By Candice Boyle
WOMEN in the West will be given the rare opportunity to meet the doctor associated with the development of the human papilloma virus (HPV) cervical cancer vaccine next week.
The Women’s Health Network in the West has attracted Professor Ian Frazer’s services for a free seminar next Friday.
Victoria University School of Biomedical and Health Sciences Associate Professor Lily Stojanovska said the network was thrilled to be able to host the important seminar.
“Securing such a high-profile speaker is a privilege and honour,” she said.
Dr Frazer will outline the journey that led to the production and roll-out of an effective cervical cancer vaccine for all Australian girls and young women through the National HPV Vaccination Program.
Ms Stojanovska said Dr Frazer’s visit is a positive reflection on the role of the Women’s Health Network in the West.
“He sees the importance of what we are doing for the health and well-being of women in the West, and the connection to what he is doing for health and well-being around the world,” she said.
Dr Frazer will discuss how the vaccine works against certain strains of the human pappillomavirus that are known to cause seven out of 10 cervical cancers.
Ms Stojanovska said that as a high-profile medical worker Dr Frazer rarely conducted university seminars. This made the occasion a special opportunity for women.
Dr Frazer has done more than two decades of work in the lead-up to the development of the vaccine.
In 1990, he and his then postdoctoral scientist, Dr Jian Zhou, developed the technology for producing human papillomavirus virus-like particles.
Ms Stojanovska said the University of Queensland had licensed the technology that was now the basis of vaccines recently brought to market by GSK (Cervarix) and Merck (Gardasil) to prevent cervical cancer.
Dr Frazer is the current director of the Centre for Cancer Immunology Research, research leader of the University of Queensland Immunology Group and 2006 Australian of the Year.
The free seminar will be held on Friday, 13 July, from 3pm to 4pm at Victoria University’s Footscray Park Campus.
Ms Stojanovska said the seminar would be held in building G, lecture theatre G370, although this could be changed to accommodate the needs of people attending the seminar.
For further information and to reserve your place contact Cheryl Shilton on 9919 2217 or email cheryl.shilton@vu.edu.au.
“He doesn’t really go out to universities. He focuses on conferences and symposiums here and overseas as he has such an important profile.
“He is coming for an award presentation, so it is coincidental, but we are very happy he could make the time to come out to the West,” she said.
