Featured Stories
When cancer turns critical, the patient isn't the only one suffering
BEDFORD PARK, Australia, Oct. 19 -- Flinders University posted the following news:
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When cancer turns critical, the patient isn't the only one suffering
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While doctors fight to save the lives of cancer patients in intensive care, family members, partners and friends are often left carrying a heavy burden of their own, with research revealing widespread anxiety, depression, exhaustion and declining wellbeing among those supporting a loved one through a critical illness.
Published in the top-ranked journal Intensive & Critical Care Nursing, the review analysed nine international studies
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BEDFORD PARK, Australia, Oct. 19 -- Flinders University posted the following news:
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When cancer turns critical, the patient isn't the only one suffering
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While doctors fight to save the lives of cancer patients in intensive care, family members, partners and friends are often left carrying a heavy burden of their own, with research revealing widespread anxiety, depression, exhaustion and declining wellbeing among those supporting a loved one through a critical illness.
Published in the top-ranked journal Intensive & Critical Care Nursing, the review analysed nine international studiesinvolving 924 participants and paints a bleak picture of the hidden impact on caregivers.
One study found 71 per cent experienced symptoms of anxiety and around half reported symptoms of depression. Almost all reported difficulties caring for themselves, while exhaustion, poor sleep and social isolation were common.
Caregivers also faced significant uncertainty about their loved one's future and often felt they lacked information about what would happen after an ICU admission. Many were juggling caregiving, work and family commitments, and some continued to experience distress months after the critical illness had passed.
National Carers Week (11-17 October) aims to recognise and raise awareness of the more than 3 million Australians who provide unpaid care to a family member or friend.
Lead author and Flinders University PhD student Shalyn Rourke says the review highlights a group whose needs are often overlooked during a medical crisis.
"When someone with cancer becomes critically ill, the focus understandably turns to the patient, but family members and friends are often experiencing considerable distress themselves," says Ms Rourke from the Flinders LiveWell Research Centre.
"Many caregivers are trying to navigate uncertainty about their loved one's recovery while balancing work, family responsibilities and complex healthcare decisions. Too often, they are putting their own wellbeing aside in the process."
Senior author and PhD supervisor Professor Catherine Paterson, a Professor of Cancer Nursing, says the findings suggest caregivers of people with cancer in ICU face unique challenges.
"Caregivers are not only dealing with a critical illness, but also the complexities and uncertainties that come with a cancer diagnosis," says Professor Paterson, who is Co-Director of the Flinders LiveWell Research Centre, Caring Futures Institute.
"Our review suggests these circumstances can create emotional, informational and practical support needs that are not always recognised."
The study also revealed a significant gap in understanding how critical care and cancer services work together to support caregivers. Despite the substantial burden identified, only two studies explored the perspectives of healthcare professionals and the role of the multidisciplinary team in delivering coordinated support.
Professor Paterson says there is an important opportunity for health services to better identify and respond to caregiver distress.
"Nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team are well placed to look out for signs of distress in caregivers and ensure they receive appropriate support and include them in follow-up care after an ICU admission," she says.
"Better communication between intensive care and cancer services could help ensure caregivers receive the information and guidance they need during what is often one of the most difficult periods of their lives."
The researchers say further research is needed to better understand how healthcare services can deliver coordinated, family-centred care that supports not only patients, but also the people who care for them.
"These caregivers play a vital role in a patient's recovery and ongoing cancer journey and if we want to improve outcomes for patients, we cannot overlook the wellbeing of the people who support them," concludes Professor Paterson.
The article, Quality of life and supportive care among informal caregivers of people with cancer during a critical illness in the ICU: A mixed methods systematic review, by Shalyn Rourke, Rachel Bacon (University of Canberra and Central Queensland University), Ria Joseph, Murray R. Turner (University of Canberra), Frances Lin and Catherine Paterson. DOI: 10.1016/j.iccn.2026.104497
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Original text here: https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2026/10/19/when-cancer-turns-critical-the-patient-isnt-the-only-one-suffering/
UQ technology opens new front in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's drug discovery
BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 19 -- The University of Queensland Brain Institute posted the following news:
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UQ technology opens new front in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's drug discovery
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A technology developed at The University of Queensland allowing scientists to observe how disease-related proteins behave inside living neurons will be used to advance early drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases.
