Brisbane shines on the global stage with leading streptococcal research conference

Friday, December 15, 2023

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The Lancefield International Symposium on Streptococci and Streptococcal Diseases (LISSSD) Shines Spotlight on Queensland’s Pioneering Strep A Vaccine Research

Scheduled for June 2025, the prestigious Lancefield International Symposium on Streptococci and Streptococcal Diseases (LISSSD) is set to host global experts in Brisbane, at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) managed by ASM Global. This significant event has been made possible by the dedicated efforts of Professor Michael Good AO, Advocate for BCEC, and Associate Professor Manisha Pandey, along with the collaborative support of BCEC, Tourism & Events Queensland (TEQ), and Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA).

The symposium anticipates the participation of over 500 leading experts in the field of Streptococci and Streptococcal diseases, highlighting Queensland’s pioneering research in the development of human vaccine trials targeting Strep A, a bacterium responsible for over 500,000 deaths worldwide annually.

Professors Good and Pandey, internationally acclaimed for their work in immunology and vaccine research, have made remarkable strides in the development of groundbreaking vaccine platforms and world-first candidate peptide-based vaccines currently undergoing clinical trials—a significant advancement in the fight against Strep A disease.

Australia, particularly its Indigenous population, has been profoundly affected by Streptococcal diseases, with Rheumatic Heart disease claiming 100 lives annually, 90% of which are Indigenous Australians. Professor Good underscores the urgency for a vaccine and emphasizes that the symposium serves not only to showcase Queensland and Australia’s research but also to highlight the global impact of the disease, calling for international collaboration.

With a specific focus on preventing Strep A disease in Indigenous communities and amplifying their voices in these discussions, Professors Good and Pandey envision a lasting legacy for the conference, contributing substantially to addressing Strep A-related challenges locally and globally.

The organizers also propose using the symposium as a platform to launch an inaugural conference on Rheumatic Heart disease, with Brisbane as its anchor, and rotating around Australia and beyond. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner emphasizes that the event enhances Brisbane’s status as a global leader in vaccine and infectious diseases research, fostering scientific and social change worldwide.

Kym Guesdon, General Manager of BCEC, expresses delight in supporting renowned researchers and highlights the center’s decade-long partnership with leaders in vaccine development. The symposium receives proud support from the Queensland Government, facilitated through Tourism and Events Queensland.

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