IMA NEWSLETTER OF THE MACFARLANEP BURNET INSTITUTEA FOR MEDICAL RESEARCHC AND PUBLIC HEALTHT | WINTER 2005

LIVING WITH AIDS Improving quality of life HARM REDUCTION What is it really about? MOZAMBIQUE Fighting the stigma and the spread of HIV

www.burnet.edu.au 2 Updates from Burnet’s Burnet’s from Updates around from Words 8 Brief in News REGULARS 6 by shadowed Often 7 in program Burnet’s Mozambique 4 scientists Burnet FEATURES 3 Peter Higgs from the the from Higgs Peter Spotlight Staff 11 Events 11 Partnerships Working 10 Mike Professor Associate Heads Talking 9

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deductible tax are $2 over Institute Burnet the to donations All www.burnet.edu.au [email protected] Email: 2100 +61Fax 39282 2111Tel +61 39282 3001 Australia Melbourne 2284 Box GPO INSIDE DIRECTOR’S Professor Steve Wesselingh, Director Wesselingh, Steve Professor ways. many so in health global on impact an make to continue to us helping in support your for you thank and Institute the of work good the about reading enjoy you I trust communities. many in diseases infectious of affect devastating the reducing in a difference making are they that knowledge the in work who Institute the at professionals health public and scientists many the of passion and arefl dedication excellence; the of and ection innovation its for world the around recognised is Burnet of work The diseases. infectious worst world’s the of some for vaccines of development to through virology basic from range that projects research and 30; than more into reaching programs with countries, nine in staff permanent has now Burnet resource-poor communities of our region and in Africa. or through our field programs that operate in Australia and in many outcomes of the world-class research undertaken at the Institute, Burnet is making an impact in many ways, whether it is through the clear. became choice the then world, the around making is work our that impact the and in, involved is Institute the that programs of range the at looked we when but Burnet, of work the of scope broad refl that atitle with up the come to ected achallenge was It programs. health public international and national and research our of progress the about information more with you provide to able now are we but costs, printing and production on save we will only not newsletters, these combining By This newsletter combines the two publications, publications, two the combines newsletter This Impact fi the to you Iwelcome of that issue pleasure rst great with is It Viruses Plan Australia. Plan Snell, Beverley Higgs, Peter Hayter, Joanna Hughes, Chad Dorabjee, Jimmy Morris, Lisa Mak, Johnson Coghlan, Ben Photography: , the new-look newsletter of the . Burnet the of newsletter new-look , the and and Incite

, previously produced by the Institute. Institute. the by produced , previously REPORT appeals included in in included appeals purpose special Where diseases. infectious any have people these that implication no is There permission. their with photographed were newsletter this in included images in appear that people possible Where Victory over over Victory are redirected to. redirected are funds that specifithe c project notifi be will of ed Contributors Institute. Burnet the of Director the of discretion the at nature asimilar of projects to allocated be will funds excess oversubscribed, are newsletter this The development of antiretroviral drugs has meant that life expectancy for people on treatment for HIV infection has signifi cantly increased. However, there are often side effects that can result in a reduced quality of life for those people on long-term treatment. Burnet scientists are unlocking the mysteries of how these drugs interact with cells, with the aim of improving the quality of life for many living with HIV.