The NASTIC (Nanoscale Spatiotemporal Indexing Clustering) platform, spun out into Brisbane-based startup Accretion Bio, enables researchers to study real-time biological processes in living
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BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 19 -- The University of Queensland Brain Institute posted the following news:
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UQ technology opens new front in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's drug discovery
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A technology developed at The University of Queensland allowing scientists to observe how disease-related proteins behave inside living neurons will be used to advance early drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases.
The NASTIC (Nanoscale Spatiotemporal Indexing Clustering) platform, spun out into Brisbane-based startup Accretion Bio, enables researchers to study real-time biological processes in livingcells across space and time at the single-molecule level for the first time.
The platform is the result of more than two decades of research at UQ's Queensland Brain Institute (QBI). Project lead Professor Frederic Meunier and QBI colleague Dr Tristan Wallis have observed proteins forming tiny, temporary clusters before dispersing again
Professor Meunier said NASTIC emerged from a fundamental scientific question about how proteins behave in living brain cells.
"NASTIC allows us to track how key proteins move, cluster and interact inside living neurons and observe how potential drug candidates influence those behaviours," Professor Meunier said.
"It provides an unprecedented view of what happens as diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's progress."
Read the media release here.
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Original text here: https://qbi.uq.edu.au/article/2026/10/uq-technology-opens-new-front-alzheimer%E2%80%99s-and-parkinson%E2%80%99s-drug-discovery
UQ technology opens new front in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's drug discovery
BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 19 -- The University of Queensland posted the following news:
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UQ technology opens new front in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's drug discovery
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A technology developed at The University of Queensland allowing scientists to observe how disease-related proteins behave inside living neurons will be used to advance early drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases.
The NASTIC (Nanoscale Spatiotemporal Indexing Clustering) platform, spun out into Brisbane-based startup Accretion Bio, enables researchers to study real-time biological processes in living cells across
... Show Full Article
BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 19 -- The University of Queensland posted the following news:
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UQ technology opens new front in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's drug discovery
*
A technology developed at The University of Queensland allowing scientists to observe how disease-related proteins behave inside living neurons will be used to advance early drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases.
The NASTIC (Nanoscale Spatiotemporal Indexing Clustering) platform, spun out into Brisbane-based startup Accretion Bio, enables researchers to study real-time biological processes in living cells acrossspace and time at the single-molecule level for the first time.
The platform is the result of more than 2 decades of research at UQ's Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), led by Professor Frederic Meunier.
Professor Meunier said NASTIC emerged from a fundamental scientific question about how proteins behave in living brain cells.
"NASTIC allows us to track how key proteins move, cluster and interact inside living neurons and observe how potential drug candidates influence those behaviours," Professor Meunier said.
"It provides an unprecedented view of what happens as diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's progress.
"Progressing the platform from discovery to commercial application is an opportunity to help researchers and drug developers make better-informed decisions, and ultimately, improve outcomes for patients affected by neurodegenerative diseases."
With support from UQ's commercialisation company UniQuest, NASTIC has been spun out into startup Accretion Bio, backed by global venture firm Antler.
Accretion Bio was founded by Phillip Craig with technology co-founders Professor Meunier and his QBI colleague Dr Tristan Wallis.
Mr Craig, Accretion Bio CEO, said the company would work with pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners to apply NASTIC to their programs while advancing its own neurodegenerative disease drug discovery program.
"The industry has been making high-stakes decisions about which targets to pursue and which drug candidates to advance without a crucial layer of mechanistic data about what's actually happening inside a living cell," Mr Craig said.
"In neurodegeneration, that functional information gap is one reason programs fail late and expensively in the clinic.
"NASTIC allows us to observe how a drug candidate changes its target's behaviour in real time, in a living cell, early in discovery.
"That is not an incremental improvement - it is a new class of evidence."
While Accretion Bio's initial focus would be on neurodegeneration, the platform could also resolve receptor clustering which drives cell signalling in immunology and oncology.
NASTIC has drawn interest from global pharmaceutical companies, and industry-funded research using the platform is already under way at QBI.
Antler Australia Partner James McClure said Accretion Bio was playing a vital role in the drug discovery lifecycle.
