May 2026- NCIC Newsletter

Dear All,

The first half of 2026 has been a productive and exciting period for the NCIC team. Through active participation in leading scientific conferences and collaboration with colleagues across Australia and internationally, we continue to contribute to advancements in infectious diseases research and patient care.

This newsletter highlights our recent conference attendance and celebrates the contributions of a valued team member as she embarks on a new chapter.

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Upcoming NCIC Annual Symposium 2026

As we continue to advance research and collaboration in infections in cancer, we are pleased to invite colleagues and partners to attend the 2026 NCIC Annual Symposium.

This year's symposium will bring together a distinguished panel of national and international experts to explore contemporary challenges and emerging advances in the management of invasive fungal infections (IFI) in critical care settings. Topics will span surveillance, genomics, optimisation of antifungal therapy, patient outcomes, and the future of personalised care, providing attendees with valuable insights into how research and innovation are shaping clinical practice. We look forward to welcoming you online to an informative and engaging event.

NCIC Annual Symposium

Date: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Time: 12.30–1.50 pm AEST
Format: Online (Microsoft Teams)

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Showcasing NCIC Research at ICHS 2026

The NCIC team had a strong presence at the International Immunocompromised Host Society (ICHS) Biennial Symposium 2026, Houston, Texas (14th – 17th May) contributing to scientific discussions through symposium leadership, panel participation, oral presentations, and poster presentations.

A/Prof Michelle Yong played key leadership roles, moderating sessions focused on endemic infectious diseases and emerging opportunities in transplantation, while I participated in a panel discussion exploring innovative physician and advanced practice provider models of care.

The breadth of research presented at the conference reflected the diversity of our team's work. Studies examined antiviral resistance in herpes simplex virus among haematology patients, the burden of respiratory viral infections in patients with haematological malignancies, and the performance of novel diagnostic approaches in neutropenic fever. Other presentations highlighted innovations in digital health for cytomegalovirus monitoring and the ASCENT study (Violet Zhu), which explored antiviral stewardship strategies in allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Several NCIC researchers received special recognition for their outstanding contributions. Dr Victoria Hall received the conference's Best Poster Award for her research on the burden and clinical outcomes of respiratory viral infections in patients with haematological malignancies. Dr Gemma Reynolds was selected to deliver a Top Abstract oral presentation, highlighting changing patterns of Pneumocystis pneumonia across Australiazn and New Zealand intensive care units. Further recognition was achieved by Dr Alice Liu and Dr Zoe Neoh, whose research was selected for presentation as poster finalists.

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NCIC representation at ICHS

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Top 4: Abstract oral presentation by Dr Gemma Reynolds

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Poster presentation by Dr Abby Douglas

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Poster presentation by Dr Alice Liu

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Poster presentation by Violet Zhu

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Poster presentation by Dr Zoe Neoh

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Strengthening Connections at ASID 2026

Building on the success of ICHS, the team maintained a strong profile at the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) Annual Scientific Meeting 2026, Hobart, Tasmania (27th-30th May).

Anna Khanina presented at the HICSIG session

Dr Beatrice Sim's talk on genomic diagnostics for viral pathogens

Dr Gemma Reynolds presented at the ICHSIG session

Nikhil Singh presented national survey findings

Dr Priya Garg presented IFI meta-analysis findings

Dr Priya Garg awarded ASID Council Scholarship

Violet Zhu presented interim analysis of maribavir use in CMV reactivation

NCIC members contributed across a range of educational and scientific sessions. Dr Nick Laundy contributed as a member of the local organising committee, while Dr Abby Douglas chaired the ANZMIG session exploring complex fungal infection cases. Invited presentations from Dr Beatrice Sim, Dr Paul Kinsella, Dr Gemma Reynolds and Dr Jasmine Teng highlighted advances in viral and microbial genomics, CAR-T related infectious complications, and the growing role of artificial intelligence and implementation science in healthcare. Our clinical pharmacist and researcher, Anna Khanina contributed to special interest group discussions focused on data science approaches for surveillance and prevention of healthcare-associated respiratory infections and the diagnostic challenges posed by conditions that mimic infectious syndromes.

Research presentations continued to showcase the team's expertise in transplant infectious diseases and fungal infections. Violet Zhu presented interim findings on the real-world efficacy of maribavir as pre-emptive therapy for cytomegalovirus reactivation in allogeneic transplant recipients, whilst Nikhil Singh showcased findings from a national Australian survey on the management of neutropenic fever in adult cancer patients through a rapid oral presentation. Dr Priya Garg presented her systematic review and meta-analysis of invasive fungal infections in acute leukaemia and was awarded an ASID Council Scholarship in recognition of the outstanding quality and impact of her research.

The team's contributions across both conferences reflect the growing impact of NCIC Infectious Diseases research and its commitment to translating evidence into better patient care, improved clinical practice, and stronger health systems.

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Farewell to Megan: Celebrating 10 Years of Leadership at NCIC

After nearly a decade of outstanding leadership and contribution, we farewell our Operations Manager, Megan Crane, who is stepping into an exciting new role as Scientific Operations Lead at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), CSIRO, Geelong.

Megan joined PeterMac in February 2017 as the Research Manager for the newly awarded Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) grant, playing a pivotal role in establishing what would become the National Centre for Infections in Cancer (NCIC). One of her first major achievements was setting up the NCIC website and supporting the launch of NCIC itself. From a small team of just five members, Megan has helped grow NCIC into a thriving network of more than 35 staff, including a full clinical trials team, laboratory, administration, and communications functions. Her leadership has been central to shaping the growth, culture, and impact of NCIC.