well with HIV

eople who become infected with Project Leader, Dr Kate Cherry said that pervaded the early years of the PHIV still remain infected for life; anecdotal reports suggest that it may AIDS epidemic has slowly subsided, although the development of combination be possible to prevent many toxic side but the number of people affected by therapies that use several different effects with the use of safe, vitamin- HIV continues to rise. Today, there are drugs simultaneously to attack the like substances (micronutrients) that 23,000 Australians living with HIV, virus, has meant that people with HIV help the mitochondria function more about 9,000 of whom have AIDS. can now expect to live for many years, effectively. “Using the tests we have “Ironically, the improved outlook for albeit with the problems associated developed to measure the effects of HIV HIV infected people and the reduced with living with a chronic illness. treatments on mitochondria, we are fear of infection in the community The benefi ts of medication for people living with HIV however, often come with signifi cant costs in terms of quality “New infections are still occurring, especially of life. Although access to highly-active amongst men who have sex with men, with more antiretroviral treatments (HAART) have prolonged the life expectancy of than 700 new infections in 2003,” Dr Cherry said. people living with HIV, their quality of life can be severely impaired by now assessing whether micronutrients appears to have been associated with disfi guring changes in body shape from are effective in preventing drug toxicity an increase in risky sexual practices. fat redistribution, and painful feet and at a cellular level,” Dr Cherry said. New infections are still occurring, legs from nerve damage that is a common The aim of this pilot project is especially amongst men who have sex side-effect of some drugs. These long-term to demonstrate that the concept of with men, with more than 700 new drug toxicities can lead to some patients micronutrient treatment is biologically infections in 2003,” Dr Cherry said. stopping effective HIV treatments, so plausible and has potential for further The increased availability of there is an urgent need to develop safer investigation in patients. Burnet effective drug treatments for people ways of using effective HIV therapies. scientists aim to use a successful living with HIV means that more Preliminary work undertaken by outcome from this laboratory work people will be likely to suffer from Burnet scientists has shown that toxic as the basis for a controlled clinical the side effects of these drugs. effects of some HIV therapies can be trial of micronutrients in patients “People are living longer with HIV measured at a cellular level. Research taking combination HIV therapy. infection. Finding safer ways to use the has shown that measurable negative With an estimated 40 million people available, effective HIV therapies will effects on the mitochondria (the power infected with HIV worldwide, the reduce the accumulation of serious side house of the cell) occurs in some ability to reduce the toxic side effects effects and provide great patients taking antiretroviral drugs. of antiretroviral drugs has global benefi ts to many, Burnet Institute scientist and signifi cance. In Australia, the panic many people.”

> Electron microscopic view of HIV.

3 From one small outreach project in the city of Chimoio, Burnet’s program in Mozambique has grown to now support four HIV-focused organisations across the country. Our Mozambique program has grown rapidly since 2000 with Burnet offi ces offi cially opening in Maputo and Chimoio in 2004 and 2005. mozambique

n 2004, the Australian Partnerships end of 2003, adult prevalence of HIV also includes: support with African Communities Program in Mozambique was 13.6 per cent, for advocacy campaigns; I(APAC) was offi cially launched by the with approximately 1.5 million adults behavioural research; ’s international and children living with HIV. The and the creation of a aid agency, AusAID, The goal of this majority of new HIV infections in sex worker network to program is to contribute to poverty Mozambique are occurring among young address issues of violence reduction and achievement of sustainable people – those under 29 years old. against women. development in targeted countries in Two major forces have infl uenced the One of Burnet’s key southern and eastern Africa. Through spread of HIV to Mozambique – war partners is Organizacao a joint APAC submission with Plan and commercial transport corridors. da Mulher Educadora Australia, Burnet received funding After gaining independence in 1975, a do SIDA (OMES) to continue and expand its work in 15 year civil war ravaged Mozambique or the Organisation of Women AIDS Mozambique. Burnet’s program is creating nearly six million refugees Educators. OMES works specifi cally focused on strengthening the capacity and internally displaced persons. with sex workers but also with of local civil society organisations The crippling civil war cut transport communities to increase awareness of to respond to HIV and AIDS with routes within Mozambique. This meant HIV and AIDS. OMES celebrated prevention, care and support services. that when the war ended, refugees and its 10th anniversary last November. Mozambique has a complex history and displaced persons fl ooded back from Joana Wache Siahamba has been the certain events made the HIV explosion high HIV prevalence neighbouring coordinator of OMES since its beginning inevitable. Initially, Mozambique countries. At the same time, other in 1994. Committed and tenacious, lagged behind its neighbours in the transport routes re-opened, allowing Joana has kept OMES running strong, AIDS epidemic which threatens most, truck drivers freedom of movement once even at times when funding was scarce. if not all of sub-Saharan Africa. At the again. With the links between mobility In a country where sex work is illegal and and HIV spread clearly understood, sex workers are marginalised members of Mozambique met the conditions for a society, the 10th anniversary of OMES rapid spread of HIV in the post-war years. was a particularly signifi cant milestone. Burnet’s program focuses particularly OMES currently has 89 AIDS activists on building the capacity of its local and two nights a week they go to the local partners to develop, implement and bars to speak one-on-one with their fellow manage effective HIV responses for sex workers and with their clients. This affected communities. Building technical provides an opportunity for people to hear capacity is pointless if organisations are about HIV and AIDS on an individual weak in other areas such as management basis, and provides an open environment and governance. Formal training and on- in which to ask questions. During these From left to right: Stall vendor, Margaret Flower, Jean Thomson and Joana Wache going intensive monitoring is the approach visits, activists also supply condoms to Siahamba, coordinator of OMES. being used by Burnet. Our program fellow sex workers and their clients. 4 THE NIGHT CLINIC

