Outstanding line up of local speakers at Pathology Update 2021
Pathology Update is the annual scientific educational meeting for the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA). Bringing together pathology professionals from the seven different disciplines of pathology, it is the only conference of its kind in Australasia. After the hiatus of 2020 it is especially exciting to be able to announce that a full scientific program has been scheduled for Pathology Update 2021, which will take place from Friday 2 - Sunday 4 July 2021 at the International Convention Centre, Sydney.
“Whilst travel restrictions mean there will be no international speakers at this year’s conference, an outstanding line up of local speakers has been secured. It is a source of pride to all those involved in the planning that such a high calibre of home-grown talent will be presenting. What’s more, Pathology Update once again gives the fantastic opportunity to meet up with colleagues and become immersed in the discipline scientific program sessions, as well as plenary sessions and social events.
“As always, we have the utmost confidence that ICC Sydney will provide a smooth operation and we have been assured that they will be taking all necessary precautions in line with Government directions. For those unable to attend, we are pleased to advise that Pathology Update will be presented as a hybrid: face to face with the option to attend virtually via a platform. For the first time in our conference history, virtual delegates will be able to stream the scientific presentations in real time, which is very exciting,” said Dr Michael Dray President RCPA.
Three plenaries will take place during the conference. On Friday, Dr Mike Catton will present the Faculty of Science plenary, COVID-19: 2020 vision. Dr Catton has been Director of the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) since 2001. He is also Co-Deputy Director of Melbourne’s Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and has been part of Australia’s front-line response to COVID-19. The Doherty Institute was the first place in the world to grow the COVID-19 virus from a patient sample outside China.
On Saturday, Prof Richard Scolyer will present this year’s Eva Raik plenary which will reveal the progress Melanoma Institute Australia has made in its mission to reach zero deaths from melanoma. In 2020 alone, Prof Scolyer received many accolades, including the Cancer Institute NSW Premier's Award – Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year, the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Distinguished Fellow Award 2020, The University of Sydney’s 2020 Alumni Award for International Achievement and the Clarivate Web of Science Group Highly Cited Researcher 2020.
Dr James Daly and A/Prof Zoe McQuilten will take to the stage on Sunday to present the Innovations Plenary, Convalescent plasma for COVID-19. Dr Daly is Medical Director of Pathology Services for Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and is a co-investigator on the research project ‘Convalescent Plasma for COVID-19’ which was successful in obtaining funding from the Medical Research Future Fund. A/Prof McQuilten is a consultant haematologist at Monash Health and a Victorian Cancer Agency Clinical Research Fellow. She is the Deputy-Director of the Transfusion Research Unit at Monash University and a senior research fellow with the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre.
“We have truly missed seeing everyone in person over the last year and we are excited to finally welcome everyone back through the doors of the conference. I appreciate this is still a busy time but we’re really encouraging everyone to take a step back from the microscope or the bench and join us on site for what is shaping up to be a brilliant conference,” said Dr Dray.