Over the past 10 years, Megan has also played a key role in securing major funding success, including a second CRE grant, a Synergy grant, and numerous project and investigator-led grants, totalling approximately $10 million in research support! Beyond the numbers, her contribution has been deeply felt in the development of people and projects across NCIC, from early team members through to large-scale clinical and translational research programs.

As Megan moves into this next chapter, she reflects on her time with NCIC:

“While I am very excited to be taking up this new challenge, I will miss NCIC terribly. I am incredibly proud of our achievements over the last 10 years and I am honoured to have worked with such a dynamic and supportive team.”

 It is a bittersweet moment at NCIC, but we wish her all the best for this exciting next chapter.

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Recent Publications

• Simkins J, Ravindra A, Wolfe CR, Mularoni A, Slavin M, Ushiro-Lumb I, Baddley JW, Hand J, Pouch S, Malinis M, Freire MP, Radisic M, Roberts MB, Tan BH, Watcharananan S, Clemente WT. International Survey on Screening and Management of Strongyloidiasis in Solid Organ Transplant Patients. Transpl Infect Dis. 2026 May 12:e70233. doi: 10.1111/tid.70233. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42117999.

• Reynolds GK, Dowling MR, Valencia-Klug J, Teh BW, Anderson MA, Vanguru V, Harrison SJ, Ho PJ, Slavin MA, Thursky K. Infections in the First 30 Days after Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy in Patients Not Receiving Fluoroquinolone Prophylaxis. Transplant Cell Ther. 2026 May 9:S2666-6367(26)00256-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jtct.2026.03.040. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42114808.

• Reynolds GK, Anderson MA, Thursky K, Teh BW, Slavin MA. Longitudinal real-world surveillance of infection outcomes in CAR-T and bispecific therapy recipients: the CLARITY study protocol. BMJ Open. 2026 May 7;16(5):e111194. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-111194. PMID: 42097661; PMCID: PMC13157767.

• Sastre-Escolà E, Reynolds GK, Yong MK, Zhu V, Harrison SJ, Khot AS, Slavin MA, Teh BW. Cytomegalovirus reactivation in multiple myeloma patients receiving bispecific antibodies. Blood Adv. 2026 Apr 6:bloodadvances.2025019563. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2025019563. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41941693.

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Upcoming Events

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Follow us!

We look forward to connecting with you on both LinkedIn and BlueSky.

Kind regards,

Prof Monica Slavin, MBBS, MD, FRACP, FAAHMS
Head, Department Infectious Disease, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor of Infection in Cancer and Transplantation, University of Melbourne Department of Infectious Diseases and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology

Director, National Centre for Infections in Cancer

April 2026- NCIC Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the April Newsletter for 2026. Earlier this month, a large group of us travelled to Munich for the annual congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. I am extremely proud of the NCIC contributions on this international stage.

Looking ahead, we are preparing for the next stage of this busy period, including the International Immunocompromised Host Society (ICHS) Symposium in Houston, the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) Annual Scientific Meeting, and the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Scientific Meeting.

Lastly, we are extremely proud to present our annual symposium this year on July 30. The topic will explore “Managing Invasive Fungal Infections in Critical Care: From Surveillance to Optimised Therapy.”

NCIC’s Annual Symposium 2026

We invite you to attend the 2026 National Centre for Infections in Cancer (NCIC) Annual Symposium, which will be held on:

30th July 2026 (Thursday)

12.30-1.50pm AEST

Online (Teams)

Join us to hear from a distinguished panel of international and national experts, spanning surveillance, genomics, optimised antifungal therapy, patient outcomes, and the future of personalised care in IFI management in critical care setting.

ESCMID Global 2026 Recap

Recently, the NCIC team was well represented at the premier global infectious diseases conference, Congress of European Society of
 Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) in Munich, Germany.

Our team made an outstanding contribution across research, clinical science, and international leadership, showcasing the depth and impact of our work in infections in cancer.

• 20+ total scientific contributions

• 1 late-breaking oral presentation

• 9 poster presentations

• 6 ePoster flash presentations

• 5 invited / leadership roles

• 2 ESCMID study group engagements

• 1 international executive council appointment

It was a fantastic week of high-quality presentations, engaging discussions, and global collaboration. Congratulations to everyone involved! This strong presence highlights the expertise and leadership within the NCIC community on the international stage.

Congratulations Associate Professor Michelle Yong!

Congratulations to Associate Professor Michelle Yong on being elected Treasurer of The ESCMID Study Group for Respiratory Viruses (ESGREV) Executive Committee for the 2026–2028 term.

We are incredibly proud of her achievement and grateful for her great contributions to our team. Wishing her every success in this well-deserved role.

ESGREV’s Open meeting at ESCMID 2026

Congratulations Professor Ben Teh

We’re proud to share that Ben Teh has been appointed Honorary Clinical Professor with the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne.

In close collaboration with Parkville precinct, national clinical and leading international research centres, his cross-disciplinary research program has advanced the management and prevention of infections by systematically identifying infection risks with new cancer treatments, evaluating use of immune profiling to predict infection risk, trialling innovative vaccination approaches targeted at risk groups, translating evidence generated into clinical guidelines and implementing new care models to achieve wide-ranging health impacts. He has presented and published his research extensively in leading global journals including New England Journal of Medicine and in the last 5 years, is the top Australian and top 10 global author for vaccination in cancer patients. He continues to shape scientific publishing as an editor for Transplant Infectious Diseases.

