 2019 Print
Three researchers from the Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) have been promoted to Associate Professor and Professor.
Congratulations to Associate Professor Eddy Kizana, Associate Professor Mayuresh Korgaonkar and Professor Sarah Palmer of WIMR and the University of Sydney on their well-deserved titles.
The promotions recognise their contributions to their fields of research, teaching and mentorship.
We are pleased to see our researcher’s hard work recognised.
Associate Professor Eddy Kizana, Centre for Heart Research
Associate Professor Eddy Kizana is Group Leader of the Cardiac Gene Therapy Lab.
He is researching the use of genes or genetic material to replace cardiac devices that correct heart rhythm problems.
This research aims to offer an alternative to existing cardiac devices, such as pacemakers, which can malfunction and require battery changes.
Associate Professor Mayuresh Korgaonkar, Brain Dynamics Centre
Associate Professor Mayuresh Korgaonkar is the Centre Director of our Brain Dynamics Centre.
His research focuses on mental disorders, including mood and anxiety disorders.
Currently, Associate Professor Korgaonkar is researching how we can distinguish between bipolar disorder and depression – conditions with symptoms in common, but vastly different treatments.
By identifying differences between the conditions, Associate Professor Korgaonkar hopes to reduce rates of misdiagnosis and improve treatment outcomes.
Professor Sarah Palmer, Centre for Virus Research
Professor Sarah Palmer is the co-director of the Centre for Virus Research, and Group Leader of the HIV Reservoir Group.
Although treatment for HIV eliminates most infected cells from the body, it does not eliminate all of them. Some cells ‘hide’ to avoid detection, and are capable of re-infecting the body when treatment stops.
Professor Palmer is investigating exactly where these infected cells hide during treatment, and how they can be eliminated from the body to completely eradicate HIV infections, effectively curing patients.