UV sticker raises cricket fans’ sunscreen use
UV detection stickers trialled by QUT researchers at the November 2017 Ashes Test at the Gabba have scored with cricket fans.
The stickers, some of which were tagged with Cricket Australia’s official 2017 campaign hashtag #BeatEngland, contained UV-sensitive ink which changes colour to warn people when the effect of their sunscreen is wearing off and it needs to be reapplied.
Make Your Mark! Women in Technology
Congratulations to Dr Elke Hacker who has been nominated for a 2019 Women in Technology Award – Making My Mark.
The award winner will be announced at the 22nd Annual Women in Technology Awards Gala Dinner for 2019. The gala celebrates the achievements of women working in technology and life sciences.
Seeking volunteers: Do foundations and moisturisers with SPF provide coverage from the sun?
Exciting new research is aiming to assess the coverage of commercially available cosmetics (such as foundations or skin care creams) that include SPF for intermittent sun exposure in indoor workers.
Dr Hacker is seeking staff, 18 years of age or older, who regularly use cosmetic products with SPF 5 or higher on their face such as foundations, moisturisers, or other makeup and face creams.
Help us to determine safe sun exposure levels
We are seeking participants to help us determine safe sun exposure levels.
Participants will be asked to visit the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation to have different low doses of UV radiation on their back and skin biopsies 24 hours after exposure. Participants are reimbursed $100 cash.
Could smart wearables prevent dangerous sunburn?
Getting sunburnt could be another rebellious rite of passage for young people, says QUT public health researcher Dr Elke Hacker who is testing new UV detection wearables to try to make sun safety part of daily routine.
“Throwing off the ‘rashie’ Mum’s made you wear or not putting on a hat after years of ‘no hat, no play,’ are like other risky behaviours such as drinking alcohol or speeding that young people seem to indulge in,” said Dr Hacker from QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation.
Sun Protection Habits and the Ugly Xmas Rashie
We’ve teamed up with wearable UV indicator sticker company Suncayr and the Ugly Xmas Rashie to look at people’s sun protection habits.
People who buy an Ugly Xmas Rashie will receive a sample pack of Suncayr SPOTMYUV™ UV indicating spots that mimic skin to tell you when to reapply sunscreen. Participants are asked to complete an online survey when they purchase their rashie about their sun protection practices, and again 3 months later. Upon successful completion of the 3 month survey, participants go into the draw to win four Ugly Xmas Rashies from next year’s limited-edition design.
The Sunscreen and Young Children (SAY) study: seeking research participants
We are conducting the Sunscreen and Young Children (SAY) study looking at sunscreen and other sun protective behaviour in young children and their caregivers. We’re looking for participants who are the parent/guardian of a young child aged 2-6 years.
Please download the attached Participant Flyer recruitment flyer for further details.
Reduce risk of skin cancer with new prevention app
Organ transplant recipients are at an increased risk of skin cancers, including the most deadly form melanoma, and QUT researchers are looking for transplant recipients to test a new sun safety app to decrease your risk.
Friends, family and spectators at the event are also encouraged to participate, as sun safety is important for everyone in a high UV environment such as Queensland.
Exercise during CHemotherapy for Ovarian cancer – The ECHO trial
Ovarian cancer is the most common cause of gynaecological cancer death in Australian women, with an overall 5-year survival rate of only 44%, compared to a 5-year survival rate of 99% in women with localised breast cancer. Symptoms of ovarian cancer and side-effects from treatment can negatively impact a woman’s physical wellbeing and quality of life, with treatment typically involving extensive abdominal surgery and intense chemotherapy.
There are several position stands endorsed by national and international organisations (e.g. Clinical Oncology Society of Australia, Exercise and Sports Science Australia, American College of Sports Medicine) which outline the value of physical activity and exercise during and following cancer treatment. It has been shown in cancer populations, such as breast and prostate, that exercise during chemotherapy treatment can improve physical wellbeing and quality of life, as well as reducing the number and severity of side effects (e.g. pain and fatigue). It is hypothesised that exercise may also help women with ovarian cancer to better tolerate full chemotherapy doses (leading to improved survival) by lessening the severity of treatment-related side-effects and reducing treatment toxicity.
“Exercise in Cancer Care” – COSA position stand
The Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) position stand on “Exercise in Cancer Care” was released in May this year, followed by an article promoting exercise and cancer titled “Tough love and hard exercise for people with cancer”, published in the May edition of the Exercise and Sports Science Australia MOVE magazine.
This represents an exciting move forwards in integrating exercise into cancer care and is generating the much needed discussions about what represents optimal patient care and what needs to be done to make this happen. Right now, we have sufficient evidence to support the integration of physical activity including planned exercise into standard cancer care. Exercise science in oncology strongly supports the notion that doing something is better than nothing, and more is generally better than less. While not all cancer types have been included in the more than 500 clinical trials that have evaluated the effect of exercise following a diagnosis, the theoretical underpinning, as well as consistency of findings across the cancer types that have been studied indicate this message will be relevant for the majority of those diagnosed with cancer. However, what represents the optimal exercise prescription and for who, remains unclear.
