The Kirby Institute 30 Years Strong CONTENTS TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG 2-3 4-5
Messages from our A story about research Director and Patron: in the gay community reflecting on 30 years
DISCOVER 8 9-17
Finding the answers: A look back at the a story about HIV Kirby’s achievements and advances over the last 30 years
EMPOWER 20-21 22-29 30-33
A story on international Q&As with some We are Kirby: collaboration of our leaders meet the people behind the scene
INNOVATE 36-39 40-45
Facts & statistics Research
MAKING A DIFFERENCE 48-53 57-61
Funding & donations Our people 2 Together we are strong Together we are strong 3
Messages from the Director and Patron
The decades since 1986 have seen this We have also used our skills and expertise I am proud of the work of the Kirby Institute While the scientists got on with their research, I The Kirby Institute, as a body that for 30 organisation mature into an international institute gained through HIV research to understand and and all it has achieved over 30 years to improve continued to participate in the work of international years has learned and taught these lessons, in infection and immunity. We can be proud of The decades since assist with the high levels of blood-borne viruses human lives and well-being in Australia and agencies. In 1988, I was appointed to the WHO will continue to expand its agenda. When HIV is the contributions that we’ve made in treatment 1986 have seen this and sexually transmissible infections in remote worldwide. For 30 years, its existence has mirrored Global Commission on AIDS, a post I held until controlled and the new treatments for hepatitis and prevention of HIV, hepatitis C and sexually organisation mature and regional areas of Australia where Indigenous the history of HIV. Virtually from the start of the 1992. UNAIDS was created in the mid-1990s and, C have turned around the epidemic in Australia, transmissible infections; frankly, we’ve done a people are disproportionately affected. epidemic, I witnessed the remarkable work of the with WHO, quickly turned to globalising funding there will still remain many diseases to engage into an international great job. We will continue to meet our domestic Further afield, the Kirby is involved in Institute under the leadership of Professor David and distribution of the anti-retroviral treatment the Institute. responsibilities in relation to blood-borne viruses, institute in infection reproductive and sexual health in Papua New Cooper. We both rejoiced in the friendship of Dr (ART) that changed the face of the HIV epidemic Through world-class science and close STIs and indigenous health but we are also and immunity. Guinea and neglected tropical diseases including Brett Tindall, a brilliant researcher who died of in the mid-1990s. collaboration with colleagues in Australia and positioned to expand our skill base into emerging scabies in the Pacific Islands. After many years AIDS and in whose name an annual lecture is While David Cooper was treating patients and overseas, the Institute will continue to provide areas of infection and immunity. of providing clinical services and skills transfer held by the Institute. turning their lives around and this Institute was leadership. Engaging in multidisciplinary Now that HIV has transformed into a chronic through the HIV-NAT Collaboration in Bangkok, In the 1980s, healthcare workers struggled to testing and innovating new procedures, I was research. Always working closely with vulnerable condition managed well in Australia with our long involvement in Asia continues, with cope with the effects of AIDS. It was only when taking part in the UNAID Reference Group on communities as we push forward the frontiers of antiretroviral therapy, people are living longer and our most recent involvement in a ‘test and treat’ Luc Montagnier and Françoise Barré-Sinoussi Human Rights; the UNDP Global Commission global public health. healthier lives but appear to be at higher risk of program in Indonesia. identified HIV that it became possible to detect on HIV and the Law; and the UNAIDS/Lancet The past 30 years have seen great progress. those illnesses of older age. We have long been We reflect with pride the many achievements of its presence in the human body. Only then could Commission in Defeating AIDS and Advancing But the best achievements lie ahead. interested in the correlation between HIV and the past thirty years. We have grown from scratch scientists effectively search for treatments. Global Health. In a kind of global miracle, nearly cancer, particularly those cancers which seem to an internationally recognised multidisciplinary Since those early frantic days, a human 17 million people, in some of the poorest countries strike gay men at disproportionately high levels, research institute on blood borne viruses and rights approach was taken to this disease. of the world, were afforded access to ART. This and we have recently added a new clinical trials along the way seen the evolution of HIV from a This was something new in epidemiology. But it is a marvellous achievement. But it could be When HIV is controlled program in partnership with St Vincent’s Hospital fatal illness to something treatable with a near- proved effective, notably in Australia under the expanded to 30 million recipients. And meantime to prevent and treat HIV-related cancers. normal life expectancy. leadership of Dr Neal Blewett AC and Professor scientists, including in the Kirby Institute, work and the new treatments for relentlessly to the ultimate goals: a vaccine and a HIV remains one of the most intensively studied We’ve applied our expertise in antiviral therapy Peter Baume AC, now Life Governors of the Kirby hepatitis C have turned around cure for HIV. diseases in the history of medical science. We into viral hepatitis and other infections, and Institute. The Institute is continuing their inspired the epidemic in Australia, have developed skills, techniques and expertise we’ve seen our results translated into guidelines ideas by unique combination of outstanding What of the future? The Millennium which we now apply to other infectious agents. and policy changes at the highest levels. scientific research and vital engagement with Development Goals of 2000 and now the there will still remain many Much of our success in the area of viral hepatitis I recognise that leadership is building the team – groups most vulnerable to infection: gay men, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of diseases to engage the Institute. was informed, particularly in its early stages, by these things can’t be done by just one person; sex workers, people who inject drugs, prisoners 2015 commit the United Nations and the world our ongoing work in HIV. However, hepatitis C it’s about the team. and Indigenous people. to ensure that, by 2030, everyone will have access also presents its unique challenges, such as the to essential healthcare, wherever they maybe. highly marginalised populations often affected in This is a mighty goal. Australia. Sustaining the momentum of treatment The Kirby Institute will play a crucial part in will be the major public health challenge in the advancing and attaining the SDGs. Brilliant future, and the key will be development of quality science and outstanding social policy will chart treatment and care for the most marginalised the way. populations, such as people who inject drugs, the homeless, and prisoners.
Scientia Professor David A Cooper AO The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG Director of the Kirby Institute Patron of the Kirby Institute 4 Together we are strong Together we are strong 5
The crucial collaborations: Together we are strong
Every segment of the population has been “We were all scared, and hungry for information, The role of the National Centre, and particularly affected by thirty years of HIV infection, but some and for some sign that we could do something,” Cooper, in the international research effort that have borne a far greater share than others. The Prestage said. He found the meeting reassuring led to HAART and its announcement in 1996, is gay community, haemophiliacs, sex workers and because doctors and the community were sometimes overwhelmed in the long list of the people who inject drugs were the first notable working together. “They explained what they knew, National Centre’s achievements. groups to suffer the shocking emergence of HIV which wasn’t much, and why they needed, no, “The impact this had on the gay community, in Australia in the mid-1980s. Later, other groups why we needed, to set up a cohort study. That especially in Sydney, was utterly fundamental,” such as rural and regional communities, with study was eventually called SAPS, the Sydney Prestage said. “A community that was unendingly little exposure to the education campaigns and AIDS Prospective Study, and was one of the traumatised by constant illness and death, and limited access to testing and related health care, most influential early studies internationally in the its apparent inevitability, was suddenly presented were also affected. Over time, the Kirby Institute response to HIV. with new hope. People speak of the ‘Lazarus (then the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology “It led soon after to the setting up of the effect’, but among gay men that was a very and Clinical Research) collaborated with all National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical real thing.” these groups and with many research groups Research, now the Kirby Institute, under David’s The Kirby’s partnerships with community internationally, but none was as important and leadership from the beginning. So, the Kirby’s continue. The most recent example is the launch crucial to good research outcomes as the links very foundation was based in a direct and of EPIC-NSW, an expanded PrEP study following with Australia’s gay communities. strong relationship between researchers and 2015’s Prelude demonstration study at eight sites, A number of people at the Kirby Institute community.” at Mardi Gras in 2016. EPIC (Expanded PrEP participated in the earliest days of forging links “With the help of the community, we Implementation in Communities) combines rapid with the community: David Cooper, Garrett developed mechanisms to allow expanded roll-out with population-level monitoring, with the Prestage and Basil Donovan all recall the start of access,” Cooper said. “Together we overhauled target of reaching 3700 high-risk men through the co-operation and respect between medical clinical trials regulation in Australia, and access sexual health clinics and specialist GPs. researchers and community. The first ten years to unapproved drugs.” Cooper nominated Bill This trial presents an exciting opportunity to of the epidemic were the most difficult, with Whittaker, the first executive director of ACON, dramatically reduce HIV diagnoses in New South the constant spectre of illness and death in the and Peter McDonald as two centrally important Wales,” Cooper said. “New South Wales Health absence of effective treatments. The turning point figures of that period. McDonald was chairman, has committed crucial resources for this trial and came in 1996, the year in which the treatment and Whittaker a member, of the review task force drawn together key partners. We’re excited to be revolution transformed HIV from a lethal infection which recommended sweeping changes to the working again with ACON, Positive Life NSW and into a manageable condition. The start to this clinical trials approval in Australia. ASHM. It’s this partnership approach that is the ongoing journey began in the Paddington Town Cooper also pointed to the extensive principal strength of this trial.” Hall in 1983. network of committees and working groups Another important example is a new, historic Doctors, among them Cooper and Donovan, established through the 1980s and 90s as giving memorandum of understanding signed between met with representatives of key gay organisations the community a strong voice. “There was an the Kirby and Burnet Institutes. The Australian and together decided to set up a cohort study evolution in the community response over the Hepatitis C Elimination Program creates of gay men in Sydney to monitor what was years,” he said. “The distress and understandable opportunities to undertake joint research, happening. They held a gay community meeting frustration, the angry activism of ACT UP, segued education, professional training and program at Paddington Town Hall to explain what they into more consultative ways of working together. design and evaluation. The collaboration provides were going to do. Hundreds of men came, “Reforming the clinical trials mechanisms for the two institutes to engage with Australian and Prestage among them. and the special access for drugs really heralded international agencies for research and program a true co-operation where the community input funding, with the ultimate aim of eliminating was both valuable and welcome. That was clearly hepatitis C virus in Australia by 2026. demonstrated in getting improved protocols and “Together we overhauled clinical trials regulation in better research process.” Australia, and access to unapproved drugs.” David Cooper 6 Discover Timeline Timeline Discover 7
Health is a fundamental human right. But it’s still not equally accessible to all. It’s why for 30 years we’ve never stopped asking the tough questions, working in partnership with some of the world’s most marginalised and vulnerable communities. network, formedfiveyearsearlier. development ofAIDS,fromworkintheSAPS of AIDSandtheriskfactorsassociatedwith published thefirstAustraliandataonincidence becomes availableby1987.By1988,theCentre best treatmentregimenswiththenewdrugandAZT affirmed thatthetrialisnecessarytoestablish people withconfirmedHIVinfection.Cooper who wantedfreeaccesstothetreatmentforall arose withrepresentativesofthegaycommunity cases ofHIVinfection,AZT, andacyclovir. Conflict using thefirstavailabledrugtotreatconfirmed Australia’s firstclinicaltrialofanHIVtreatment, Hospital. Inthesameyear, Cooperestablished a youngimmunologistatSydney’sStVincent’s under thedirectorshipofCooper, whowasthen Epidemiology andClinicalResearch,established research complementedtheNationalCentreinHIV One centreeachforvirologicalandbehavioural effort andalsoforitspublicgovernmentsupport. centres in1986wascrucialbothtotheresearch clinical practicethirtyyearslater. primary HIVinfection,adescriptionstillusedin description oftheacuteretroviralsyndrome By 1985Cooperhadpublishedtheseminal earliest HIVresearchconductedinAustralia. epidemiological studyofgaymen.Thiswasthe Prospective Study(SAPS),aprospectiveimmune- foresight, thegroupalsosetupSydneyAIDS anticipation ofsoonhavingcasestostudy. With Sydney AIDSStudyGroup,ingrimandaccurate Cooper andsomeearlycolleaguesformedthe “We hadtobeasreadywecouldbe.”In1983, Director oftheKirbyInstitute,DavidCooper. the HIVpandemicwhichwasemerginginUS. and ofteninformallyinafranticsearchforanswersto oncology andhaematologyjoinedtogetherquickly in immunology, infectiousdiseases,epidemiology, In theearly1980s,toolsweretoofew. Specialists 8 DiscoverFindingtheAnswers ANSWERS FINDING THE The formation of the three national HIV research The formationofthethreenationalHIVresearch “We knewitwouldreachusinAustralia,”said
in epidemiology. collection, processingandanalysis,training centres withassistanceinresearchdesign,data history andclinicalaspects;providingother treatments; researchintoepidemiology, natural and Commonwealth;clinicaltrialsoftherapeutic epidemiology collectedbythestates,territories and analysisofdataonsurveillance studies ofHIV/AIDSinAustraliaandthecollation the co-ordinationofsurveillanceandepidemiological Centre’s researchprogramhasgrowntoinclude head oftheEpidemiologyUnit,National who injectdrugs. Corrections, andwithservicesdesignedforpeople with theAustralianDefenceForce, Departments of Australian RedCrossbloodtransfusionservice, National Centreestablishescollaborationswiththe publication in1990andthefollowingyear reputation andexpertisecontinuetogrow. becomes greatlyincreasedandtheNationalCentre’s developments. Therateofresearchpublications based therapies,vaccinesandlaboratory infections, HIV-associated malignancies,immune- activity includesantiretroviraltherapy, opportunistic Australian drugevaluationprocess,theclinicaltrials international collaborations.Afteranoverhaulofthe trials, bothwithinAustraliaandinincreasinglylarge of rapidexpansionitsparticipationinclinical blood-borne virusesandsexually of weapons in the ongoing warof weapons intheongoing TheKirbyInstitute’s armoury The Australian HIV Surveillance Report begins The AustralianHIVSurveillanceReportbegins From 1990,theNationalCentreenteredaperiod By 1989, when John Kaldor was appointed By 1989,whenJohnKaldorwasappointed against infectiousdiseases, transmissible infections infections transmissible is substantial.