We said goodbye to our visiting fellow from Barcelona, Dr Pere Medina Martí, after a fantastic two-month visit with our team.

Pere joined us from Hospital Clínic de Barcelona via the group of previous visiting fellow and collaborator Dr Pedro Puerta, continuing our growing Spanish Fellow tradition, from Pedro (2024) to Enric Sastre-Escola (2025), and now Pere (2026).

It’s been a pleasure having Pere with us, and we’re grateful for his contributions, collaboration, and the connections strengthened during his time here. We wish him all the very best and look forward to continuing our work together in the future.

Paper Spotlight

Sastre-Escolà, E., Reynolds, G. K., Yong, M. K., Zhu, V., Harrison, S. J., Khot, A. S., Slavin, M. A., & Teh, B. W. Cytomegalovirus reactivation in multiple myeloma patients receiving bispecific antibodies. Blood Advances.

Aim: To assess the incidence, clinical features and outcomes of CMV reactivation in CMV-seropositive multiple myeloma patients receiving bispecific antibodies.

Results:

Conclusion: CMV reactivation is a frequent early complication in multiple myeloma patients receiving bispecific antibodies.

Baseline CMV serology, a low threshold for PCR testing in symptomatic patients, and targeted early surveillance might be reasonable in selected patients.

Recent Publications

• Maertens, J., Chen, S. C. A., Thompson, G. R. 3rd, Donovan, F., Dane, A., Birch, M., Pinder, C., Bennett, J., Ravenna, V., Marin Fernandez, O., Ross, G., Zinzi, D., & Rex, J. H. Olorofim in combination with azole antifungals: results from the Phase 2 salvage therapy study. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

• Slavin, M. A. Message from the incoming Editor-in-Chief of JAC. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

• Alastruey-Izquierdo, A., Maertens, J., Slavin, M. A., Verweij, P. E., & White, P. L. Diagnosis and risk factors for invasive mould disease – a round table discussion on directing antifungal therapy according to available evidence. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

• Maertens, J. A., Vanbiervliet, Y., Mercier, T., Aerts, R., Lagrou, K., & Slavin, M. A. 25 years of improvement in mortality in invasive aspergillosis in haematology patients: will it be sustained or is it under threat? Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

• Douglas, A. P., & Slavin, M. A. Invasive fungal disease in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: new risk factors and therapeutic options in a changing world. Transplant Infectious Disease.

• Grigg, A., & Douglas, A. Septicemia after manual razor blade shaving in neutropenic patients. Transplant Infectious Disease.

• Mitri, E. A., Vogrin, S., Paynter, C., Fletcher, L. R., Peter, J., Powell, N., Barnes, S., Li, P. H., Copaescu, A. M., Turner, N. A., James, F., Sullivan, R., Masoum, M. S., Rawlins, M., Mackay, G., Smith, B. J., Kilfoyle, P., Forster, D., Rose, M., Cowan, R., Alcorn, K., Brischetto, A., Mahony, A., Redmond, A., Chakravorty, A., Meher-Homji, Z., Yuson, C., Crawford, S., Weeks, G., Ponnampalavanar, S. S. S., Katelaris, C., Tran, P., O’Hern, J., Godsell, J., Peel, T. N., Sandaradura, I., New, D., Holland, C., Cutfield, T., Coghill, S., Hand, C., Williams, J., Bishop, J., Lambros, B., Day, C., Ierano, C., Holmes, N. E., Roberts, J. A., Fernando, S. L., & Trubiano, J. A. Direct oral challenge for penicillin allergy: A hospital implementation evaluation via the iNAAN study. Clinical Infectious Diseases.

• Mitri, E. A., Fletcher, L. R., Vogrin, S., Barnes, S., Powell, N., Peter, J., Li, P. H., Copaescu, A. M., Turner, N. A., James, F., Paynter, C., Sullivan, R., Masoum, M. S., Rawlins, M., Mackay, G., Smith, B. J., Kilfoyle, P., Forster, D., Rose, M., Cowan, R., Alcorn, K., Brischetto, A., Mahony, A., Redmond, A., Chakravorty, A., Meher-Homji, Z., Yuson, C., Crawford, S., Weeks, G., Ponnampalavanar, S. S. S., Katelaris, C., Tran, P., O’Hern, J., Godsell, J., Peel, T. N., Sandaradura, I., New, D., Holland, C., Cutfield, T., Coghill, S., Hand, C., Williams, J., Bishop, J., Lambros, B., Day, C., Ierano, C., Roberts, J. A., Holmes, N. E., Klaic, M., Fernando, S. L., & Trubiano, J. A. Direct oral challenge for penicillin allergy: The iNAAN study. Clinical Infectious Diseases.

• Stewart, A. G., Douglas, A. P., Kidd, S. E., Salmanton-García, J., Cornely, O. A., Morris, A. J., Halliday, C. L., & Chen, S. C. Mycological testing in Australasian clinical mycology laboratories: survey of the current state and access to testing. Pathology.

Upcoming Events

Please join us for the ICHS symposium, the event offers comprehensive scientific programming, insights into cutting-edge research, innovative care practices, and effective management strategies for immunocompromised hosts.

