Speakers & Programme

Professor Connie Weyand (Stanford, California, USA)

Connie Weyand is Professor of Medicine in Immunology and Rheumatology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. She received her MD from the University of Aachen in 1979 and her Dr. habil degree in Medical Sciences in 1988 from the University of Heidelberg. She trained in Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University in California, before appointment to the faculty of the Mayo Medical and Graduate School in 1990. In 2004 she joined the Emory University School of Medicine where she was appointed Professor of Medicine and Co-director of the Lowance Center for Immunology. More recently she has returned to Stanford to pursue her research interests that include immune events in the aetiology of rheumatoid arthritis, giant cell arteritis and links between atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

 

Professor Anthony Woolf (Cornwall, UK)

Tony Woolf is Professor of Rheumatology, Institute of Health Care Research, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth and Consultant Rheumatologist at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, UK. He qualified from the London Hospital Medical College, and trained in rheumatology at Hammersmith Hospital, Guy’s Hospital, Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases and Bristol Royal Infirmary. His special interests are in the burden of musculoskeletal conditions, the management of musculoskeletal conditions, medical education and osteoporosis on which he has written widely. He is currently Chair of the Bone and Joint Decade 2010-2020 International Coordinating Council.

 

Professor Lindsey Criswell (University of California, San Francisco, USA)

Lindsey Criswell is Professor of Medicine (Rheumatology Division) and Orofacial Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and Chief of the Rheumatology Division at UCSF. She received her MD and undertook rheumatology training at UCSF, and received her MPH from the University of California, Berkeley. Lindsey also completed a DSc in genetic epidemiology at the Netherlands Institute of Health Sciences. Her research program explores the genetics and epidemiology of human autoimmune disease, particularly rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. During the past several years, her research unit has devoted substantial effort to performance of genome wide association studies (GWAS) of SLE and RA. This collaborative work has led to the identification of over 30 risk genes each for RA and SLE and revealed underlying biologic pathways responsible for disease onset and progression.

 

Professor Daniel Lovell (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Ohio, USA)

Dan Lovell holds the Joseph E. Levinson Endowed Chair of Pediatric Rheumatology and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He is Associate Director, Division of Rheumatology and Chairman, Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. His focus in on clinical research and he has served as the principal investigator (PI) for >30 multicenter, interventional trials in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). In addition he served as a PI or Co-PI in the research that lead to the development of the core sets of outcome measures for JIA, juvenile dermatomyositis and childhood onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. His current research efforts are supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, American College of Rheumatology and several pharmaceutical sponsors.

OTHER INVITED SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Professor Peter Brooks (University of Melbourne)
Director of the Australian Health Workforce Institute at the University of Melbourne.

Professor Matt Brown (University of Queensland)
Director, University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Professor of Immunogenetics, University of Queensland.

Professor Flavia Cicuttini (Monash University)
Professor of Rheumatology and Head, Musculoskeletal Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine, Monash Medical School, and Head of the Rheumatology Unit, Alfred Hospital.

Dr Matthew Cook (Australian National university)
John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University, and Director of Immunology at the Canberra Hospital.

Dr Bill Giannakopoulos (University of New South Wales)
Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales and St George Hospital, Sydney.

Associate Professor Kathryn Gibson (Liverpool Hospital)
Director of Rheumatology, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, and Conjoint Associate Professor, University of New South Wales.

Professor David Hunter (University of Sydney)
Professor of Medicine and ARC Future Fellow at the University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital.

Professor Graeme Jones (University of Tasmania)
Professor of Rheumatology and Epidemiology and Head of the Musculoskeletal Unit at the Menzies Research Institute, Tasmania, and Department of Rheumatology, Royal Hobart Hospital.

Dr Fred Joshua (Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney)
Staff Specialist Rheumatologist, Prince of Wales Hospital, and Conjoint Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales.

Dr Greg Lovell (Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra)
Sport and exercise medicine physician at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Dr Louis McGuigan (Australian Rheumatology Association)
Federal President of the Australian Rheumatology Association.

Professor Lyn March (University of Sydney)
Leader, Global Burden of Disease Musculoskeletal Expert Group. Senior Staff Specialist in Rheumatology and Clinical Epidemiology at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney and Conjoint Professor in Faculty of Medicine and Department of Public Health, University of Sydney.

