ASI NEWS MARCH 2020 CONTACT US 10 26 AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY FOR DERRICK ROWLEY MEDAL VISIT FROM PROF. IMMUNOLOGY INC. ASI HONOURS SUSANNE STEVEN ALBELDA ASI INC. SECRETARIAT HEINZEL AND ALAN BAXTER FROM UNIVERSITY OF PO BOX 1371, PENNSYLVANIA MITCHAM NORTH 3132 CONNIE JACKAMAN PH: 03 8393 9388 ALEC REDWOOD immunology.org.au/contact-us CONTENTS ASI NEWSLETTER MARCH 2020 CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S COLUMN ....................................... 3 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS ..................20 John Fraser Helen McGuire A COUNTRY, A COMMUNITY NOOSA THROUGH THE MUCOSA AND BURNING BRIGHT ................................................ 4 MICROBIOME .....................................................21 Angelica Lau Jonatan Leffler ASI MEETING HIGHLIGHTS.................................. 5 LET’S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION IN IMMUNOLOGY ................................................... 23 HELLO FROM YOUR NEW Samy Sakkal HON. SECRETARY ................................................ 7 Connie Jackaman UPCOMING VISITING SPEAKERS IN 2020 ...... 25 Stuart Mannering 2019 TREASURER’S REPORT .............................. 7 Asolina Braun PROF. STEVEN ALBELDA FROM UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA VISITS ASI COMMUNITY ....... 26 CTI SPECIAL FEATURES ...................................... 8 Alec Redwood DERRICK ROWLEY MEDAL HONORS ITA - 2019 ASI ANNUAL MEETING, ADELAIDE, SUSANNE HEINZEL & ALAN BAXTER ...............10 AUSTRALIA ........................................................ 28 Connie Jackaman Amania A. Sheikh THE IUIS CORNER ................................................11 ITA - 2019 ASI ANNUAL MEETING, ADELAIDE, J. Alejandro Lopez AUSTRALIA ........................................................ 30 THE 20/20 WOMEN’S INITIATIVE Andrew Highton FOR ASI ................................................................12 ITA - TUMOR IMMUNOLOGY & IMMUNOTHERAPY Kylie Quinn CONFERENCE, BOSTON ................................... 31 ICB SPECIAL FEATURES ..................................... 15 Liam James O’Brien BD SCIENCE COMMUNICATION ITA - I7TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF AWARD RECIPIENT – LELINH DUONG .............. 17 IMMUNOLOGY ................................................... 34 Lelinh Duong Xiaoxiao Jia ASI NSW BRANCH REPORT ...............................19 PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST ........................... 36 Helen McGuire Our Sustaining Members 12 17 31 THE 20/20 WOMEN’S BD SCIENCE ITA: AACR SPECIAL INITIATIVE FOR ASI COMMUNICATION CONFEENCE ON TUMOR Kylie Quinn, AWARD IMMUNOLOGY & Women’s Initiative Lelinh Duong IMMUNOTHERAPY Coordinator Liam James O’brien 2 ASI NEWSLETTER MARCH 2020 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN JOHN FRASER, President [email protected] Welcome to the first newsletter IUIS has opened a webinar series portfolio and is managed through and is calling for immunology JB Were with a group of senior for 2020. I think we can all agree and infectious disease experts to ASI members act as investment this will be a year like no other contribute and I encourage those advisory group. One of the and will be full of disruptions and members who feel competent important questions raised at cancelled events. enough to contribute. The details the AGM is how this revenue are listed in IUIS Corner in this can translate into activities that As I write, both New Zealand and newsletter. There is so much we directly benefit our members – for Australian governments have still don’t know about this virus example beefing up our funds for imposed travel restrictions that and the host immune response member and speaker travel. That essentially eliminate anything that leads to the serious lung will be a key agenda item for our but the most urgent travel across pathology and high fatality rate mid-year council meeting. the Tasman. This will limit our in older people. On that rather ability to gather in meetings The Margaret Baird Women in sober introduction, I can assure such as Council and it is almost Immunology Award was first you that for the immediate future, certain that our annual meeting awarded at the successful ASI will be business as usual, we scheduled for Auckland will be Adelaide meeting and received just won’t be able to meet! cancelled given so many of the strong interest. Another very invited speakers are coming On a positive note I was delighted successful development was from countries that are now in to report at the last AGM in the Advanced Immunology lockdown. The key question, now Adelaide that ASI now has record School held in July. Thanks to Su that we are in this crucial phase numbers of financial members Heinzel, Odilia Wijburg, Nicholas of the pandemic, is how long 1124. In 2019 ASI