The ASID Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) is the Society’s flagship event and the leading professional gathering for adult and paediatric ID physicians, clinical microbiologists, public health leaders, One Health, veterinarian and ecology specialists, nurses, scientists, pharmacists, policy makers, and researchers across Australasia. Together, we shape the future of infectious diseases.

27-30 May, Hobart

Follow us!

We look forward to connecting with you on both LinkedIn and BlueSky.

Kind regards,

Prof Monica Slavin, MBBS, MD, FRACP, FAAHMS
Head, Department Infectious Disease, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor of Infection in Cancer and Transplantation, University of Melbourne Department of Infectious Diseases and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology

Director, National Centre for Infections in Cancer

February 2026

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the February Newsletter for 2026. We are incredibly proud of NCIC PhD candidates Dr Tori Hall and Dr Anna Khnanina, who recently presented their PhD seminars. Their work is truly outstanding, and it was wonderful to see their dedication and achievements showcased. We also held a special Peter Mac weekly meeting highlighting the recently published neutropenic fever guidelines. If you were unable to attend, you can watch the video recording of the session. It was fantastic to see such a large group tuning in from across Australasia and the APAC region. We are excited about the many conferences coming up in the next few months, where members of the NCIC team will be presenting their work on both national and international stages!

Research Highlight

“Through this contemporary, multicentre study across Australia and New Zealand, our team identified significant shifts in species distribution and emerging risk groups that are reshaping the epidemiological landscape of non-Aspergillus mould infections. Notably, L. prolificans, an intrinsically resistant pathogen to multiple antifungal agents, was frequently observed causing breakthrough infections. With novel antifungal agents entering late-phase clinical trials, understanding the evolving epidemiology of non-Aspergillus mould infections is critical to guide empirical therapy and improve outcomes” - Dr Zoe Neoh

A 21-centre study examined 421 non-Aspergillus mould cases across Australia and New Zealand.

Key takeaways:

• L. prolificans, Scedosporium spp. and Mucorales are the most frequent pathogens in Australasia

• Emerging species and mixed infections are increasing

• L. prolificans was the most common cause of breakthrough infections 

• 90-day mortality is highest with L. prolificans infections, followed by Mucorales

PhD Candidate Anna khanina Delivered her Seminar

Coinciding with International Women and Girls in Science Day, we were proud to announce the outstanding achievement of one of our PhD candidates, Anna Khanina, who delivered her PhD seminar earlier this month. Congratulations to Anna and her supervisors on this significant milestone. Her PhD titled: Meeting the challenges of invasive fungal infection: Antifungal Stewardship and effective surveillance in high-risk groups, and we are incredibly proud of the women who continue to lead and drive research excellence at the NCIC.

Watch the 2024 Neutropenic Fever Guidelines Showcase

Hear directly from the authors of the Australasian Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Neutropenic Fever in Patients with Cancer | 2024 as they present each chapter and discuss the latest recommendations. This recorded showcase offers practical insights into current best practice and is available to watch at your convenience.

Tandem 2026

This past week, Professor Monica Slavin and Doctor Abby Douglas represented NCIC at Tandem 2026 hosted by American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) and Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Monica presented on Challenging Cases in Transplant, while Abby debated “Is Advanced Imaging in ID Worth the Cost?”, taking the “Con” position.

It was a fantastic opportunity to share their expertise and engage with international colleagues in the field.

Visiting Fellow – Dr Rebekah Lane

We were delighted to welcome Doctor Rebekah Lane to NCIC as a two-week Visiting Fellow from Auckland City Hospital.

It was a pleasure to host Doctor Lane and share knowledge and expertise during her time with us. We thank her for her valuable contribution and wish her all the very best.

We look forward to welcoming her again and to continuing to strengthen our collaboration with colleagues in New Zealand.

Recent Publications

• Sastre-Escolà, E., Yong, M. K., Tio, S. Y., Douglas, A., Morrissey, C. O., Reynolds, G., Chee, L., Bajel, A., Rex, J. H., Slavin, M., & Neoh, C. F. Rhino-sino-orbital and/or central nervous system infections due to Lomentospora prolificans and Scedosporium spp. in onco-haematology patients. Medical Mycology.

• MacPhail, A., Loke, J., Houston, B. L., Dendle, C., Henden, A. S., Weinkove, R., Morrissey, O., Neofytos, D., Buetti, N., Parker, C., Slavin, M. A., Craddock, C., Stanworth, S. J., & McQuilten, Z. Prevention and management of febrile neutropenia in acute myeloid leukaemia and higher risk myelodysplastic syndrome: An international survey of current practice. British Journal of Haematology.

• Desoubeaux, G., Mikulska, M., Lemaignen, A., Gyan, E., Stemler, J., Vanbiervliet, Y., Maertens, J., Lortholary, O., Paccoud, O., Slavin, M. A., Cornely, O. A., Neofytos, D., & Lanternier, F. Which trial do we need? Defining the optimal duration of antifungal therapy for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: Duration of therapy in invasive aspergillosis. Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

Upcoming Events

Join Safer Care Victoria for a clinical conversation focused on penicillin allergies and what ward staff need to know in everyday practice. This session will cover how to assess patients with a penicillin allergy, how to identify low-risk penicillin allergies, and understand the testing process. This session will be of interest to all ward staff, including nurses, pharmacists, and doctors. 

