Friday, December 15, 2023
The Lancefield International Symposium on Streptococci and Streptococcal Diseases (LISSSD) serves as a global platform for Queensland’s pioneering research, leading to human vaccine trials targeting Strep A, which is accountable for over 500,000 deaths worldwide annually.
Scheduled for June 2025, the symposium will be hosted at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC), managed by ASM Global. Anticipating the participation of over 500 leading experts in the Streptococci and Streptococcal diseases field, the successful bid was propelled by BCEC Advocate Professor Michael Good AO, Associate Professor Manisha Pandey, and the collaborative efforts of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre team, Tourism & Events Queensland (TEQ), and Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA).
Professors Good and Pandey, internationally acclaimed for their work in immunology and vaccine research, have developed groundbreaking vaccine platforms and world-first candidate peptide-based vaccines currently undergoing clinical trials—a significant stride in combating Strep A disease.
Given Australia’s profound impact from Streptococcal diseases, particularly on the Indigenous population, where Rheumatic Heart disease claims 100 lives annually, with 90% affecting Indigenous Australians, the urgency for a vaccine is emphasized by Professor Good. The symposium aims not only to spotlight Queensland and Australia’s research but also to underscore the global impact of the disease, calling for international collaboration.
With a specific focus on preventing Strep A disease in Indigenous communities and amplifying their voices in these discussions, Professors Good and Pandey envision a lasting legacy for the conference, contributing substantially to addressing Strep A-related challenges locally and globally.
The organizers propose using the symposium as a platform to launch an inaugural conference on Rheumatic Heart disease, anchored in Brisbane and rotating around Australia and beyond. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner emphasizes that the event enhances Brisbane’s status as a global leader in vaccine and infectious diseases research, fostering scientific and social change worldwide.
BCEC General Manager Kym Guesdon expresses delight in supporting renowned researchers and highlights the center’s decade-long partnership with leaders in vaccine development. The symposium receives proud support from the Queensland Government, facilitated through Tourism and Events Queensland.
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