"The startup has true domain expertise and an ideal CEO to bring this successfully to the global pharmaceutical stage," he said.
UniQuest CEO Dr Dean Moss said the UQ research team had developed a powerful new capability with the potential to advance drug discovery around the world.
"We're proud to have helped take this technology from the lab to a company with global potential," Dr Moss said.
"Accretion Bio demonstrates the strength of Queensland's innovation ecosystem and the impact that can be achieved when researchers, entrepreneurs and investors come together around a shared vision."
Accretion Bio will pitch at the Early-Stage Innovation Forum and exhibit in Queensland Startup Alley at AusBiotech 2026 on the Gold Coast from 21-23 October.
Read about the underlying science published in Nature Protocols.
Topics
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Original text here: https://news.uq.edu.au/2026-10-uq-technology-opens-new-front-alzheimers-and-parkinsons-drug-discovery
Is it time to re-think GST?
MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 19 -- The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University posted the following news release:
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Is it time to re-think GST?
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Dr Venkat Narayanan, Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain:
"The rate of GST in Australia has been at 10% on taxable supplies since its inception in 2000.
"It's time to have a serious discussion about whether the GST can deliver more to the federal coffers and if so, how can this be done without disadvantaging vulnerable groups.
"The debate around increasing the GST for some reason doesn't feature discussion around increasing
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MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 19 -- The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University posted the following news release:
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Is it time to re-think GST?
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Dr Venkat Narayanan, Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain:
"The rate of GST in Australia has been at 10% on taxable supplies since its inception in 2000.
"It's time to have a serious discussion about whether the GST can deliver more to the federal coffers and if so, how can this be done without disadvantaging vulnerable groups.
"The debate around increasing the GST for some reason doesn't feature discussion around increasingit slowly and over time. Why not increase the GST to 10.5% and get to 15% over a number of years.
"Any increase in GST must also be accompanied with income tax relief, especially for individuals and families on low incomes.
"GST remains the most effective way to tax high income earners (when compared to income taxes) and hence is a highly effective tax, assuming that relief is provided to low income earners.
"Australia's GST needs to change. Now is the time to make it happen."
Dr Venkat Narayanan is a senior lecturer in accounting at RMIT University. He is an expert in taxation and related policies and has undertaken research commissioned by the ATO.
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Original text here: https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/media-releases-and-expert-comments/2026/oct/gst
Fast-tracked genetic testing helping sick kids
BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 19 -- The University of Queensland posted the following news:
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Fast-tracked genetic testing helping sick kids
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* A new genetic testing regime for children with immune disorders could dramatically cut diagnosis wait times.
* In-house pathology testing and streamlined access to specialist doctors means children can access treatment sooner, resulting in better outcomes.
* Under the new model of care, patient treatment plans were altered in 90 per cent of cases.
A new genetic testing regime for sick children with immune conditions could slash diagnosis waiting
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BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 19 -- The University of Queensland posted the following news:
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Fast-tracked genetic testing helping sick kids
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* A new genetic testing regime for children with immune disorders could dramatically cut diagnosis wait times.
* In-house pathology testing and streamlined access to specialist doctors means children can access treatment sooner, resulting in better outcomes.
* Under the new model of care, patient treatment plans were altered in 90 per cent of cases.
A new genetic testing regime for sick children with immune conditions could slash diagnosis waitingtimes from 12 months to as little as 2 weeks, University of Queensland research has found.
A study with Children's Health Queensland has shown a new genetic testing process for children with immune conditions could speed up diagnoses, fast track treatments and save lives.
Dr Tatiane Yanes from UQ's Frazer Institute said researchers examined nine years of genetic test data from 322 children tested through Queensland's paediatric immunology service to see how a new model of care could improve testing rates.
"Genomic testing is important for children with immune conditions, but we found in 30 per cent of cases children were put through duplicate blood tests for no reason," Dr Yanes said.
"We also had examples where families waited long periods for blood samples that were sent overseas for testing, or were referred to multiple different specialists, which can be incredibly stressful when they have a child who is battling an illness.
"Under a new model, we have introduced in-house pathology tests and streamlined access to specialists, which has meant children are getting diagnosed earlier and treated immediately."
