Dear all,
It was wonderful to reconnect with everybody at the November 2022 NCIC-Synergy Investigator meeting, where we set out a road map for the next 5 years. I think we can all agree that our top priority is to expand our outreach and make the NCIC a truly National Centre. Many of the programs and pathways we have developed over the last few years at Peter Mac are now ready to be rolled out to other centres where cancer patients are managed for infections. The road map we have developed includes greater engagement with metro and regional centres across Australia, building on the networks we have worked hard to develop over the last 5 years through projects such as PROSECCO, CSMART and the CRE and continuing to develop our advanced trainees and visiting fellows.
All the details are on our new look website which is designed to be a one stop shop for all the implementation toolkits and guidelines we have developed for management of infections in kids, allergy, clinical trials and research. Also available on the website are links to the 2023 events calendar calendar. The schedule of events in 2023 include a Friday lunch Journal Club hosted by NCIC PhD students, a Symposium in November (details TBA) and monthly NCIC seminars the first of which I am pleased to announce is Prof Graeme Forrest. Get the meeting link HERE
Graeme Forrest, MBBS, is a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases at Rush University Medical Center, Editor-in-Chief (EiC) of ASM’s Clinical Microbiology Reviews. Prof Forrest Forrest’s research focuses on antimicrobial stewardship and resistance in immunocompromised hosts. Graeme will be presenting on " AMS in Transplant infectious diseases" followed by lunch and discussion with fellows interested in a career in TID (rsvp for lunch here).
2023 will see NCIC begin the rollout of our national strategy. Beginning close to home with a series of national clinical interest group case series (request link) and a monthly journal club run by NCIC PhD students. Keep up to date with NCIC seminars here.
We are anticipating a strong NCIC presence at upcoming national and international conferences including ASID, ECCMID and the 4th Symposium on Infectious Diseases in the Immunocompromised Host, Fred Hutchinson cancer research centre, Seattle. ASID will see the inaugural meeting of the Infection in Immunocompromised Host Special Interest Group. There will be an education day prior to ASID on Sunday April 2nd organised with The Transplant Infectious Diseases section of the Transplantation Society. Several NCIC speakers will feature along with international speakers. View the program and register HERE
I have been invited to deliver a keynote speech at ECCMID, Copenhagen on Frontiers in the diagnosis and management of infections in the immunocompromised, and chair and contribute to a panel discussion of management of fungal infections at the 4th Symposium on Infectious diseases in the ICH, Fred Hutchinson. Both International conferences are offering scholarships to advanced trainees and I urge you all to consider an application.
Finally, please see the latest American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Series, for the latest in Management Management of Invasive Candidiasis in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients. All NCIC publications can be found HERE.
Wishing you all a productive year!
Kind Regards
Prof Monica Slavin, MBBS, MD, FRACP, FAAHMS
Head, Department Infectious Disease, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Lead, Immunocompromised Host service, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Director, National Centre for Infections in Cancer