September 2026 NCIC Newsletter

Hi everyone,

What a busy few months it has been for us! It's been lovely to see so many familiar faces at conferences around the world and catching up with colleagues along the way.

In this edition, we have highlights from TTS in Sydney, ICBMT in Busan and MSGERC in Denver, including the inaugural Women in Mycology meeting. We also celebrate Gemma's recognition at the University of Melbourne Dean's Awards, and feature a great collection of new publications, with a special spotlight on Priya's recent systematic review of invasive fungal infections in acute leukaemia. We bid farewell to Laura after her time with us at Peter Mac, and have included a few upcoming conference abstract deadlines for those planning ahead for 2027.

A big thank you to everyone for your continued hard work and contributions. It's wonderful to see all the great work happening across our network!

Happy reading!

International Conference Highlights

2026 Biennial Meeting MSGERC
đź“Ť Denver, Colorado | 9-11 September 2026

The recent MSGERC Biennial Meeting in Denver saw the inaugural meeting of Women in Mycology, an initiative established by Dr Julia Messina and me to support women working and training in the field of medical mycology.

Julia and I chaired the first meeting, bringing the group together to connect and discuss opportunities for training, mentorship and career development. We have also undertaken a survey exploring training and mentoring needs in mycology, with a particular focus on women in the field.

It was great to bring the group together for the first time, and we look forward to growing the Women in Mycology network.

Women in Mycology at the 2026 MSGERC Biennial Meeting in Denver.

 

The Transplantation Society (TTS) 2026
📍 Sydney, Australia | 20–23 September 2026

TTS 2026 brought together the international transplantation community to share the latest research, clinical advances and innovations in transplantation.

NCIC was well represented across the Transplant Infectious Diseases (TID) program, with members contributing to invited talks, case-based discussions, panel sessions and research presentations. Highlights included work on non-Aspergillus mould infections, vaccination and emerging infections, CMV, respiratory viral infections, infection prevention and surveillance, antimicrobial therapies, and the microbiome. NCIC researchers also contributed to discussions on challenging infections in immunocompromised hosts, new immunosuppressive therapies and the evolving infectious risks faced by transplant recipients.

It was fantastic to see such broad representation across the meeting and our ongoing contribution to the rapidly evolving field of TID.

 

International Congress of BMT (ICBMT) 2026
📍 Busan, South Korea | 17–19 September 2026

Dr Zoe Neoh’s poster presentation at ICBMT 2026

This month some of us also travelled to Busan, South Korea, joining clinicians and researchers from around the world to share the latest developments in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy.  

Representing the EINSTEIN Study Group, Dr Zoe Neoh presented work exploring the use of natural language processing (NLP) to improve detection of CMV disease in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. As CMV disease can be difficult to identify through conventional surveillance, the study evaluated NLP models to automatically screen histopathology reports for evidence of CMV disease. The best-performing model achieved 100% sensitivity and 95% specificity, highlighting the potential for NLP-assisted screening to support more efficient CMV surveillance and real-time clinical review. Read more about the EINSTEIN project here.

(Email: EinsteinAdmin@petermac.org)

Upcoming Conference Abstract Deadlines

If you are planning to present your research in 2027, here are some upcoming abstract submission deadlines to keep in mind:

Congress of the European Society of
 Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global 2027

đź“Ť Stockholm, Sweden | 9-13 April 2027
đź”— Abstract submission

Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) Annual Scientific Meeting 2027

đź“Ť Cairns, Australia | 5-8 May 2027
đź”— Abstract submission

Fred Hutch Cancer Center – 6th Symposium on Infectious Diseases in the Immunocompromised Host

đź“Ť Seattle, USA | 9-12 May 2027
đź”— Abstract submission and travel stipends

Congratulations again, Gemma! A very well-deserved recognition of all your hard work and dedication.

Congratulations to Dr Gemma Reynolds!

A huge congratulations to Gemma on her recognition at the University of Melbourne Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Research!

Gemma's research focused on infection prevention and risk stratification in patients receiving cellular therapies, contributing to our understanding of infectious complications in this vulnerable patient population. Prof Karin Thursky (Kas) and I were delighted to attend the awards ceremony and celebrate this wonderful achievement with Gemma. Such a proud moment for all of us!

Farewell Laura!

We said farewell to Dr Laura To earlier this month after spending three months with us at Peter Mac. Laura is an infectious diseases physician from Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong, who joined us for a clinical observership focusing on the management of infections in immunocompromised patients.

