AAS Quarterly E-Newsletter

September 2007

The AAS ASM draws ever closer. As a prelude to that, and In addition to the usual features, we have a feature article about Trevor Redgrave whose contributions to AAS and to atherosclerosis research will be recognised at the Meeting. See you all at Fre-O.

David van Reyk

President's Report

As I enter the autumn of my period as President of the Society I should like to thank all colleagues who have worked with me to improve the profile of the AAS over the last 2 years. The highlights for me were working with the present Executive and Meetings First to prepare the educational program for funding by Pharma, and with Kerry-Anne Rye, Richard O'Brien and Philip Barter to win ISA 2012 for Australia.

David Sullivan fittingly assumes the mantle of president in 2008 and will be a super-champion for our cause to expand the educational activities of the Society and develop the Society along similar lines to the present. I will continue to remain on the Executive taking over from David Sullivan as Chair of the FH committee. A little cross-dressing if you wish not being a bad thing at times!!

The format for the ASM in Western Australia is almost complete. Trevor Mori will produce a classic no doubt. A major focus will be The Trevor Redgrave Festschrift, and as a prelude John Mamo, one of his most ardent acolytes, reviews his scientific achievements in the present Newsletter.

Look forward to catching up with all of you in Fremantle.

Ciao for now

Gerald Watts

Feature Article – Trevor Redgrave

Trevor Redgrave showed his scientific prowess at an early age. Trevor matriculated as Dux of the state of Western Australia and thereafter, enrolled in medicine at UWA becoming one of the first medical graduates fully trained in Western Australia.

During his residencies, he became interested in research, which led him to undertake a PhD in lipid research under the supervision of Professor Wilf Simmonds within Department of Physiology at UWA.

Trevor completed his PhD in 1967 and then spent 2 years as a Research Fellow at Cornell University in the USA followed by 3 years as a Fellow within the John Curtin School of Medical Research at Australia National University.

In 1972, Trevor was awarded an academic appointment in the Department of Physiology at the University of Melbourne where he rose to the position of Reader (Associate Professor). In 1981, he moved back to the USA to accept an Assoc. Professorship at the Boston University School of Medicine. In 1985, Trevor returned to UWA as Professorial Chair in Physiology.

Trevor supervised some 19+ postgraduate students and a large number of honours students. Trevor also hosted a number of Research Fellows, many of which have gone on with successful research careers.

In collaboration with his mentor, Wilf Simmonds, Trevor contributed significantly to our understanding of dietary lipid absorption and chylomicron biogenesis, with his first manuscripts appearing in the mid 1960’s.

A seminal paper published in Journal of Clinical Investigation (1970) described a cholesteryl ester-enriched particle, known now to be the post-hydrolysed chylomicron remnant. Trevor then used animal models to provide the first direct evidence that chylomicrons were atherogenic. For the next 20 years or so, Trevor developed novel methods to delineate how specific lipid moieties regulate chylomicron metabolism and indeed many of these techniques were adopted for investigating other lipoprotein fractions.

In more recent years, Trevor went full circle from his medical training days and utilised his extensive fundamental knowledge in developing animal model systems and in vitro approaches, to undertake novel clinical studies in subjects with or at risk of atherosclerosis.

One pivotal research activity Trevor has not published nor presented is the putative importance of wine on cardiovascular health. In approaching his retirement, Trevor has apparently established a vineyard and is producing quality wines. As his colleague, I believe Trevor should submit his data for peer review, perhaps at our October meeting.

Trevor, on behalf of a most appreciative Society and indeed the Australian Research Community, we thank you for you commitment to science, your vision and your leadership.

Wilf Simmonds 1918-1990

Australian Atherosclerosis Society 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting
23 – 26 October 2007

Maritime Museum, Fremantle, Western Australia

We are delighted that approximately 60 abstracts were submitted for the ASM. The organising committee has been working hard to score the abstracts and put together what promises to be an excellent and exciting meeting in Fremantle. Delegates will be notified soon as to whether their presentation will be an oral or poster. Poster presenters will be afforded an opportunity to give a brief 3-minute summary of their work in front of their poster followed by 3 minutes of questions. This format was well received at the ASM in Couran Cove last year. One session of the meeting will be dedicated to Professor Trevor Redgrave who is internationally known for his outstanding contribution to atherosclerosis research and has been a long-time supporter and friend of the AAS. Please don't forget to register for the meeting.

See you in Fremantle.

Trevor Mori

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) Corner – What else is there?

At the risk of mixing metaphors, this edition of FH corner brings us full cycle. I look forward to passing the chairmanship of this dedicated group into the capable hands of our current President, Prof Gerald Watts. I do so with a sincere vote of thanks to all who have contributed so much during the past 2 years. Of particular note are the efforts of Ian Hamilton-Craig, whose user-friendly guide to inherited lipid problems has proved to be so informative that another edition has become necessary in response to popular demand. Jennifer and Angela have kept us on track and established our website as a national reference point that can be accessed at http://www.athero.org.au/FH/index.htm. All members of the committee (Stephen Li, Peter Clifton, Peter George, Frank van Bocksmeer, Karam Kostner, John Burnett and Richard O’Brien) have provided a range of clinical, laboratory and strategic expertise that will continue to guide our future plans.

There are several major issues and opportunities that confront us in the next couple of years. We have now established a foothold for molecular diagnosis in WA and NSW. Implementation of family cascade screening in WA will provide the opportunity to confirm the importance of this strategy, which in turn will encourage more widespread use of molecular testing. FH will continue to participate in the cardiovascular disease genetic disorders working party of the Cardiac Society, which is currently establishing a national database for these conditions. Professional education will be a key focus hopefully culminating in a FH Satellite meeting to the 2012 ISA Symposium. I regret that some of the most exciting developments in FH, such as the role of PCSK-9, in which Peter George and Gilles Lambert from AAS provide world leadership, have been overlooked so far. Hopefully the fresh approach afforded by Gerald’s leadership will keep members informed about this clinically and scientifically important topic.

David Sullivan

Membership News

If you have not renewed your membership, please click here to visit the Meetings First website and renew online. Alternatively, please click here to download a copy of the paper registration form.

The Australian Atherosclerosis Society always welcomes new members. Please encourage your students and work colleagues to join the AAS. Remember, that members receive thew following:

- A monthly email that includes, job opportunities, information on meetings relating to atherosclerosis and regular updates on similar interests.

- A new quarterly newsletter that will feature different articles each quarter.

- Discounted rates to attend AAS Annual Scientific Meetings.

- Networking opportunities and involvement.

- Opportunity to receive student travel grants and present your research at the Annual Scientific Meeting.

- Opportunity to apply for AAS Trust travel grants

Forthcoming Meetings

XVI International Symposium on Drugs Affecting Lipid Metabolism

4-7 October 2007, New York