Download Sydney ISCT Australia New Zealand Regional Meeting a great

Sydney ISCT Australia New Zealand Regional Meeting a great
success despite QANTAS grounding
By Robert Nordon & Janet Macpherson
Interaction with clinical and experimental
haematologists was significantly enhanced by
holding a joint meeting with the major
haematology societies for the Australian and New
Zealand (HSANZ/ANZSBT/ASTH) and AsiaPacific ISHAPD and APBMT) regions. The main
Australian airline QANTAS was grounded on the
first day of the conference because of an industrial
dispute, but this did not stem the enthusiasm of
some of the 1600 delegates who found alternate
transport to the conference. There was plenty of
opportunity for knowledge sharing and building
relationships within Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region not just in cellular therapies but in
related bioengineering fields. A lavish GALA conference dinner was held at the landmark Luna Park
amusement park under the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and included a harbour cruise from
the conference venue (Darling Harbour) to this magnificent harbour side location.
The theme of the plenary ISCT symposium was Stem Cell Gene Therapy. The invited plenary
speakers were Professors Luigi Naldini (Vita Salute San Raffaele University School of Medicine,
Milan) and Professor Hans-Peter Kiem (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle) who both
spoke to an attentive audience about the potential of gene modified cells to safely treat many
disorders of the blood. The scientific program included other leading international speakers (Chitra
Hosing, TX, USA; Kazuhiro Kakimi, Japan; Mickey Boon Chai Koh, Singapore; Mudhusudan Peshwa,
MD, USA; Yasuyuki Sakai, Japan) and local speakers Ian Lewis, SA, Michael Brown, SA, Ming Hao
Zheng, WA, Kerry Atkinson, QLD, Wayne Morrison, VIC, Martin Pera, VIC, John Rasko, NSW.
Conference themes included ex vivo production of haematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal
stromal cells, the manipulation of alloreactivity in leukaemia, targeted cellular immunotherapy,
induced pluripotency and solid-organ tissue engineering. An open forum with clinicians and Australian
regulators (Therapeutic Goods Administration) was held to discuss the introduction of a new biologics
(human cell and tissue therapy products) regulatory framework in Australia. Dr Kurt Gunter spoke
about the dangers of medical fraud that is sometimes associated with cell therapy „medical tourism‟
which can flourish in a permissive regulatory environment.
This meeting marked the first inclusion of proffered papers with both Oral and Poster presentations by
members, and we look forward even more quality submissions next meeting. Kurt Gunter, ISCT
President-Elect, presented the following ISCT awards in recognition of excellence in the region to the
following members:
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1. Young Investigator Award ($500)
Ms Fiona Guan, Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program, Centenary Institute for her
presentation “Characterisation of ELF2 in Haemopoietic Development Using a Murine
Bone Marrow Reconstitution Model”
2. Technologist Travel Award ($500)
Dr. Marian Sturm, Cell and Tissue Therapies WA, Royal Perth Hospital, for her
presentation “Trial of a Cell Therapy for Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa
(Fragile Skin)”
3. Best Oral Abstract ($1000)
Dr Robert Nordon, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of NSW for his
presentation “Development of 'Lab-on-a-Chip' Cellular Analysis for Haematology and
Tissue Engineering Research”
4. Best Poster Abstract ($1000)
Ms Pam Dyson, Therapeutic Products Facility, SA Pathology (at RAH) for her poster
presentation “Manufacture of Autologous Chondrocytes for Implantation”
The conference organisers would like to thank all the speakers, session chairs and meeting
participants for making this meeting a great success.
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