ANZPRA
Australian and New Zealand Placental Research Association
ANZPRA Early Career Researcher (ECR) Award
​​The ANZPRA Early Career Researcher (ECR) Award is an initiative designed to enable ECRs to visit other laboratories to learn new techniques and/or advance collaborations, with the purpose to enhance the awardee’s career development. Such laboratory visits can be undertaken in conjunction with attendance at a major conference. The award may also provide opportunities for ECRs to gain vital skills and experience in preparing grant proposals.
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Applications for the 2023 award will close on the 19th of January 2024, and should be submitted by email to anzplacentalresearch@gmail.com by midnight (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on this date.
Applications must be prepared in consultation with the ECR’s supervisor/mentor, and the objective of the visit has been discussed with and supported by the host laboratory/research team, prior to the application being submitted. ​Applicants must be within 5 years of receiving their PhD (or highest degree) and at least one of the two ECRs must have been a financial member for at least 12 months. Awards are valued at up to $1000AU.
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This award will be a quick turnaround, with applications assessed immediately and outcomes notified the following week.
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Full guidelines and application form is available here.
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Past awardees
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2023: Rebecca Brady (University of Queensland) visiting Natasha de Alwis (University of Melbourne) to work on their project titled: Investigating the effect of thyroid antibodies on migration and function of first trimester placental cells.
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2023: Amy Garrett (University of Auckland) visiting Bianca Fato (University of Melbourne) to work on their project titled: Assessing the role of gap junctions in the initiation of labour using primary ex vivo models of myometrial contractility.
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2022: Sarah Delforce (University of Newcastle) visiting Wei Zhou (University of Melbourne) to work on their project titled: The ultimate collaborative organs: the decidua and the placenta.
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2022: Joshua Fisher (University of Newcastle) visiting Anya Arthurs (Flinders University) to work on their project titled Investigating placental metabolism across gestation.
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ANZPRA New Investigator Award
Each year, ANZPRA awards the ANZPRA New Investigators Award to the best oral presentation at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology (SRB) by a member who is a postgraduate student or within two years of receiving their PhD.
Eligibility criteria are as follows:
- For PHD/MD Students (2nd year and above) and PhD/MD Graduates: Applicants must be ANZPRA members for at least 6 months prior to applying.
- For Honours students, MSc students and 1st year PhD students: Applicants must be ANZPRA members at the time of submission of the application
The award will be given on the basis of the quality of presentations at the meeting and will be judged by the ANZPRA Awards Committee which is comprised of representatives of the ANZPRA Executive and a member of the SRB Awards Committee. The award will be presented at the SRB/ANZPRA Conference gala dinner.
Awards will not be made if, in the judges' opinion, eligible presentations are not sufficiently meritorious. In order to be considered for the ANZPRA New Investigators Award, new investigators must tick the ANZPRA box when submitting their abstract.
Past awardees
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2023: Bianca Fato, University of Melbourne
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2022: Claire Richards, University of Technology Sydney & Evangeline Lovell, University of Adelaide
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2021: Anna Boss, University of Auckland
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2020: Meaghan Griffiths, Monash University
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2019: Sarah Delforce, University of Newcastle.
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2018: Yao Wang, Hudson Institute of Medical Research
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2017: Anya Arthurs, University of Newcastle
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2016: Jacinta Kalisch-Smith, University of Queensland.
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2015: Rachael Crew, University of Western Australia
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2014: Sophea Heng, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne
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2013: Dr Fiona Brownfoot, University of Melbourne
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2012: Kirsten Palmer, University of Melbourne
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2011: Georgia Kafer, University of Queensland
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2010: Chez Viall, University of Auckland for "Trophoblast antiphospholipid antibody internalisation by a β2 glycoprotein I-anionic phospholipid-megalin complex."
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2008: Ami Chui, University of Melbourne for "Homeobox gene DLX3 regulates forskolin-induced trophoblast differentiation".
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2007: Gyathri Rajaraman, University of Melbourne for "Homeobox gene HLX1 is a mediator of HGF-stimulated trophoblast migration."
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2006: Joanna James, University of Auckland, for "The effects of oxygen concentration and gestational age on extravillous trophoblast outgrowth from first trimester villous explants."
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2005: Damien Hewitt, University of Western Australia for "Placental expression of secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP4) in the rat: association with beta-catenin localization and regulation by glucocorticoids."
IFPA Awards
Each year IFPA (ANZPRA's parent organisation) distributes a number of awards to researchers of all levels, many associated with invited presentations at the IFPA annual meeting.
For full details of these awards, and which awards are on offer in any given year, please visit: http://www.ifpa.epineux.com/awards
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For awards specifically relating to the IFPA 2023 meeting in Rotorua, NZ, please visit www.ifpa2023.org/awards