As a result of the latest restrictions and health advice, Pathology Update 2021 will now be held virtually, taking place from 2-4 July. Whilst restrictions may have changed, what remains unchanged is the quality of the speakers and the robust scientific program at Australasia's premier multi-disciplinary pathology conference. In this article we highlight some presentations to add to your schedule this coming weekend. Speaker presentations will be able to view in real time through the Path Update 2021 platform which will be available to all delegates this week.
On Friday 2 July, Dr Lisa Whop will present in the Anatomical field with her presentation, The role of the pathology sector in cervical cancer elimination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. As an Australian National University senior research fellow, Dr Whop is Australia's leading authority on cervical cancer control in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. A Torres Strait Islander woman, Dr Whop was one of the lead authors on a recent study in the journal Preventative Medicine that found Australia is on track to be one of the first places in the world to eliminate cervical cancer, however, it reveals that First Nations women are being left behind.
On Saturday 3 July, Professor William Rawlinson will present, Background, testing methods, and laboratory approaches to SARS Coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) and COVID-19, in the Microbiology stream. An infectious diseases expert, Prof Rawlinson is Director of NSW’s largest public health testing laboratory for COVID-19. His presentation will discuss how the spread of SARS CoV-2 from Hubei province in China globally has led to changes in approaches to diagnosis, with rapid use of molecular methods such as Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to characterise mutations, and deployment of novel therapeutics including mRNA vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (Mab).
On Sunday 4 July, Prof Gareth Baynam and Mr Yaralu Thomas will present in the genetic stream with, Lessons to be learned from studying genomes of indigenous peoples. During their presentation, Prof Baynam and Yarlalu will discuss new approaches that integrate life languages and blend ancient wisdom, old knowledge and technological innovation to generate new knowledge. They will explain how approaches that are scalable, support applications for remote diagnostics and integrate Indigenous languages for equitable access and culturally safe care. Prof Baynam provides a brief insight into his presentation.
“There is a moral, medical and scientific imperative to work together with, and for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to improve genetic health care. These partnerships are critical to addressing existing, and emerging health inequity and must be developed at the speed of trust. Australia is in a unique position to do this, and it must be a focus of any jurisdictions initiatives to advance genetic health care. This is an area of undeniable Australian health care need, and also a globally unique Australian opportunity to equitably advance precision medicine and precision public health. Partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and learning from their culture history, wisdom and narratives will also deliver solutions for all of us,” said Prof Baynam.
UNSW’s Professor Edwin Kirk will also join delegates at the conference on Sunday 4 July to provide an update on the unprecedented Mackenzie’s Mission project. The project was announced as part of the May 2018 Budget when the Australian Government allocated $20 million to a research study of reproductive genetic carrier screening for severe and life-limiting genetic conditions including Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), fragile X syndrome and cystic fibrosis.
Prof Kirk is part of a team of UNSW researchers playing a leading role in the project which is focused on providing people with information about their chance of having children with a severe genetic condition occurring in childhood. The Mackenzie’s Mission reproductive genetic carrier screen includes approximately 1300 genes which are associated with about 750 conditions.