The night clinic offers an essential service to the community. The stigma associated with an STI means people often feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek treatment for an STI at a local health centre as they are worried they will see people they know. There have been many reports of staff at health posts ridiculing or humiliating patients as well as discriminating against women perceived as sex workers. As a result, people often leave STIs untreated or seek ineffective treatment from traditional healers or local nurses. The night clinic provides services in a friendlier environment for both women and men, and allows patients greater anonymity by attending the clinic at night. Thanks to the Australian government and the generosity of inspiring individuals like Mrs Margaret Flower, Burnet can make a long-term commitment to strengthening its partners’ capacity to respond to the ever-growing threat of HIV in Mozambique.

OMES’ community outreach is as well as funding the OMES night clinic. their vision could never be realised due undertaken by their theatre group who To coincide with the 10th anniversary of to a lack of funding. Mrs Flower saw perform plays, songs and traditional OMES, Mrs Flower visited Mozambique that the night clinic was much needed dance to educate the community about and participated in the anniversary events by the community and especially the HIV and tackle some very sensitive social as a special friend of Burnet and OMES. women in the community so she very issues that increase HIV risk. To draw a Mrs Flower also visited the site for the generously agreed to fund the clinic for crowd to their performances, OMES uses night clinic which was soon to open and its fi rst year of operation. The night drumming and singing, typical ways of commence STI treatment services. clinic opened in February 2005, as a calling people together in Mozambique. OMES had dreamed of operating a collaborative effort between OMES, Theatre and dance both entertain and night clinic for sex workers for many years the Provincial Department of Health, educate, and importantly, are appropriate as the need was so great. Unfortunately, Burnet and Mrs Margaret Flower. for both literate and illiterate audiences. After their performances, the activists hand out condoms to the audience and The Mozambique Network of AIDS Service Organisations (MONASO): MONASO has demonstrate how to use them correctly. 422 members and has offi ces established in seven of the ten provinces. Burnet is working to build MONASO’s capacity in the three central provinces over the next fi ve years. They also operate two counselling The APAC program will also assist MONASO to establish a training and resource centre centres and have six trained counsellors. in the central provinces. Aside from the AusAID APAC funding The Network of Associations of People Living with HIV/AIDS (RENSIDA): RENSIDA, founded Burnet also has a very generous supporter in 2002, has a group of 11 committed staff, many who work on a voluntary basis, to assist who has made an enormous contribution their 21 member organisations to provide care and support to People Living with HIV/AIDS. to our work in Mozambique with OMES. The APAC program will assist RENSIDA to build its advocacy and organisational capacity.

Mrs Margaret Flower from , has The Manica Provincial Nucleus to Combat HIV/AIDS: The Provincial Nucleus is part of the provided OMES with support to enable Mozambique National AIDS Council. Burnet is offering technical assistance to assist the their activists and counsellors to keep Nucleus to improve their monitoring and evaluation program. functioning in their very important roles 5 news in brief

Direct debit your Senator Natasha Stott Despoja visits Burnet contributions Burnet hosted a recent lunchtime briefi ng for A simple and effective Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, Senator for way to make your . The Senator has agreed to join donation to the Burnet high-profi le Australians as a Burnet Patron: Institute go even Chief Patron, Mr John Landy, AC, MBE, further is to make a Governor of ; Hon Steve Bracks regular contribution by MP, Premier of Victoria; Rt Hon John So, direct debit. Forms are Lord Mayor of Melbourne; Rt Hon Malcolm now available to make Fraser AC, former Prime Minister; Professor this process very simple Allan Fels AO, former Chairman of ACCC – for more information and currently Dean of the Australian & New contact Stefan Swadzba Zealand School of Government; Professor on + 61 3 9282 2135. David Ho, Director, The Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Centre, New York; Mr Bryce Courtenay AM Author; and television host and Senator Stott Despoja and Burnet’s Director journalist, Mr Eddie McGuire. Professor Steve Wesselingh.

