The journey of Australian science – Burnet and immunology
Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet
A Nobel Laureate and Academy Founding Fellow, Burnet is considered one of the 20th century’s greatest scientists. He made significant contributions to bacteriology, virology and immunology during his 59-year career, most of which was spent at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) in Melbourne.
Burnet made important discoveries about viral diseases including influenza, herpes, poliomyelitis and Murray Valley encephalitis, as well as bacterial diseases including psittacosis and Q fever. Later in life, he went on to lecture and write extensively about problems of human biology, ageing and cancer.
Since then, the study of the immune system and how it functions has continued to develop and play a crucial role in shaping our everyday lives – from understanding allergies, to vaccinations, personalised medicine, organ donations and cancer treatments.
In the past decade in particular, the understanding and development of new immunotherapies has undergone a revolution.
Join us to hear from Professor Lewin and Associate Professor Jenkins about these latest advances, the amazing work they both do, and how they think immunology will continue to evolve and shape our future. Whether you’re a student, a healthcare professional, or simply curious about the fascinating world of immunology, this event promises to inform and inspire!
Speakers
Professor Sharon Lewin AO FAA FAHMS
Sharon Lewin is the inaugural director of the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and the recently established Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics. She is an infectious diseases physician, basic scientist and President of the International AIDS Society. She has authored more than 360 publications and given more than 100 major international invited talks on the search for an HIV cure. Her research focuses on understanding why HIV persists and finding a cure for HIV infection. Professor Lewin has received numerous awards and played a major leadership role in the COVID-19 response in Australia.
Associate Professor Misty Jenkins AO
Misty Jenkins is an NHMRC Fellow and laboratory head in the Immunology Division at WEHI. Associate Professor Jenkins leads the immunotherapy program within The Brain Cancer Centre and is dedicated to discovering novel immunotherapy targets for high grade gliomas in adults and children. Her research focuses on the development of novel chimeric antigen receptor T cells for brain cancer. Her group also uses cutting edge two-photon microscopy combined with mouse models of brain cancer to investigate the tumour microenvironment and uncover the unique biology of brain tumours.
More about the work of Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet
More about the series
The Australian Academy of Science’s public speaker series in 2024, our 70th anniversary year, looked at our history and into our future.
In each instalment, we followed the story of one scientific discipline, with an Academy Fellow and an early-career researcher as our expert guides.
Across geology, virology, astronomy and more, we traced our science history from landmark discoveries to the present cutting edge of Australian science.
Along the way, we got to know the Academy’s iconic earliest Fellows who shaped Australian science: from Mark Oliphant to Frank Fenner to Dorothy Hill. We experienced the challenges and curly conundrums they grappled with, celebrate their triumphs and breakthroughs, and looked ahead to today’s emerging generation of top minds following in their footsteps.
Thank you to the series convenors
- Dr Oliver Mayo FAA FTSE, University of Adelaide
- Professor Susanne von Caemmerer FAA FRS, Australian National University
- Associate Professor Raffaella Demichelis, Curtin University