2012 Wesfarmers' Harry Perkins Oration
Professor Joe Trapani

If researchers are claiming so many 'breakthroughs', why are so many of my friends getting cancer? Are we really making progress? The answer is a definite 'yes.'

In November, Wesfarmers' and the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR) are hosting the annual Harry Perkins Oration and spreading hope and good news about cancer to members of the community.

Professor Joseph Trapani, who will be visiting Perth from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute in Melbourne, will be the special guest at the event, which will be held at the University of Western Australia.

Members of the public are invited to come along to hear about the future of cancer research, new treatments and how we can work together to reduce the burden of cancer on patients and carers.

The Wesfarmers' Harry Perkins Oration for 2012 will be held between 4pm and 5pm on Friday 2 November at the University Club of WA, off Hackett Drive.

A recording of the Oration is available, which provides both the slides and video of the presentation.

2011 Wesfarmers' Harry Perkins Oration
Professor Stephen Smith

Professor Stephen Smith took to the podium in Perth on November 4th 2011 for the Wesfarmers' Harry Perkins Oration, hosted by the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR).

Professor Smith was the Principal of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London and the Chief Executive of Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service Trust since its inception, the largest such trust in the United Kingdom.

He championed the establishment of an Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) at Imperial College London. A gynaecologist by training, Professor Smith has published over 225 papers on reproductive medicine and cancer.

Professor Smith's address entitled "Do our clinicians need to be cleverer or do we the people need to be smarter" focused on the changing face of health care and the need for improved integration between health researchers (universities and institutes), the provision of health services and the community.

A recording of the Oration is available, which provides both the slides and video of the presentation.

2010 Wesfarmers' Harry Perkins Oration
Professor Robert Califf

A world-renowned clinical research expert from the USA's Duke University took to the podium in Perth on August 10th 2010 for the Wesfarmers' Harry Perkins Oration, hosted by the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR).

Professor Robert Califf from the Duke Translational Medicine Institute, focused on translational research and filling in the gaps in taking scientific discoveries from the lab bench to patients' bedside in his presentation 'Linking Molecular Medicine and the Community'.

Professor Robert Califf MD, MACC is vice chancellor for clinical research, director of the Duke Translational Medicine Institute (DTMI) and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the Duke University Medical Centre in Durham, North Carolina.

Professor Califf is recognized as a leader in understanding clinical trials, drug development and regulation as well as the financial, ethical and complex medical issues they involve.

A recording of the Oration is available, which provides both the slides and video of the presentation.

2009 Wesfarmers' Harry Perkins Oration
Professor Ian Frazer

Cervical cancer vaccine inventor and 2006 Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer took to the podium in Perth on September 4th 2009 as part of the inaugural Wesfarmers' Harry Perkins Oration, hosted by the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR).

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

Topics included 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.

A recording of the Oration is available through UWA's Lectopia service, which provides both streaming and downloadable versions ranging from 87MB to 195MB in size.