Burnet wins bid to train all AusAID staff on HIV Burnet’s Centre for International Health has been successful in winning the bid to provide training on HIV and AIDS for all AusAID staff. HIV/AIDS is a key priority for the Australian Government’s development Back: Lidia Gomes, Odete Belo, Beverley Snell, Sarah Moon, Misliza Vital. cooperation program and foreign policy. Front: Nelson Martins, Clement Malau. Training AusAID staff is essential for the successful implementation of AusAID’s The Burnet Institute Cooperating with HIV/AIDS programs and policies, and will Annual Report for contribute to the advancement of Australia’s 2004 is now available. Timor Leste international HIV/AIDS strategy. The two year Download the pdf The Cooperating with Timor Leste conference contract will require Burnet to implement a staff version from our was held on the 17–18 June at the Victoria training program for AusAID staff in Australia website www.burnet. University Conference Centre, Melbourne. as well as overseas. Centre for International edu.au or if you would Burnet’s Beverley Snell, Clement Malau Health and Centre for Harm Reduction staff like to receive a printed and Damian Hoy, and Sarah Moon from from Melbourne and the Burnet offi ces overseas copy, please contact Australian Red Cross were responsible will be involved as trainers on the project. Stefan Swadzba on for convening the Health and Population + 61 3 9282 2135. sector sessions at the conference.

Burnet researchers win grant for a female- controlled approach to HIV prevention Women increasingly represent the face of the HIV epidemic globally and now account for almost 60 per cent of people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa and 48 per cent of people living with HIV worldwide. In June, Burnet’s Dr Johnson Mak and his team received a signifi cant grant from the Shepherd Foundation. The grant will help enable the team to develop an alternative method for reducing the spread of HIV through the use of protective gels and creams containing active ingredients (microbicide) to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Dr Johnson Mak 6 Cooking up heroin in a Shooting Gallery in Kachin State, Myanmar.

The Burnet Institute’s harm HARM REDUCTION: reduction programs began in 1990 and now operate in a number of countries in Asia. The Centre for Harm Reduction, which was offi cially formed in 1998, works Saying it with governments, health and law authorities and injecting drug user communities. But what is harm reduction all about? like it is > Drug use exists all over the world and worldwide embraced supply and demand users. Harm reduction aims to protect HIV infection among injecting drug approaches to tackle issues surrounding the community from crime by engaging users (IDUs) has been identifi ed in more illicit drug use. These approaches focus with drug users. The wider community is than 114 countries. The rapid spread on mid- to long-term goals and do not also protected from the sexual (or vertical) of HIV and AIDS among IDUs in the deal with the rapid transmission of HIV transmission of HIV as harm reduction 1980s provided the momentum for infection among IDUs. The need to is also focused on the sexual partners harm reduction to be recognised as a address the spread of HIV among drug of IDUs and ways to reduce the risk of fundamental way to stop the spread of users cannot be overstated: in some parts mother-to-child transmission of HIV. HIV. Harm reduction is what it says – it of the world, the HIV infection rate The philosophy of harm reduction is to is about reducing harm to drug users and among IDUs climbed from zero to 50 per encourage drug users to progress towards the wider community. Harm reduction cent within six months. reduced harm and improved health at a recognises the reality of drug use: that Harm reduction in relation to drug use speed which is more acceptable to them some drug users will not stop using drugs means reducing the harmful consequences and thus more realistic. Importantly, despite the risk of HIV and other blood- of drug use without necessarily reducing harm reduction does not stigmatise borne viruses. Countries need to adopt drug consumption. The major harmful those who practise high-risk behaviour, a broad range of innovative programs to consequences of drug use include blood- recognising that such behaviours result tackle the problems of HIV and drug use. borne viruses such as HIV and AIDS, from complex social, environmental, Research shows that harm reduction is the hepatitis B and C, overdose, various other economic, cultural and personal factors. only successful approach developed so far medical and psychological conditions, and Increasingly, harm reduction to deal with illicit drug use and HIV. involvement in criminal and other anti- approaches have been adopted and social activities. adapted to the needs of different What is harm reduction? countries or communities. Harm Harm reduction has been around for a What are the aims and philosophy reduction principles are pragmatic, long time and has been used in various of harm reduction? humane, effective and holistic. They ways to address public health issues. The aim of harm reduction is to keep provide an alternative approach and The explosive HIV infections among drug users alive, well and productive framework to deal with drug using IDUs in some Western countries in the until drug treatment works or they grow problems. Controversy often shadows early 1980s led to harm reduction being out of their drug use. There is always an harm reduction yet harm reduction has a adopted in the offi cial drug policies of emphasis on the dignity and human rights long history of bringing great benefi ts to many countries. In that era, governments of all members of a society, including drug individuals and communities. 7 words from around the world