Grail ofHIVresearch. vaccine, whichthirtyyearslaterstillremainstheHoly pre-exposure prophylaxistotheongoingworkfora C treatmentandpreventiontoHIV-related cancersto wide rangeofresearchtopics,rangingfromhepatitis eachoftheseareasarea research directions.Within in turninfluencespolicydecisions,fundingand surveillance, producingvitallyimportantdatawhich long-running behaviouralresearch,andnational the lab;epidemiology/publichealth,including including clinicaltrials;basicscience,takingin are groupedintofourfluidareas:clinicalscience Kirby alsobroadenedtowiderissues. a chronicmanageablecondition,thescopefor Once HIVhadevolvedfromaterminaldiagnosisto many otherdiseasefields,includingviralhepatitis. of combinationtherapy, havebeentranslatedinto lessons fromearlyHIVresearch,inparticulartheuse transmissible infectionsissubstantial.Themany diseases, blood-bornevirusesandsexually of weaponsintheongoingwaragainstinfectious they shouldbeused. on whichdrugstoprescribeandwhen different situations.Protocolsarenowlargelyagreed a rangeofinnovativedrugcombinationsinmany 1996 sawlargenumbersofclinicaltrialstesting available drugsmeantthattheyearsfollowing anecdotal combinations”. therapy heldthe“dangerofpatientsgetting absence ofharddata,arushtocombination of combinationtherapy, butwarnedthatinthe the demiseofmonotherapyandascendancy International AIDSconferencein1996that1995saw the virusamanageablecondition.Coopertold not justdelaymorbidityandmortalitybutmightmake the searchforanenduringtreatmentwhichcould brought aboutthemostsignificantdevelopmentin The areas of expertise are comprehensive and The areasofexpertisearecomprehensiveand Three decadeson,theKirbyInstitute’sarmoury The largenumberofavailableorsoon-to-be- The years of work leading up to 1995 and 1996 The yearsofworkleadingupto1995and1996
83 19 16 empowering atthe A lookbackover 1983-2016 Kirby Institute. innovating and of discovering, three decades
20 Timeline Discover9 10 Discover Timeline Timeline Discover 11
1980s 1983 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
The Sydney AIDS Study Group, formed by David Cooper is lead author on a Three research centres are established by AZT becomes available for prescription in The Clinical Trials Unit published The (first) National HIV/AIDS Strategy is David Cooper and Julian Gold, begins the publication describing the acute retroviral the Australian Government in response to Australia. The Special Unit is charged with the first data on incidence of AIDS and the adopted and establishes a network of Sydney AIDS Prospective Study (SAPS), a syndrome of primary HIV-1 infection. the emergence of HIV/AIDS. David Cooper monitoring its usage and starts preparing to risk factors associated with the development collaboration with health departments and prospective immune-epidemiological study is appointed the inaugural director of the recruit 600 participants for a national study of AIDS in the SAPS network. other health organisations nationally. To of gay men, to determine the natural history centre in Sydney, initially called the NHMRC of open-label AZT. reflect its expanded role under the Strategy, of AIDS and its epidemiology in Australia. Special Unit in AIDS Epidemiology and the NHMRC Special Unit is renamed the SAPS will go on to provide the largest body Clinical Research. National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and of prospectively collected data on sexual The Special Unit conducts the first study Clinical Research (NCHECR). behaviour in gay men in Australia and will of HIV seroprevalence among people who give rise to similar periodic studies in most inject drugs and develops a technique to The NCHECR conducts the first national capital cities of Australia, still underway thirty screen returned syringes for HIV antibodies. study of HIV prevalence in babies born years later. 1988-1989 and finds no cases of HIV infection among 10,000 live births.
“We were all scared, and hungry for information, and for some sign that we could do something,” - Garret Prestage 12 Discover Timeline Timeline Discover 13
$ 15,200
1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 The Australian National Council on AIDS A review of the drug evaluation process The Sydney Men and Sexual Health Study Using data from the National AIDS Registry, Enrolments into SMASH (Sydney Men and The Delta study reports on the benefits of (ANCA) convenes a Working Party on the in Australia, a then-complex approvals (SMASH) is established in collaboration the first major analysis of AIDS incidence Sexual Health) pass 1,000. 90% of the combination therapy. Survival of people who Availability of HIV/AIDS Treatments, process believed to cause delay in potential with the National Centre in HIV Social in Australia 1982-1992 is published. cohort agree to participate in the clinical are treatment-naïve in Delta 1 is significantly chaired by Peter McDonald. The final HIV treatments, leads to the Therapeutic Research and the AIDS Council of New Cumulative HIV incidence to the end of arm of the study and are allocated among better with combination therapy, with an report in late 1990 leads to increased Goods Administration (TGA) introducing a South Wales (ACON). 1993 is estimated at approximately 15,200. 236 medical practitioners. Of the 930 clinical estimated reduction in mortality of 38%. Commonwealth funding to expand the Clinical Trials Notification Scheme. AIDS incidence is estimated to plateau at participants, 212 are HIV positive. More than The evidence is now decisive that clinical trial infrastructure. approximately 850 cases in 1995. half of SMASH participants know someone A major expansion of the work in SAPS, the use of at least two antiretroviral who had died following AIDS in the previous Collaboration is established with the the Sydney Men and Sexual Health Study drugs in combination must now be the six months. The Clinical Trials and Treatments Advisory Australian Red Cross blood transfusion (SMASH) is established in collaboration with recommended treatment. David Cooper Committee (CTTAC) is formed to advise the service, which routinely tests blood the National Centre in HIV Social Research. declares that 1995 marks a turning point in NCHECR management committee. It is a donations; with the Australian Defence HIV clinical trials. major collaboration between HIV specialists, Force which at this time tests all personnel; SMASH clinical trials experts, general practitioners and with Departments of Corrections in all 196,000 and community organisations. states which test prison entrants at this time. +
1996 1997 1998 1999
The HIV-NAT program begins in Bangkok. This is the fifth year of the SMASH (Sydney A report based on work by the Hepatitis C The Australian HIV Observational Database The collaboration between colleagues from Men and Sexual Health) study. One of the Projections Working Group is published, (AHOD) is established, starting in June, Thailand, Australia and the Netherlands (N, most important findings in 1997 was a giving an alarming indication of the extent of using a number of hospital and primary care A and T of HIV-NAT) provides for the transfer radical change among HIV-positive men in hepatitis C in Australia. By the end of 1997, sites nationally. It looks at treatment uptake of skills and infrastructure, while conducting treatment use. Prior to 1996, SMASH data there were an estimated 196,000 people and outcomes, and will provide information clinical trials of HIV treatments. indicated decreasing levels of treatment living with HCV in Australia, with 11,000 on patterns of use of ART. use, to just over a third by late 1995. After new infections that year. In related work, a news about the effectiveness of combination national hepatitis C surveillance strategy The years of work leading NCHECR is one of the agencies asked to therapy, there was a rapid uptake. was developed to improve the national up to 1995 and 1996 brought assist in the evaluation of an 18-month trial surveillance of HCV. about the most significant of a medically supervised injecting centre in development in the search Kings Cross, Sydney. for an enduring treatment. 14 Discover Timeline Timeline Discover 15
HBV
2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
This year’s surveillance report shows, for The fifth annual surveillance report indicated The Australian-Thai Vaccine Consortium Through funding from the American The first results are published from the Involvement with research partners the first time in a decade, an increase the ongoing fall in the occurrence of AIDS, continues enrolment of gay men in the HIM Foundation for AIDS Research, NCHECR is HIM cohort, funded through the Australia- continues strongly in Thailand and in survival following an AIDS diagnosis, due largely to five years of combination study and reaches more than 900 by the designated to be the point of co-ordination Thailand Vaccine consortium, which Cambodia through in-country placements. but also a lower than expected impact therapy; the increased proportion of end of 2002. Development progresses on for an observational database that includes completed enrolment of 1425 men by the The TREAT Asia network, sponsored by of preventive interventions for mother-to- heterosexually acquired cases of HIV the first clinical trial for the vaccine. a number of countries in the region. end of 2004. An analysis of hepatitis A and amfAR, has the technical support of the child HIV transmission. Country of birth infection that had an association with B infection showed that overall levels of Biostatistics and Database Program. amfAR was associated with some AIDS-defining a country of high prevalence; and the immunity were about 70%, but only half of and NCHECR were successful in applying A major advance in the treatment of Enrolment into the first clinical trial of the illnesses, including tuberculosis. AIDS continuing high rates of HCV transmission gay men aged below 25 were immune. to be the Asian-Pacific regional cohort in lipodystrophy is achieved with the MITOX Viral Hepatitis Program, HEPCOG, began diagnoses have dropped 85 percent in the among people injecting drugs. HCV the NIH-sponsored program of international study, which demonstrated an evidence- in 2003. The study examined the natural past six years, from 955 cases in 1994 to appears to have overtaken HBV as the cohorts for the epidemiological evaluation based strategy for reversing lipoatrophy by history of acute hepatitis C infection and the The SMART, ESPRIT and SILCAAT studies 147 cases in 1999. leading indication for liver transplant. of HIV disease outcomes, globally known switching NRTIs in the treatment program. use of pegylated interferon for the treatment continue to recruit and/or follow up patients. as IeDEA. inhibitors in the treatment program. of acute HCV infection among IDUs. These large multinational research projects address critical questions relating to the primary treatment of HIV infection.
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2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
2006 marks the twentieth year of the The major new HIV therapeutic trial for 2007 2008 saw the establishment of two new The Therapeutic and Vaccine Research A collaboration between NCHECR and The SECOND-LINE study commences NCHECR’s operations. It is also the is ALTAIR, a randomised comparison of NCHECR programs. STI research was Program wins a grant of $18 million the Universities of Melbourne, Adelaide recruitment in 49 sites across 18 countries; tenth year of publication of the Annual three regimens of combination antiretroviral expanded into a new Sexual Health (USD12.42 million) from the Bill and Melinda and Western Australia was brought to and the CORAL and Encore2 studies were Surveillance Report. therapy in treatment-naïve subjects. Program. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Gates Foundation to support a research fruition by an NHMRC program grant for a completed and presented at national and Island Health Program began planning for project with the potential to extend drug program titled HIV and HCV Vaccines and international meetings. The START pilot a community randomised trial in 21 remote therapy to millions of HIV-affected people Immunopathogenesis. The five-year grant phase of enrolment is completed in mid- The most significant international trial to Recruitment closes for ATAHC, the largest communities, designed to support primary worldwide. The project, dubbed ENCORE, begins in January 2009 and addresses the 2010. As a consequence of achieving this which NCHECR is contributing, SMART, was study in the world of the treatment and health care services to achieve best practice will study the effectiveness of optimised urgent global health priorities concerning key milestone, the Division of AIDS at the terminated prematurely in January due to natural history of acute hepatitis C infection in STI care doses of HIV drug treatment. the development of vaccines and better US NIAID announced in September that increased mortality in the drug conserving among people who inject drugs (PWID). treatments for HIV and hepatitis C. the study would proceed into the definitive or interruption arm, which showed twice the Preliminary findings on treatment outcomes phase, with the number of sites globally risk of disease progression. are released. being tripled in order to achieve the target enrolment of 4000 participants before the end of 2012.
The many lessons from early HIV research, in particular the use of combination therapy, have been translated into many other disease fields, including viral hepatitis. 16 Discover Timeline Timeline Discover 17
4,000
25 X 2000s 2011 2012 2013 2014
The National Centre in HIV Epidemiology The Justice Health Research Program is The START study has recruited close to Preliminary results were presented at Kirby’s Justice Health Research Program The Kirby Institute launches a new initiative and Clinical Research celebrates its established and the HIV Biology Group 4000 subjects. This large study with seven CROI 2013 of the SECOND-LINE study, participates in the successful bid to to increase HIV testing and uptake of 25th anniversary of the establishment of moves to the Kirby Institute. nested sub-studies addresses the question designed to compare combinations in establish the Centre for Research treatment in Indonesia. The Test and Treat Australia’s three National Centres of HIV of when to start ART based on CD4+ participants failing first-line therapy. This Excellence in Offender Health and is Indonesia study will evaluate a range of Research by changing its name to the Kirby cell count. trial was the first time that second line awarded $2.5m over five years to develop possible interventions among five key The first annual National Trachoma Institute for infection and immunity treatments were examined in low and research capacity in Indigenous offender affected populations. Surveillance Report, edited by the National in society. middle-income countries. health research. The Public Health Trachoma Surveillance and Reporting Unit Enrolment begins into the NHMRC- interventions Research Group receives a (NTSRU), was produced in 2011. Australia is funded Opposites Attract project, a five Kirby researchers lead a world-first study, to partnership project grant for STRIVE Plus, a the only developed country where trachoma year cohort study of HIV transmission The ENCORE-1 trial indicates that a evaluate curative hepatitis C treatments as continuation of the STRIVE study. is still endemic. in HIV-serodiscordant gay couples. reduction in daily dose of one third of the a means of preventing HCV spread within Complementing Opposites Attract is antiretroviral (ART) efavirenz, a commonly prisons. The SToP-C study will investigate the TAXI-KAB study which is collecting used treatment for HIV, is both safe and whether a significant reduction in infections information about gay men’s knowledge, effective compared to the higher dose is possible with a “treatment as prevention” attitudes and beliefs about biomedical currently recommended. strategy. prevention of HIV.