It was lovely having Laura as part of the team over the past few months, and we'll certainly miss her!

Laura and the NCIC team.

“These three months have been as inspiring as they have been educational and fun. It would be almost unfair to try to choose a favourite among ID-BMT/acute leuks, ICU AMS, and ward rounds, and the whole spectrum of ID clinics. Also invaluable during my observership was witnessing the integration of research and clinical practice, and the team’s continued efforts to improve patient outcomes and services through extensive, and active research. I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in NAPS and IFIs while at PeterMac. As I return home, I hope to establish antifungal stewardship, and further develop proactive infectious disease consultation services for immunocompromised patients. ”
— Laura

Publication Spotlight:

A new systematic review and meta-analysis led by Dr Priya Garg and colleagues from the NCIC examines the global epidemiology of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in patients with acute leukaemia, with a focus on informing infection prevention and surveillance practice.

Poster presentation at ASID 2026 earlier this year.

  • Across 17 studies involving 3,291 patients, the pooled IFI event rate was 8% (95% CI 6–11%), with a similar 8% event rate reported among patients with AML/MDS

  • Aspergillus spp. remained the predominant pathogen, with a pooled event rate of 5% (95% CI 4–7%).

  • Breakthrough IFIs remained an important concern, occurring at a pooled rate of 7% (95% CI 5–10%). Aspergillus spp. accounted for 62% of breakthrough infections. 39% of breakthroughs occurred in patients receiving mould-active azole prophylaxis.

  • Considerable heterogeneity was observed across studies, alongside limited reporting of infection prevention measures and antifungal stewardship metrics, highlighting important gaps in contemporary IFI surveillance.

The findings demonstrate that IFIs particularly invasive aspergillosis, remain an important complication of acute leukaemia despite widespread antifungal prophylaxis. Priya and colleagues highlight the need to optimise mould-active prophylaxis for high-risk patients, strengthen prospective IFI surveillance, and standardise reporting of fungal infection data and infection prevention and control measures.

Published in the Journal of Infection, this work was also supported by an ASID Council Scholarship awarded to Priya. 


Recent Publications

Infection in Transplant, Haematology & Cellular Therapy

  1. Hurley A, George P, Reynolds G, Stewart A, Quach H, O'Leary N, McQuilten Z, Henden AS, Chee L, Cheah CY, Bupha-Intr O, Blyth E, Teh B, Slavin M, Dickinson M, Weinkove R. Preventing infections after CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies for lymphoma: a consensus practice statement. Intern Med J. 2026.
    Summary: The consensus statement provides an Australia and New Zealand–focused approach to preventing, investigating and managing infections following CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy, where infection remains a leading cause of non-relapse mortality.

  2. Jacob-Dolan C, Thomas A, Reynolds G. Immunity by Design: Engineering Pathogen-Specific Protection After Transplantation. Transpl Infect Dis. 2026.
    This letter discusses emerging approaches to engineer pathogen-specific immunity after transplantation, including gene-edited haematopoietic stem cells and adoptive cellular therapies.

  3. McKeague S, Lew TE, Lowe A, Lau L, Thompson PA, Whitechurch A, Carney D, Wolf M, Reynolds G, Blombery P, Seymour JF, Roberts AW, Anderson MA. Long-term outcomes with continuous venetoclax for relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood Adv. 2026.
    Summary: One-third (29/86) of patients achieved a long-term response of >5 years with continuous venetoclax. Five-year progression-free survival was 87% among patients with undetectable measurable residual disease versus 45% without.

  4. Smibert OC, Kong G, Markey KA, Judd LM, Howden B, Stinear TP, Gordon C, Sharma VJ, D'Costa R, Sinclair M, Majumdar A, Starkey G, Testro A, Trubiano JA, Slavin MA, Kwong JC. Donor Microbiota Features Associated With Liver Transplant Recipient Infectious Complications: A Pilot Study Using Deep Intestinal Sampling During Liver Procurement. Transpl Infect Dis. 2026.
    Summary: Deceased donor microbiota showed enrichment of potential pathogens, particularly Enterobacteriaceae, which was associated with an increased risk of early post-transplant infection in recipients.

  5. Warren Z, Bhabha F, Campbell BA, van der Weyden C, Prince HM, Buelens O, Yong MK, McCormack C. The Development of Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacterial Infections in SĂ©zary Syndrome: A Case Report of Two Patients. Australas J Dermatol. 2026.
    Summary: Two cases of cutaneous non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in patients with SĂ©zary syndrome highlight the importance of considering atypical infections in this highly immunocompromised population.