Genetic immune conditions are rare, but there are more than 500 conditions that can be life-threatening and cause children to be more vulnerable to infection, allergies, inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer.
Depending on the condition, treatments can range from stem cell transplants, blood antibody infusions, or infection prevention.
"We describe the genetic testing as the 'why' test," Dr Yanes said.
"Children are hospitalised for life-threatening conditions, unusual infections, or autoimmune conditions but we don't know why - this is where genetics testing comes in.
"Once we know the 'why' we can better manage the condition.
"Under our new model of genetics testing, once a diagnosis was made, the treatment plan changed in 90 per cent of cases, which was a big result."
Queensland Children's Hospital Immunologist Dr Peter McNaughton said the new model has made a huge difference to patients.
"A faster result and diagnosis mean we can start targeted treatments early which leads to less cumulative problems, less organ damage, and increases the chance of kids leading a more normal life and attending school rather than being in and out of hospital," Dr McNaughton said.
"We regularly hold multi-disciplinary team meetings where all specialists involved share knowledge on patient cases, which in turn allows everyone to upskill and cuts out the need for patients to be referred to several different specialists.
"This new model of care really is a team effort, and it's making a huge difference to patients' lives."
Read the research published in Journal of Clinical Immunology.
Collaboration and acknowledgements
The study was funded by the Queensland Genomic Health Alliance, Translational Research Institute and the Queensland Children's Hospital.
Dr Yanes is funded by a National Health and Medical Research investigator grant.
Topics
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Original text here: https://news.uq.edu.au/2026-10-fast-tracked-genetic-testing-helping-sick-kids
Cedarville University Launches New Aerospace Engineering Concentration
CEDARVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 19 -- Cedarville University posted the following news:
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Cedarville University Launches New Aerospace Engineering Concentration
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Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency projects an average of 3,800 openings for aerospace engineers each year.
Cedarville's new 12-credit-hour concentration will provide students with specialized aerospace coursework while building on the university's established mechanical engineering curriculum.
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CEDARVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 19 -- Cedarville University posted the following news:
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Cedarville University Launches New Aerospace Engineering Concentration
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Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency projects an average of 3,800 openings for aerospace engineers each year.
Cedarville's new 12-credit-hour concentration will provide students with specialized aerospace coursework while building on the university's established mechanical engineering curriculum.Students will learn from faculty whose backgrounds in the U.S. Air Force, higher education and the aerospace industry bring experience in military aerospace systems, engineering research and commercial applications into the classroom. Relationships with alumni and professionals at companies including GE Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Honeywell and TURBOCAM will also give students exposure to career paths and technological developments across the aerospace industry.
The concentration will emphasize both lecture-based and hands-on learning, providing opportunities for students to move beyond classroom theory through interactive build projects, interactions with aerospace professionals and site visits to leading aerospace research and manufacturing facilities.
The new concentration builds on Cedarville's 35+-year history of engineering education and its network of graduates working throughout the aerospace and defense sectors. Alumni have pursued jobs with the U.S. Air Force, defense contractors and commercial aerospace companies, careers that highlight the longstanding connection between mechanical engineering and aerospace applications.
"The university's decision to add a concentration stems from the convergence of three things," said Dr. Joe Miller, chair of mechanical engineering at Cedarville University. "We saw a growing international demand, current student interest, and a strong legacy of graduates contributing across many areas of the aerospace industry, including in national leadership positions."
Cedarville's location in southwest Ohio places the students near one of the nation's most historically significant aerospace regions. Dayton, known internationally as the home of aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright, is also home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Materiel Command.
The broader region includes GE Aerospace operations in the Cincinnati area and emerging advanced-air-mobility companies in the Dayton-Springfield area. These organizations are part of an industry that connects higher education, military research, manufacturing and private-sector innovation.
"We're right in the middle of a historic and growing aerospace innovation corridor," said Miller. "Our goal is to use our location and partnerships in ways that benefit our students, faculty and the broader aerospace industry."
The university also maintains academic and government partnerships that support aerospace education and research. Cedarville has connections with the Air Force Institute of Technology and participates in the Ohio Space Grant Consortium, part of NASA's National Space Grant College and Fellowship Project. The university also has education partnership agreements with the Air Force Materiel Command and the Air Force Sustainment Center.