2015 2016 A world-first study conducted in Fiji finds The Surveillance and Evaluation Program success. Launched in 2007, the program Health to conduct the largest international EPIC-NSW begins at Sydney’s Mardi Gras. with HIV infection at St Vincent’s Hospital. treatment of a whole community with for Public Health (SEPPH) is restructured has led to the virtual disappearance of new study of newly available, directly acting This study is designed to target large And AIDS Malignancy Consortium clinical ivermectin has been shown to virtually into the Surveillance Evaluation and cases of sexually transmitted genital warts antiviral drugs for recently acquired hepatitis numbers of vulnerable men and offer them trial site is launched at the Kirby Institute eliminate scabies, reducing prevalence by Research Program. in young women and a 57% drop in the C virus infection. PrEP with the long-term goal of virtually and St Vincent’s Hospital, allowing rate of detection of abnormal cervical cells 94 per cent and providing new hope in the The Kirby Institute announces a eliminating HIV transmission in NSW. Australian patients with HIV-associated among young women undergoing ‘Pap fight to control this debilitating disease. collaboration with the Papua New Guinea cancers to access innovative trials of new The 2015 Surveillance Report highlights: tests’ for cancer prevention. Results of the Skin Health Intervention Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR) and therapies for the first time. Fiji Trial (SHIFT) are published in the New Australia is close to achieving global targets The START terminates early after interim other national and international institutes to The Kirby Institute partners with Australia’s England Journal of Medicine. for the testing and treatment of HIV, but conduct a world-first study in maternal and leading experts in clinical, laboratory and results showed conclusively that immediate A historic collaborative partnership is more needs to be done to identify and treat newborn health in PNG. public health research on The Australian treatment of HIV infection is clinically formed between the Kirby Institute and the infections early Partnership for Preparedness Research on superior to treatment deferred. The World Kirby researchers join collaboration with 22 A 20 year report on Needle and Syringe Burnet Institute. The Australian Hepatitis C Deaths related to chronic hepatitis C virus Infectious Diseases Emergencies (APPRISE) Health Organisation goes on to change international institutions in a joint initiative Program attendees in Australia shows Elimination Program aims to eliminate the infection have increased by 146% in ten to boost the country’s response to infectious international treatment guidelines for to accelerate the search for an effective the number of young Australians injecting burden of hepatitis C virus in Australia within years and the uptake of treatment remains disease outbreaks. HIV in support of early treatment. The HIV vaccine. Funded by the European drugs has declined over 20 years and a decade. Once HIV had evolved extremely low. guidelines signify a landmark change in the Commission, the European AIDS Vaccine transmission of HIV related to injecting drug Almost half of all people living with hepatitis international response to HIV treatment and Initiative (EAVI2020) will bring together HIV use has been efficiently contained. The final report of the long-running from a terminal diagnosis to B remain undiagnosed prevention. researchers in Europe, Australia, Canada A new generation hepatitis C cures are Seroconversion Study has shown that earlier a manageable condition, the and the US in a focused effort to develop made available on the Pharmaceutical Chlamydia remains the most frequently Results from the first Australian study diagnosis and peer support for people both protective and therapeutic vaccines. Benefits Schemes on 1 March. By July, scope for the Kirby also reported notifiable infection in Australia. The World Health Organisation releases to analyse HIV transmission risk among newly diagnosed with HIV reduce the Australia is leading the world in the broadened to wider issues. Australia’s human papillomavirus (HPV) new HIV treatment guidelines inspired couples with differing HIV statuses suggest likelihood of onward transmission. treatment of hepatitis C, with the most rapid vaccination program has been a great by the outcome of the Kirby Institute’s The Kirby institute is awarded $4.5 million that HIV positive men who are on treatment uptake of new treatments seen anywhere in ENCORE1 trial, endorsing a lower daily by the United States National Institute of and have an undetectable viral load are not the world, putting us on track to cure more dose of efavirenz as a valid treatment option transmitting the virus to their partners. The Kirby Institute is awarded a major people with hepatitis C in 2016 than in the for people living with HIV. Cancer Institute NW grant to develop a past twenty years of interferon-therapy. clinical trial program in cancers associated 18 Empower Q&A Q&A Empower 19
The sum of our energies is so much greater than the parts. Every day we use our global reach and expertise to better equip those at the front line of epidemics with the knowledge and tools they need to respond effectively. Empower 21
RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
Scientia Professor John Kaldor
“Nothing about us without us” and “no survey Exactly the same principles of community The 30th anniversary of the Kirby Institute is a time without service” are just two examples of slogans empowerment apply to our collaborations in low to celebrate our scientific contributions to improving that have been used by communities to express the and middle income countries, but in this context the health of communities by building a stronger way they have felt about research and, by extension our approach has more often been to engage evidence base for prevention and treatment. But we the researchers who have come calling. Many with communities through our local research can also reflect on what we have learned about the communities have a good understanding of what collaborators. They are better placed than us to do ways in which we have worked with communities. research can achieve, but want to be empowered so from a linguistic and cultural perspective, and are The scientific literature provides extensive guidance to ensure that it addresses health issues that are more likely to be there for the longer term. What we on what are often referred to as the technical aspects priorities for their members. They also want to see can bring to these relationships is the experience that of research methodology: How to select and recruit research conducted in a way that maximises both we have had in successfully working in researcher- participants, what laboratory tests or questionnaires short and long-term benefits and minimises potential community partnerships in Australia. While the should be used, the correct statistical methodology harms to community members. Much of the Kirby types of organisations and relationships may be for analysing the results. It is much harder to find Institute’s work involves infectious diseases that are very different, the underlying premise is the same: information about how to build and sustain effective associated with particular communities, so we aim to Ensure that communities are empowered to be part research partnerships with communities, so we also give prominence to community authority and ensure of shaping and running the research, and that the aim to share our experience and build on it. We have that we respect these principles in our research collaboration is genuine, with communities having not always got it right the first time, but believe that practice. That means not only talking to communities our relationships with communities are such that they about our research projects, but working with them to are able to let us know quickly and frankly when this improve the ways we design and implement projects. happens, and work with us to improve our community Research partnerships have to work in both processes. We also recognise that these relationships directions, with the researchers learning about We aim to give prominence depend on having robust and adequately resourced communities at the same time as communities to community authority community organisations to act as our counterparts. learn about research. To make this happen, we We have now entered into a new decade, committed have made it our practice to set up project advisory and ensure that we respect to advancing knowledge and practice in this area, committees and steering groups in which community these principles in our just as we do in the so-called technical aspects of representatives have prominent roles. More recently, research practice. research, and applying the lessons of three decades we have entered into formal collaborations with to next 30 years of our work. community organisations, through mechanisms such as NHMRC Partnership Grants. In fact many researchers at the Kirby Institute are members of the very communities that are our research partners: real input into decision-making processes. From the beginning, numerous Kirby staff members Our first venture into the Asia-Pacific region was working on HIV have been gay men living with or the HIV-NAT collaboration with the Thai Red Cross, otherwise affected by HIV, and our researchers have which after 20 years has grown into an internationally simultaneously volunteered in HIV related community recognised, Thai-led centre of research excellence, organisations. Similarly, Aboriginal researchers renowned for its outstanding science as well and research students have been integral to the as its strong community partnerships. We have work on Aboriginal health in our organisation, and applied the same principles to our collaborative have contributed to Aboriginal community health undertakings in other countries of the Asia-Pacific organisations at the same time. region (with particular long-term involvements in Cambodia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea), and to all of the training programs that we have offered to our counterparts from low and middle income countries. Those who emerge from our programs, whether they are short courses or doctoral degrees, inevitably have a strong sense of how research and communities fit together. 22 Empower Q&A Q&A Empower 22 Q&A Empower 23
REFLECTIONS FROM THE FRONT LINE
Some of our research leaders reflect on their work and the future our research. 22 Empower Q&A Q&A Empower 24 Q&AQ&A Empower Empower 2523
PROFESSOR SEAN EMERY
Head, Therapeutic and Vaccine Research Program
Q What is the focus of your research?
A My focus is on conducting research that is robust, withstands scrutiny, and informs high quality health policy. For 30 years, the Kirby Institute has played a leading role in challenging dogma and hyperbole and insisting that health policy reflects real world evidence. Q What inspires you?
A Very simply - making a difference. Q What brought you to the Kirby Institute?
A A sense of adventure. Doing something different. Building a model for collaborative endeavour. In the initial years of the HIV epidemic there was little infrastructure and a non-permissive regulatory environment that worked against providing people with HIV/AIDS with access to experimental drugs. The Kirby was pivotal in developing both the coordinating infrastructure and the domestic network that quite literally provided access to thousands of Australians to drugs that were subsequently licensed for the treatment of HIV. This saved lives.
Q What progress or transitions has your area seen in 30 years?
A First, I think it is fair to say that progress has been astounding. HIV is now a manageable chronic disease – a remarkable feat. And also, the origins of therapeutic research were firmly vested in partnership with the pharmaceutical sector. Inevitably the processes of drug development moved away from academic partnerships and the residual infrastructure moved inexorably toward real independence and pursuit of more strategic objectives linked to improving outcomes of treatment. Defining better strategic use of life-saving medications that could be deployed readily in resource limited environments was not a goal shared by the private sector. The Kirby Institute led that exercise.
Q What are the next steps for your research?
A Enabling lifelong HIV treatment in low and middle income countries. Conducting research that results in people living longer and healthier lives. 2624 Empower Q&A Q&A Empower 2725 PROFESSOR LISA MAHER AM
Head of the Viral Hepatitis Epidemiology and Prevention Program
Q What is the focus of your research?
A My research focuses on infectious disease prevention in vulnerable populations – people who inject drugs, female sex workers, people living with HIV, marginalised youth and homeless people. Much of my work has focused on the prevention and reduction of drug- related harms. Q What inspires you?
A I am inspired by the potential to make a difference and the resilience of those for whom injustice and suffering are everyday realities. Q What brought you to the Kirby Institute?
A I first came to the NCHECR in 2004 to work with John Kaldor as part of my NHMRC Fellowship. One of the things that attracted me at the time was the absence of social and qualitative research and the potential for multi-disciplinary collaborations to add value by increasing understanding of people’s lived experiences. Another thing that attracted me was the potential to continue to develop the system of HIV and hepatitis C surveillance in needle and syringe program attendees established by the late Dr Margaret McDonald. With the help of colleagues and collaborators, and the leadership of Dr Jenny Iversen, this has become an internationally recognised model of best practice for effective and responsive surveillance among PWID. Q What progress or transitions has your area seen in 30 years?
A We now have the knowledge and the tools to prevent and treat HIV and hepatitis C. However knowing what works doesn’t mean we can make a difference. In many settings we still lack the political will, financial resources and community support to address these infections, particularly among vulnerable populations. Q What are the next steps for your research?
A Translating knowledge into practice and in particular, using our knowledge of what works to inform sustainable, high-coverage HIV and hepatitis C prevention and treatment programs in low- to middle-income countries. Trialling a vaccine to prevent chronic hepatitis C infection. Testing HIV prevention interventions for female sex workers in Cambodia. Estimating the incidence of HIV and other STIs among MSM in Vietnam. Research on non-medical pharmaceutical opioid use among young people in Australia. 24 Empower Q&A Q&A Empower 28 Q&A Empower 2925
PROFESSOR MATTHEW LAW
Head of the Biostatistics and Databases Program
Q What is the focus of your research?
A Using statistical and mathematical models to optimise treatment and prevention of HIV and STIs Q What inspires you?
A What keeps me going is that – after all the bluff and bluster, expert opinion, shameless self-aggrandisement, mindless sloganeering and aspirational targets – ultimately simple data, from well-designed studies, analysed appropriately, will tell the truth. Q What brought you to the Kirby Institute?
A The honest answer is that I always fancied seeing a bit of the world, and NCHECR advertised a stats job in The Guardian. It took me a while to realise I had really fallen on my feet. I think what is special about Kirby is that pretty much any question you might have about HIV, HCV, HBV, and STIs you can find a proper international expert in the building who can help. Q What progress or transitions has your area seen in 30 years?
A Everything in HIV has changed – treatment, prevention, outcomes. It’s extraordinary. It’s nice to have played a small part in that. Q What are the next steps for your research?
A I’m hopeful that there will be renewed interest in long-term treatment outcomes in HIV-positive people. Whatever anyone says, there isn’t going to be a cure or vaccine, and new infections will continue to occur (see earlier comment about data telling the truth!). There is a lot to learn yet about ageing and HIV. 3026 Empower Q&A Q&AQ&A Empower Empower 3127 PROFESSOR ANDREW GRULICH
Head of HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program
Q What is the focus of your research?
A The main focus of my research is on HIV prevention and related issues, particularly HIV-related cancers, as it affects gay and bisexual men. Q What inspires you?
A Doing work that makes a difference to my community’s life. Q What brought you to the Kirby Institute?
A As a gay man and young doctor growing into adulthood in the early 1980s, HIV was really the issue at the centre of my early life. It was not just a societal threat, it was a direct and personal threat, and working against it seemed like the best defence. I left Adelaide, where I did my medical degree, in 1986, before I had seen a single person with HIV on the medical wards. After four years becoming an epidemiologist in London, Sydney was the right place to come back to – and the NCHECR was growing as the place to be in Australia for people who wanted to contribute to the HIV medical research response. In 1980s Australia, homophobia was pretty rampant but was never an issue within this Institute and within the HIV response more generally in Australia.
Q What progress or transitions has your area seen in 30 years?