When: Tuesday, 5 May 2026, 1:00pm  

Where: Online 

Cost: Free 

Presenters: Belinda Lambros and Rebecca Hall 

Click here to register  

Please join us for the ICHS symposium, the event offers comprehensive scientific programming, insights into cutting-edge research, innovative care practices, and effective management strategies for immunocompromised hosts.

The ASID Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) is the Society’s flagship event and the leading professional gathering for adult and paediatric ID physicians, clinical microbiologists, public health leaders, One Health, veterinarian and ecology specialists, nurses, scientists, pharmacists, policy makers, and researchers across Australasia. Together, we shape the future of infectious diseases.

27-30 May, Hobart

Follow us!

We look forward to connecting with you on both LinkedIn and BlueSky.

Kind regards,

Prof Monica Slavin, MBBS, MD, FRACP, FAAHMS
Head, Department Infectious Disease, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor of Infection in Cancer and Transplantation, University of Melbourne Department of Infectious Diseases and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology

Director, National Centre for Infections in Cancer

January - NCIC Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the first edition of the 2026 NCIC newsletter!

Our team has already been hard at work, including the release of the new Guidelines for Neutropenic Fever in Australasia. This was a major effort led by Professor Karin Thursky, Dr Abby Douglas and Nikhil Singh with contributions from over 50 multidisciplinary experts across Australia and New Zealand. After such an incredible 2025, filled with remarkable research and collaboration, I’m excited to see what 2026 will bring!

Australasian Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Neutropenic Fever in Patients with Cancer

NCIC members of the NF Guidelines Steering Committee

NCIC has published the Australasian Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Neutropenic Fever in Patients with Cancer, updating the 2011 Australian guidelines. These new guidelines mark a significant milestone, introducing paediatric recommendations for the first time, expanding their scope to New Zealand, and adding new chapters on modern cancer therapies, antimicrobial stewardship, ambulatory models of care, and patient education and engagement.

Led by Professor Karin Thursky, Dr Abby Douglas and Nikhil Singh and developed with contributions from more than 50 experts—including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and microbiologists—these guidelines demonstrate NCIC’s commitment to collaborative, evidence-based care.

Dr Abby Douglas, infectious diseases clinician researcher at NCIC, said the updated guidelines reflect the latest advances in cancer care and will support clinicians to deliver safer, more effective treatment for patients with neutropenic fever. NCIC pharmacist and PhD Nikhil Singh added that the inclusion of paediatric recommendations and the extension to New Zealand sets a new benchmark for neutropenic fever management across Australasia.

Congratulations to all who contributed to this outstanding achievement!You can view the guidelines on our Febrile Neutropenia page.

Researchers awarded prestigious NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships for 2026!

Dr Alice Liu has received an NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship to support her PhD research, “Redefining the role of clinical and biomarkers for infection outcomes in haematological malignancy in the era of targeted cancer therapies.”

Dr Jessica O’Keeffe has also been awarded an NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship for her project, “Exploring infection-related models of care in adult cancer patients: managing patients safely at home.”

““Winning this NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship is an incredible opportunity. It not only supports my PhD projects but also allows me to focus on advancing clinical research that could make a real difference for patients.””

— Dr Alice Liu

Goodbye to Our Visiting Fellow – Dr. Lan Lan Chan

We said farewell to Dr. Lan Lan Chan this week, our visiting fellow from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Malaysia. Lan Lan spent 12 months with the NCIC as an honorary observer. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with our Malaysian colleagues in the future.

NCIC Recent Publications

• Stewart, A. G., Laupland, K. B., Edwards, F., Chen, S. C. A., & Slavin, M. A. Differences in clinical outcomes among patients with mold fungemia. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 2025;13(1):ofaf793. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf793 

• Australian and New Zealand Study Group for Non-Aspergillus Mold Infections. Current epidemiology and infection characteristics of non-Aspergillus mold infections: A multicenter study in Australia and New Zealand. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2026. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciag029

• Liu, A. J., Batterham, E., Nedumannil, R., Ritchie, D., Wei, A. H., Bajel, A., Slavin, M. A., Yong, M. K. Reduced burden of infection with consecutive day dosing of high dose cytarabine consolidation versus conventional dosing for acute myeloid leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma. 2025. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2025.2599991

Opportunities

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated Clinical Research Nurse to join the Infectious Diseases Unit. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to world-class clinical research while providing safe, compassionate care to patients participating in clinical trials. Please circulate around your networks!

Upcoming Events

Please join us for the ICHS symposium, the event offers comprehensive scientific programming, insights into cutting-edge research, innovative care practices, and effective management strategies for immunocompromised hosts.

The ASID Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) is the Society’s flagship event and the leading professional gathering for adult and paediatric ID physicians, clinical microbiologists, public health leaders, One Health, veterinarian and ecology specialists, nurses, scientists, pharmacists, policy makers, and researchers across Australasia. Together, we shape the future of infectious diseases.

27-30 May, Hobart

Follow us!

We look forward to connecting with you on both LinkedIn and BlueSky.

Kind regards,

Prof Monica Slavin, MBBS, MD, FRACP, FAAHMS
Head, Department Infectious Disease, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor of Infection in Cancer and Transplantation, University of Melbourne Department of Infectious Diseases and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology

Director, National Centre for Infections in Cancer

December 2025 - NCIC Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the final NCIC Newsletter of the year. This 2025 edition reflects on a year of achievement, highlighting the progress, partnerships and innovations that continue to strengthen our network. I am very proud of our team and look forward to what we can accomplish as we transition into 2026. Wishing everyone a calm and restful holiday break, and a fresh start to the new year.