Laos | NIRAMONH CHANLIVONG The Burnet Institute’s Lao program has expanded greatly this year. Burnet Laos currently has six projects being implemented throughout the country. In addition, two new contracts were signed in May and June of this year. The fi rst of the newly-signed contracts allows for the expansion of Burnet’s male peer education project. This Group poster work for some of the third Male peer educators attend refresher project involves training groups of group of peer educators at Burnet’s basic training with Burnet’s Chad Hughes and young men, including a new group of training workshop, 11-13 June this year. Mike Toole and project coordinator Soutchay Pheualavong (seated front left). gay men and transgender individuals, as peer educators. The training covers of Female Service Women in Lao PDR’. From a team of nine at the beginning issues such as: HIV, STIs, sexual health, This project aims to promote the adoption of 2005, Burnet’s Lao offi ce has now sexuality, respectful relationships with of safe sexual behaviour by men who grown to 20 staff. This is due to the young women, drugs and alcohol, exchange money for sex with women. establishment of a new fi eld offi ce in condom use and negotiation skills. The project will run for just over a Champasak Province in the far south of The second project is ‘Behaviour year and will operate in two provinces: the country, where our new behaviour Change Intervention for Male Clients Vientiane Capital and Champasak. change project is operating.

India | SUZANNE CROWE The Burnet Institute’s Clinical Research Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkota. Laboratory has played an increasing This was done with funding from the role in the training and education of Australia India Council (AIC) and in doctors, nurses and laboratory scientists collaboration with the Confederation in the region, particularly in India. of Indian Industries (CII) and the As part of the World Health Australasia Society for HIV Medicine. Organization’s 3x5 program (to try and Since then, another nine similar ensure that three million people with HIV programs have been coordinated by are started on antiretroviral treatment Suzanne Crowe (a number given by Dr Lisa Morris from the Clinical Research by 2005) doctors and others involved Phil de Cros from The Alfred hospital, Laboratory, Burnet Institute, at the in prescribing these drug combinations the rest by Indian doctors trained in the Jamshedpur Missionary Hospital on the need to understand which drugs should fi rst training program). A further 48 HIV recent HIV training program for nurses and laboratory technicians. be given together, the possible toxicities education programs for doctors, in rural and interactions between each. and urban areas across India, are in place Trainer programs for paramedics. In 2003, the Train the Trainer program over the next 12 months, in collaboration Meanwhile, Burnet’s Clinical Research to teach Indian doctors on the appropriate with AIC, CII and the National AIDS Laboratory has also been actively involved use of antiretroviral drugs, started. Five Control Organisation in India. in transferring technology for low-cost Australian doctors, including Professor More recently further funding was tests to monitor HIV infection in the Suzanne Crowe from the Burnet Institute, obtained to send a highly experienced laboratory. Burnet’s Mandy Dunne and Associate Professor Anne Mijch from team, consisting of nurse, Christine Vicki Greengrass have trained laboratory The Alfred hospital in Melbourne and Bowtell Harris, and pharmacist, technicians in Indonesia, India and Associate Professor Debbie Marriott Alison Duncan, both from The Alfred Malaysia. This work is planned to from St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney hospital, and Burnet’s Lisa Morris to continue, as a result of a recent further trained groups of Indian doctors in complete the fi rst series of Train the grant from the Australia India Council. 8 Myanmar | JOANNA HAYTER When Burnet Myanmar offi cially opened within the context of broader development in 2003, there were two staff members challenges. A primary strategy of this with an offi ce based at the fi rst country approach is through the strengthening of manager’s home. Nowadays, Burnet civil society groups within the country. Myanmar is located in Yangon, and has Burnet Myanmar works with Buddhist, a team of 16 working on nine projects, Christian and Muslim non-government as well as on-going consultancies. organisations (NGOs) and women’s Burnet’s Centre for Harm Reduction cooperatives, as well as long established and Centre for International Health national NGOs such as the Myanmar Capacity building for local partners at a leadership workshop in Myanmar. Melbourne staff visit regularly to support Red Cross Society and YWCA. our programs and development. The challenge for Burnet Myanmar Training & Support Facility We are committed to the development is to fi nd pathways from HIV to • On-going series of short courses of local capacity to respond to health other health and development including ‘Behaviour Change interventions in this resource-poor Communication’ and ‘Community and politically constrained country. Responses to the HIV Epidemic– Some of our current program includes: Beyond Information’. These courses • Three projects focused on harm are open to all Myanmar nationals reduction activities with injecting drug • Involvement in Technical Working users and their social-sexual networks Group meetings for the UN • Management and technical support Joint Program on HIV/AIDS. for fi ve seed grant projects for Through its local implementing local NGOs working in HIV partners, Burnet Myanmar’s responses for the fi rst time program reach extends to Mandalay, Strengthening local capacity through exposure to international NGO programs on a • A project which has established Sagaing, Ayeyarwaddy, Kachin, rural study tour, Myanmar. the Myanmar Youth HIV/AIDS Shan, Kayin and Mon States.

