The Keynote Speakers for the 16th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference
Burnet Institute, Australia
Elimination in prisons: where are we now, what are the gaps, what needs to happen next
Thursday 13 August, 9 | 8:30am
Professor Mark Stoové is Head of Public Health at the Burnet Institute where he also and leads Burnet’s Justice Health Research Groups at the Burnet Institute. He is an infectious diseases epidemiologist, harm reduction specialist, and implementation scientist who has researched the transmission and prevention of blood borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections and the health and wellbeing of affected populations for over 25 years.
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Australia
HCC surveillance: re-engaging people, strengthening systems, preventing avoidable liver cancer
Wednesday12 August | 1:00pm
Professor Jessica Howell MBBS(Hons) FRACP PhD MSc(Epi) PGDip(PH) FGESA is a gastroenterologist/ hepatologist, NHMRC Principal Research Fellow and Head of the Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer research group in the Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne/ University of Melbourne and Burnet Institute. She is also Chair, Gastroenterology Society of Australia (GESA) Liver Faculty (2023-2027). She combines clinical, basic science and public health expertise in translational research projects in liver cancer and viral hepatitis, focused on marginalized populations. She currently leads several multi-centre studies in liver disease epidemiology, rapid point-of-care diagnostics and biomarker development in viral hepatitis and liver cancer.
Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom
What's Next in Hepatitis B: New Therapies, Smarter Pathways, Better Access
Friday 14 August | 9:00am
Professor Kennedy is a leading liver specialist and his work in viral liver disease is known internationally. Trained at University College Dublin, he completed post-graduate training in London and was appointed as a Senior Lecturer at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2009. He has produced novel work redefining disease phase in Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) and the main focus of his research work is around broadening treatment candidacy and the development of individualized treatment strategies for viral liver disease. He is widely published in the field; with over 200 publications and >120 peer reviewed articles (h-index 49). In addition to multiple book chapters, he has also edited a textbook on Hepatogastroenterology. As a Consultant Physician and Hepatologist, Professor Kennedy is at the forefront of improving patient care. He is passionate about patient education and ensuring that patients play a central role in their own medical management.