As aerospace technologies continue to advance, Cedarville's new concentration will give mechanical engineering students an opportunity to develop specialized knowledge while gaining practical experience and exposure to professionals in the field. The program is designed to prepare graduates to purposefully develop and lead solutions to aerospace engineering challenges in Ohio, across the United States and throughout the global aerospace industry.
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,542 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation's top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal's 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.cedarville.edu/news/2026/cedarville-university-launches-new-aerospace-engineering-concentration
BW Voices: Preparing teachers for AI and a new era of learning
BEREA, Ohio, Oct. 19 -- Baldwin Wallace University posted the following news:
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BW Voices: Preparing teachers for AI and a new era of learning
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Having spent more than three decades in education, BW professor of education Dr. Susan Finelli-Genovese believes educators should not fear innovation but be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to shape it.
Thirty-five years ago, a teacher's most advanced classroom technology might have been a well-organized transparency sheet on an overhead projector. Today, teachers have access to artificial intelligence tools that can help design lessons,
... Show Full Article
BEREA, Ohio, Oct. 19 -- Baldwin Wallace University posted the following news:
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BW Voices: Preparing teachers for AI and a new era of learning
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Having spent more than three decades in education, BW professor of education Dr. Susan Finelli-Genovese believes educators should not fear innovation but be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to shape it.
Thirty-five years ago, a teacher's most advanced classroom technology might have been a well-organized transparency sheet on an overhead projector. Today, teachers have access to artificial intelligence tools that can help design lessons,personalize learning experiences, analyze student needs and create opportunities for deeper engagement.
I have watched education evolve through the introduction of the internet, interactive whiteboards, 1:1 initiatives and the many digital resources that have become part of a teacher's toolkit.
Each innovation brought both excitement and uncertainty. Each required educators to rethink not only how they taught, but how students learned.
AI represents the next chapter in that ongoing journey. The question facing education is no longer whether AI will influence teaching and learning, but whether educators will be prepared to guide its responsible use.
Today, I have the opportunity to teach both pre-service teachers preparing to enter the profession and veteran educators looking to expand their instructional practices.
Much of my work focuses on helping educators understand and effectively use AI alongside other tools and strategies. One of the most rewarding parts of this work is watching educators move from uncertainty to curiosity.
I have seen both new and experienced teachers begin to recognize that AI is not about doing the work of teaching for them. It is about expanding what they are able to do for their students. It is a tool for success, not a trade-off sacrificing quality.
AI will not replace the heart of teaching -- the relationships, encouragement, creativity and care educators provide every day. However, it can become a valuable partner.
When used thoughtfully, AI can help teachers save time on routine tasks, generate ideas, differentiate instruction, provide additional learning supports and create more personalized experiences for students. It can help teachers spend less time managing tasks and more time connecting with learners.
The educators who made the greatest impact throughout my career were not necessarily those who mastered every new technology first. They were the ones who remained curious, adaptable and focused on what mattered most: their students.
For the next generation of teachers, understanding AI will not be optional. It will be an essential part of being an effective educator. Future teachers must learn not only how to use AI tools, but also how to evaluate their accuracy, consider ethical implications, protect student privacy, and make informed decisions about when and how these tools support learning.
When I first stepped into a classroom, educational technology looked very different, and I never imagined I would one day help teachers learn to collaborate with artificial intelligence. Yet the mission has never changed: to use every available tool to help students learn, grow and reach their potential.
As we prepare the next generation of educators, our task is not to fear innovation but to equip teachers with the knowledge and confidence to shape it. The most powerful force in education has always been a great teacher who inspires learning.
Dr. Susan Finelli-Genovese is a professor of educational technology in BW's Department of Education. She is a published author, illustrator and entrepreneur who has spent more than three decades in education, from PreK classrooms to higher education.
A version of this column first appeared on cleveland.com and in The Sun News in Northeast Ohio.
The BW Voices series explores a rich array of topics through a diverse pool of contributors. Guest writers offer personal narratives relating to topics of expertise, insight and perspective with the goal of enriching the educational experience of students and the BW community.
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Original text here: https://www.bw.edu/news/2026/10/preparing-teachers-for-ai-and-new-era-of-learning