TALKING HEADS

Associate Professor Mike Toole, Head, Burnet’s Centre for International Health In 1992, the Burnet Institute (or NGO) activities, and workers and their clients, established the Centre for short-term consultancies. injecting drug users, men who International Health (CIH) Currently, Burnet’s Centre have sex with men, and mobile to focus and coordinate its for International Health is in populations such as railway activities in the international partnership to implement four workers, soldiers and police, health sphere. Its aims are Australian Government funded and construction workers. In suspected human cases of avian to respond to the growing bilateral projects: HIV/AIDS PNG, Burnet is helping the infl uenza in Cambodia, review health problems in developing prevention and care projects National Department of Health of the national AIDS program nations by providing technical in Papua New Guinea (PNG), to improve the effectiveness of in Timor Leste, evaluation advice, applied research, Indonesia, and the Pacifi c Region its measles control efforts. In of a World Vision maternal policy development, training, (14 countries), and a Health Sri Lanka, we support a local health program in Ethiopia, and capacity development. Sector Support Program in non-government organisation development of a national The number of staff the Tibet Autonomous Region – PALM – to improve the health drug policy in Kiribati, training working for the Centre has of China. CIH has offi ces in and quality of life of the elderly priests and pastors to support increased in recent years to Indonesia, Tibet, Laos, Myanmar, who live in the tea plantations. the response to HIV in PNG, 70, more than half of whom and Mozambique which support Recent short-term technical evaluation of the United Nations work overseas. We provide a broad range of HIV prevention support by our staff has HIV and Development program technical support through three programs with local partners included development of a in Myanmar, and a review of different mechanisms: bilateral focusing on young people and child health strategy for WHO’s the public health surveillance (government-to-government) others who are vulnerable Western Pacifi c Region (which system in post-tsunami Aceh projects, community-based to HIV infection, such as sex includes China), investigation of Province of Indonesia. 9 working partnerships