A I started work at the Kirby Institute (then NCHECR) in 1995. I had an office with a window overlooking Victoria Street in Darlinghurst. In 1995, about 1000 people, mostly gay men, died of AIDS in Australia, and many of them walked to St Vincent’s Hospital along Victoria Street below my window. It was a really sobering place and time to be – the evidence that a horrible tragedy was befalling gay men in Australia was everywhere to be seen.| One of my first international AIDS Conferences was the 1996 meeting in Vancouver, where the first evidence that the protease inhibitor class of antiretroviral drugs might be able to reverse the progress of HIV/AIDS. Within a few short years the streets of Darlinghurst changed – many people with HIV, but unfortunately not all, gained weight and started being well again. It was so quick. As a member of the gay community it was like a miracle. As a doctor and a medical researcher it was astounding to see the real-world effect of successful research unfold before me. It has been a privilege to live through.
Q What are the next steps for your research?
A Ending HIV! The new combination of biomedical tools that we have for HIV prevention actually means that we have the chance to dramatically reduce HIV transmission. My group is involved in research in rolling out new methods of HIV prevention (such as PrEP) and in monitoring the population- level results. In addition, we are addressing the unacceptably high rates of anal cancer in gay men with and without HIV, and are developing screening and vaccination approaches to prevent this disease. 26 Empower Q&A Q&A Empower 32 Q&AQ&A Empower Empower 3327 DOCTOR MARLENE KONG
Head Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program
Q What is the focus of your research?
A My work is focused on addressing the significant rates of STIs and bloodborne viruses affecting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia. Of course, this cannot be done without the collaboration of the NGO sector including the Aboriginal community controlled sector, as well as government agencies. Q What inspires you?
A I am an Aboriginal woman and medical practitioner with a strong passion for addressing the significant disadvantage of the Indigenous population within Australia. I acutely understand the significant inequities of not only the social determinants of health including education, employment, and housing; but the bigger picture of the upper stream determinants including how society is structured and organised. Q What brought you to the Kirby Institute?
A KI has a great reputation for research, particularly in HIV medicine. This job opportunity was a way to practice my Public Health Medicine skills as well as a great introduction to the world of competitive research. Q What are the next steps for your research?
A The most important priority for me is to see a significant shift in health outcomes for the Aboriginal population in the area of STIs and BBVs, through carefully considered, collaborative, transitional and sustainable changes in the way research is carried out, which is inclusive of all those, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, who are equally passionate about making a difference. 28 Empower Q&A Q&A Empower 34 Q&AQ&A Empower Empower 3529 PROFESSOR BASIL DONOVAN
Head of the Sexual Health Program
Q What is the focus of your research?
A I enjoy leading and participating in national surveillance networks that enable us to evaluate population health interventions for STIs and blood- borne viruses. I also have a longstanding interest in how public policy affects sexual health, particularly in vulnerable populations. More recently I have also had a focus on the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of STIs. Q What inspires you?
A I delight in keeping my patients vertical and free to do what they like. Q What brought you to the Kirby Institute?
A I was drawn to KI by the calibre and vision of the people who work here. The dedication to all human rights – not just the right to good health – pervades the place. It is no accident that the Kirby is the only medical research institute in the world that is named after a non-billionaire lawyer and a champion of human rights. Q What progress or transitions has your area seen in 30 years?
A I have had the privilege of witnessing HIV cease to be a fatal illness; observed the disappearance of vaccine-preventable diseases caused by other STIs such as HBV, HAV, and HPV; and overseen advances in clinical services and human rights relevant to sexual health. Q What are the next steps for your research?
A I work across a broad range of research fields, from molecules to populations, with many irons in the fire. I would love to see more STI vaccines in the pipeline. 28 Empower Q&A Q&A Empower 36 Q&AQ&A Empower Empower 3729 ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR REBECCA GUY
Head of the Surveillance Evaluation and Research Program
Q What is the focus of your research?
A I am interested in infections that are transmitted by sex or blood contact, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and hepatitis B and C. My research into the control of these infections has two main strands that are interconnected. One strand is driven by my interest in trying out new technologies in routine health care settings, while the other involves compiling large-scale data sets, so I can understand what is happening to infection rates in populations. The ultimate measure of success for me is being able to demonstrate through population level data that a novel technology, whether it is new diagnostic test, a new treatment, or new patient management software, is helping to reduce disease rates. Q What inspires you?
A I am inspired by the commitment of my colleagues, whether in the next door office, or in government health departments, community organisation or the front line of clinical care to work together on the prevention of sexually transmitted and blood borne viral infections. Q What brought you to the Kirby Institute?
A I completed my PhD in 2008 and was awarded an early career fellowship. I was attracted to the Kirby Institute as an ideal place to undertake my fellowship due to its long history of success in large scale national and international public health and clinical research, the potential to make a difference at a population level. Q What progress or transitions has your area seen in 30 years?
A First, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an important cause of cancer that is now largely preventable by vaccination. A highly effective prophylactic HPV vaccine was licensed in 2006, and the world’s first national vaccination program implemented in 2007 in Australia. Second, new prevention strategies for HIV have emerged, including pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which protect people from the risk of HIV infection. There has been a huge advance in technology to enable people to have diagnostic tests at health services and receive their results while they wait. This can make a massive difference for remote communities, where people have had to wait weeks for a result in the past. Q What are the next steps for your research?
A Over the next five years I will translate the findings from my studies into real-world programs and provide opportunities for the next generation of researchers to advance their careers.
Read more about Our People – Page 61 30 Empower We are Kirby We are Kirby Empower 31
WE ARE KIRBY The Clinical Trials Coordinator The PhD Candidate - Laboratory of HIV Hepatitis C Biology, Immunovirology and Pathogenesis Pip Marks Andrew Wong
A global research institute is I was doing clinical trials in gastro-intestinal cancer and after six years I wanted a The Kirby Institute’s excellence in scientific research into HIV was what drew me to made up many people, doing a new challenge. I wanted to be doing research that really mattered to people. And pursue further studies as a PhD student. I feel fortunate to be delighted in heading I wanted work in a disease area where the patients needed the most help. Hep to work every morning, and to be surrounded by people of extraordinary talent hundred different things to make C patients are among the most marginalised populations and I felt I could make and intellect. the place work. Here is a glimpse a real impact to their lives. I also wanted to work with world-class academics The people at Kirby are its greatest asset. My peers are benevolent with their and Professor Greg Dore certainly fits that bill. And finally, I wanted to work at an time, and unhesitatingly offer support; be it moral, academic or mentorship. of the different kinds of people institution with a great culture where people are accepted and appreciated for the I’ve so far made inroads into the production of vectors that can mediate gene who make up the Kirby. work they do, where people can be true to themselves and where people’s voices therapy– a possible avenue to permanently treat HIV infection. We’re finding are encouraged, regardless of what level they are paid at, and a place where ways of improving our success at genetically manipulating T cells to establish debate and a variety of ideas are welcomed. a safeguard against HIV, and this may perhaps offer people with a life-long The work the Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program has done on treating protection from the virus. people who inject drugs for their hep C infection has been world-leading. In the early days this population was excluded from treatment. Our ATAHC, ATAHC II and ACTIVATE studies have produced the evidence that has contributed to change in policy both nationally and internationally and we’ve led the development of international HCV treatment guidelines for people who inject drugs. The result is that Australia is one of very few countries in the world currently providing universal access to new direct-acting antiviral therapies regardless of injecting status or disease stage. The Kirby Institute is focused on helping the most marginalised people in society. We approach our research in an open and non-judgemental way. Kirby treats their staff in exactly the same manner. The diversity at Kirby is fantastic and I think all staff and students feel truly welcome, appreciated and accepted regardless of gender, race, religion and sexuality. 32 Empower We are Kirby We are Kirby Empower 33
The Statistician The PhD Candidate The Administration The Program Co-ordinator The Clinical Project The Associate Professor Am Jiamsakul Steven Philpot Manager Kate Slatyer Coordinator - HIV Jason Grebely Yvette Toole Simone Jacoby
I came to the Kirby Institute because I wanted to be I was interested in undertaking a PhD in social I came to the Kirby on a six week temp assignment, I was attracted to the Kirby as I was a student at I started at the Kirby in 2004 and I applied for a I applied for a Postdoctoral Fellowship under able to use my Thai language skills as part of my research, and Kirby had an opening to work on the and 21 years later I’m still here. When I started there UNSW, and wanted to get into a public health role here because HIV has been an interest for me the mentorship of Greg Dore in the Viral Hepatitis work, and I knew that the Kirby collaborated with Opposites Attract study, among other studies. I was were only 48 people employed. To think that now organisation. One of the most rewarding projects I’ve since high school, working for my old university was Clinical Research Program. Interestingly enough, I many Thai hospitals. immediately attracted by the helpful nature of the we have more than 250 staff/students; how we have been involved in is the planning stages of the large appealing and I was looking to get settled having just only ever planned to stay for one to two years. In my seven years at the Kirby, the most rewarding people around me and the kind of research being grown! On that first day I remember when I walked scale point-of-care STI testing for antenatal care in moved back to Australia from the UK. But, after developing a love for Australia and a great project I’ve worked on was leading a research conducted by Kirby. At the moment I am conducting into level 2, 376 Victoria Street Darlinghurst, what PNG. It was great to be involved in meetings with Working on the START study was a real privilege. work environment, I have now been here for almost study involving only statisticians within a network. the interviews for the Opposites Attract study, and greeted me was a shabby rundown building with senior experienced researchers and be exposed to To have been part of a study that changed global 10 years. This project was methodologically based, which they have proven to be extremely interesting orange and brown carpet with many holes and splits the mechanics of planning such a large-scale study HIV treatment guidelines was incredibly rewarding. The most rewarding projects that I have worked allowed statisticians from all over Asia to have more and informative. in it which was all stuck together with gaffer tape, and with so many collaborators. It was also great to see Feeling that you have been a part of something that on are the ETHOS and LiveRLife Projects, focused prominent roles in the manuscript The relaxed and non-corporate environment of blue/grey walls with patches everywhere. Regardless what is required in implementing this type of study in will change the lives of millions around the world is on enhancing HCV care for people who inject drugs. writing process. the Kirby is great; everyone is trusted to do their own of the look of the place, it was filled with the most a developing context. very humbling. Working closely with the community, health providers, amazing people who made me feel incredibly The people at the Kirby Institute work hard and work and encouraged to work in way that best suits The Kirby Institute has a great culture of Our collaborations, both internally and with outside other researchers and policy makers has been welcome and pretty much straight away I felt I play hard. You can expect to see the same people their own personality and needs. collaboration across programs. Junior researchers organisations, have resulted in ground-breaking work incredibly gratifying. It is amazing to see a project was in a uniquely special place. dazzling at the Mardi Gras parade and then go on to The office is full of friendly faces – people are more can feel comfortable approaching senior researchers and made a real difference to the lives of millions lead to systems-level change and be integrated present at international conferences. than happy to joke around, but also leave you alone I have always felt so lucky and privileged to work for advice or guidance. The breadth of research around the globe. into health policy, such as national and state-based if you want to be. We have a particularly close team with such talented people. To think that when I areas means that there is often an expert that you hepatitis C strategies. in the HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program. started in 1995 the talk was about particular drug can approach about any topic. Kirby is full of a great array of personalities and I am known for my inability to understand personal therapies to extend life, statistics and LTNP [long- backgrounds which makes it a really welcoming space and love to give out hugs. term non-progressors]. To now think that in 2016 place to come to work. People are passionate about we are talking about ending HIV. It is utterly mind- what they do and the enthusiasm is infectious (much blowing. It has been a true honour for me to provide like most of the work we are focused on). the support for amazing people to ensure that they can carry on with their research.h. 42 Empower Q&A Q&A Empower 43
Now is not the time to stand still. We are on the precipice of major breakthroughs in our quest to end HIV, hepatitis C and other infectious diseases. But there’s more to do. Lasting change requires brave determination, not merely to test existing boundaries but to completely reshape them. 36 Innovate Facts & Stats Facts & Stats Innovate 44 FactsFacts & & Stats Stats Innovate Innovate 4537 FACTS & STATS FACTS & STATS
Staff statistics Quick statistics $30 MILLION
YEAR 30 Annual budget of over $30 million 200 staff members In the past 30 years, + 55 students The Kirby Institute has grown to employ more than 200 38,000 full-time staff. Over 21 years (1995-2015), approx 38,000 individuals have participated in YEAR 20 the Annual Needle and Syringe Program 150 5X Survey staff members Every dollar of move to new office Department of Health YEAR 10 funding leverages five dollars of external funding. 125
53 Research staff members projects around $ = the world YEAR 1
3 staff members w
38 Innovate Facts & Stats Facts & Stats Innovate 39
COLLABORATIONS 650 + 42 6 We collaborate actively with over 650 organisations in more than 41 countries Organisations Countries Continents on 6 continents.