Life member Gherardin, Jessica Borger as these restrictions will remain in Jacques Miller (WEHI) along organizers and all those members place and whether we are able to with Max Cooper (Emory) were who contributed as teachers and conduct essential business such awarded the Albert Lasker Basic mentors. While we are planning as Council meetings on-line. I Medical Research Award we were to hold the AIS again this year, don’t think anyone is prepared to very quick to congratulate both Covid19 may put a damper on guess but my estimate is that it recipients. things. will be a year. Our Society is now benefitting Lastly, I am delighted to welcome As immunologists, we have from improved administrative Prof Stephen Turner as the often talked about and some services of Association Executive incoming Vice President and have even warned about the Services. The new ASI website Connie Jackaman as the new consequences of a serious viral and back-end membership ASI Honorary Secretary and pandemic – now we are living management system has greatly give my warmest thanks to Su it and it will be interesting to improved all aspects of comms Heinzel and Elissa Deenick for see how we all respond both and management membership their tremendous efforts as past individually and collectively. information. ASI has built very President and honorary Secretary. significant revenue, mostly Some of our members are actively I hope you all keep safe and well from the royalties of ICB and participating in international through this year and look to the significant return on the efforts to stem COVID19 and to contribute as immunologists to Melbourne international meeting. develop a vaccine as a long-term stemming this pandemic. solution and we wish you the This windfall has now been greatest success. placed in a long-term investment 3 EDITORIAL ASI NEWSLETTER MARCH 2020 A COUNTRY, A COMMUNITY BURNING BRIGHT ANGELICA LAU, Newsletter Editor [email protected] I am already on my toes and Welcome back, everyone! productivity around the world. I super excited about the new Everything is on schedule! I am take this chance to thank all the delighted to publish our first volunteers, emergency services, initiatives ASI is planning to newsletter for 2020. health workers and our local put forward this year. and overseas friends who have As I put this newsletter together I supported various appeals during Speaking of which, the Margaret am already on my toes and super this time. Baird Award is soon – read more excited about the new initiatives about this from our Women ASI is planning to put forward this As we march through this Initiative’s special report! year and seeing our ASI members chaos (while ‘social distancing’), achieving great things – what a it comforts me to know that To get things rolling, I will also promising start to the year! promising progress is being made thank the Adelaide meeting to make the world a better place. organisers for the wonderful I am sure we would all agree Experts are joining hands at meeting that highlighted the end that it has been both a busy speeds faster than ever to combat of 2019 for ASI. Seeing the bright, start to the year and somewhat these challenges. I’m sure these intelligent and rather serious faces challenging time for our beloved won’t be stopping any of you from gathering to share a laugh from continent; ranging from raging rushing to apply for all the grant the Lafferty Debate was truly a bushfires, storms to the outbreak opportunities coming up soon – sight. Also congratulations to the of COVID19 pandemic that flood so good luck! many prize-winners from this news channel almost every day meeting . in the past few weeks. These So what’s new? I take this circumstances have been difficult chance to welcome our new In this newsletter it’s my pleasure for many of us collaborators ASI council members Stephen to introduce our BD Science and colleagues, threatening Turner (Vice President), Connie Communication Award recipient, facilities, communities and Jackaman (Honorary Secretary) Lelinh Duong – she truly rocked and Severrine Navarro (QLD the stage as a macrophage Councillor). Big thank you ‘forensic scientist’. I look to Susanne Heinzel (former forward to reporting many new President), Elissa Deenick (former achievements by our members Hon. Secretary) and Sumaira throughout the year. Husnain (former QLD Councillor) Did you know you can always who have served and contributed submit your collaboration/ to the growth and success of ASI conference/travel stories to the today. ASI newsletter ? I would be more It has been a pleasure to work than happy to hear about any with these wonderful female interesting stories that would be scientists – as an example of those of interest to the ASI community. advocating for women in science Welcome to shoot me an email and gender diversity - showing at anytime! Meanwhile, enjoy our