> David Anderson and MP Biomedicals David Anderson has been collaborating with Genelabs Diagnostics, Singapore (now known as MP Biomedicals) to implement the use of rapid, point-of- care tests for the diagnosis of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in emergency settings. Hepatitis E often causes large outbreaks of severe disease in resource-poor communities, especially in emergency situations where water The rapid HEV tests were supplies are compromised, and is also recently used by the World Health associated with a high death rate during pregnancy. The rapid tests, which give a Organization for use in refugee result in fi ve minutes from a single drop camps in Chad and Sudan, and for of blood, allow emergency responses use following the Asian tsunami. to target contaminated water supplies. MP Biomedicals manufactures the tests under license from Select Vaccines activity and anti-HIV potential. workshop and a ‘sharing of experiences’ Ltd (a start-up biotech company The development of a microbicide workshop in collaboration with ex- established by the Burnet Institute). will be a signifi cant advance in the Victorian police offi cer Greg Denham, prevention of the spread of HIV and who is the Trainer for Effective Law > potentially other viruses such as herpes. Enforcement Approaches to drug Burnet in collaboration with use and HIV/AIDS for ARHP. City University, New York > In Guangxi, injecting drug use Part of the research effort of the HIV Jimmy Dorabjee, contributes to 70 per cent of all HIV assembly group within Burnet’s Virology Centre for Harm Reduction cases. It is therefore an important site Program, is to explore the potential Jimmy is a senior technical consultant at for injecting drug use related health of using cholesterol molecules on the Burnet’s Centre for Harm Reduction. In promotion interventions. Harm reduction surface of the HIV particle as a target May this year, he travelled to Nanning recognises that drug users may not be to prevent the transmission of the and Baise Cities, Guangxi Province in able to stop using drugs. Given this, it virus. Burnet scientists have discovered China where he conducted fi eld visits is important to understand drug using that certain properties of cholesterol to drop in centres established as part communities and their drug taking molecules can be manipulated to of the AusAID-funded Asia HIV/ behaviours so that appropriate health enhance their anti-HIV effects, providing AIDS Prevention Project (ARHP). promotion interventions to reduce the basis for the development of a Jimmy conducted a two-day training the risk of contracting HIV or other microbicide (a gel that can be applied blood-borne diseases can be provided. topically to prevent HIV infection). The training sessions covered topics Burnet is working in collaboration including drugs and their effects, with Professor Robert Bittman (a world working with drug users, outreach class synthetic organic chemist at City theory and activity, female drug users, University of New York) to fast-track overdose and vein care, staying healthy its research, and develop this novel and safe, and community advocacy. strategy to reduce the spread of HIV. Jimmy’s visits showed the Nanning and Professor Bittman is providing Baise Project sites are adequately prepared custom-made synthetic cholesterol for their task of HIV prevention through molecules which are being systematically Centre for Harm Reduction’s Jimmy Dorabjee with Australian Red Cross peer drop in centres and outreach work, evaluated by Burnet for their anti-viral outreach workers in China. though ongoing training is required. 10 events STAFF SPOTLIGHT Peter Higgs

