[CDU eNews] - CDU SYMPOSIUM TODISCUSS HEALTH CHALLENGES

[Peter.Hurt at cdu.edu.au]

20:20 VISION:
FACING HEALTH CHALLENGES OF THE NEXT 20 YEARS

Spiralling obesity rates, Indigenous health, and the challenges of
infectious diseases in the Asia Pacific are among the topics to be
discussed at Charles Darwin University's first symposium for 2005, convened
by the Menzies School of Health Research.

The symposium, 20:20 Vision, Facing health challenges of the next 20 years,
also celebrates Menzies School of Health Research's 20th anniversary.

Focusing on future challenges in Indigenous and tropical health, the
symposium will be chaired by Dr Norman Swan, one of the first medically
qualified journalists in Australia, a prominent ABC health reporter and
triple Walkley award-winning journalist.

Speakers and delegates are attending from around Australia and the
Asia-Pacific.

Sessions will cover this history of the Menzies School of Health Research
and evolution of Indigenous health research; responding to health
challenges in collaboration with our northern neighbours; future challenges
in infectious disease control; and improving child and infant health.

Interesting speakers include:

   'How Bill Gates makes us fat' is the title of Professor Garry Egger's
   presentation, during a session on 'urbanisation, obesity and chronic
   disease epidemic'.   Professor Egger is scientific director for the
   GutBuster 'waist control' program for men.
   The growing problem of malaria in the Asia-Pacific represents a major
   impediment to economic growth and the improved health status of our
   regional neighbours, says Professor Nicholas Anstey of the Menzies
   School of Health Research.  A major contributor is emerging strains of
   malaria resistant to multiple anti-malarial drugs.  Menzies has been
   working with the Indonesian Ministry of Health to conduct research and
   training in Papua aimed at reducing illness and death from Malaria.
   Dr Ngiare Brown began at Menzies in January as Assistant Director of
   Indigenous Health.  Dr Brown, from the south coast of New South Wales,
   was one of the first Aboriginal medical graduates in Australia.  She has
   a Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
   Dr Joao Martins, from the Faculty of Public Health, Universidade de Paz
   in Dili, will talk about health and development challenges in East
   Timor.  Dr Martins is a PhD student at Menzies, and one of only 21
   people worldwide to receive a prestigious WHO Tropical Disease Research
   Scholarship to study tuberculosis.  He will be Timor Leste's first
   medical graduate with a PhD when he completes his studies in 2006.
   Professor Bart Currie will discuss a possible increase in infectious
   disease in the Top End, caused by global warming and environmental
   change.  He is Professor of Medicine and Head of the Tropical and
   Emerging Infectious Diseases Division at Menzies, Senior Staff
   Specialist Physician at Royal Darwin Hospital, and Head of the
   Biomedical Program and the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal
   Health.

The Charles Darwin Symposium Series began in 2003 to discuss issues of
relevance for public policy in Northern Australia.

For the symposium program, backgrounds and speakers' abstracts, visit the
Charles Darwin University's web site at www.cdu.edu.au and click on the
symposium link on the home page.

Media contacts:

Jane Munday, Michels Warren Munday, on 0427 880 083, Wednesday of this
week, Monday of next week and the first day (Tuesday 31) of the seminar.

Hilary Tims (Thursday and Friday of this week, and Wednesday, 1 June) -
8941 0162




Background on Menzies School of Health Research

Menzies School of Health Research is a research school in Charles Darwin
University's Institute of Advanced Studies.  Established in 1985, Menzies
is recognised as a national leader in Indigenous, tropical and remote
health and as an innovative centre for public health and research
education.

Research programs cover infectious and non-communicable diseases, chronic
disease, the social and environmental determinants of health, health
systems and information systems.

Menzies' founding Director, Dr John Mathews, will attend the symposium.
His successor, Professor Kerin O'Dea, has been at the Menzies School of
Health Research for five years.

Professor O'Dea was recently awarded a prestigious National Health and
Medical Research Council Program Grant of $7.1 million over five years ?
the biggest grant awarded to Menzies in its 20 year history.   Throughout
2004 $10.6 million was awarded from the National Health and Medical
Research Council.

Earlier this month Professor Bart Currie won the Inaugural Chief Minister's
Research and Innovation Award for his melioidosis research, while Dr Sue
Sayers won a Special Commendation in the awards for her Aboriginal Birth
Cohort study.

www.menzies.edu.au


Media release issued by Jane Munday, Michels Warren Munday, on 0427 880 083







Peter Hurt
Media Manager
Charles Darwin University
Tel: 08 8946 6019 or 0438 466 439

CRICOS Provider No: 00300K