  6. Yap N, Wang NY, Yong MK, Haeusler GM. Adenovirus infection after cellular therapy: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2026.
    Summary: Recent evidence supports the gastrointestinal tract as an important reservoir for adenovirus, with rising stool viral loads often preceding invasive infection, while emerging therapies including intravenous brincidofovir and virus-specific T cells offer potential new treatment options.

Infection Prevention, Surveillance, Antimicrobial & Vaccination Strategies

  1. Douglas AP, Thursky KA. Antibacterial prophylaxis in neutropenic fever: beyond fluoroquinolones. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2026.
    Summary: Highlights the need to reconsider reliance on fluoroquinolone prophylaxis in neutropenic patients in the setting of increasing antimicrobial resistance and evolving alternative prevention strategies.

  2. Garg P, Reynolds GK, Neoh CF, Spelman T, Hall L, Slavin MA, Worth LJ. Epidemiology of invasive fungal infection in acute leukaemia to inform infection prevention and surveillance practice: A systematic review and meta-analyses. J Infect. 2026.
    Summary: Across 17 studies (n=3291), the pooled IFI rate was 8%, with Aspergillus spp. predominating. Breakthrough IFIs occurred at a rate of 7%, with 39% occurring during mould-active azole prophylaxis.

  3. Piekarska A, Oltolini C, Teh BW, Robin C, Neofytos D, Reigadas E, Groll AH, Muñoz P, Gil L, Chemaly RF, Mikulska M. Management of Clostridioides difficile infections in patients with hematological malignancies – a survey by ECIL and IDWP of EBMT. Int J Infect Dis. 2026.
    Summary: Among 49 international experts, important variation in CDI management was identified. Vancomycin predominated for initial treatment, fidaxomicin was preferred for recurrence, and 31% of centres used faecal microbiota transplantation for second or subsequent recurrence

  4. Wang X, Williams P, Sharma K, Quinn H, Jayasinghe S, Chiu C, Macartney K, Flanagan K, Cooper K, Teh B, Giles M, Crawford N. ATAGI targeted review 2025: Immunisation considerations for immunocompromised people in Australia. Commun Dis Intell. 2026.
    Summary: The updated Australian guidance introduces new risk classifications for immunocompromise and supports tailored strategies including additional or booster doses, altered schedules and revaccination following immune reconstitution.

  5. Yong KY, Hall VG. Beyond a One-Size-Fits-All Approach: RSV Vaccination in Immunocompromised Patients. Transpl Infect Dis. 2026.
    Summary: This editorial highlights emerging evidence on RSV vaccination in people with haematological malignancies and the need to move towards vaccination strategies tailored to immune status and individual risk.

Immunity & Host Responses

  1. Allen LF, Rowntree LC, Jenzen M, Hagen RR, Croft NP, James F, Martin GE, Purcell AW, Illing PT, Tong SYC, Cheng AC, Kotsimbos TC, Trubiano JA, Kedzierska K, Nguyen THO. CD4+ T-cell responses directed towards A/H5N1-derived haemagglutinin peptides increase in patients with seasonal influenza A virus infection. Clin Transl Immunology. 2026.
    Summary: H5N1 haemagglutinin-specific T-cell responses were detectable in 100% of patients with acute seasonal influenza and 75% of healthy participants, with correlated H1- and H5-specific CD4+ responses suggesting cross-reactive cellular immunity.

  2. Reynolds GK, Williams L, Giner G, Garnham A, Jansen T, Dowling MR, Minson A, Chee L, Dickinson M, Anderson MA, Thursky K, Oliaro J, Harrison SJ, Slavin MA, Doerflinger M, Teh BW. Host immune biomarkers associated with infection risk after CAR T-cell therapy. J Infect. 2026.
    Summary: In this exploratory cohort, 18 infections occurred in 11 of 20 CAR T-cell recipients (55%). Distinct immune signatures were associated with early and late infections, supporting further investigation of immune monitoring to improve post-CAR-T infection risk stratification.

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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

August 2026 NCIC Newsletter

Dear All,

Welcome to our August NCIC newsletter!

It has been another busy month, with plenty to celebrate: from welcoming international colleagues and sharing new research, to recognising the achievements and milestones of our NCIC community. It has also been wonderful to see new connections being made with the next generation of clinician-researchers. Thank you, as always, for your continued contribution and support of NCIC, and I hope you enjoy this month's updates!

