Hudson PhD student Dr James Aridas receives research scholarship

Hudson Institute/ Monash University School of Clinical Sciences PhD student, Dr James Aridas, has been awarded an Avant Mutual Group Doctors in Training research scholarship.

The $15,000 research scholarship in the Advancement of Medicine category is designed to promote better patient outcomes and advance the careers of promising medical researchers.

Dr Aridas is currently completing his PhD, titled “Protecting the newborn following asphyxia at birth”, at The Ritchie Centre at Hudson Institute and Monash University, whilst working full-time as a clinician at Monash Health’s Dandenong Campus.

“I’ve always had a keen interest in understanding fetal and neonatal physiology, and The Ritchie Centre is a world class research facility in these areas,” Dr Aridas said.

Dr Aridas commenced his Honours degree then a PhD in medical research at Hudson/ Monash University whilst studying a Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of Surgery at Monash University, to combine the two qualifications.

He discovered an “insatiable interest” in medical research, fuelled by the support of his mentors.

“Since commencing my honours degree in 2011, I developed an insatiable interest in further research helped by my amazing research supervisors, Associate Professor Suzie Miller, Professor Graham Jenkin and Dr Tamara Yawno, and the whole lab group,” Dr Aridas said.

Dr Aridas says the support of the scholarship will assist him in forging a career as a clinician-scientist.

“This scholarship will provide me with support wile I undertake research activities, and it will also open doors to further research funding in the future,” he said.