Menzies Institute for Medical Research

15/06/2026

Enrol now: Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS) reopens 1 July

Our MS Research Flagship is excited to share that the refreshed Understanding Multiple Sclerosis course will reopen on 1 July.

This free, evidence-based online course brings together the latest research and real-world perspectives on MS.

Start anytime, learn at your own pace. The course is now always open, with flexible, self-directed learning you can complete in your own time.

Updated to reflect the latest diagnostic criteria, it includes insights from researchers, neurologists, health professionals and people living with MS.

Participants may also choose to use the course to support their self-directed professional development.

📜 A certificate of completion is available.
👉 Enrol now: https://ms.mooc.utas.edu.au/i/mssm

Developed by Menzies in partnership with MS Plus and MS Australia.

Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a free online course that aims to improve understanding and awareness of MS worldwide, and empower people to create and contribute to personalised MS management plans.

10/06/2026

New research led by Associate Professor Dawn Aitken from our musculoskeletal research group has evaluated the implementation of the GLA:D® program in Tasmania, delivered via the Tasmanian Health Service.

GLA:D® is an education and exercise program designed to help people living with knee and hip osteoarthritis, and this study shows the program worked in public community outpatient clinics.

The study found:
✔️ The program can be delivered effectively and sustainably in public outpatient clinics
✔️ 85% of participants reported meaningful improvements in pain, function or quality of life
✔️ All three participating clinics have continued offering the program after the pilot

It also highlighted the need for more accessible ways to collect patient feedback in public healthcare populations.

These results provide a strong foundation for rolling out GLA:D® to public and regional settings across Australia.

Image: © GLA:D®

Read more about the research in the comments 👇

09/06/2026

Roughly 1.1 million Australians are living with an eating disorder.

There’s growing evidence that eating disorders are not just about the brain, but that metabolism and the cardiovascular system may also play a role.

At Menzies, Dr William Reay is spearheading new research on eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa.

“There are calls to reconceptualise anorexia as not just a psychiatric disorder, but a metabo-psychiatric disorder”. Says Dr Reay

He hopes to investigate the biological drivers of the illness, including the role metabolism and cardiovascular health play in both risk and possible treatments.

“Despite having the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder, we don’t have a single, approved medication for anorexia. This is just not good enough.”

This research involves collaborating with many researchers across Australia working to improve prevention, treatment and understanding of these complex disorders.

We’re sharing this upcoming work in recognition of World Eating Disorder Action Day on 2nd June.

04/06/2026

On Friday our Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Research Flagship hosted its fifth Research with Connections event in Hobart, bringing together researchers and the MS community.

It was a fantastic day, with a strong turnout of people living with MS, carers, supporters and collaborators, and a wonderful opportunity to connect, share experiences and showcase the impact of our work.

This year’s event was also a special moment, forming part of the Flagship’s 10‑year anniversary celebrations. It provided an opportunity to reflect on how far the program has come, and the progress made through close collaboration with the MS community.

Attendees heard from a range of researchers and people with lived experience, highlighting the importance of working side by side to shape research that delivers meaningful outcomes.

Most importantly, the day was a chance to come together, to celebrate the power of partnership, strengthen connections, and look ahead to the future of MS research.

Our thanks to everyone who contributed to the event, including our research partners and the many people living with MS who continue to guide and inspire our work.

was funded by the NHMRC Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Research Excellence, 2035302.

01/06/2026

Congratulations to Professors Jane Alty and Michele Callisaya, whose work has been honoured at the 7th World Parkinson Congress Awards in Arizona this week.
Combining their medical expertise, research excellence, allied health knowledge, and lived experience, they have collaborated to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people living with Parkinson’s around the world.
Together, they led their teams from Wicking Dementia Centre and here at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research to develop the Parkinson’s MOOC — a free online course with extraordinary global reach, engaging over 30,000 participants across 160 countries.
In recognition of this impact, they have received the WPC Distinguished Collaborative Research Award — which celebrates individuals making a lasting difference through education, advocacy, creativity, and collaboration across the global Parkinson’s community.
A well-deserved accolade for their leadership, collaboration, and innovation in improving the lives of people affected by Parkinson’s.
💙See the comments on this post for ways to learn more about Parkinsons- the world's fastest growing neurological condition.

