The 7^th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference is excited to announce a record number of registrants for the 2010 Conference. The world class program has reached and appealed to Hepatitis Professionals from Australia, New Zealand and beyond. The importance of this was highlighted by ASHM President and Head of the Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program, National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Professor Greg Dore.

‘The major global burden of chronic viral hepatitis is within the Asia-Pacific Region, particularly related to highly endemic hepatitis B in many countries of the region but also contributed to by relatively high hepatitis C prevalence. The registration of an extremely large delegation from China for the Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference is therefore a highly significant milestone in the development of the conference and the broader potential contribution that Australia could make to the response to viral hepatitis within the region. The increasing integration of specific regional HIV content into the National HIV/AIDS Conference in keeping with Australia's expanding role in the regional response may now be replicated in the viral hepatitis sector. Further evidence of the potential role of the Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference in a regional viral hepatitis response is the attendance at the conference of two key representatives of the Indonesian Society of Gastroenterology who will also be involved in meetings to discuss collaborative initiatives on hepatitis C treatment education and training for Indonesian primary care practitioners'

Other Conference Highlights Include

• Hepatitis B Primer for people that are new to working in Hepatitis B, on Monday 6 September from 8.30am - 12.00pm.  For further information and to register please click here.
• Exciting plenary talks from world class professionals
  
• Conference symposia covering all four conference disciplines ; Basic Science, Clinical Medicine, Community & Social Research and Epidemiology, Public Health & Prevention with exciting presenters.

Futher Conference Information
The Conference Partners including, The Australasian Society for HIV Medicine, the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases, The Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research, the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, Hepatitis Australia, the National Centre in HIV Social Research, the National Hepatitis B Alliance and the New Zealand Hepatitis Foundation are delighted to announce that Melbourne, Australia will host the 7th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference, at Sebel Albert Park from 6 to 8 September 2010.

The theme of the conference is Looking Back, Moving Forward: Challenges for the Next Decade. There will be four major streams in the conference: Basic Science; Clinical Medicine; Community and Social Research; and Epidemiology, Public Health and Prevention. As well as having world leading expertise in each of the streams, the conference will endeavour to engage participants with different sectoral interests in dialogue and the cross-fertilisation of ideas. The plenary sessions are planned to include input from multiple streams on a common theme within the one session, and there will be parallel sessions for individual streams.

Key reasons to attend the conference:

• Leading conference addressing state of the art research and treatment of Viral Hepatitis in Asia and the Pacific
• Hear about the latest advances from leading local and international figures
• Gain recognition for Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs
• Network with colleagues from across Australia, New Zealand and further afield.
• Visit Melbourne, it boasts great events, a passion for food and wine and a fabulous arts scene. Known as a style-setter, Melbourne is home to a non-stop program of festivals, renowned dining, major art exhibitions and musical extravaganzas

Each theme area will run symposia and proffered paper sessions that focus on key areas of the particular discipline highlighted by the individual stream Chairs:

Basic Science
Hepatitis B and C infections are two of the most prevalent health issues facing virologists, hepatologists and infectious disease specialists around the world today. Understanding the mechanisms by which hepatitis viruses cause damage to the liver and ultimately lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer is paramount to the future development of more effective treatment strategies for both hepatitis B and C infections. This Conference will bring together leading international and regional scientific experts in viral hepatitis to share their knowledge and research in exploring the liver's response to hepatitis viruses and the significant role this
plays in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B and C associated liver disease. Through the structured basic science plenary talks, symposia, free paper and poster sessions delegates will enjoy a rewarding experience that will undoubtedly enrich their understanding of viral hepatitis.
Chair: Joseph Torresi (representing the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases)

Clinical Medicine
The conference will highlight major new therapies directed at HCV and HCV infection. A strong focus will be on the emerging data on how host genetics are able to predict different treatment outcomes. The conference program will also address difficult management decisions in the issues of HCV retreatment and treatment of advanced liver disease. In addition the major emerging issue of Heaptocellular cancer will be analysed and treatment options will be discussed.
Chair: Geoff McCaughan (representing the Gastroenterological Society of Australia)

Community and Social Research
The Community and Social Research theme brings together eminent thinkers, researchers, community members and practitioners to engage with current key issues in hepatitis prevention, treatment and care. Speakers will address issues such as human rights, complexities in the social and political dimensions of viral hepatitis, models of care and working within challenging environments to address viral hepatitis.
Chairs: Carla Treloar ( representing the National Centre in HIV Social Research) and Helen Tyrell (representing Hepatitis Australia)

Epidemiology, Public Health and Prevention
Hepatitis C and hepatitis B have a major impact on human health both globally and locally. It is vital that we understand the epidemiology of these diseases to properly inform public health policies and programs that prevent disease transmission and improve the management of people already infected with these viruses. The Conference will highlight the recent changes in our understanding of hepatitis C epidemiology, most notably in the area of HCV reinfection, superinfection and clearance. The implications of these findings are of considerable relevance to everyone working in the sector, from government to community organisations and researchers. The epidemiology of hepatitis B in Australia is complex, with notable diversity in the modes of transmission and populations who are acutely and chronically infected with the virus. A discussion of the optimal public health strategies to address this diversity is particularly relevant at this Conference, in the year of release of Australia's first National Hepatitis B Strategy.
Chairs: Margaret Hellard (Burnet Institute) and Mark Stoove (Burnet Institute)

We welcome your involvement in our conference through submission of an abstract, attendance as a delegate or participation in the trade display. We are looking forward to seeing you in Melbourne in September 2010 for an exciting conference.