Sydney Cancer Conference 2008
17 July 2008
This week, The University of Sydney Cancer Research Network will host the inaugural Sydney Cancer Conference 2008 (SCC2008).
The three-day program draws together international and national researchers, industry experts and students, on the theme of 'Research Translation: Innovation to Practice', focusing on facilitating dialogue and exchange of ideas between basic and clinical researchers, speeding the translation of new discoveries for the benefit of cancer patients.
A distinguished panel, chaired by Professor Martin Tattersall, will discuss the key questions to be answered by cancer research in the next five years, which should generate some exciting discussion.
The conference features three international keynote speakers - Professor Kenneth Kinzler, Professor Lesley Fallowfield and Professor John Potter, and a list of exciting national presenters, whose work in cancer research is internationally recognised
"One presentation not to be missed will be by Professor John Thompson," said Professor Richard Christopherson, Chair of the SCC2008 Organising Committee.
"Professor Thompson is Director of the Sydney Melanoma Unit at The University of Sydney, and he will outline new melanoma treatments, including the ground-breaking clinical trial he is carrying out. Individual tumours are injected with a red dye called Rose Bengal causing them to become necrotic, dying within 7 days, and lifting off the skin within 14 days."
Other local and national speakers will include:
• Professor Nicos Nicola (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute), who was involved with the cloning of GM-CSF. This growth factor was subsequently used to treat Jose Carreras, one of the 'Three Tenors', who had acute lymphocytic leukaemia in 1987. He is now cured and has established the Jose Carreras International Leukemia Foundation to support leukaemia research;
• Dr Janette Vardy (The University of Sydney), who will present on cognitive function and fatigue in cancer patients after chemotherapy; and
• Dr Karen Canfell (Cancer Council NSW), whose presentation will focus on evaluating new strategies for cervical cancer screening in the context of HPV vaccination.
"To open SCC2008, Professor Bruce Armstrong who led the expert investigation of the breast cancer cluster at the ABC studios in Brisbane in 2006-07, will give a public lecture from 6.30 - 7.30 pm on Thursday 24 July," said Professor Christopherson.
"This is a free lecture. Anyone interested in cancer research is encouraged to attend."
The Hon. Verity Firth MP, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Minister for Women, Minister for Science and Medical Research, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), will officially open the conference on Friday 25 July.
SCC2008 has been supported by Amgen, The Cancer Institute NSW, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Bayer, Merck Serono, Roche, and The University of Sydney School of Public Health.
SCC2008 will be held from 24 - 26 July 2008 at the Eastern Avenue Auditorium and Lecture Theatre Complex at The University of Sydney. For further information or to register visitwww.cancerresearch.med.usyd.edu.au/SCC2008/
Contact: Jake O'Shaughnessy
Phone: +61 2 9351 4312 or 0421 617 861