30/05/2026

World MS Day 2026 🧡
Today we stand with everyone affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Nearly 38,000 Australians live with MS, and here in Tasmania we have the highest prevalence in the country.

In support of World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day, our MS Research Flagship in collaboration with MS International Federation is offering the free online course MS Symptoms and Diagnosis.

Learn more about the signs, symptoms, and diagnosis of MS — whether you’re living with MS, supporting someone who is, working in healthcare, or simply want to understand more.

✅ Free | Online | Start anytime
📅 Course closes 15 June (enrolments close 12 June)

Learn about multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, how its diagnosed and the experience of people living with MS in this free short course that has been curated in support of the World MS Day campaign My MS Diagnosis.

29/05/2026

Dr Suzie Waddingham from the Tasmanian School of Medicine has collaborated with Menzies researchers and worked closely with young people to understand why they use to***co and how they can be better supported to quit.

Here’s what young Tasmanians are telling us:
🔹 Access is out of balance.
For many young people, accessing vapes is easier than accessing support to quit.

🔹 It’s social.
Va**ng isn’t just about ni****ne, it provides social capital, connection, and a sense of belonging.

🔹 Most effective quit campaigns include:
• Shock imagery and videos
• Real stories and lived experiences
• Regularly updated campaigns

🔹 Nothing about them without them.
Most importantly, solutions must be co-designed with young people and delivered in a completely non-judgemental way.

🚭 For World No To***co Day this Sunday, we celebrate Suzie’s tireless effort over the past 10 years to change smoking and va**ng policy in Australia.

26/05/2026

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Fight MND co-founder and former Australian of the Year, Neale Daniher AO, and profoundly grateful for his impact. Neale’s courage, resilience and unwavering determination in the face of motor neurone disease (MND) inspired a nation.

Through Fight MND, he helped drive significant support for our researchers and others across the country, accelerating progress toward better treatments and, ultimately, a cure. Neale firmly believed that a cure would be found. His words will continue to guide and motivate the research community:

“I always believe if there's a will, there's a way. We're smart. Human beings have got an answer to this, but at the moment, it's hidden away.”

His legacy will live on in the research he championed, the breakthroughs yet to come, and the countless lives he touched along the way.
Our thoughts are with Neale’s family, friends, and the entire FightMND community at this difficult time. We honour his extraordinary contribution by continuing the work he fought so hard to advance.

📸 Fight MND

26/05/2026

💙 1 in 3 Australian adults have high blood pressure — and half don’t know it.

But there’s something even more surprising…
👉 Even when we do check blood pressure, it’s often not measured correctly.

Did you know a proper reading should involve:
• Sitting quietly for 5–10 minutes
• Feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed
• No talking
• No caffeine, exercise or smoking beforehand

In a busy GP appointment, that’s not always easy. There’s a lot to discuss, and not much time.

🔬 That’s why Menzies researcher Professor Jim Sharman is exploring new ways to improve accuracy. By moving blood pressure checks into places like waiting rooms, pharmacies and community spaces, where there’s more time to do it properly.

📍 As part of May Measure Month, we’re encouraging Tasmanians to take a moment for this simple but important check.

When was the last time you had your blood pressure measured — properly?

25/05/2026

A massive congratulations to Clare Reilly on completing the Munda Biddi Trail and becoming the first person to do so in an off-road wheelchair. What an extraordinary achievement!

As Clare so eloquently said, “Wheelchair Meets Wilderness is more than a fundraising ride. It’s a testament to grit, a year of relentless preparation, and the quiet moments of resilience that happen when no one is watching.”

We’re so proud of Clare and grateful for her ongoing commitment to advancing MS research at Menzies.

We also look forward to the launch of her book about this epic adventure later in the year, and she’ll continue raising vital funds for MS research right up to then.

To learn more about Clare’s ‘Wheelchair Meets Wilderness’ challenge and support her fundraising, see the link in the comments.