Delegates to tour MHTP during International Congress of Immunology 2016

International delegates will visit Hudson Institute of Medical Research during the 16^th International Congress of Immunology 2016 in Melbourne on Tuesday, August 23.

Around 3000 immunology researchers and experts will converge on Melbourne for ICI, one of the largest meetings of its kind. The main theme for ICI 2016 is “Immunotherapy: Harnessing the Power of the Immune System”.

Main themes of the Congress include advances in discovery and development of vaccines for infectious diseases as well as the emerging fields of microbiome-host interactions, new innate cell subsets and immunoregulatory pathways.

Around 40 delegates will tour the facilities at the Monash Health Translation Precinct, one of the largest centres for innate immunity and clinical immunology in Australia.

This includes the Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases (Hudson Institute) and the Centre for Infectious Diseases (School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health), as well as the Platform Technologies and Clinical Trials floors at the MHTP Translational Research Facility.

As part of a series of engagement tours, delegates will also visit the Burnet Institute, the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.

Acting Head of the Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Professor Brendan Jenkins, says it’s an honour to host delegates.

“We look forward to showcasing our latest findings on how the innate immune system can shape the severity of a range of disease states including cancer, autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory disorders, as well as the host response to infections”.

“The main theme of ICI 2016 is ‘Immunotherapy: Harnessing the Power of the Immune System’ and this is certainly what our scientists have been investigating with their research into immune responses to infections such as Helicobacter pylori and HIV, as well as research into the effects of modulating the innate immune system on stomach and lung cancers,” he said.

“Progress in immunology is being driven by new technology, from molecular imaging to single-cell analysis, and we look forward to showcasing our MHTP Technology Platforms as part of this tour.”

Professor Jenkins and other Hudson Institute CiiiD researchers including Dr Ashley Mansell will give presentations at the International Congress of Immunology 2016, which will take place between August 21-26.