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Kidson lecture series honours former director

The QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute has announced an important new lecture series, to honour the legacy of the late former director Chev Kidson.

The Kidson Lectures will feature leaders in science from across Australia and the globe.

Professor Chev Kidson was a crucial figure in QIMR Berghofer’s history. He was Director from 1978-1990 and played a key role in transforming the Institute into a world-class operation, with a broadened focus on major global disease problems.

Chev Kidson died in Brisbane earlier this month.

QIMR Berghofer director Professor Frank Gannon said it was fitting to honour Chev Kidson in this way.

“Chev Kidson was a remarkable man,” Professor Gannon said.

“He was a brilliant and charismatic scientist driven by immense curiosity; a compassionate leader with a strong sense of our global health responsibilities; and a natural teacher with a commitment to the next generation of medical researchers. “

“This lecture series will honour his vision with a series of important speakers from across the globe.”

The inaugural Kidson lecture will be given on Tuesday 25 March by Professor Ian Frazer, CEO and Director of the Translational Research Institute and co-creator of the HPV vaccine.

Other speakers in months ahead include:
• Dr Timothy Wells, Medicines for Malaria Venture, Switzerland
• Professor Jerome Galon, Cordeliers Research Center, France
• Professor Anne Kelso, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza
The lecture series is open to the public. For more information on Tuesday’s lecture visit https://www.qimrberghofer.edu.au/content/Document/seminar_posters/2014/Frazer,%20Ian.pdf