A Visit from Prof Lars Westblade

We had the pleasure of welcoming Prof Lars Westblade, Medical Director of Clinical Microbiology at NewYork-Presbyterian and Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine. Lars joined us for an engaging presentation on the Burden of Infectious Diseases in Patients with Cancer, sharing insights from his work spanning the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases.

Prof Lars Westblade and the NCIC Team

It was a wonderful opportunity for the NCIC team to connect, exchange ideas and hear an international perspective on an area so closely aligned with our work. A big thank you to Lars for taking the time to visit and connect with us here in the land down under!

Awards and achievements

2026 Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Research

2026 Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Research

A big congratulations to Dr Gemma Reynolds, who has been awarded the 2026 Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Research and will receive her award on 7th October.

The award recognises outstanding achievements by MDHS graduate researchers across clinical and discovery research. A fantastic achievement and well-deserved recognition of Gemma's research – congratulations from all of us at NCIC!



Celebrating Our Long-Service Milestones

This month, we are also celebrating some very special milestones for Prof Karin Thursky, Marcelle Stewart and Dr Abby Douglas, recognising their many years of contribution to Peter Mac.

Prof Karin Thursky celebrating 25 years with PeterMac
(Photo credit: Peter Mac Communications)

Marcelle Stewart and colleagues, Michelle Wilkins and Rebecca Keane
(Photo credit: Peter Mac Communications)

Prof Karin Thursky – 25 years
An incredible 25 years at Peter Mac for Kas (Karin)! Over the years, Kas has contributed across so many areas – from infectious diseases and cancer care to research, antimicrobial stewardship, digital health and implementation science. Her work and leadership have had an impact well beyond Peter Mac, helping to shape practice nationally and internationally. A fantastic milestone and an amazing contribution to celebrate!

Marcelle Stewart – 10 years
Marcelle has brought a wealth of nursing experience to Peter Mac and is now a familiar face across our Infectious Diseases Clinical Trials team. Before joining NCIC, she worked as a day surgery nurse in the surgical unit, bringing valuable clinical experience into her research role. Today, she plays a key role in keeping our trials running – from patient recruitment and clinical care to coordinating commercial and investigator-led studies, ethics and governance. Outside of NCIC, Marcelle also works with the Tobacco Treatment Clinic at Peter Mac, supporting patients on their quit journey with around 500 quit encounters this year alone. Thank you Marcelle for everything you bring to the team!

Dr Abby Douglas – 10 years

It’s also 10 years at Peter Mac for Abby! Over the years, Abby has built her career as an infectious diseases clinician-researcher, with a passion for improving the diagnosis and management of infections in immunocompromised patients. She completed her PhD through NCIC in 2023, with her research recognised with the 2022 Peter Mac Medal. We’re lucky to have Abby as part of NCIC and look forward to seeing what the next 10 years bring!

A big thank you to Kas, Marcelle and Abby for everything they have contributed over the years – and congratulations on these fantastic milestones!

Peter Mac Clinical and Health Services Research Student Open Evening

Photo credit: A/Prof Erika Cretney

The inaugural Peter Mac Clinical and Health Services Research Student Open Evening brought together prospective students, supervisors and clinician-researchers for an evening of networking and conversations about research pathways at Peter Mac.

It was great to see Nikhil Singh representing NCIC as part of the Q&A panel, joining past and present clinician-researchers Julia Lai-Kwon, Wanda Cui, Olivia Braniff and Hayley Beer to share their experiences and insights with prospective students.

A big thank you to the organisers for putting together a fantastic evening and creating an opportunity for the next generation of researchers to connect and learn more about research at Peter Mac.

Upcoming: Clinician-Researcher PhD Information Session

Join us for an upcoming online session connecting clinician-researchers and future PhD candidates.

We’ve invited past NCIC speakers to share their experiences, research journeys and different pathways into doctoral study, with plenty of opportunity to hear first-hand what undertaking a PhD can look like as a clinician.

Thursday, 8 October 2026 | 6:30 pm AEDT
Online via Microsoft Teams | 1 hour

We’d love to see you there!

Register today!

Upcoming conferences

Keep an eye out for NCIC colleagues attending and presenting at these upcoming meetings!

International Congress of BMT (ICBMT) 2026 📍 Busan, South Korea | 17–19 September 2026

The Transplantation Society (TTS) 2026 📍 Sydney, Australia | 20–23 September 2026

Publication Highlight: Editor's Choice

Our multicentre study on non-Aspergillus mould infections has been published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases and selected as an Editor's Choice paper! Led by Dr Zoe Neoh and Prof Monica Slavin, the study brings together data from centres across Australia and New Zealand to examine the management and outcomes of these rare but serious fungal infections, as well as factors associated with mortality and treatment failure.

