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Harvard researchers share their knowledge

4 March 2009

Associate Professor Shantha Rajaratnam (left) will host Dr Steven Lockley, one of two visiting Harvard University researchers who will spend time at Monash later this year.

Monash University will host two leading researchers from Harvard University later this year.

Dr Steven Lockley and Dr Kavi Bhalla have been awarded the annual Australia - Harvard Fellowship, which supports academic exchange between Harvard University in the United States and Australian research organisations. The fellowships are awarded by the Harvard Club of Australia Foundation.

Dr Steven Lockley is Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School in Boston. He will be appointed Honorary Associate Professor at Monash University’s School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine when he comes to Australia for two months from October to November.

He will be hosted by Associate Professor Shantha Rajaratnam. Dr Lockley will be teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate programs and contributing to research projects such as characterising sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions, and investigating the effects of extended work hours on sleep, alertness and performance of shift workers.

Associate Professor Rajaratnam said the opportunity to host such an internationally recognised researcher in the field of sleep disorders would be of enormous benefit to the students and staff engaged in this field.

"Sleep deprivation and sleep disorders have a substantial impact on health, safety and productivity – there is considerable opportunity for research in this area at Monash. We are delighted to have Dr Lockley visit the recently established Monash Sleep Network to help further its mission. His visit will strengthen the existing collaborative links between Monash University and Harvard Medical School," Associate Professor Rajaratnam said.

NHMRC Population Health Research Fellow in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Dr Belinda Gabbe will host Dr Kavi Bhalla to collaborate on a research project investigating trauma injury in developing countries.

Dr Bhalla heads a section of the Harvard Initiative for Global Heath, part of an international program that is building a framework for keeping road traffic injury statistics in developing countries under the umbrella of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.