2025 ASI NSW & ACT Joint Branch Meeting

Date

Time

10am – 4:30pm

Venue

Peppers Craigieburn, Bowral

Speakers

A/Prof Julia Ellyard (Australian National University)
A/Prof Julia Ellyard leads the Autoimmunity and Cell Signalling Group at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University. She completed a BSc (Honours) at University of Sydney, and a PhD with Professor Chris Parish at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University. Post-PhD, she was awarded a NHMRC Overseas Biomedical Fellowship to undertake postdoctoral training with Professor Michael Neuberger at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK on the regulation of antibody class-switching, before returning to JCSMR to work with Professor Carola Vinuesa on the development of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases. In 2014, she received a Judith Whitworth Fellowship to continue her research as a team leader in the Centre for Personalised Immunology investigating genetic causes of lupus. In 2022 she established her own research group with a focus on understanding how genetic variants affect immune cell function to break tolerance and cause autoimmune diseases. She is particularly interested in the role dysregulated cytokines, cytokine signalling and nucleic acid sensing play in the development of autoimmunity and how these pathways are regulated. A/Prof Ellyard is also a passionate educator and has a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and training the next generation of medical researchers.

Prof Matt Sweet (Institute of Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland)
Matt Sweet is a Group Leader and Director of Higher Degree Research at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. He is also a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) Leadership Fellow. Matt’s research group is interested in developing novel anti-infective and anti-inflammatory approaches through a detailed understanding of the molecular processes that control macrophage functions and innate immunity, particularly in the context of immunometabolism.

Dr Vanessa Bryant (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)
Dr. Vanessa Bryant is a medical researcher, Lab Head at WEHI, and Clinical Scientist at RMH. As Deputy Scientific Director of the Snow Centre for Immune Health, she leads research programs using functional immunology and genomics to understand immune dysfunction. Her work has uncovered new disease-causing genes for rare antibody deficiency disorders and expanded our understanding of inborn errors of immunity. Vanessa also co-leads the Alliance for Indigenous Genomics and the Australian ImmunoGenomics Alliance, MRFF-funded national initiatives aimed at improving diagnostic rates and ensuring equitable access to genomic testing for people with rare and complex immune diseases.

Prof Ronald Sluyter (University of Wollongong)
Prof. Ronald Sluyter leads the Immunology and Cell Signalling Group in the School of Science and the Molecular Horizons Research Institute at the University of Wollongong. Ronald completed his PhD in 1999 under the supervision of Prof. Gary Halliday at the University of Sydney, where he studied the skin immune system. From 2000, he was a Research Fellow in the laboratory of the late Prof. James Wiley at the Nepean Hospital, Penrith, where he researched the roles of the purinergic receptor P2X7 in blood and skin cells. Since 2008, he has held an academic position at the University of Wollongong. His research has made significant contributions regarding the roles of P2X7 and other purinergic molecules, including their polymorphic variants, in human and veterinary health and medicine.

Sponsors

Click here to download Sponsorship Prospectus.

Price

Member Price $285.00
Member Student $145.00
Non-Member Price $575.00
Non-Member Student $575.00

Description

The ASI NSW & ACT branch joint meeting is to be held on 21-22nd August at Peppers Craigieburn, Bowral. In the past, this meeting has been a valuable opportunity for many researchers to network and to establish collaborations between research groups and companies in a friendly atmosphere. Always a special and collegial meeting and a particularly valuable opportunity for students and early/mid-career researchers to present and receive feedback on their work in a friendly environment.

Submit your Abstract before July 21st 23:59 AEST

1. Please download the abstract template using the green button below.

2. Please save your file using this naming convention: LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_CAREER STAGE_ABSTRACT2025
   e.g SMITH_JOHN_PHD_ABSTRACT2025
   e.g JANE_MARY_POSTDOC_ABSTRACT2025
   e.g SULLY_MIKE_GROUPLEADER_ABSTRACT2025

3. Submit as a .doc or docx file before July 21st at 23:59 AEST.

Download the abstract template

Register before July 21st 23:59 AEST

ℹ️  If you are a current ASI member, please click the green button below and log in to the ASI website when prompted.  This will ensure that you receive your member-discounted rate.

We have secured some fantastic pricing for registrants! The below registration fees are inclusive of:
✔️1 nights accommodation in a twin-share room (upgrades to single room available at additional cost)
✔️Meeting participation
✔️Lunch and dinner on Day 1
✔️Breakfast and lunch on Day 2

*Non-members please note - you may wish to consider joining as an ASI member.
**Non-member fee is based on single share

Accommodation Options

Included in the registration fee:

Your registration fee above includes 1 night's accommodation in a twin share room (2 x single beds in 1 room).

🚩 For shared (twin) rooms, please indicate your roommate's name on the next page in the 'Additional Requirements' field.  
🚩 Alternatively, if you do not have a roommate, that is no problem at all as we can place you with one. Please indicate your gender in the 'Additional Requirements' field.

Additional Option 1: Upgrade to a single room

If you prefer a single room, this will incur an additional cost of AUD115.

** For single room upgrades, please indicate this on the next page during the registration process.

Additional Option 2: Bring an accompanying person

If you are bringing an additional person who is not attending the scientific program (e.g partner), this will incur an additional cost. The accompanying person will share the same room as the registrant and have meals provided. There is also an option to purchase additional dinner tickets.

Please contact us to discuss the various options.

Transport

Are you able to provide carpooling? Or perhaps you are wishing to find someone to carpool with?
Please contact us to let us know.

ASI Carer’s Grants for Branch Meetings

A friendly reminder to ASI members that ASI strongly promotes equity and diversity, and we wish to support primary carers to be able to attend ASI Branch Meetings and the ASI Annual Meeting. We acknowledge the challenges sometimes associated with attending your local branch meeting and offer the ASI Carer's Grant to help offset the costs of caring. Please click here to learn more and apply. 

Covid Safe Policy

 Your health and safety are our priority. This is a COVID-safe event with the following rules to adhere to:

• All delegates and exhibitors may be asked to present a NEGATIVE Rapid Antigen Test before travelling to the conference.
• All attendees must comply with the Safety Plan advised by public health orders to minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19 on the premises. 
• All attendees are encouraged to wear a mask particularly at indoor venues
• All attendees are encouraged to contact the Organising Committees if they exhibit symptoms and consider cancelling their registration or participating remotely to minimise transmission
• ASI will not cover expenses associated with extra accommodation or alternative transport costs due to isolation requirements should attendees test positive at the event. All attendees should be aware that the events are ‘Attend at your own risk'.  

Disclaimer of Liability

The Organising Committee will not accept liability for damages of any nature sustained by participants or their accompanying persons or loss of or damage to their personal property as a result of the meeting or related events. 

Should the event be cancelled due to COVID-related restrictions, the Organising Committee shall endeavour to reschedule.  All participants who have paid a registration fee may receive a full refund on the registration fee, but all participants hereby indemnify and hold the Organising Committee unaccountable for all out-of-pocket travel and quarantine -related costs, damages and expenses. 

 By registering for and attending the ASI event, you are also indicating your acceptance of the ASI Event Policy.

🚩 Don't forget! If you are a current ASI member, please click the green button below and log in when prompted on the next page (see black box). This will automatically apply your member-discounted rate. If you do not log in, your member discount will not be applied.

No refunds will be given for incorrect registrations, so please make your selections carefully and check that the total amount payable matches your expectations.

Please proceed through the registration page without delay, otherwise, you will be timed out and will need to log in again to receive your member-discounted rate.