Finland
Canada Norway
Poland United Kingdom Germany Ireland Belgium The Netherlands France Korea Switzerland Spain Beijing Japan United States Israel Nepal China
Taiwan Mexico India Philippines Vietnam Thailand Cambodia
Ethiopia Malaysia Nigeria Singapore Indonesia Papua New Guinea
Peru Solomon Islands
Brazil Malawi
Fiji
South Africa Chile Argentina
Australia
New Zealand 40 Innovate Research Research Innovate 41
OUR RESEARCH
ENCORE Research supports The SHIFT trial – Optimising new early treatment for HIV Scabies control in Fiji Hep C treatments
The challenge The challenge The challenge The challenge United Nation goals aim to treat 90% of all infected Antiretroviral therapy (ART) helps people with HIV Scabies makes the World Health Organisation’s Hepatitis C infections among young people individuals by 2020 with the intent of eradicating live longer, healthier lives and reduces the risk of list of neglected tropical diseases - with 100 who inject drugs and HIV positive people are AIDS. The costs of implementing these goals are transmission, but treatment requires a life-long million persons infected worldwide. In the Pacific increasing in many high income countries, borne by global public sector programs and national commitment and until recently, there was no Islands, including Fiji, it is one of the most including in Australia. Early engagement, testing government support in many countries around the conclusive evidence to indicate how long after serious health problems, with one quarter of the and treatment in these populations have the world. To achieve the UN goals, approximately 36 46% diagnosis treatment should commence. population infected. The terrible itching leads to potential to limit transmission. We want to know million people will require treatment, with 17 million infection of the skin by bacteria that can cause more about the effectiveness of these drugs in already commenced. The continued scale up of of people How we are helping potentially deadly diseases of the kidneys, heart people with recently acquired hepatitis C infection, living with treatment programs comes at a time when funding The Kirby Institute, in partnership with three other and bloodstream. A safe, effective means as well as the impact of adherence, risk behaviour is static and likely to reduce. HIV receiving of controlling scabies and skin sores is and potential for subsequent reinfection. treatment international research centres, coordinated the world’s first large-scale randomised controlled urgently needed. How we are helping trial to clearly define the best time for HIV-positive How we are helping Between 2010 and 2014, Professor Sean Emery people to begin ART. The START study enrolled How we are helping Researchers at the Kirby Institute are conducting and his team conducted a clinical trial, known as 4,685 people at 215 sites in 35 countries, The Kirby Institute coordinated a trial of mass the largest international study of newly available, ENCORE1, with 630 participants in 13 countries including Australia. drug administration (repeat administration of directly acting antiviral drugs for recently acquired across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin Global single-dose treatment to whole communities) hepatitis C. Researchers aim to determine America. They reduced the dose of efavirenz, Results for scabies control with 2051 participants enrolled whether we can halve the treatment time among an important HIV drug therapy, by one third and implications In 2015, START was terminated ahead of across three Fijian island communities. The trial people who have recently acquired hepatitis observed trial participants regularly over the course of for the treatment schedule after interim results provided conclusive was conducted in collaboration with the Murdoch C, while still achieving the same results. 250 two years to gauge whether the lower dose of drugs of people living evidence that immediate treatment of HIV Children’s Research Institute and Fiji Ministry participants with recent infection will be enrolled was strong enough to suppress HIV replication. extends survival and prevents serious disease of Health. from eight countries to evaluate the effectiveness with HIV. complications and death. of short course therapy with the most effective Results Results directly acting antiviral combinations. The results showed that a reduced dose is both safe Impact One round of mass drug administration using oral Impact and effective in suppressing HIV and results in fewer The findings have global implications for the ivermectin reduced the prevalence of scabies by drug-related side effects, compared to the standard treatment of people living with HIV. In 2015, 94 per cent one year after the intervention. The This research is crucial in order to prevent dose recommended at the time of the study. approximately 36.7 million people worldwide were prevalence of skin sores also declined by 67%. ongoing transmission of hepatitis C and to living with HIV, with only 46% (17 million) receiving enhance the cost-effectiveness of treatment. Impact treatment. Based on the START results, the WHO Impact Findings from this project will provide 54% recommendations to guide clinicians and public Following the study, The World Health Organization updated international treatment guidelines to The study shows that MDA has the potential (WHO) has updated international treatment guidelines of people recommend that anyone diagnosed with HIV to break the cycle of disease transmission by health policy in the effective management of HIV endorsing a lower daily dose of efavirenz. The new living with HIV should begin treatment as soon as possible. eliminating infection from a whole population. The positive and negative individuals and populations WHO guidelines mean that more people can be not receiving WHO estimates that extending ART to all people findings, published in The New England Journal at risk for, or recently infected with hepatitis C. treated for the same amount of money. It will have treatment with HIV and expanding prevention choices would of Medicine in December 2015, have transformed a profound impact on the health and well-being of help avert 21 million AIDS-related deaths and 28 the global conversation on integrated programs Funded by the United States National Institute millions of people around the world, who will now million new infections by 2030. for neglected tropical diseases. of Health. have access to life-saving treatment. The biggest impact of this development will be felt in low and Funded by the National Institutes for Health Funded by the Australian National Health and middle-income countries, where there is often limited The START findings have global implications for the treatment of people living with HIV. (NIH), the National Health and Medical Research Medical Research Council. access to lifesaving drugs for those who need it. In 2015, approximately 36.7 million people worldwide were living with HIV, with only 46% (17 million) receiving treatment. Council of Australia, and a number of govern- ment organisations based in Europe. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Supplemental funding from the NHMRC. 42 Innovate Research Research Innovate 43
OUR RESEARCH
An EPIC trial Maternal and newborn health 1 IN 4 TTANGO New drug uncovers Forces unite in the in Papua New Guinea People diagnosed with HIV in hidden HIV cells quest for an HIV vaccine Australia (2015) the previous year has substantial damage The challenge The challenge to their immune system The challenge The challenge The challenge In 2015, the Kirby Institute’s Annual Surveillance In Papua New Guinea, as in many low-income In 2015 the Kirby Institute reported that the A cure for HIV requires the eradication of latent In Australia, HIV has largely become a chronic, Report of HIV indicated that over a quarter of countries, curable STIs and genital infections of diagnosis of gonorrhoea infection among (dormant and therefore hidden) virus from manageable infection - but chronic HIV disease the people diagnosed with HIV in Australia such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea are common Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reservoirs in immune cells throughout the body. management is not the end goal. Despite the the previous year had substantial damage to among pregnant women. If left untreated, STIs was 18 times higher and chlamydia was over tremendous successes we’ve made in the their immune system, indicating they had likely can lead to serious problems during pregnancy. three times higher than the rate of diagnosis in How we are helping prevention and treatment of HIV, the development contracted their infection a number of years ago. the non-Indigenous population. Chlamydia and Researchers have successfully tested a new of an effective vaccine to prevent HIV infection Experts in Australia believe that in order to end 3700 gonorrhoea occur at especially high rates in remains elusive. How we are helping high-risk, mostly gay and drug that activates hidden reservoirs of HIV HIV, we will need to maintain and strengthen the The Kirby Institute is collaborating with the bisexual men will be enrolled remote Aboriginal communities. Control of STIs cells in individuals on antiretroviral therapy, one established strategies of testing, treatment and Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research through sexual health clinics in remote communities is compromised by delays of the first steps to eradicating the virus and How we are helping prevention, as well as increasing the use of new (PNGIMR) and other national and international and selected GP practices, in diagnosis and treatment due to distances eventually finding a cure. The study, led from The Kirby Institute has partnered with scientific technologies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis institutes to conduct a world-first study in maternal potentially preventing almost between health services and laboratories and Aarhus University in Denmark with support from collaborators from 22 institutions around the world (PrEP) to prevent infection. and newborn health in PNG which will investigate 150 new HIV infections over difficulties locating and recalling patients international collaborators including the Kirby on a joint initiative to accelerate the search for an a one-year period. whether same-day, clinic-based testing and for treatment. Institute, also found the drug did not negatively effective HIV vaccine. The European AIDS Vaccine How we are helping treatment of sexually transmitted infections can affect the function of killer T cells, essential for Initiative brings together a multidisciplinary A landmark clinical trial, led by the Kirby Institute improve pregnancy outcomes for women. How we are helping the elimination of HIV-infected cells by the team of leading HIV researchers from public in partnership with NSW Health, ACON and Researchers at the Kirby Institute in collaboration immune system. HIV latency depends on the organisations and biotech companies from Positive Life NSW, is designed to reduce new Results with other researchers, community organisations, activity of proteins from the human host called across Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA HIV infections to half the present rate within two We conducted a pilot study in Milne Bay Province government and laboratories are leading a histone deacetylases (HDAC), and previous work in a focused effort to develop protective and years and to virtually eliminate HIV transmission in 2014, where we found a high prevalence of world-first trial called TTANGO (Test, treat, and has shown that HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) can therapeutic HIV vaccines. The Kirby Institute’s in NSW by 2020. The trial is the first study chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas and bacterial go). Using cutting edge molecular point-of care disrupt HIV latency. Professors David Cooper, Anthony Kelleher globally to combine rapid roll-out of PrEP with vaginosis, with over half of antenatal women technology initially created to test for tuberculosis, and Miles Davenport are part of the Australian population-level monitoring. HIV-negative people having one or more of these infections. Among researchers are working with health services Results contingent currently working on creating an at high risk of infection are given a daily dose of these women, 70% were not identified as having to implement and evaluate these point-of care The study tested a single HDACi, romidepsin, on effective HIV vaccine in our laboratories. the medication currently used in standard HIV an STI based on clinical grounds alone. tests for chlamydia and gonorrhoea in remote six Caucasians participants with a median age treatment. 3700 high-risk, mostly gay and bisexual Aboriginal communities. of 56 and a median time on antiretroviral therapy Funded by the European Commission. men will be enrolled through sexual health clinics Impact (ART) of 10 years. Blood samples had evidence of and selected GP practices, potentially preventing Now that we know that point-of-care STI testing Impact HIV transcription, the first step of latency reversal, almost 150 new HIV infections over a one-year and treatment in routine antenatal clinic settings Preliminary results show use of the new in all participants. After the second infusion, HIV period. International clinical trials have established is feasible in PNG, researchers will start to technology was acceptable to staff and RNA (genetic material) became detectable in the PrEP to be highly effective at preventing HIV rollout a large-scale field trial. If they continue to patients, the point-of tests was as accurate blood plasma in five of the six participants. infection among high-risk people. THE KIRBY demonstrate that this approach not only increases as laboratory tests and point-of-care testing significantly reduced the time to treatment. The Impact Impact the detection and treatment of STIs, but actually IMPACT improves pregnancy outcomes, the trial will have final analysis is planned for late 2016, followed The results establish a new benchmark for future EPIC-NSW has the potential to change the face of a potentially major impact on policy and practice EPIC-NSW has the potential by health economic analyses to make the case trials investigating the potency of latency reversing HIV transmission in NSW, the first state in Australia in all high-burden, low-income settings. to change the face of HIV for a Medicare Rebate. The program has been agents to be used in HIV eradication efforts. to implement such a rapid and large-scale trial of transmission in NSW, the expanded to a large network of health services in this prevention strategy. If successful, it will pave first state in Australia to WA, NT, SA and FNQ. the way for the widespread use of PrEP. Funded under the Joint Global Health Trials implement such a rapid Funded by the Research Council of Norway and initiative, established by the UK Department for and large-scale trial of Bionor Pharma ASA. International Development, the Medical Research this prevention strategy. If Ttango1 is funded by the Australian National Funded by NSW Health. A significant proportion Council UK and the Welcome Trust. successful, it will pave the Health and Medical Research Council. of treatment for the trial has been provided by way for the widespread use Ttango2 is funded by the Australian National Gilead Sciences. of PrEP. Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Department of Health. 44 Innovate Research Research Innovate 45
OUR RESEARCH
LiveRLife Opiate substitution therapy HIV ‘wakes up’ only once Gay men, New Centre for Research New approach to estimating and Hep C prevention a week under treatment aging and HIV Excellence in Offender Health trends in chlamydia
The challenge The challenge The challenge The challenge The challenge The challenge Injecting drug use is the leading risk factor for Opiate substitution therapy (OST) can protect Researchers have been looking for ways to In the current era of effective HIV treatments, In Australia there are over 33,000 people in prison Chlamydia is the most common notifiable STI hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Australia, but treatment against hepatitis C virus acquisition in people who reduce latent HIV infection in the body, in order HIV-positive people are living longer and at any one time. Prison populations are transient: in Australia. Untreated, it can lead to poor uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID) inject drugs (PWID). Globally only about 8% of to create a remission to allow drug therapy to healthier lives, but they appear to be at higher more than 50,000 people cycle through Australian reproductive health outcomes including infertility. is exceptionally low. Rates of advanced liver PWID have access to OST. Modelling suggests be suspended. However it was unknown how risk of age-related illnesses compared with HIV prisons annually and we have an estimated Because chlamydia often has no symptoms, disease, associated healthcare costs and liver that scaling up OST to 50% world-wide could long it takes for latent HIV cells to reactivate negative people. ex-prisoner population of at least 400,000 the infection often remains undiagnosed and disease-related mortality among this group are avert between one and two million HCV infections after treatment suspension. Previous modelling nationally. Prisoners have some of the worst unreported. We need to understand incidence rising. Increasing knowledge about HCV risk over the next ten years. suggested that the virus was activated four to five How we are helping health outcomes of any population group and are to determine the impact of an infection in a factors, disease progression and treatment times a day, and estimated that the number of Researchers at the Kirby Institute are one of the most marginalised and stigmatised community. However, calculating incidence at a among PWID is an important part of controlling How we are helping latent cells would need to be reduced 2000 times investigating whether older gay men living with groups in Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait population level on an ongoing basis is difficult the disease. In a world-first study, researchers at the Kirby to produce an average one-year remission after HIV age differently to gay men without HIV. The Islander people are overrepresented in Australian and costly as it involves repeat testing of a large Institute examined the acquisition of HCV among treatment cessation. APPLES (Australian Positive & Peers Longevity prisons, and Aboriginal women are the fastest cohort of people. How we are helping PWID enrolled in a prospective observational Evaluation Study) study aims to determine growing group in Australian prisons. Almost all Researchers from the Kirby Institute wanted study based in Sydney, New South Wales. They How we are helping whether being HIV-positive increases risk of prisoners return to the community after relatively How we are helping to understand how a liver health promotion assessed HCV incidence from 2009 to 2011, The study combined patient data on time to illness, or whether the differences seen between short periods in detention, thereby imposing Researchers at the Kirby institute developed campaign would affect knowledge, assessment and risk and protective factors associated with viral rebound, after treatment interruption, with HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals are this substantive disease burden on the wider an alternative approach to measure incidence. and treatment of HCV among PWID. They worked infection, including uptake of Needle and Syringe mathematical modelling and statistical analysis. caused by other factors, such as lifestyle, community. For this reason, improving the health They used mathematical modelling based on in partnership with community and research Programs and OST. Data from the Kirby Institute’s PULSE study diet or other health conditions. of offenders is not only important because it has a a probabilistic tree where branches represent organisations, NGOs, clinical services and was analysed with data from three smaller positive impact on the individual offender, but has acquiring or not acquiring the infection, health policy makers to develop evidence-based Results patient cohorts undergoing ART-interruption. Impact significant consequences for society as a whole. developing or not developing symptoms, being campaign messages focused on encouraging The study showed a protective effect of OST on Mathematical modelling was used to estimate the Knowledge gained from the research will inform tested, treated and being notified as a case. participants to have a liver scan called a newly acquired hepatitis C infection in PWID. The average frequency of viral rebound. the development of evidence-based, client- How we are helping Using routine population data, each individual in FibroScan. They produced LiveRLife – a liver risk of acquiring HCV was 8% per year between centred care, including screening, prevention and The Kirby Institute was successful in its the population is assigned a probability for each health promotion campaign tailored for PWID who 2009 and 2011, a marked drop from 31% per Results advocacy programs for the larger numbers of application to establish an NHMRC national step along the branch over the course of attend drug and alcohol services. year in a similar cohort between 1999 and 2001. The study found that HIV cells in the body of a older HIV positive people in Australia. Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) in each year. The number of people receiving OST nationally person receiving antiretroviral treatment become Offender Health. The centre brings together a Results had almost doubled since 1998 and this was activated 24 times less frequently than previously team of internationally recognised researchers Results Funding provided as a research granted by Gilead The campaign was implemented in drug and accompanied by a reduction in the population thought. The results were consistent across all to addresses infectious disease and mental Using the model, researchers estimate that Sciences, Australia alcohol services across NSW. The results have size of PWID. These two factors, combined four cohorts, indicating that virus rebound after health (including neuropsychiatric illness) among the total number of people acquiring chlamydia shown that among PWID, peer communication with increased coverage of needle and syringe treatment interruption occurs once every five offender populations. in 2013 was 4.3 times the number of reported is highly influential in sharing positive clinical programs are the likely key drivers of reduced to eight days. This research provides the first diagnoses. Results from this study suggest that experiences. The vast majority of participants HCV incidence. direct estimate of the rate of HIV reactivation Impact more than three quarters of new infections Research Results were willing to recommend FibroScan to and indicates that latent cell numbers need to The CRE will strengthen collaborative remain undiagnosed. their peers. Impact be reduced by 50-70 times to produce a one relationships with other correctional jurisdictions These results suggest OST should be an year remission.. across Australia to help us to ensure the gains Impact Impact essential component of any HCV prevention established in NSW can be rolled out effectively in These results can tell us whether control efforts The LiveRLife campaign and study have provided strategy although it is not the only answer to Impact other states. are working, and how we should target future an opportunity to evaluate an intervention that HCV prevention. In order to significantly reduce This finding has the potential to inform future prevention strategies. This model can be the burden of the virus we also need to scale- research into biomedical interventions for HIV. replicated in other countries that collect similar engages a hard-to-reach population through Funded by the Australian National Health and up antiviral treatment and prophylactic vaccine notification data on chlamydia and help to the integration of a FibroScan assessment. Medical Research Council. The researchers will continue this work with two development for HCV, as well as continue to establish a more accurate understanding of Funded by the Australian National Health and specialist homelessness health services in NSW support evidence-based interventions like needle 31% population level incidence of chlamydia. Medical Research Council. and roll out the LiveRLife campaign nationally and syringe programs.
