In Review: HOT NORTH Annual Scientific Symposium 2018

June 8, 2018

12:23 pm

In Review: HOT NORTH Annual Scientific Symposium 2018

The 2018 HOT NORTH Annual Scientific Symposium brought together some of Australia’s leading tropical health researchers and clinicians with more than 130 people in attendance over the 29th and 30th of May. The symposium brought together some of Australia’s leading tropical health researchers and clinicians to discuss the latest developments and findings around research into tropical health issues and to plan for future research projects.

“A great opportunity to hear about the range of projects being undertaken within HOT NORTH. I was particularly interested in the talks around skin health and antimicrobial resistance as these issues are very relevant to my field.” – HOT NORTH Symposium attendee.

People living in northern Australia face diverse and complex health problems, as evident from the very high rates of skin infections, diabetes, rheumatic heart disease and chronic kidney disease. In addition, there are the challenges of tropical and vector borne diseases and the ever-increasing threat of antibiotic resistance and emergence and spread of “super bugs”.

In some parts of the Northern Territory, up to 70 per cent of Aboriginal infants will be infected with scabies by their first birthday. In recent years adult-onset diabetes has been increasingly recognised to be occurring in adolescents, young adults and pregnant women. Darwin has the highest incidence rate of melioidosis of anywhere yet reported globally. North Queensland has faced repeated dengue incursions from the north and has been impacted by the epidemic of multidrug resistant tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea.

To address these and other emerging tropical health problems HOT NORTH, a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)-funded research program led by Menzies School of Health Research, was established in 2017. Through a multidisciplinary collaboration involving eight of Australia’s leading health research organisations, HOT NORTH aims to improve health outcomes in the Tropical North while building the capacity of northern Australia by attracting and retaining health care professionals and scientists.

After a successful first year, which saw over $1.5 million allocated to fund 36 research projects and a number of teaching workshops, HOT NORTH held its inaugural Annual Scientific Symposium in Darwin, Northern Territory on 24-25 May 2018. The symposium brought together some of Australia’s leading tropical health researchers and clinicians.

Director of HOT NORTH, Professor Bart Currie said of working in the north, “Why would you work anywhere else in Australia? For anyone seeking innovative tropical research projects that will jump start their career there is no better place to be, in my opinion, than the tropical north of Australia.”

With over 130 participants in attendance, presentations and discussions focused on the research themes driving HOT NORTH’s core business. Sessions included clinical and research developments in skin health, respiratory health, antimicrobial resistance, chronic diseases, and vector borne and emerging diseases.

Presenters from a wide range of Australia’s leading health organisations shared their thoughts on the future of tropical health and infectious disease control and surveillance; supporting, growing and retaining healthcare professionals and scientists; and improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

HOT NORTH utilises a strong collaborative approach between researchers and community. The program will generate new research capability and capacity in the health and medical research workforce, and promote effective translation of this research into health policy and practice.

HOT NORTH researchers are based at the following research organisations: