Vertical Transmission, March 2008

Abstract

The Melbourne meeting is drawing close. The local Melbourne organising committee, NSAC and the Rubbo Committee have put together an excellent programme and outstanding speakers. The opening ceremony will set the benchmark for the rest of the meeting. Professor Peter Doherty will speak on The role of leadership in changing times. Professor Doherty, who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology together with Rolf Zinkernagel, discovered how T cells recognise their target antigens in combination with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins. Professor Doherty is currently an NHMRC Burnet Fellow and Laureate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne. While maintaining an active research programme, he is also an advocate for innovation, liberal education and the role of science in the community. He has published two books for the general public, his semi-autobiographical book The beginner’s guide to winning the Nobel Prize and, more recently, A light history of hot air. I’m sure all attendees of the meeting will look forward to this fantastic start to ASM 2008.