Funded by the Australian National Health and Initial funding through the UNSW Hepatitis Medical Research Council and the Department C Vaccine Initiative. Subsequently funded by of Health. the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. 31% drop per year in OST treatment results between 1999 and 2001. MAKING A
WITH YOUR SUPPORT 48 Making a difference Funding & Donations Funding & Donations Making a difference 49
2015 FUNDING
National Health National Health Evaluation of a model for assessment and treatment of hepatitis C virus $ 26,707 and Medical Program Grants AUD$ and Medical among injecting drug users in the opiate pharmacotherapy setting (ETHOS)
Research Council Sexually transmitted infections - causes, consequences and interventions $ 101,123 Research Council The HIV prevention revolution: measuring outcomes and maximising effectiveness $ 280,922 (NHMRC) (NHMRC) Discovery and translation of interventions to control sexually transmitted infections $ 1,264,728 Continued Surveillance and treatment of prisoners with hepatitis c (stop-c) $ 246,137 and their consequences Uptake, sustainability and impact of scaling up point-of-care testing $ 314,072 Hepatitis C infection: epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment $283,175 for sexually transmissible infections in remote and regional aboriginal communities (ttango 2)
HIV latency, pathogenesis and immunity $ 1,643,757 Striveplus: refinement and translation of an intervention designed to improve $ 394,581 sexual health service delivery in remote communities
Project Grants Reducing impulsive behaviour in repeat violent offenders using a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor $ 1,324,589
A randomised trial of rapid point-of-care tests for chlamydia and gonorrhoea $ 11,130 infections in remote Aboriginal communities Centres of Clinical Research Excellence
A randomised trial to determine the safety and efficacy of early versus deferred treatment of HIV $ 235,785 Offender Health $ 543,466
Viral load, HIV treatment and HIV transmission in serodiscordant male homosexual couples $ 120,698 Fellowships The Encore1 Study: the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and pharmacogenomic $ 41,883 outcomes of reduced dosage of Efavirenz Dr Jason Grebely (Career Development Fellowship) $ 113,373
HIV-1 transcriptional gene silencing by promoter targeted si/shrnas $ 237,718 Dr Gail Matthews (Career Development Fellowship) $ 113,373
The efficacy of mass drug administration strategies to control scabies in a highly endemic population $ 69,875 Dr Mark Boyd (Career Development Fellowship) $ 113,373
Point-of-care diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections to improve maternal and $ 314,140 A/Prof Vanessa Venturi (Career Development Fellowship) $ 64,482 neonatal health outcomes in resource-limited, high-burden settings A/Prof Rebecca Guy (Career Development Fellowship) $ 113,373 HIV treatment as prevention: a longitudinal assessment of population effectiveness $ 236,795 Dr Huachan Zou (Early Career Fellowship) $ 52,441 Dissecting the dynamics of malaria infection. $ 158,055 Dr Hammad Ali (Early Career Fellowship) $ 6,482 New strategies to increase testing and treatment for endemic sexually transmitted infections $ 431,985 Dr Jennifer Iversen (Early Career Fellowship) $ 78,661 in remote aboriginal communities
Dr Mary Poynten (Postdoctoral Training Fellowship) $ 33,241 Health outcomes and service utilisation in a cohort of people who inject drugs, $ 145,554 sex workers and at-risk youth - a record linkage study Dr Bradley Mathers (Postdoctoral Training Fellowship) $ 92,816
Regulation of F-actin during HIV spread $ 237,653 Prof. Basil Donovan (Practitioner Fellowship) $ 121,462
Identifying undiagnosed HIV infection among Australian gay men: $ 73,792 Prof. Greg Dore (Practitioner Fellowship) $ 121,462 delivering HIV testing through a national, community-based study Prof. Anthony Kelleher (Practitioner Fellowship) $ 121,462 Sexual and reproductive health and behaviours of young offenders (14-18 years) in NSW and QLD $ 225,787 Prof. Andrew Grulich (Principal Research Fellowship) $ 162,993 Can preventive care activities in general practice be sustained when financial incentives and external $ 60,000 audit plus feedback are removed 50 Making a difference Funding & Donations Funding & Donations Making a difference 51
2015 FUNDING
National Health Australian Development, implementation and management of a national HPV genotype specific $ 41,605 and Medical Fellowships (Contunue) Government surveillance system
Research Council Prof. Matthew Law (Principal Research Fellowship) $ 150,660 Continued (NHMRC) NSW Office of Medical Research Continued Prof. John Kaldor (Senior Principal Research Fellowship) $ 184,345 Institute of Virology infrastructure funding $ 526,472 Prof. Lisa Maher (Senior Research Fellowship) $ 134,725
Prof. Miles Davenport (Senior Research Fellowship) $ 88,121 NSW Ministry of Health
A/Prof. David Wilson (Senior Research Fellowship) $ 104,926 NPA-IECD Aboriginal sexual/reproductive health project $ 37,594
Postgraduate Scholarships NSW needle and syringe program enhanced data collection $ 56,965 The HIV Seroconversion Study $ 88,191 Yin Xu $ 16,364 ACCESS-Plus – a national sentinel surveillance system for STIs $ 7,471 Louise Causer $ 23,519 NSW HIV rapid testing evaluation framework $ 20,000 Robert Monaghan $ 27,500 Male Sex Workers and HIV and STI risk project $ 10,000 Lise Lafferty $ 30,129 Implementation of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral $ 145,286 Angie Pinto $ 42,576 medications among people at high risk for hiv infection
The NSW Research Program for HIV, STIs and viral hepatitis $ 691,712
Pilot implementation study of patient delivered partner therapy (PDPT) $ 127,273 Australian Research Council Postgraduate Scholarships The HIV prevention revolution: measuring outcomes and maximising effectiveness $ 318,000 (ARC) Partner choice and sexual behaviour among gay and bisexual men $ 114,509 Other State Departments Drug using behaviours and beliefs, and associated harms, among gay and bisexual men $ 209,734 Australian collaboration for chlamydia enhanced sentinel surveillance $ 67,645 Understanding the dynamics of T cell responses to chronic infection $ 89,421 (Dept. of Health and human Services, Victoria)
Study of risk factors for HIV seroconversion (Queensland Health) $ 21,726
Systematic review peer-reviewed & grey literature-prison cell size & health effects $ 39,572 Australian (Dept of Justice, Corrective Services NSW) Government Federal Department of Health National prison entrant's bloodborne virus survey (Dept of Justice and Regulation, Victoria) $ 22,173 Research activities for blood borne virus and sexually transmissible infections $ 8,604,969 The relationship between psychotic mental illness and offending in NSW $ 36,133 Establishment and maintenance of a trachoma surveillance and reporting unit $ 78,979 (Mental Health Commission of NSW)
Extended genital warts surveillance network $ 120,178 Liverlife: a liver health campaign for marginalised populations $ 25,600 (Southeastern Sydney Local Health District) National trachoma surveillance and reporting 2015 - 2017 $ 181,848 52 Making a difference Funding & Donations Funding & Donations Making a difference 53
2015 FUNDING & DONATIONS
National Institutes Asia Pacific HIV research collaboration: cancer studies (subcontract with American Other Grants and $ 6,730 International of Health, USA Foundation for AIDS Research) Contracts Continued INSIGHT - Leadership (subcontract with University of Minnesota) $ 319,274 ENCORE: Evaluation of novel concepts in optimization of antiretroviral efficacy $ 491,386 (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USA) INSIGHT - FLU 002 & FLU 003 (subcontract with University of Minnesota) $ 653,050 Evaluation of HIV epidemics and programs in Asia (World Bank, USA) $ 1,186,976 START study (subcontract with University of Minnesota) $ 1,509,491 The DAD Study, Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs (Copenhagen HIV Programme) $ 43,850 TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (subcontract with American Foundation for AIDS Research) $ 473,233 Implementation of 'Test and Treat' strategies for HIV treatment and prevention $ 1,817,596 TREAT Asia pediatric HIV observational database (TApHOD) $ 315,129 (World Health Organisation) (subcontract with American Foundation for AIDS Research)
Development of a mathematical model based on HIV case reporting (UNAIDS) $ 184,353 Treatment of recently acquired hepatitis C virus infection (ATAHC 2) $ 845,295 Modelling resource needs to optimise impact of the global efforts to ending AIDS by 2020 (UNAIDS) $ 15,112 Cambodia intergrated hiv and drug prevention implementation $ 13,559 (subcontract with University of California) European Network of HIV/AIDS cohort studies to coordinate at European and international level clinical $ 12,992 research on HIV/AIDS: ‘EuroCoord’ (University College London) Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) (subcontract with American Foundation for AIDS Research) $ 12,760 Scholarship Alison Marshall (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) $ 5,302 Opposites Attract study (subcontract with American Foundation for AIDS Research) $ 59,675 Scholarship Evan Cunningham (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) $ 24,708 Mechanisms limiting neonatal immunity (subcontract with Cornell University) $ 12,826
Anti-influenza Hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulin (FLU - IVIG) international $ 325,727
International collaborative of prospective studies of HIV and hepatitis in IDU $ 60,541 (subcontract with University of New Mexico) Pharmaceutical Industry CSL Limited $ 144,598
Gilead Science Pty Ltd $ 304,563
Gilead Science Inc (USA) $ 1,241,569 Other Grants and Contracts Australian Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd $ 15,000
Monitoring transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors (Australian Red Cross Society) $ 25,000 Merck Sharp & Dohme $ 235,157
Support for clinical and epidemiological HIV research capacity in Indonesia (AusAID/Australian Society $ 163,403 Pfizer Inc $ 2,247,146 for HIV Medicine) AbbVie Pty Ltd $ 441,858 Preventing morbidity and mortality from anal cancer (Cancer Council NSW) $ 400,102 Callimmune Australia Pty Ltd. $ 39,960 Reducing Australia's Aboriginal prisoner population using justice reinvestment - Assessing the public's $ 19,696 views to treatment versus incarceration using citizens' juries (Lowitja Institute)
HCC outcome improvements through translational research in western Sydney $ 50,000 TOTAL $36,653,231 (Westmead Millennium Institute)
Evidence check for NSW STI strategy (The Sax Institute) $ 24,600 Donations Global intensive professional program in HIV (AusAid) $ 21,995 TOTAL $1,553,518.31 2015 54 Making a difference Donation Form Making a difference 55
DONOR SPOTLIGHT THE KIRBY INSTITUTE Thank you for your support
Capital Campaign for Kirby YES, I WANT TO MAKE A DONATION TO… Donations of $2.00 or more are tax deductible in Australia
