Category: Highlights

Highlights

A vision of success: Champion Dr Lisa Nivison-Smith awarded NHMRC grant

By UNSW Women in Maths and Science Champions

Dr Lisa Nivison-Smith

Hot off the heels of winning the UNSW Staff Diversity award, the UNSW Women in Maths and Science Champions have seen more success with Champion Dr Lisa Nivison-Smith being awarded an NHMRC (National Health and Research Council) investigator grant. This government grant is aimed at supporting top medical researchers in Australia and is highly competitive with an average success rate of 15%.

Lisa, who works as a senior researcher at the Centre for Eye Health and School of Optometry and Vision Science at UNSW will use the grant to continue her research on eye disease over the next 5 years. Lisa is focused on the disease, age-related macular degeneration or AMD and using sophisticated eye imaging devices to better detect and understand the disease in its early stages.

“Macular degeneration or AMD involves degeneration of the outer parts of our retina including photoreceptors, the cells in our eyes which detect light” Lisa explains. “In the advanced stages of the disease, the outer retina becomes permanently damaged leading to vision loss.”

Lisa’s research looks for ways to better detect people with AMD especially those at high risk of vision loss. “We have a treatment for one form of advanced AMD but it works best if we catch patients as soon as they have signs of this form of AMD.” says Lisa. “The problem is, it is very difficult to identify which patients are at high risk of developing this form of AMD and which patients will remain stable. My research tries to answer this question so we can make sure that all patients with AMD, especially those at high risk of progressing, are monitored appropriately and get treatment quickly to prevent any vision loss.”

Lisa interpreting images of the retina

With Australia’s ageing population, early detection and progression of diseases like AMD are hot topics of research. So how does Lisa’s research differ from others in the area?

“Much research in AMD focuses on the outer retina because disease changes in this part of the eye are well-established” says Lisa. “But there is mounting evidence that the inner retina is also involved in AMD. I am investigating how these inner retina changes can be used as new biomarkers in the clinic.”

When asked about how she felt about receiving the news of her grant success, Lisa replied “I was incredibly excited, the grant is an amazing opportunity for me to expand my research and make a difference. I am also really excited to have the Australian government support eye research. Eye disease is not discussed in mainstream media yet it is one of the most feared health conditions in the developed world and has a huge medical, social and emotional impact so it is essential we tackle this problem.”

Learn more about Lisa’s research here

Follow Lisa on Twitter

Champions win UNSW President’s Award for Embracing Diversity

By Sara Loo

Last week, our very own UNSW Women in Maths and Science Champions were awarded the UNSW President’s Award for Embracing Diversity. The UNSW President’s Awards recognise UNSW staff not only for their work, but how they conduct their work – be it in demonstrating excellence, driving innovation, building collaboration, displaying respect, or embracing diversity. The Award for Embracing Diversity celebrates those who actively promote and demonstrate the inclusion of others, and who value individual differences. This is reflected in positive outcomes for the individuals involved, the university, and wider community.

Our champions accepting the President's Award for Embracing Diversity
Our champions accepting the President’s Award for Embracing Diversity

Despite the program having only begun in November 2018, our champions have volunteered hundreds of hours of their time in outreach to young women across NSW. From high school students in Gilgandra, to celebrating International Women’s Day at the Australian National Maritime Museum, our champions have surprised students, sharing with them the joys of science and encouraging them to see science as a creative endeavour that is within reach. But far from doing this alone, our champions have joined arms in this endeavour, celebrating their different backgrounds and perspectives. Our first two cohorts have built their own network of support, advocating one another’s stories and, as highlighted in our nomination, have banded together to “break down stereotypes and encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to discover science.”

Lisa celebrating the award with her son, the winner of best sleeping baby
Lisa celebrating the award with her son, the winner of best sleeping baby

From day one of the program, they have risen to the role of visibility and have stood tall and proud of their work. Our women have become role models, not only to the students they have interacted with, but also for each other. Over lunch, coffee, and across tables in often time-intense development workshops, they have journeyed to being lifelong advocates of maths and science.

As Prof Emma Johnston told our scientists on the launch day of the first cohorts, and as Siobhan Campbell (our program coordinator) echoed on the night the champions won the award – “you cannot be what you cannot see”. This is the battle cry of the women in our program. This has been their inspiration as they have written about one another, retweeted one another, and organised and facilitated outreach events with one another. Of the win, Dr Lisa Nivison-Smith, an early career researcher in the program’s first year said,

“I took up a career in science because I had a strong female role model growing up. So I joined the program because I thought it was essential that other young girls have access to STEM role models. This award means a lot because it shows UNSW genuinely believes in this vision too.”

Congratulations to our champions, who throughout their careers have been advocates for a change in the perception of what it means to be a mathematician and scientist, and who will undoubtedly continue to do so.

To hear what Project Officer Siobhan Campbell had to say about our Champions click here.

Follow Sara Loo on Twitter