Professor Ian Frazer: Filling the Gaps from Lab Bench to Bedside

August 24th, 2009 - Media Statement

Cervical cancer vaccine inventor and 2006 Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer will take to the podium in Perth on September 4 as part of the inaugural Wesfarmers' Harry Perkins Oration, hosted by Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR).

Professor Frazer's address, Improving Human Health through Biomedical Research - Prospects and Challenges, will focus on translational research and filling in the gaps in taking scientific discoveries from the lab bench to bedside in Western Australia.

Topics including training and rewards for researchers, the focus of big pharmaceutical companies, ensuring medical breakthroughs are accessible to the entire community, public education, and his own experience in delivering a cervical cancer vaccine to the community.

In May, Professor Frazer was awarded the Australian Medical Association Gold Medal, the Association's highest honour.

The Oration has been established in memory of the late Harry Perkins - WAIMR's inaugural Chairman and the driving force behind the formation of the Institute.

He believed that without a high quality research environment in WA, it would be difficult to recruit and retain the best doctors and, as a consequence, service delivery to the community would suffer.

The Wesfarmers' Harry Perkins Oration is a free event for the community and will be held at the University Club of WA on September 4 from 4pm to 5pm.

Bookings are essential as places are limited.

To reserve your place, please contact WAIMR on (08) 9224 0333 or email Sarah Thoms.

For more information please contact:
Sarah Hayward
Media Consultant for the WA Institute for Medical Research
Mobile: 0411 404 415
Office: (08) 9388 9280