The Kirby Institute $5,000 $2,000 $1,000 $500 $100 $5 Other Amount $ The Kirby Institute would like to thank the It is through the valued support of our funders that I WANT TO MAKE MY GIFT… the Kirby Institute is able to conduct leading edge following individuals and organisations for research that is improving health outcomes in their generous support and contribution to One-Off Monthly* Annually* Australia and around the world. The Atlantic Philanthropies match campaign: YES, I want to help shape the future of the Kirby Institute through a donation in my Will. This year marked the successful conclusion of an Until I advise otherwise Until I advise otherwise ambitious capital campaign for the Kirby Institute. New South Wales Government Please send me more information. 3 years 5 years Launched in 2011, the campaign was dedicated to securing funds for new, world-class research Australian Government 2 years 3 years YES, I have already included a donation facilities in the redeveloped Wallace Wurth Building 1 years 1 years to UNSW in my Will. on UNSW’s Kensington campus and in the new The Atlantic Philanthropies Translational Research Centre on the St Vincent’s Hospital campus. Estate of the Late Peter Ikin *I understand I may cancel my authority for credit card charges for an ongoing pledge at any time by contacting UNSW at the contact details below. UNSW will confirm your request in writing. The cutting edge new facilities were made Anonymous possible by State and Federal Government grants, Payable to: University I WANT TO PAY BY… Visa Mastercard American Express Money Order Cheque UNSW funding, and philanthropic gifts. Most notable of New South Wales among the philanthropic gifts was a $10 million Berg Family Foundation pledge from the Atlantic Philanthropies to match all Card no: Expire date: donations made to the Kirby dollar for dollar. The Glendonbrook Foundation Inspired by this matched funding challenge and Ms Jillian Segal AM, Mr John Roth and The Roth Name/s on card: Signature/s the vital work the Kirby Institute is doing Charitable Foundation to alleviate global health challenges, other significant contributions were made by the Estate of the late Mr Geoffrey Alder Peter Ikin, through the Curran Foundation, the Berg My Contact details Please issue receipt in: My Name My Organisation’s Name Family Foundation, The Glendonbrook Foundation, Estate of the Late Dr Lynn Joseph the Roth Charitable Foundation, Mr Geoffrey Alder, Title: First Name: Last Name: the Estate of the Late Dr Lynn Joseph, and an anonymous donation of $1,000,000. Such bold support has raised the bar for Organisation: Position: ABN: philanthropic support of medical research in Australia . (For receipts in the organisation’s name, please provide Company Name and ABN) The Kirby Institute’s new facilities are an asset to the local health district; to New South Wales; and to Australia more broadly, and they are critical to the Address: Email: global reputation of the Kirby Institute. For 30 years , the Kirby Institute has remained focused on breaking new ground in the response Suburb State Postcode Phone: Mobile: to epidemics. As a direct result of this tremendous generosity, we are now well positioned to lead I am a UNSW… communities towards a future free from the burden of disease. Student Alumnus Staff member Former Staff member Existing Supporter. Date of birth: : DD MM YYYY My student / staff / donor ID is:
For 30 years , the Kirby Institute Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible in Australia. The University of New South Wales is endorsed as a deductible gift recipient. ABN 57195873179 CRICOS Provider Code 00098 has remained focused on breaking UNSW respects your privacy. Your contact details and the information you provide will be used only by UNSW and only for the purpose you provide. We may also contact you to inform you about UNSW new ground in the response activities of general interest. You can read about UNSW and Privacy at: www.gs.unsw.edu.au/privacy/index.html If you do not wish to receive mailings from UNSW about donations, please tick here to epidemics. If you have questions about this form, your gift, or the work of UNSW Foundation, please contact us by fax, email,
Tear along this line Tear or Tel: 02 9385 3202 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri. 56 Making a difference Donation Form Our people Making a difference 57
KIRBY INSTITUTE STAFF 2015-16
Office of the Director Lecturers Project Officer Justice Health Program Ben Hui BE(comp eng), MBiomedE, PhD Jack Bradley Director and Scientia David Boettiger MPharm MSC Epi, PhD Head and Professor Program Coordinators Professor of Medicine Awachana Jiamsakul BSc, MS, PhD Tony Butler MSc (Quant methods) MSc Anna Byrne BA (Hons) David Cooper AO FAA, BSc(Med), Amit Achhra MBBS MPH, PhD (IT) PhD DipAppEpi MBBS, MD, DSc, FAA, FRACP, Erin Ogilvie PLEASE RETURN Mail Research Fellows FRCPA, FRCP Statisticians Tanya Johannesen BDes Reply Paid 61244, Rainer Puhr Paul Simpson BSc (Psych) COMPLETED FORM TO: Conjoint Associate Professor Executive Assistant Stephen Wright BMath, MAppStat Lorraine Yap PhD Sydney NSW 2052 AUSTRALIA Richard Hillman MD FRCP FAChSHM Janette Button Cecilia Moore MSc MPH Armita Adily PhD University of Sydney Manager, Media and Communications Computer Systems Officers Research Associate Adjunct Lecturer Laurie Legere Noorul Absar BTech, Grad Dip(Inf Sc), Melanie Simpson Kathy Triffitt BA, Grad Dip, Ph D Positive Email MComp(SW Eng) BSocSci (Crim) Hons, PhD Communications Officer Life NSW Rossitza Chevkenova BSc [email protected] Lucienne Bamford Senior Research Officer Data Administrator Joanne Reekie BSc (Hons), MPhil, PhD Communications Specialist Robin Huang Immunovirology and Louisa Wright M Journalism, MPH Pathogenesis Program Research Assistants Dina Saulo Telephone Research Assistant Nicole de la Mata Professor and Head Lise Lafferty 02 9385 3202 Aboriginal and Torres Anthony Kelleher BSc(Hons), MB Matthew Gullotta Strait Islander Program Program Coordinator BS(Hons), PhD, FRACP, FRCPA, FAHMS Erin Ogilvie BA, MPH Coordinating Research Nurse Associate Professor Program Head Anna Han Lee Knight Dr Marlene Kong Stuart Turville BSc (Hons) PhD Fax Administrative Assistant Research Nurses Senior Lecturer Research Fellow Kerry-Andre Palavicino Noella Ennis 02 9385 3278 Kersten Koelsch MBBS, MD Mary Ellen Harrod BA, Supreet Mehik B Homoeop Med Surg John Nguyen Dip Arts, M Prelim, PhD John Zaunders PhD Nagewa Raya Conjoint Lecturer Lecturer (Conjoint) HIV Epidemiology and Linda Garton RN, Kazuo Suzuki PhD Public Health Interventions Grad Cert Adv Prac, Sex Hlth Prevention Program Post Doctoral Research Fellow Research Group Project Manager Head, Professor and NHMRC Principal Anupriya Aggarwal PhD Head and Professor of Epidemiology Simon Graham BIS, MApplEpid Research Fellow Andrew Grulich MBBS, MSc, PhD, Research Fellows John Kaldor PhD Senior Surveillance Officer FAFPHM Chantelle Ahlenstiel PhD Associate Professor Carleigh Cowling BNurs, PGDipMid Mee Ling Munier PhD Associate Professor Andrew Vallely MBBS, MRCP, MSC, David van Bockel PhD Senior Research Officer Garrett Prestage BA, PhD, JP DTMH, PhD Amalie Dyda BHSc, MAppEpid Clinical Project Co-ordinator Senior Lecturers Senior Research Fellows Patricia Grey BA, Post Grad Dip App Sci, Project Officers Jeff (Fengyi) Jin MB, MPH, PhD Bradley Mathers MSD, MBChB, BHB CNS, Dip (Counselling) Stephen Bell (Isobel) Mary Poynten MBBS, DCH, Gillian Schierhout Belinda Ford BSc, MPH MPH (Hon), PhD Research Officer Stephen Bell Muhammad Jamil David J Templeton MBChB, Tetsuo Tsukamoto PhD, D.M.Sc Angela Kelly Robert Monaghan DipVen, MForensMed, PhD, MACLM, MFFLM, FAChSHM Research Assistants Research Fellows Gillian Schierhout Iryna Zablotska-Manos PhD, MD, MPH Susanna Ip BSc Louise Causer MB BS, MSc, DTM&H Monika Wadolowski Michelle Bailey BSc(Hons) Brigid Haire Lucy Watchirs Smith BA, MPH Lecturer Chansavath Phetsouphanh Lisa Vallely Jeanne Ellard BA (Hons), MPhil, PhD Program Co-ordinator Joanne Reekie BSc (Hons), MPhil, PhD Research Project Officer and Megan Tapia Joanne Jackson (Micallef) BMedSc Associate Lecturers Laboratory Manager Andrew Nakhla BComm, LLB (Hons), PhD Ben Bavinton BA (Hon), MPH Kristin McBride Ian Down MPH Biostatistics and Databases Program Clinical Trials Co-ordinators Research Support Officer Lucia Romani BSocSci MA Matthew Law MA, MSc, PhD Clinical Project Coordinators Kat Marks Michaela Riddell Leonie Crampton Reg Gen Associate Professors and Midwif Nurse Database Manager John Murray BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD (p/t) Senior Research Officer Nicole Denham MA Ansari Shaik BA, MBA Kathy Petoumenos BSc, MA, Lisa Doyle RN, Grad Dip (ON), MPH - Program Co-ordinator International Training and Development MPH(Hons), PhD Research Officer Tracey Barrett Manager Janaki Amin BSc(Hons), MPH(Hons), PhD Chris Gianacas B Comp Sci, David Regan BA, BSc(Hons), PhD Grad Dip Commerce Research Officers Handan Wand MA, MSc, PhD Praveena Gunaratnam Research Assistants Senior Lecturers Brian Acraman Administrative Assistant Azar Kariminia BSc, MSc, PhD Lara Cassar Grad Cert Pub Hlth Kate Slatyer Patrick McGrath BA, Dip Ed, Grad Dip Matthew O’Dwyer BLibStud, MPH (Hons) Administrative Assistant Robert Mellor Kate Slatyer Michelle Yang B Sci (Hon), Jodie Nas Jones Masters of Biostat (current) 58 Making a difference Our people Our people Making a difference 59
Sexual Health Program Senior Research Assistant Post Doctoral Research Fellows/ Senior Clinical Project Co-ordinators Associate Lecturers Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Infection Analytics Program Researchers affiliated Larissa Lewis BA Cate Carey RN, BA, MAppSc(Research) Program to Kirby Institute Head and Professor of Sexual Health Mehala Balamurali BSc(Hons), PhD Sally Hough BAppSci, Postgrad Cert PM Head and Professor Basil Donovan MBBS, DipVen (Lond), MD, Program Coordinator Josephine Reyes BS, MS, PhD Simone Jacoby BSc, Dip Nutrition, Head and Professor Miles Davenport Visiting Professor FAFPHM, FRCPI, FAChSHM, FRCP Jane Costello NZCC, MlntS Adv Dip Bot Med Greg Dore MBBS, BSc, PhD, FRACP, MPH Research Associate Jennifer Hoy MBBS, David Courtney-Rodgers Associate Professor Grad Dip Epi Bio, FRACP Senior Lecturer and NHMRC Administration Cliff Kerr BSc(Hons), LMusA, DipArts, PhD Associate Professor Vanessa Venturi Post-doctoral Fellow A/Prof Morgan Stewart RN, BA(Hons), MCAP Clinical Project Co-ordinators Gail Matthews MBChB, MRCP(UK), Senior Visiting Fellows Rebecca Guy BAppSc, MAppEpid, PhD HIV Surveillance Coordinator Michelle Bailey BSc(Hons) FRACP PhD Postdoctoral Fellow Philip Cunningham Ann McDonald BSc, MPH Griselda Buckland Visiting Professorial Fellow Jason Grebely BSc, PhD Deborah Cromer BAppSc(Med), Chief of Operations, Surveillance and Megan Clewette BAppSc HIM Mark Boyd BA (Tas), BM, BS, MHID Senior Surveillance Officer St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Research Program Anna Donaldson MSC Senior Lecturers Research Associate (FUSA), MD (UNSW), FRACP Carleigh Cowling BNurs, PGDipMid Medical Research Daniel Murray Tanya Applegate BSc (Hons), PhD David Khoury Head and Associate Professor Robert Myers Associate Professors (Conjoint) David Silk BSc (Hons) Rebecca Guy BAppSc, MAppEpid, PhD Surveillance Officers Associate Lecturer Mark Bloch MBBS, Dip Family Planning, Hila Haskelberg BSc Administrative Assistant Visiting Fellows Melanie Middleton BMedSci, MPH Maryam Alavi, BSc, MSc, PhD Dip Med Hypnoth, MM (STI/HIV) Natalie Espinosa BS (Biomed), MA.AppSc Carly Hanrahan Bruce Brew Senior Lecturer Tarana Lucky MBBS, MPH Marianne Martinello MBBS FRACP Christopher Bourne MBBS, FAChSHM, (Ex&Sc) MBBS(Hons), MD, FRACP, Professor of Richard Gray BSc(Hons), PhD Behzad Hajari MD, MPH, PhD MM (Sexual Health) Research Assistants Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney Program