| Professor Wilf Yeo . . . will highlight how dying has gone out of fas... Professor Wilf Yeo . . . will highlight how dying has gone out of fashion |
How long can we live?. . .
6 May 2008 | Bernie Goldie
The University of Wollongong’s second ‘Uni in the Brewery series’ will be held tomorrow (Wednesday 7 May) and will investigate advances made in modern medicine.
It will be given by Professor Wilf Yeo, from the Graduate School of Medicine.
Professor Yeo’s presentation, entitled “Modern medicine: how long can we live?”, will focus on how medical practice has undergone subtle changes from predominantly the treatment of active disease and its complications to the prevention of disease through attempts to reduce risk factors in the population such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and smoking.
But does longevity come at a price?
An older population has a higher incidence of cancer, osteoporosis and fractures, heart rhythm abnormalities requiring pacemakers, dementia, and the need for care provided in nursing homes.
Professor Yeo will highlight how in modern society dying has gone out of fashion – and that many see death as a medical inconvenience that can be avoided or treated by a visit to the doctor, rather than as a normal consequence of life.
Does medicine serve modern society well, and does society understand modern medicine?
‘Uni in the Brewery’ is an opportunity for the public to hear about the various research projects conducted at the University of Wollongong and to be involved with lively discussion.
Professor Yeo’s presentation is also an Australian Innovation Festival (AIF) event. AIF runs from April 26 to May 30. The festival is a not-for-profit initiative which aims to showcase and promote Australia’s excellence in research, development and commercialisation.
All are welcome to attend the free presentation which will be held from 5.30-6.30pm at the Five Islands Brewery, eastern end of WIN Entertainment Centre (Cnr Harbour and Crown).
Meanwhile, the Director of the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics (CMRP), Professor Anatoly Rozenfeld, will tomorrow present the next Research Strength Showcase Series lecture.
Cancer is rapidly becoming the largest cause of mortality this century. To address this problem and save more lives, better technologies for diagnosis and treatment of cancer are required.
One of UOW’s research strengths, the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics (CMRP) within the School of Engineering Physics, was established in 2002 to address this important task by using advances in radiation medicine.
Professor Rozenfeld will present some of the research conducted and results of collaborative projects.
The core objectives of the CMRP are excellence in research and development in the field of innovative radiation therapy, radiation instrumentation and measurements. It has developed strong research programs in mini-micro and nano dosimetry using advanced microelectronics nano-technology, proton beam radiotherapy, micro beam radiation therapy and innovative magneto radiotherapy.
CMRP collaborations exist with leading radiation oncology institutions around the world. These include the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, the Loma Linda University Medical Centre in California, and the Massachusetts General Hospital proton therapy centre and Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
Specialised areas of research within CMRP include X-ray radiotherapy for prostate cancer treatment, permanent radioactive seed implant brachytherapy, high dose rate brachytherapy and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy for head and neck treatment (which is in collaboration with the St George Cancer Care Centre and Illawarra Cancer Care Centre).
Everyone is welcome to attend these lunchtime lectures in the Communications Building (Bldg 20) Lecture Room 2 starting at 12.30pm.
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