Australia-France biomedical research symposium

Paving the way to a cure for HIV, combating malaria, and strategies to deal with Alzheimer’s disease are among major biomedical advances being explored this week at the Australian Academy of Science’s inaugural Australia-France Symposium.

Both Australia and France have made significant contributions to advances in biomedical research that have improved diagnosis and treatment of disease.

The symposium, Showcasing excellence in biomedical research, will be officially opened by His Excellency Mr Stephane Romatet, Ambassador-Designated of France to Australia, on 23 November 2011 at 8.30am.

With sponsorship from the French Embassy and the Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research , the symposium has attracted global leaders and inspiring newcomers in five main areas: neuroscience; cancer; infection and immunity; cardiovascular disease and clinical translation.

Speakers on day one include:

• Professor Alan Cowman from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne: combating the global scourge of malaria in the genomic era at 9.15am
• Dr Monsef Benkirane from France’s National Center for Scientific Research: paving the way towards a cure for HIV AIDs at 9.45am.
• Professor Colin Masters from Australia’s Mental Health Research Institute: strategies for diagnosis and therapy of Alzheimer’s disease at 3.35pm.

Speakers on day two include:

• Professor Alain Tedgui from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research: the role of adaptive immunity on atherosclerosis at 8.30am.
• Professor Ian Frazer from the Translational Research Institute Pty Ltd in Brisbane: the translation of basic knowledge into clinical practice at 11.20am.