Managers Viral Immunology Catherine O’Connor MBBS(Hons), DrPH, Post Doc toral Research Fellows Shamin Kinathil BE(Hons), BSc Clinical Trials Manager Nick Crofts MM, FAChSHM, FRACGP, DRACOG Cathy O’Connell Systems Program Skye McGregor BA, BSc, MA, PhD Elizabeth Mlambo BSc, MPH MBBS, MPH, FAFPHM, Professor and Helene Kriketos BA Pip Marks BSc, MPH (Hons) Andrew Shattock BSc, MSc Senior Lecturers (Conjoint) Hamish McManus BEcon, BActS, Head and Professor Director, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug MBIOS, PhD Clinical Project Co-ordinators Centre, Melbourne Robert Finlayson MBBS, DipVen (Lond), Program Coordinator Data Managers Andrew Lloyd FAChSHM Rashelle Raymond Marianne Byrne MPH, MPM, BSc (Hons), Hsin-Chun Lee Associate Professor (Conjoint) Megan Tapia Grad Cert Clin Trials Man Catherine Pell MBBS, MM FAChSM, Kymme Courtney-Vega Dip Sp Th Senior Lecturers MD, Assistant Professor and Infectious Secual Health Physician, Taylor Square David Wilson BSc, BInfTech, Amanda Erratt ADip (Med Record Admin) Rowena Bull PhD Disease Physician, College of Medicine, Private Clinic, Sydney BAppSc(Hons), GradCert(Biostats), PhD Laurence Maire PharmD, MSc National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan Disease Modelling and Financing Administrative Assistants Fabio Luciani PhD Phillip Read MBBS, BSc, MRCP (UK), Michelle Micallef PhD, BBMedSci (Hons) Senior Lecturer (Conjoint) Program (from 2015) Pamela Findlay Don Smith DipGUM, DFFP, DipHIV, MPH, PhD Sophie Quiene, MSc Senior Research Officer Damian Conway MB, BCh, MMed(STD/ Rosemary Robson MB ChB, MD, Associate Professor and Nathan Ryder MBBS, MPH&TM, Jasmine Skurowski, BSc Elizabeth Keoshkerian HIV), FAChSHM, MRCGP, DRCOG, DFFP, Head and Associate Professor Head of Research Development, Albion FAChSHM Yasmin Mowat, BSc (Hons) Street Centre, Sydney PhD David Wilson BSc, BInfTech, Postdoctoral Fellow BAppSc(Hons), GradCert(Biostats), PhD Viral Hepatitis Epidemiology and Barbara Yeung, RN, BHSc (Nursing), MPH Mark Sullivan Visiting Research Fellow Auda El Tahla PhD Lecturer Prevention Program Lei Zhang BSc(Adv Hons), MSc, BSc, Chief Operating Officer, Senior lecturer Systems Manager PhD, MPH Susan Hoskins MA(Hons), MSc(Agr) Research Assistant VivaGelTM Microbicide Development Human Assist, MSc(Epi), PhD Janka Petravic Professor and Head Ineke Shaw BSc, Grad Cert BioStats Hui Li Consortium, Medicines Development Research Fellow Lei Zhang BSc(Adv Hons), MSc, Lisa Maher PhD Limited, Melbourne Research Officer Clinical Trials Database Developer Hammad Ali BSc, MBBS, MPH, PhD, MPH Administrative Officer Alex Wodak Praveena Gunaratnam BA(Hons), Conjoint Associate Professor Lindsay Stevens, BSc PhDDenton Callander BA(Hons), Roshana Sultan MBBS, MRACP, FRACP, MPP, MSc(PH), PhD Lecturer Ingrid van Beek MBBS, MBA, MD BMus(Hons), PhD Senior Research Officer MRCP, FAFPHM, FAChAM, Director, Laila Khawar MBBS, MPH Richard Gray BSc(Hons), PhD Francois Lamoury EICnam (Biology) Administrative Assistant Alcohol and Drug Service, St Vincent’s Lecturer Amy Kwon BSc(Hons), PhD Senior Research Fellow Sarah-Jane Schmidt Hospital, Sydney Research Assistants Jenny Iversen BAppSc PhD Louise Causer MBBS, MSc, DTM&H, PhD Data Managers Research Assistant James Jansson Sharmila Siriragavan BMedSci Conjoint Associate Professors Lecturer (Conjoint) Neil Bretana BSc, MSc Lecturer Iyanosh Reporter Mahshid Tamaddoni BE, MAppSc David Wilson Rosalind Foster BMedSci, MBChB, MRCP, Andrew Shattock BSc, MSc Karen Chronister BS, MS, PhD Operations and Administration (to Feb 2015) BSc, BInfTech, BAppSc(Hons), MSc, Dip FSRH (UK), Dip GUM Program Coordinator Program Coordinator Data Entry Officer Operations Manager GradCert(Biostats), PhD Caroline Thng MBBS, MRCP, Dip HIV, Dip Jennifer Walsh Jane Costello NZCC, MlntS Associate Lecturer Sorcha McMullen Daren Draganic BSc(Hons) Jintanat Ananworanich GUM, DFSRH Megan Tapia Rajesh (Rick) Varma MB ChB, MRCP, George Dertadian BA(Hons) PhD MD PhD, Deputy Director, HIV Netherlands Labkey Database Developer Finance Manager Dip TM&H, Dip FFP, Dip GUM, Dip HIV, Administration Australia Thailand Research Collaboration Trent Schafer BA IT FAChSHM Morgan Stewart RN, BA(Hons), MCAP Research Officer Eilis Duggan (HIV-NAT) Therapeutic and Vaccine Research Susan Linsen BAppSci Richard Hillman Senior Research Officer Program Laboratory Coordinator Accountants MD FRCP FAChSHM, Assoc Prof and Research Assistants Camelia Quek Gina Lam BA(Hons), EMBA Kirsty Smith RN, Grad Dip Surveillance and Evaluation Director, HIV & STI Postgraduate Program, Education, MPH Head and Professor Louise Geddes BHlthSci MScMed Brendan Jacka PhD Selina Cheng BA, MComm, CPA Program for Public Health University of Sydney (became Disease Modelling and Sean Emery BSc(Hons), PhD (InfnImm) MIntPH Danica Martinez PhD, BMedSci (Hons) Teresa Wong BAcc, CPA Project Officer Financing Program in 2015) Sonja Memedovic BPsych Conjoint Senior Lecturer Rebecca Lorch DipAdultNurs, Visiting Senior Research Fellow Program Coordinator Finance officer Samantha Chivers BSc, MIPH(Hons) (from Damian Conway BSc(Hons), PhD Head and Associate Professor Sarah Pett BSc(Hons), MB BS(Hons), March to Aug 2015) Amie Lucas Lisa Patane MB, BCh, MMed(STD/HIV), FAChSHM, David Wilson BSc, BInfTech, DTM&H, MRCP (UK), FRACP,PhD MRCGP, DRCOG, DFFP, PhD Project Coordinator BAppSc(Hons), GradCert(Biostats), PhD Program Coordinator Conjoint senior lecturer IT Specialist Steven Badman Cert HolocStud, MPH Senior Lecturer Rachel McCleave BA(Hons), BEd(Prim) Dr Alex Thompson MBBS, PhD, FRACP, Sergio Sandler MSc, EE, Dip Ed Honorary Senior Lecturer Senior Health Economist Rebekah Puls BSc(Hons), PhD St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Research Officer Klara Henderson BA, MCOM, PhD Computer Systems Officers Dr. Alex Thompson Muhammad Shahid Senior Research Fellow Lisa Howard Dip IT MBBS, PhD, FRACP, Head of Jamil MBBS, MPH, MHM Senior lecturer Mark Polizzotto Charles Tran BCompSc Hepatology Research, St. Vincent’s Lucy Watchirs Smith BA, MPH Lei Zhang BSc(Adv Hons), Hospital, Melbourne MSc, PhD, MPH Lecturer Manager, Human Relations Dianne Carey BPharm, MPH, PHD Brigette Sharp BA(Hons), MAppSc Adjunct Lecturer Lecturer Kathy Triffitt BA, Grad Dip, Ph D Richard Gray BSc(Hons), PhD Manager, Administration Yvette Toole Research Officer Tetsuo Tsukamoto Receptionist Rata Joseph 60 Making a difference Our people Continued from our Q&A section Our people Making a difference 61
KIRBY INSTITUTE OUR RESEARCH STUDENTS 2015-16 LEADERS
PhD candidates Completions 2015/ S1 2016 Masters Students
Adeshina Adekunle David Boettiger Lee Knight Olayan Albawani Louise Causer Gwamaka Mwasakifwa Hamid Alinejad-Rokny Damian Conway Rosemary Aogo Andrew Craig Supervision of non-Kirby Steven Badman Anna Charisse Farr Institute Students Professor Professor Sahar Bajis Belinda Hengel Miles Davenport Andrew Lloyd Sofia Bartlett William Hey-Nguyen Samantha McAllery (University of Sydney) Ben Bavinton Brendan Jacka Neil Bretana (SoMS) Nabila Chowdhury James Jansson Kathryn Dinh Professor Miles Davenport heads up the Infection Professor Andrew Lloyd is head of the Viral Immunology Evan Cunningham Awachana Jiamsakul Linh-Ve Le (SPHCM) Analytics Program at the Kirby Institute. Miles and Systems Program. The collaborative team of clinicians Nicole De La Mata Scott Ledger Preston Leung (SoMS) his team use insights in mathematicians, computer and scientists uses interdisciplinary approaches to study Ian Down Rebecca Lorch Michael Mina (SoMS) science and physics to design and optimise treatment the complex interactions between pathogen, host, and Michael Doyle Kylie-ann Mallitt Catriona Ooi (University of Sydney) and vaccination for major infectious diseases. environment, which underpin human viral infections, Brigitte Gerstl Skye McGregor Christina Papadopoulos (Faculty Built particularly hepatitis C. Sian Goddard Maria Catalina Mendez Ortega Environment) Bui Thi Minh Hao Elizabeth Mlambo Mehdi Rasoli (SoMS) Mohamed Hammoud Cecilia Moore Simone Rizzetto (SoMS) Muhammad Jamil Daniel Murray Chaturaka Rodrigo (SoMS) Shane Kelly Lisa Natoli Ivy Shih Vickie Knight Duy Quang Pham Shivon Singh Johann Kolstee Mahshid Rafieeshahrbabaki Christopher Tumwin (CSRH) Lise Lafferty Lucia Romani Alexander Underwood (SoMS) Elan Lazuardi Bronwyn Silver Melanie Walker (SoMS) Alison Marshall Winnie Wing Yin Tong Nick Walsh Professor Professor Phillip Keen Phillip Read Bingru Wu (SoMS) Tony Butler Anthony Kelleher Reem Khaliel Yin Xu Marianne Martinello Professor Tony Butler is head of the Justice Health Professor Anthony (Tony) Kelleher is head of the Brian Mulhall Research Program. Their work involves surveillance of Immunovirology and Pathogenesis Program. His team is Patrick Nadol blood-borne viruses and STIs in the prison setting, and primarily involved in basic HIV research, with projects on Stella Nalukwago a focus on developing interventions and examining the various stages of the HIV infection, including transmission Alberto Ospina Stella health antecedents of offending. The health and human and the body’s defence against the virus, and how these Steven Philpot rights component associated with this area of research are modulated by therapies. They conduct clinical and Angie Pinto has obvious synergies with the work of the Institute’s natural history studies in unique populations of patients Arnold Reynaldi Suzanne Sheppard-Law Patron. research has obvious synergies with the work of with HIV infection, such as those rare individuals who Kirstine Smith the Institute’s Patron. control HIV infection without therapy. Identifying the Andrew Shattock reasons why this group remain healthy, without damage Marina Talevski to their immune systems , is extremely important for Barbara Telfer understanding control of HIV infection, and for developing Sirinya Teeraananchai new therapeutic interventions and preventative vaccines. Angela Thorpe Pamela Toliman Sasiwimol Ubolyam Stefanie Vaccher James Ward Lucy Watchirs Smith Professor Andrew Wong Luh Putu Lila Wulandare Greg Dore
Professor Greg Dore is head of the Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program - an international leader in hepatitis C research, particularly in key affected communities such as people who inject drugs and HIV co-infected populations. The team is involved in clinical research and also laboratory research, particular molecular virology, and natural history studies in hepatitis c infection and hepatitis b infection and vaccines. This publication was funded by the Australian Government Contributors Department of Health. The views expressed in this Lucienne Bamford publication do not necessarily represent the position of the Australian Government. Scientia Professor David A. Cooper AO Professor Basil Donovan Professor Sean Emery ISSN No.1441-2640 Associate Professor Rebecca Guy The Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia Associate Professor Jason Grebely Wallace Wurth Building, Sydney NSW 2052 Professor Andrew Grulich T: +61 (2) 9385 0900 Simone Jacoby F: +61 (2) 9385 0920 Am Jiamsakul E: [email protected] W: www.kirby.unsw.edu.au Scientia Professor John Kaldor The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG Dr Marlene Kong Professor Lisa Maher AM The Kirby Institute Annual Report 2015 Professor Matthew Law Laurie Legere Pip Marks Editors Steven Philpot Laurie Legere and Louisa Wright Kate Slatyer Yvette Toole Andrew Wong Louisa Wright
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