Check out the visual abstract below for the key findings!

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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

July 2026- NCIC Newsletter

Dear All,

This month, the NCIC Symposium brought together 144 clinicians and researchers to explore the latest developments in critical care mycology, with leading international and Australian experts sharing practical insights into invasive fungal infections (IFIs), antifungal resistance, pharmacotherapy, and future directions in patient management.

Thank you to all of our speakers for their insightful presentations, and to everyone who attended the symposium. We look forward to seeing you at future NCIC events. Presentation recordings are now available and can be accessed below:

NCIC Symposium Highlights


Prof Luis Ostrosky discussed changing epidemiological trends in Candida infections in intensive care, highlighting evolving risk factors and implications for clinical management.








Prof Sharon Chen reviewed emerging antifungal resistance, including increasing azole-resistant Candida tropicalis and insights from Candida parapsilosis outbreaks in Australian ICUs.






Prof Jason Roberts presented findings from the international SAFE-ICU study, demonstrating that suboptimal antifungal exposure remains common in critically ill patients despite standard dosing, reinforcing the need for pharmacokinetic-guided therapy and therapeutic drug monitoring.





Dr Aleece MacPhail reviewed international and Australian data on IFIs in haematology-oncology patients admitted to ICU, highlighting persistently high mortality rates despite advances in care.

(Please note that sections of the recording have been edited to remove discussion of unpublished data)

Finally, Prof Ignacio Martin-Loeches explored future directions in critical care mycology, discussing current challenges in IFI management, advances in diagnostics, and ongoing questions around when and who should receive antifungal therapy. (Prof Martin-Loeches’ presentation is not available for recording or publication)

NCIC at the PeterMac Research Symposium

NCIC was proud to participate in the Peter Mac Research Symposium, which brought together approximately 400 researchers, clinicians and consumers under the theme Cancer Research into Action: Transforming Cancer Care with Our Patients. The symposium showcased innovative research translating into meaningful improvements in cancer care.

Professor Karin Thursky took to the stage as one of the panellists in this year's Great Debate, representing the negative team in a lively debate on whether clinical impact should matter more than fundamental discovery research. NCIC was also represented by Dr Zoe Neoh, who presented her research on the development of a digital tool to support CMV monitoring in patients with high-risk haematological malignancies undergoing stem cell transplantation. Zoe's presentation was very well received, with attendees showing strong interest in the potential of digital tools to optimise CMV management as well as how the tool could be scaled beyond infection surveillance to support other areas of patient care.

People & Collaborations

Welcoming Laura

We are excited to welcome Dr Laura To, an Infectious Diseases physician from Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong.

Laura will be with us for the next three months, undertaking a clinical observership while contributing to antifungal research through the Antifungal NAPS project. During her placement, she will observe the management of infectious diseases in our immunocompromised patient cohort and gain insight into our multidisciplinary approach to patient care. She is looking forward to broadening her experience in the care of immunocompromised patients, learning more about antimicrobial stewardship and clinical research, and building collaborative links between our institutions.

We are delighted to have Laura join us over the coming months and hope she enjoys her time with the team!

Kate visits NCIC

We were also delighted to host Kate Morton, an Infectious Diseases/Antimicrobial Stewardship pharmacist from Queensland, who recently spent two weeks with our team.

Kate is undertaking her PhD under the supervision of A/Prof Michelle Yong and Dr Zoe Neoh, with a research focus on optimising antifungal use in immunocompromised hosts. Her projects aim to optimise antifungal prescribing and monitoring, with plans to implement an antifungal stewardship program at Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

We enjoyed having Kate with us and look forward to following her research journey and future collaborations in strengthening antifungal stewardship across the region.


Celebrating Piper’s internship

This month, we celebrated the completion of Piper Hinkley's six-month placement through the 2026 VCCC Alliance SKILLED Internship Program, where she worked as a Clinical Trials Administration Officer with our Infectious Diseases Clinical Research team.

Over the past six months, Piper became a valued member of our team. She embraced every opportunity to learn, gaining experience in clinical trial administration, ethics and regulatory processes, and responsible research conduct. As part of her improvement project, she developed a budget template tailored to infectious diseases research and clinical trials, which received excellent feedback and is being considered for implementation within the team.