ELSA-Adult Study Launches

The ELSA-Adult study has launched at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital to assess whether antibiotics can be safely stopped early in high-risk cancer patients. Funded by Tour de Cure and VCCC, the study focuses on patients receiving intensive chemotherapy, stem cell transplants or CAR T-cell therapy. These patients often receive prolonged antibiotics for fever despite no infection being found.

Embedded in the electronic medical record, ELSA-Adult is adapted from the successful paediatric ELSA study at the Royal Children’s Hospital. The trial compares standard antibiotic duration with early cessation under strict safety criteria, aiming to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use while maintaining patient safety.

2025 in review

We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our colleagues across the department.

Awards and Recognitions

Prof Karin Thursky celebrated a series of major achievements:

· Launch of the Health Services Research Department at Peter Mac

· Recipient of a VCCC Leadership Award

· Inducted into the RMH Hall of Fame

Associate Professor Ben Teh, Professor Monica Slavin, Professor Karin Thursky were recognised as the Top 2% cited scientists worldwide

Prof Leon Worth was promoted to full Professor, UoM Sir Peter MacCallum Dept. Oncology

A/Prof Gabrielle Haeusler was appointed Head of Department, Infectious Diseases at the Royal Children’s Hospital

Prof Monica Slavin joined JAC as Editor in Chief

Grants, Presentations & Publications

Doctor Abby Douglas was awarded the 2025 Peter Mac Research Early Career Development (RECD) Award

Associate Professor Michelle Yong and the trials team had a high-profile publication in Clinical Infectious Diseases “Interferon-α nasal spray prophylaxis reduces COVID-19 in cancer patients; A randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled trial”, CID 2025

Associate Professor Ben Teh and Doctor Victoria Hall had a high-profile publication in the New England Journal of Medicine “Influenza Vaccination Strategies in Patients with Hematologic Cancer” NEJM 2025

Doctor Zoe Neoh– Won Best Poster at the Mycology Masterclass and awarded a Pfizer ISR Grant “Isavuconazole treatment and prophylaxis in adult and paediatric patients with cancer - a multicentre national study (the SHIELD study)”

In 2025 we held the NCIC showcase

The showcase was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the work of the National Centre for Infections in Cancer- who we are, the projects we’re leading, our achievements, and what lies ahead. 

Part 1: Intro to the Centre + Surveillance Stream on detecting & monitoring infections in the immunocompromised host (ICH) in the digital health era.
Watch part 1.

Part 2: Innovations Stream on new diagnostics & treatments in precision medicine + Implementation Stream on improving practice through health services research.
Watch part 2.

NCIC Recent Publications

• Garg P, Yong KY, Khanina A, Yong MK, Hall L, Slavin MA, Smibert O, Worth LJ Infection Prevention and Surveillance in the Care of Australasian Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients Transpl Infect Dis. 2025

• Reynolds GK, Slavin MA Reporting infections in cellular therapies Blood Adv. 2025 Dec

• Yeoh DK, Butters C, Clark JE, Slavin MA, McMullan BJ, Haeusler GM, Blyth CC Invasive mould infection in children – advances made or obstacles remaining? Clin Microbiol Infect. 2025

• Khanina A, Singh N, Wen J, Chen C, James R, Kong DC, Slavin MA, Thursky KA Antifungal use and appropriateness: a study of Australian Hospital National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey data Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2025

• Neoh CF, Yong MK, Rowley L, Roberts AW, Kennedy GA, He S, Schwarer AP, Bilmon IA, Wei AH, Slavin MA Antifungal prophylaxis in patients with FLT3-ITD-positive acute myeloid leukaemia receiving sorafenib during induction and consolidation (ALLG AMLM16 trial) J Antimicrob Chemother. 2025

• Martin-Loeches I, Cornely OA, Denning DW, Guinea J, Bassetti M, Maertens J, Hoenigl M, Kanj SS, Slavin M, Ostrosky-Zeichner L, Muñoz P Invasive candidiasis in intensive care medicine: shaping the future of diagnosis and therapy Intensive Care Med. 2025

Upcoming Events

Please join us for the ICHS symposium, the event offers comprehensive scientific programming, insights into cutting-edge research, innovative care practices, and effective management strategies for immunocompromised hosts.

Abstracts Deadline Extended!

The Call for Abstracts for the ICHS 24th Biennial Symposium deadline has been extended to Monday, January 5, 2026.

This is a firm deadline. We strongly encourage you to submit your abstract at least one day before the deadline to avoid any technical delays. 

Submit your abstract to be considered for an oral or poster presentation during the Symposium. 

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We look forward to connecting with you on both LinkedIn and BlueSky.

Kind regards,

Prof Monica Slavin, MBBS, MD, FRACP, FAAHMS
Head, Department Infectious Disease, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor of Infection in Cancer and Transplantation, University of Melbourne Department of Infectious Diseases and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology

Director, National Centre for Infections in Cancer

November 2025 - NCIC Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the November edition of the NCIC newsletter. Recently we have made a strong impact in research and clinical leadership; Dr Gemma Reynolds delivered her PhD completion seminar on the CLARITY Study, Prof Karin Thursky was inducted into the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Hall of Fame and received a VCCC Leadership award, Dr Zoe Neoh won best poster at Mycology masterclass and was awarded a Pfizer ISR grant and A/Prof Ben Teh was awarded a Dalgleish Centre Mid Career Fellowship!

