Training the immune system to fight cancer

Free Public Forum Tuesday 24 November 2015

Immunotherapy is a field completely revolutionising the treatment of cancer.

Immune-based therapies are emerging as one of the most powerful strategies to treat cancers, infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders such as leukaemia, melanoma, lung cancer, breast cancer and brain cancer.

Queensland is leading the world in immunotherapy, with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute at the cutting-edge of this new field of research and treatment.

More than 100 patients have participated, or are currently participating, in clinical trials with QIMR Berghofer, and early clinical responses indicate that immunotherapy is not only showing effectiveness in training the body to fight cancer, but is also improving the quality-of-life of patients post-treatment by avoiding the harsh side-effects of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

World experts in immunotherapy are in Brisbane for the international Immunotherapy@Brisbane conference 24 to 26 November with public invited to attend a free public forum Tuesday 24 November to learn more about this scientific break-through.

Jointly hosted by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and Translational Research Institute, speakers at the free public forum include:

Professor Grant McArthur, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne Australia

Professor Stan Riddell, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle USA

Professor David Thomas, Garvan Institute, Sydney Australia

Professor Rajiv Khanna, Deputy Department Coordinator, Immunology at QIMR Berghofer eagerly welcomes the three-day immunotherapy@brisbane conference and the first in the @brisbane series of medical research conferences.

Rajiv said, “I have worked all my life in immunology. Immunotherapy is a field that is completely revolutionising the treatment of cancer and at QIMR Berghofer. We are at the cutting edge.

“The type of technology in immunotherapy is so unique. It not only brings advance treatments to Queensland and broadening to Australia, we have groups working in QIMR Berghofer that are leaders on a world platform and I see benefit going not only to Brisbane, Queensland or Australia, but the world.”

“Our free public forum is a Q&A style for people to ask questions and learn more about the benefits of immunotherapy as a treatment for cancer.”

RSVP your attendance here, email enquiries@qimrberghofer.edu.au or call 1800 993 000 during office hours.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY:

Free Public Forum
Date:               Tuesday 24 November 2015
Time:               7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Venue:             Sky Room, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank
Professor Rajiv Khanna is available for interview by contacting Linda Graham.

PLEASE NOTE: The Institute’s name was officially changed to QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in 2013.  The short version is QIMR Berghofer.

The QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute is a world leading translational research institute focused on cancer, infectious diseases, mental health and a range of complex disorders. Working in close collaboration with clinicians and other research institutes, our aim is to improve health by developing new diagnostics, better treatments and prevention strategies.

QIMR Berghofer gratefully acknowledges the support of the Queensland Government.