Piper has been a fantastic addition to NCIC, and we are incredibly grateful for her contributions and wish her every success as she begins the next chapter of her career.

Recent Publications

Antifungal Therapeutics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

Urbancic KF, Yong MK, Yong KY, Page H, Stewart M, Ritchie D, Bajel A, Wong E, Fong C, Trubiano JA, Kong DCM, Slavin MA. Subtherapeutic posaconazole exposure during delayed-release tablet prophylaxis in high-risk patients with haematological malignancies: rationale for routine therapeutic drug monitoring. J Antimicrobic Chemother. 2026 Jul 2;81(8):dkag233. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkag233. PMID: 42455040

Summary: More than half of high-risk haematology patients experienced at least one subtherapeutic posaconazole concentration during prophylaxis, with 1/3 of all posaconazole plasma concentrations being below 0.7mg/L, supporting the role of routine therapeutic drug monitoring to optimise antifungal therapy.

Antiviral Prophylaxis in Cancer

Liu AJ, Zhu VZ, Teh BW, Yong MK. Antiviral prophylaxis against herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus and cytomegalovirus) among patients with cancer. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2026 Aug 1;39(4):303-315. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000001198. Epub 2026 Apr 15. PMID: 42068587.

Summary: This review summarises current evidence for HSV, VZV and CMV prophylaxis in patients with cancer, highlighting emerging challenges associated with CAR T-cell and other novel immunotherapies.


Vaccination in Haematological Malignancies and Cellular Therapies

Ibrahim NH, Dhunlall S, Woolstencroft R, Liu AJ, Zhu VZ, Yong MK, Slavin MA, Teh BW. Vaccination in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapies: consensus, divergence, and uncertainties in global practice. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2026 Jul 28. doi: 10.1038/s41409-026-02995-x. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42521708.

Summary: A global survey identified substantial variation in vaccination practices following stem cell transplantation and cellular therapies. The findings highlight key barriers to vaccine delivery and support the development of future research priorities and harmonised international guidelines.

 

Antibiotic allergy

Mitri EA, Vogrin S, Paynter C, Fletcher LR, Peter J, Powell N, Barnes S, Li PH, Copaescu AM, Turner NA, James F, Sullivan R, Masoum MS, Rawlins M, Mackay G, Smith BJ, 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 SSS, Katelaris C, Tran P, O'Hern J, Godsell J, Peel TN, Sandaradura I, New D, Holland C, Cutfield T, Coghill S, Hand C, Williams J, Bishop J, Lambros B, Day C, Ierano C, Holmes NE, Roberts JA, Fernando SL, Klaic M, Trubiano JA; International Network of Antibiotic Allergy Nations (iNAAN) study group. Direct Oral Challenge for Penicillin Allergy: A Hospital Implementation Evaluation Via the International Network of Antibiotic Allergy Nations (iNAAN) Study. Clin Infect Dis. 2026 Jul 8;82(6):e1163-e1170. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciag083. PMID: 41921037; PMCID: PMC13341254.

Summary: This international multicentre study demonstrated that inpatient direct oral penicillin challenge is safe and effective, successfully removing inaccurate penicillin allergy labels in over 95% of challenged patients. De-labelling significantly increased appropriate penicillin prescribing while reducing the use of broad-spectrum "Watch" and "Reserve" antibiotics.

Mitri EA, Fletcher LR, Vogrin S, Barnes S, Powell N, Peter J, Li PH, Copaescu AM, Turner NA, James F, Paynter C, Sullivan R, Masoum MS, Rawlins M, Mackay G, Smith BJ, 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 SSS, Katelaris C, Tran P, O'Hern J, Godsell J, Peel TN, Sandaradura I, New D, Holland C, Cutfield T, Coghill S, Hand C, Williams J, Bishop J, Lambros B, Day C, Ierano C, Roberts JA, Holmes NE, Klaic M, Fernando SL, Trubiano JA; International Network of Antibiotic Allergy Nations (iNAAN) Study Group. Direct Oral Challenge for Penicillin Allergy: The International Network of Antibiotic Allergy Nations (iNAAN) Study. Clin Infect Dis. 2026 Jul 8;82(6):e1148-e1162. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciag082. PMID: 41921035; PMCID: PMC13341246.

Summary: This companion implementation study showed that a digital penicillin allergy toolkit can be successfully integrated into routine clinical practice across diverse healthcare settings. The program was safe, feasible and sustainable, with audit and feedback supporting greater clinician uptake, particularly among pharmacists.

