Malaghan Institute to host Immunology Conference

Malaghan Institute to host National Immunology Conference

From 7-8 June 2007 the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, a leading independent biomedical research facility based at Victoria University’s Kelburn campus, will host over 90 of the country’s top immunologists at the 2007 Immunet meeting.

The immune system is the body’s own natural defence against disease. The primary aim of Immunet is to develop collaborative and integrated immune-based research strategies that can be used to improve health and treat diseases of particular importance to New Zealanders.

“As we increase the depth of our understanding of the immune system, the potential benefits for New Zealanders are limitless,” said Dr Joanna Kirman, conference organiser and Head of the Malaghan Institute Infectious Diseases research group.

Sponsored by the University of Otago and the Malaghan Institute, this year’s Immunet meeting will feature three international keynote speakers: Dr Daniel Cua, from Schering-Plough Biopharma, California, USA; Dr Jose Villadangos, from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australia; and Dr Norbert Kienzle, from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and Peptech Limited, Australia. All three speakers are world-renowned immunologists that specialise in the fields of autoimmunity, infection and/or cancer immunotherapy.

“Immunet offers a diverse and exciting mix of presentations from the leading international keynote speakers through to short talks by local postgraduate students, many of whom are presenting their work at a conference for the first time,” said Dr Kirman. “The student talks are always very impressive, and this year we have added two additional student sessions to accommodate the increased demand.”

The 2007 Immunet meeting will be held at Victoria University, Wellington.

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