We are very proud of the dedication and excellence the NCIC team continues to showcase.

Research Updates

Dr Gemma Reynolds recently delivered her PhD completion seminar encompassing the CLARITY Study, an important investigation into infection risks associated with novel immunotherapies.

Infections remain a leading cause of non-relapse mortality following CAR-T and bispecific antibody (BsAb) therapies. However, infection data from clinical trials are often incomplete, lack pathogen-level detail and rarely capture late infectious complications. The CLARITY Study aims to address these gaps by generating real-world, longitudinal infection data with extended follow-up.

Dr Reynolds’ findings revealed that 49.5% of patients receiving CAR-T therapy experienced at least one infection. Among these:

• 37% viral, primarily respiratory viruses, CMV, and HHV infections;

• 22% bacterial, including bacteraemia, C. difficile, and gram-negative pneumonia;

• 7% fungal, such as yeast and Aspergillus infections; and

• 35% clinical infections, including respiratory infections and 7 cases of fatal sepsis.

These results underscore the significant infectious burden in CAR-T recipients and highlight the need for ongoing surveillance and risk prediction to improve outcomes for patients receiving these advanced therapies.

NCIC leaders, Prof Karin Thursky, Prof Monica Slavin, and A/Prof. Ben Teh, have been recognized among the top two percent of most-cited scientists worldwide, according to the newly released Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists List for 2025. This prestigious annual list celebrates the world’s leading researchers who have made a significant impact in their fields through their citation influence.

The study, based on data from Elsevier’s Scopus database and updated to the end of 2023, identifies the top 100,000 researchers across all disciplines according to a composite citation score. The ranking highlights the influence and impact of research through citations, while also considering co-authorship and author order.

Congratulations, Prof Karin Thursky, Dr Zoe Neoh and A/Prof Ben Teh!

Prof Thursky received the VCCC Outstanding Team Leader award for driving collaboration through the Centre for Health Services Research in Cancer.

Prof Thursky inducted into the Royal Melbourne Hospital Hall of Fame

A/Prof Teh was awarded the Barrie Dalgleish Centre for Myeloma & Related Blood Cancers Mid-career Fellowship

To continue his work on IMProving understanding of Response to vaccination and Infection Immunity with New Treatments for haematological malignancy (the IMPRIINT Study). Ben will be investigating the retention of immunity and response to vaccination during bispecific ab therapy for haematological malignancies

Mycology Masterclass: Dr Zoe Neoh won the Best Poster Prize

Also, a big congratulations to Zoe on her Pfizer grant for the Isavuconazole treatment and prophylaxis in adult and paediatric patients with cancer - a multi-centre national study (the SHIELD study) which aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of isavuconazole for treatment and prophylaxis in adult and paediatric cancer patients.

Professor Monica Slavin invited guest speaker at the Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand

Professor Monica Slavin spoke on the topic "New Directions in the Diagnosis and Management of Infection in Haematologic Malignancy and ICH" and participated in clinical teaching activities at Mahidol University in Thailand, hosted by A/Prof Siriorn Watcharananan at Ramathibodi Hospital. She was warmly welcomed by the faculty and trainees, and her visit fostered strong connections for future collaborations.

Visiting Fellow Program

Welcome Dr Cherie Gan Le Si, Infectious Diseases physician in Yvone at the Singapore General Hospital. 

NCIC Recent Publications

• Tio, S.Y., Neoh, C.F., Ritchie, D., Chee, L., Kong, D.C.M., Worth, L.J., Yong, M.K., & Slavin, M.A. The changing epidemiology of breakthrough invasive fungal disease in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients in the era of modified-release posaconazole prophylaxis. Transplant Infectious Disease. 2025.

  Mikulska, M., Robin, C., Neofytos, D., Oltolini, C., Piekarska, A., Reigadas, E., Gil, L., Chemaly, R.F., Groll, A.H., Munoz, P., & Teh, B.W. Management of Clostridioides difficile infection in patients with haematological malignancies and after cellular therapy: guidelines from 10th European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL-10). EClinicalMedicine. 2025.

  Kinsella, P., Thursky, K., Slavin, M.A., & Reynolds, G.K. From guesswork to guidelines: advancing diagnostic stewardship in immunocompromised hosts. Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy. 2025.

  Hill, J.A., Boonyaratanakornkit, J., Mikulska, M., Teh, B.W., Hahn, W.O., Haidar, G., Liu, C., Kumar, D., Ison, M.G., & Halasa, N. Innovation in active and passive immunisation of people who are immunocompromised: a call to action. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2025.

  Zhu, V.Z., Garg, P., Singh, N., Selby, P.R., Ierano, C., & Yong, M.K. Understanding antiviral intolerance in the management of cytomegalovirus: a scoping review. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2025.

  Yong, K.Y., Tio, S.Y., Sim, B.Z., Sasadeusz, J., Rivalland, A., Chee, L., Szer, J., Spelman, T., Slavin, M., Ritchie, D., & Yong, M.K. Incidence and clinical outcomes of multiple viral infections after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 2025.

Upcoming Events

The Call for Abstracts for the ICHS 24th Biennial Symposium are now open! Renowned experts of the ICHS Program Committee are preparing for a state-of-the-art scientific program that includes the most updated information about all aspects of infections and immunodeficiency. 