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

June 2026- NCIC Newsletter

Dear All,

This month we shine a spotlight on the exciting role of artificial intelligence and digital tools in transforming infection surveillance, clinical research, and patient care. From award recognition to conference presentations and innovative digital health research publication, our team continues to push the boundaries of infection management in cancer.

EINSTEIN Project Recognised as AI Awards Finalist

The NCIC congratulates Anna Khanina, Dr Zoe Neoh, Professor Leon Worth, and Professor Karin Thursky, together with collaborators from Guidance Group at Royal Melbourne Hospital, BioGrid Australia, RMIT University, and the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health, on the EINSTEIN project being named a finalist in the Community Impact category of the Australian Financial Review AI Awards.
Left to right: Dr Zoe Neoh (NCIC), Prof Karin Verspoor (RMIT University), Anna Khanina (NCIC), Dr Vlada Rozova (University of Melbourne)

EINSTEIN is transforming infection surveillance for immunocompromised cancer patients by using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse histopathology and CT scan reports, enabling detection of invasive fungal infections and Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and supporting more timely clinical intervention and infection surveillance.

Dr Zoe Neoh noted that integrating AI with electronic medical records enables earlier identification of serious infections, closer patient monitoring, and ultimately improved outcomes for people undergoing cancer treatment.

IFIS Goes Live!

Building on this success, the Invasive Fungal Infection Surveillance (IFIS) platform will officially launch next month, marking a major step forward in the automation of invasive fungal infection surveillance in patients with haematological malignancies.

IFIS Platform

Designed to optimise a traditionally manual and labour-intensive process, IFIS combines natural language processing (NLP) and rule-based algorithms to identify potential infections with a highly sensitive detection system. The platform supports clinician review of flagged cases through a dedicated application, enabling efficient case confirmation while maintaining clinical oversight.

Clinical pharmacist and researcher Anna Khanina said the platform streamlines surveillance and provides interactive dashboards that allow clinicians to monitor infection trends, identify emerging outbreaks, and support timely, data-driven decision-making for fungal infection prevention and management.

The launch of IFIS represents an important step towards a learning health system, where AI-powered tools enhance surveillance, reduce administrative burden, and allow clinicians to focus more directly on patient care.

Digital Innovation Beyond IFIS: CMV Monitoring

The EINSTEIN team is also developing an integrated digital portal to improve CMV monitoring in high-risk haematological malignancy patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Developed through a clinician co-design process, the web-based platform aims to automate a traditionally manual monitoring workflow. Prototype usability testing achieved an excellent System Usability Scale (SUS) score of 93.6, reflecting strong clinician acceptance. Results from the prototype evaluation were presented at the International Immunocompromised Host Society (ICHS) 2026, highlighting the potential of clinician-centred digital tools to improve infection surveillance and patient care.

To learn more about the EINSTEIN project: Email EinsteinAdmin@petermac.org.

NCIC at MASCC 2026

NCIC members were proud to present their latest research at the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) 2026 Annual Meeting, held from 25–27 June at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Our presenters showcased research in paediatric viral infections, antimicrobial stewardship in haematological malignancies, and the application of artificial intelligence to improve toxicity management in cancer care. Congratulations to Dr Nelson Wang, Nikhil Singh, and Anna Khanina for representing NCIC and contributing to important discussions on improving outcomes for people affected by cancer.

Research spotlight

Development of a Digital Phenotype for Immune-Related Colitis

Congratulations to Dr Jasmine Teng and team who has developed the first digital tool capable of rapidly and accurately identifying patients who develop immune-related colitis, a potentially serious side effect of cancer immunotherapy.

Traditional methods of identifying immune-related adverse events are manual and resource-intensive. Dr Teng's team developed an electronic medical record (EMR)-based digital phenotype that accurately identifies patients with immune-related colitis using routinely collected clinical data.

This innovative approach demonstrates how existing EMR data can be repurposed to support high-quality research and improve patient care. Future applications include enhanced surveillance, evaluation of healthcare resource utilisation, analysis of patient care pathways and outcomes, and improved understanding of immune-related adverse event cohorts.

This work has been published in JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics.

Coming this Month: NCIC Annual Symposium 2026

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

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.

Register today

NCIC Annual Symposium

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

Thank You and Farewell to Zenina Andrews

This month we also farewell our wonderful Research Assistant, Zenina Andrews. Over the past two years, Zenina has made invaluable contributions across numerous research projects and clinical trials. Her professionalism and willingness to help have made a lasting impact on both our research program and our team. Known for her warm, bubbly personality and exceptional work ethic, Zenina has been a pleasure to work with and she will be greatly missed.

