News & Events
News & Events
Institut Pasteur Korea and Peter Doherty Institute sought joint strategies for global infectious diseases preparedness and response
2022-06-08
Institut Pasteur Korea and Peter Doherty Institute sought joint strategies for global infectious diseases preparedness and response
- Held a two-day scientific gathering, including a joint symposium and in-depth sessions,
followed by an MOU signing ceremony -
- Established joint strategies to tackle major public health threats such as
antibiotic resistance, COVID-19, influenza, and hepatitis B -
followed by an MOU signing ceremony -
- Established joint strategies to tackle major public health threats such as
antibiotic resistance, COVID-19, influenza, and hepatitis B -
Gyeonggi-do, S. Korea, June 08 2022 I Institut Pasteur Korea (IPK) and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) established collaborative strategies and action plans for advancing global infectious disease preparedness and response throughout a joint symposium and in-depth scientific sessions held over two days on June 2nd and 3rd.
To this end, seven important scholars from the Doherty Institute, including University of Melbourne Prof. Sharon Lewin, Director of Doherty Institute; Royal Melbourne Hospital Prof. Peter Revill, Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory; University of Melbourne Prof. Damian Purcell, Section Head of Molecular Virology Group, Division of Research and Molecular Development; University of Melbourne, Dr. Norelle Sherry, Acting Deputy Director of Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory; Medical Microbiologist & Infectious Disease Physician, University of Melbourne, Prof. Tim Stinear, Head of Stinear Group and Scientific Director of the Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics Center; Prof. Ian Barr, Deputy Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza; and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Dr. Danielle Anderson, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, visited IPK located in Gyeonggi-do, S. Korea.
On June 2, IPK and the Doherty Institute held a joint symposium in a hybrid online-and-offline format to reinforce research collaboration and exchange strategies to address the major infectious diseases, such as antibiotic resistance, COVID-19, influenza, and hepatitis B, which are the ongoing or growing threats to humanity. Seeking to translate outcomes of excellent basic science to practical applications for public health, sixteen speakers and chairs from IPK and the Doherty Institute exchanged their latest discoveries and insights in the four sessions: Antimicrobial Resistance and Genomics, Everlasting Battle with Viruses, COVID-19 Response, and Technologies for Infectious Diseases. Over 200 participants from academia, institute, industry, hospital, and government joined the discussion.
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On the next day, the experts of the two institutes gathered in groups with a common research field of virus, bacteria, and technology for in-depth scientific discussions. Through the integrated meeting that followed, the two institutes drew up strategic priories and action plans for joint research projects and technology innovation.
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Additionally, IPK and the Doherty Institute extended the Memorandum of Understanding concluded in 2018, further solidifying the foundation for expanding and accelerating the cooperation between the two organizations.
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Sharing the vision to improve global public health through infectious disease research, IPK and the Doherty Institute have undertaken active collaboration in past years. In particular, the two institutes implemented joint responses to COVID-19 and contributed to the acceleration of COVID-19 therapeutics discovery by enabling the ASCOT international clinical trial of nafamostat, one of the drug candidates identified by Institut Pasteur Korea, in Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, etc. Researchers of each institute also shared expertise in biology, genomics, and drug discovery for COVID-19 through the 1st Joint Symposium held in July 2021.
Dr. Youngmee Jee, CEO of IPK, said, “Through active discussions with the colleagues of the Doherty Institute, a leading institute in global infectious disease research, we have achieved meaningful milestones of identifying key projects to strengthen our collaboration in major infectious disease fields.” “Implementing these strategies, we will further vitalize cooperation between the two institutions as well as contribute to the acceleration of R&D exchanges between Korea and Australia in the field of infectious diseases, and take the lead in reinforcing science, technology, innovation, and cooperation, which are the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Prof. Sharon Lewin, Doherty Institute Director, said, “We were delighted to visit the IPK and hear of their work in drug screening for infectious agents, virology, and antimicrobial resistance. Our team identified many opportunities for collaboration which we are very excited about. The past 2 years of COVID-19 have taught us that the best science is done through collaboration and we look forward to deepening our ties and work with IPK.’’