Peter Higgs virtually fell into his job in what was previously known as the Epidemiology and Social Research Unit Medical Research when he was interviewed for a part time six-month position. Almost nine years Week 2005 (and two children - Quinn & Rozita) Scientists from the Burnet Institute later, Peter has worked on more than 12 joined with other institutes at different projects which have focused on Fox Classic Car Federation Square on Sunday 29 hepatitis C and HIV, primarily among May in a high-profi le exhibition ethnic Vietnamese heroin users both in Collection celebrating Medical Research Week. Australia and in Vietnam. Evening Cocktails at the Fox Classic Car Burnet researcher and Victorian During 2001, he lived in Hanoi with Collection held in May attracted more Convenor of Medical Research Week his partner and their not quite one year than 120 guests who enjoyed some fi ne 2005, Dr Gilda Tachedjian said old son for six months, establishing wines, food and entertainment among Medical Research Week provided a an offi ce for an AusAID-funded HIV the unique private collection of vintage great opportunity for researchers to prevention project. This project has and classic cars of Lindsay Fox. Burnet interact with the public, to promote recently received considerable funding Institute Chair, Mr Alastair Lucas the world-class medical research being from Family Health International and addressed the guests on the topic of How undertaken in Victoria, and to highlight will continue for the next few years. The infectious diseases can impact the bottom medical research as a career option. project’s aim is to establish international line detailing the many ways in which Outside radio broadcasts on 3RRR’s best practice utilising peer workers infectious diseases can affect business and Radio Therapy and Einstein A Go Go and the local Vietnamese authorities economies. The evening raised $5,600 featured Burnet scientists Dr Rose to minimise HIV transmission among which will help support Burnet’s medical Ffrench and Dr Kate Cherry who had injecting drug users. research and public health programs. a great opportunity to speak about the Fieldwork plays an important part in Institute and their research programs. Peter’s role and he is now working with a diverse team studying hepatitis C. His latest study involves recruiting up Sue Crockett to 210 participants who will be asked Memorial Lecture to describe their social networks and nominate injecting drug users with whom A public lecture will be held in they inject. In addition, they will be memory of Dr Sue Crockett, from required to provide blood samples and Burnet’s Centre for International be interviewed about their behaviour at Health. Date to be confi rmed – three-month intervals. We believe that for more details please check the the outcomes of this project will be critical website, www.burnet.edu.au and to the development and trialling of a follow the links to the Centre for Burnet’s Dr Gilda Tachedjian on 3RRR’s vaccine against the hepatitis C virus. International Health. outside radio broadcast at Medical Research Week 2005. EDUCATION 2005 > > > > The Centre for International The Centre for Harm Reduction For detailed information on block Burnet also has a number of PhD Health coordinates the Graduate also coordinates two short short courses and workshops and Honours students from a Diploma of International Health courses – Harm Reduction: visit our website and follow the variety of universities, both locally and the Master of Public Health Controlling HIV in drug users, links to the relevant Centre’s and internationally. Currently – International Health stream and with Burnet’s Centre for pages, www.burnet.edu.au there are 24 PhD students, and (Monash University). Courses Epidemiology and Population 13 Honours students under and workshops run by the Centre Health Research, the Global the supervision of our head for International Health cover Impacts of Drug Use short researchers. In addition, Burnet topics including: primary health course, both in conjunction with also hosts Bachelor of Science care, HIV/AIDS strategic planning, the University of Melbourne. undergraduate students as part behaviour change, applied of their coursework. research, health information systems and refugee health. 11 A CONVERSATION WITH Gregory David Roberts AUTHOR OF SHANTARAM ❁ A FUNDRAISER FOR THE BURNET INSTITUTE

Melbourne writer, Gregory Roberts, was a revolutionary who lost his ideals in heroin, a philosopher who lost his integrity in crime, and a poet who lost his soul in a maximum-security prison. Gregory will speak about his travels, his thoughts on life, and his philosophical and insightful book, 'Shantaram'.

Jonathan Biggins, writer for the ‘Good Weekend’ and former host of ABC arts program ‘Critical Mass’, will MC. Gregory's talk will be followed by questions and you will have the opportunity to have your book signed or you can purchase a copy of 'Shantaram' on the night.

Time: 7pm When: Wednesday, 27 July 2005 Where: BMW Edge, Federation Square Cost: $40 Bookings Essential: (03) 9282 2240 Refreshments will be served later in the evening.

AUSTRALIA INDONESIA- BALI MOZAMBIQUE TIBET 85 Commercial Road, Gedung BMT, Praceta Tomas Nduda - No 22, 3rd fl oor, Old Red Cross Building, Melbourne, Victoria 3004 Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai No.287 Maputo 4 Niangre Road, Lhasa 850000 T: + 61 3 9282 2111 Denpasar, Bali 80228 T/F: + 258 1 490465 T/F: + 891 634 6546 F: + 61 3 9282 2100 T/F: +62 361 284 064-5 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] [email protected] W: www.burnet.edu.au W: www.burnetindonesia.org

FIJI LAOS MYANMAR VIETNAM 30 MacGregor Road, Suva Luangprabang Road, Building 06, 4th Floor, 226 Wizaya Plaza, 108 Linh Lang, Cong Vi Ward, T: + 679 3317 945 2A/03, Ban Sihom, Vientiane U Wisaya Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi F: + 679 3317 949 T: + 856 21 250 853 Bahan Township 11201, Yangon T: + 84 4 766 5553 E: [email protected] F: + 856 21 250 854 T: + 951 248 194 E: [email protected] W: www.prhp.org.fj E: [email protected] E: [email protected]

INDONESIA – JAKARTA Jalan Pramuka Sari V No. 9A, Rt. 013 – Rw. 05, Jakarta 10750 T/F: + 62 21 420 7319