We thank Zenina for everything she has contributed to NCIC and wish her every success in the next chapter of her career.

Recent Publications

Digital Health & Artificial Intelligence

Teng JC, Worth LJ, Thursky KA, Trinh A, Spain L, Tran PK, Spelman T, Nkonde C, Terreros-Martin S, Roubos G, Shinkov D, Capurro D. Development of a Digital Phenotype for Immune-Related Colitis. JCO Clin Cancer Inform. 2026 Apr;10(2):e2500366. doi: 10.1200/CCI-25-00366. Epub 2026 Jun 16. PMID: 42302215.

Summary: This study describes the development of an electronic medical record-based digital phenotype capable of accurately identifying patients with immune-related colitis. The tool not only improves understanding of how often immune-related colitis occurs, but could also help pave the way for predicting who is at risk.

Infection in Cellular Therapies & Transplantation

Reynolds GK, Dowling MR, Belbachir S, Perera N, Li J, Vanguru V, Teh BW, Anderson MA, Barraclough A, Tam CS, Ho PJ, Harrison SJ, Henden AS, Thursky KA, Slavin MA. Persistent and pathogen-specific infection risk during long-term survivorship after CD19 CAR-T: An Australian multi-centre cohort study. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2026 Jun 24:S1198-743X(26)00331-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2026.06.019. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42341925.

Summary: In this multicentre cohort of 291 CD19 CAR-T recipients, nearly half developed infections (49.5%), with 36% experiencing severe infection and 5% dying from infection. Among those followed beyond one year, 40% developed late infections, mainly respiratory viral infections, which remained a major cause of morbidity. Invasive fungal infections were uncommon (6%) but were associated with higher early corticosteroid exposure and prior bacterial infection. Overall, infections persisted well beyond the first year post-CAR-T, supporting the need for ongoing surveillance and targeted prevention strategies.

Kaplan D, Blyth E, Sutrave G, Yong MK, Gottlieb DJ, Abendroth A, Slobedman B, Stern L. Human Cytomegalovirus Infection in Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients and CAR T Cell Recipients - PART 1: Risk Factors, Clinical Impact and Immune Response. Rev Med Virol. 2026 May;36(3):e70142. doi: 10.1002/rmv.70142. PMID: 41982051; PMCID: PMC13080285.

Summary: This comprehensive review explores the epidemiology, risk factors and immune response to CMV infection following stem cell transplantation and CAR-T therapy, summarising current evidence to support clinical management of this significant infectious complication.

Tio SY, Yong MK, Worth LJ. The Diagnostic Approach to Pulmonary Complications in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: To Biopsy or Not? Transpl Infect Dis. 2026 May-Jun;28(3):e70227. doi: 10.1111/tid.70227. Epub 2026 May 24. PMID: 42178800.

Summary: This editorial discusses the use of lung biopsy in patients with pulmonary complications following allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation, noting its high diagnostic yield but associated procedural risks. It advocates for a selective, risk-adapted approach that combines biopsy with bronchoscopy and emerging imaging and molecular diagnostic techniques.

 

Vaccines & Infection Prevention

Imai-Boulter C, Li-Kim-Moy J, McRae J, Chiu C, Jayasinghe S, Macartney K, Gibney K, Bellamy K, Cooper K, Flanagan K, Giles M, Marshall J, Silberstein N, Teh B, Webby R, Crawford N. ATAGI Targeted Review 2024: Immunisation strategies for prevention and control of respiratory syncytial virus disease in Australia. Commun Dis Intell (2018). 2026 May 26;50. doi: 10.33321/cdi.2026.50.034. PMID: 42184441.

Summary: This national review summarises the latest evidence supporting RSV vaccination strategies in Australia and informs recommendations to protect vulnerable populations, including those at increased risk of severe infection.

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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

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.

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.

Register today

NCIC Annual Symposium

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

Upcoming Events

Register today!

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.

Register today

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 MartĂ­, after a fantastic two-month visit with our team.

Pere joined us from Hospital ClĂ­nic 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-EscolĂ , 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

Search our Publication Library

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.

Register today!

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

Register today!

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

Read the article

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

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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.

Register today!

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

Register today!

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

Search our Publication Library

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!

Apply!

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.

Register today!

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

Register today!

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

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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. 

submit abstract

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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. 

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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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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