Professor Eric Morand (Monash University)
Professor of Medicine, Head, Southern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University.

Associate Professor Michael Nicholas (University of Sydney)
Director, Brain Behaviour & Society Research Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, and University of Sydney.

Dr Sean O’Neill (University of New South Wales)
Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales and Liverpool Hospital, Sydney.

Mr Craig Purdam (Australian Institute of Sport)
Deputy Director – Athlete Services, Australian Institute of Sport

Christine Retallack (Western Australia)
Community Nurse Rheumatology, Western Australia.

Dr Rachel Rossiter (University of Newcastle)
Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle.

Robyn Speerin (NSW Health)
Network Manager, Musculoskeletal Network, Agency for Clinical Innovation, NSW Health.

Kellie Stockton (Queensland)
Physiotherapist, Queensland.

Associate Professor Allan Sturgess (St George Hospital, Sydney)
Staff Specialist in Rheumatology, St George Hospital, Sydney and Conjoint Associate Professor, University of New South Wales.

Professor Ranjeny Thomas (University of Queensland)
Arthritis Queensland Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Queensland and Diamantina Institute, and the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Dr Nicole Walsh (St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne)
Research Fellow, Bone Cell Biology and Disease Unit, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne.

Dr Peter Wong (Coffs Harbour)
Rheumatologist in private practice at the Mid-North Coast Arthritic Clinic, Coffs Harbour.

We welcome all these speakers and look forward to them sharing their latest research in an engaging manner with the assembled audience.

The programme is not available.

Registration desk
The registration desk will be located in the main foyer of the National Convention Centre outside the main plenary room and exhibition area and will be open for the duration of the meeting.

The registration Desk will be open at the following times:
Saturday 12 May       7.00 am – 6.30 pm
Sunday 13 May          7.00 am – 6.30 pm
Monday 14 May        7.00 am – 5.30 pm
Tuesday 15 May        7.00 am – 4.30 pm

SOCIAL EVENTS

Welcome Reception and Exhibition Opening
Date:  Saturday 12 May 2012
Time:  5.15 pm – 6.45 pm
Venue: Exhibition Hall, National Convention Centre
Cost:  Included with full registration.  Extra tickets: $50 per ticket.

A great networking opportunity that will allow you to catch up with colleagues and mingle with delegates attending the meeting. The welcome reception will be held at the conference venue in the Exhibition Hall with the Trade Exhibition.

Included in full and student registration. Additional tickets for accompanying persons can be purchased at $50      . All delegates must indicate on the registration form whether they will be attending this function.

Mother’s Day Drinks
Date:  Sunday 13 May 2012
Time:  5.30 pm – 6.30 pm
Venue: Main Foyer, National Convention Centre
Cost: Included with full registration and free of charge for accompanying persons and children.

This Mother’s Day Drinks has been designed with families in mind and there will be some child-friendly activities on offer during the networking drinks.

Please indicate on the registration form online your attendance so that we can cater accordingly.

Annual Conference Dinner
Date:  Monday14 May 2012
Time:   6.30 pm - Coaches depart from the National Convention Centre, Crowne Plaza and Novotel Canberra.
7 pm for 7.30 pm - Pre Dinner Drinks
            7.30 – 11.30 pm - Dinner
Venue: Great Hall, Parliament House
Cost: $120 per ticket

The conference dinner will be held in the Great Hall at Parliament House. The prestigious Great Hall is one of Australia’s most impressive settings, with a soaring ceiling and polished wood floors against a backdrop of the famous Arthur Boyd tapestry.  Delegates will arrive to the spectacular Marble Hall for pre-dinner drinks before dining in one of the Australia’s must-see venues.
NB This function is not included in the full registration.

Fun Run/Walk
Date:  Tuesday 15 May 2012
Time:   TBC

Farewell Drinks
Date:  Tuesday 15 May 2012
Time:  At the conclusion of the last session
Venue: Main Foyer, National Convention Centre
Cost: Included with full registration and free of charge for accompanying persons and children.

An opportunity to farewell colleagues at the conclusion of the meeting.  Please indicate on the registration form online your attendance so that we can cater accordingly.