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We look forward to connecting with you on both LinkedIn and BlueSky.

Kind regards,

Prof Monica Slavin, MBBS, MD, FRACP, FAAHMS
Head, Department Infectious Disease, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor of Infection in Cancer and Transplantation, University of Melbourne Department of Infectious Diseases and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology

Director, National Centre for Infections in Cancer

October 2025 - NCIC Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

NCIC recently made a strong impression at two major mycology events in Bilbao. At the TIMM conference (European Confederation of Medical Mycology), I participated in two plenary sessions, one reviewing the top 10 mycology papers and another on the updated response criteria for clinical trials of invasive fungal disease (IFD), where I presented on aspergillosis and moulds. NCIC’s work was referenced in several sessions, highlighting our global influence. The Women in Mycology event, organised by Ana Alastruey, brought together colleagues from the US, Europe, and India to celebrate and promote the contributions of women in mycology. These events showcase NCIC’s ongoing leadership in mycology, research and clinical practice and was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our international networks and collaborations.

Women in Mycology Event, Bilbao Spain organiser Ana Alastruey

Research Updates

NCIC Team Publishes Key Findings on Breakthrough Fungal Disease in Transplant Recipients

The NCIC team and collaborators have a new publication in Transplant Infectious Disease (Wiley). This single-center retrospective cohort study on 300 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients from January 2017 to May 2020, in which posaconazole modified release was the most common primary antifungal prophylaxis, demonstrated a breakthrough invasive fungal disease (bIFD) rate of 9%, with associated significant all-cause mortality at 12 weeks. Ongoing surveillance of IFD including resistant organisms is warranted to optimize treatment and patient outcome.

World Sepsis Day

“Sepsis can escalate within hours, particularly in cancer patients, so having a clear, evidence-based pathway is essential to keeping our most vulnerable patients safe”

— Belinda Lambros

Infectious Diseases nurses Belinda Lambros and Evona Fung recently visited wards and units across Peter Mac to thank our nursing and medical teams for their incredible work in recognising and responding to sepsis.

Belinda is Australia’s first accredited Nurse Practitioner specialising in infections in cancer, antimicrobial stewardship, allergy, and sepsis. She leads Peter Mac’s involvement in Safer Care Victoria’s Victorian Sepsis Program, a statewide initiative that supports fast, evidence-based treatment through a structured Sepsis Pathway. Peter Mac contributes cancer-specific expertise to help protect immunocompromised patients.

“Patients with cancer are up to ten times more likely to develop sepsis,” Belinda explains. “That’s why it’s so important that we recognise the signs early and act quickly.”

During her recent visit, Belinda spoke with one of her former patients who shared his experience with sepsis. He remembered feeling that something was very wrong but couldn’t describe exactly why. Subtle signs were not recognised early, and his condition worsened — leading to a four-month recovery before he was able to return home. Cases like this remind us of how sepsis awareness and early intervention and is critical.

Associate Professor Michelle Yong presented at the International Congress of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ICBMT 2025) in Busan, Korea

Her presentation, “CMV Infection in Allogeneic HSCT: Risk Stratification and Prevention”, focused on advances in prophylaxis for cytomegalovirus (CMV) management after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). She discussed the clinical benefits of identifying early risk factors for infectious complications and extending therapy to 200 days, highlighting the importance of prevention strategies in transplant patients.

Congratulations to Associate Professor Yong for representing the NCIC and sharing these important insights with the global transplant community!

NCIC Recent Publications

• From Guesswork to Guidelines: Advancing Diagnostic Stewardship in Immunocompromised Hosts. Kinsella P, Thursky K, Slavin MA, Reynolds GK. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2025 Sep;23(9):723-737. doi:10.1080/14787210.2025.2545504. Epub 2025 Aug 18. PMID:40785091.

• Management of Clostridioides difficile infection in patients with haematological malignancies and after cellular therapy: guidelines from 10th European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL-10). Mikulska M, Robin C, Neofytos D, Oltolini C, Piekarska A, Reigadas E, Gil L, Chemaly RF, Groll AH, Muñoz P, Teh BW. EClinicalMedicine. 2025 Aug 7;87:103371. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103371. Epub 2025 Sep. PMID:40823499. Free PMC article.

• Innovation in active and passive immunisation of people who are immunocompromised: a call to action. Hill JA, Boonyaratanakornkit J, Mikulska M, Teh BW, Hahn WO, Haidar G, Liu C, Kumar D, Ison MG, Halasa N. Lancet Infect Dis. 2025 Aug 11:S1473-3099(25)00345-7. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00345-7. Epub 2025 Aug. PMID:40812340.

• The Changing Epidemiology of Breakthrough Invasive Fungal Disease in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients in the Era of Modified-Release Posaconazole Prophylaxis. Tio SY, Neoh CF, Ritchie D, Chee L, Kong DCM, Worth LJ, Yong MK, Slavin MA. Transpl Infect Dis. 2025 Sep 26:e70104. doi: 10.1111/tid.70104. Epub 2025 Sep. PMID:41004247.

Upcoming Events

Follow us!

We look forward to connecting with you on both LinkedIn and BlueSky.

Kind regards,

Prof Monica Slavin, MBBS, MD, FRACP, FAAHMS
Head, Department Infectious Disease, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor of Infection in Cancer and Transplantation, University of Melbourne Department of Infectious Diseases and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology

Director, National Centre for Infections in Cancer