TQEH Research Expo 2019 continued today with 5 sessions of oral presentations from students and clinical trainees based at the Basil Hetzel Institute, TQEH. An engaging Plenary Lecture was delivered by Professor John Rasko AO, who is Professor of Medicine at the Centenary Institute in Sydney. The title of his talk was "Cell and Gene Therapy: great power brings great responsibility", the latter part of the quote borrowed from the original Spiderman comic! Scientific Director Joy Rathjen said "John gave an exciting overview of recent successes in the development of Cell and Gene Therapeutics. After a summary of the state of play in the field, highlighting the 44 Cell and Gene therapies now approved in a multiplicity of jurisdictions globally, he explored new developments in personalised immune cell therapies (CAR-T cells) and then examples, from his own work, of promising clinical trials for curing difficult to treat genetic diseases. He finished with a thought provoking analysis of the responsibilities that we (scientists, clinicians, influencers and the public) face as these therapies are implemented." The day concluded with the presentation of awards by the Honourable Stephen Wade MLC, Minister for Health and Wellbeing. We thank all the generous sponsors for making this two day highlight of TQEH research possible: The Hospital Research Foundation, The University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, plus industry sponsors Abacus dx, AGRF, Beckman Coulter, Bio-Strategy, Chem-Supply, Eppendorf, Southern Cross Science. Photo (L-R): Scientific Director Associate Professor Joy Rathjen, Professor John Rasko and TQEH Director of Research Professor Guy Maddern. More photos can be found on the BHI Facebook page!.
