Virologist at the MRC – University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, I study viruses and how they interact with host cells during infection. With a particular focus on respiratory infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 and how the capacity to spread in the human airway changes along with the virus evolving. All together, my research projects aim to understand how the virus transmits and the pathogenesis associated with the infection. This to provide further knowledge on respiratory infections informing vaccine design and development of new therapeutics. Thus, paving the way to get better prepared for future pandemics.

I am a bioinformatics scientist working at the Medical Research Council – University of Glasgow Centre for Virus (CVR), focussing on viral evolution and virus discovery (metagenomics).

Dr. Melanie R. McReynolds is a HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellow and Rising Assistant Professor at the Pennsylvania State University, where her research focuses on the intersection of metabolic decline and aging. Melanie holds a B.S. degree in Chemistry and Physics from Alcorn State University. She participated in the NIH funded Alcorn State to Penn State Bridges to the Doctorate Program where she obtained her M.S. degree in Biological Sciences. Dr. McReynolds completed her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology at the Pennsylvania State University. Melanie was recognized as a Rising Star on the CellPress list of Top 100 Inspiring Black Scientists in America during her postdoctoral tenure at Princeton University and aims to inspire the next generation of scientists to trust that all things will work together for those who believe. Melanie a biochemist specializing in understanding the connection between metabolic stress and aging. She has over a decade of research, mentoring, and teaching experience that she is excited to offer back to the Penn State Community. Melanie is on the trajectory to establish her independent research group, where her lab will shed light on metabolic aging and disease. She is returning to Penn State as the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Early Career Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology—effective January 2022.

Dr Aspasia Stacey Rabba is an educational and developmental psychologist and lecturer at Monash University. She leads an adult autism service in the Mental Health Program at Monash Health, Victoria’s largest public health service. Dr Rabba has over 15 years of experience supporting individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions. As a scientist-practitioner, she is committed to translational research that is co-designed with the community and has quality impact. Dr Rabba’s interests centre on assessment and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions (i.e., autism, ADHD) and the intersectionality with mental health; school engagement; family wellbeing; and factors that lead to resilience and belonging. Dr Rabba combines her academic interests and knowledge as a practitioner with continued clinical practice, education, and collaboration with a firm belief that we never stop learning.

Sarah Allinson has been carrying out cancer research at Lancaster University for almost two decades, having received a North West Cancer Research Fellowship in 2004. She began her career as a chemist, completing a PhD in nucleic acids chemistry at the University of Southampton before moving on to work on DNA repair at the Medical Research Council in Oxfordshire. Her research focuses on how cells respond to damage to their genetic material with a particular interest on the effects of ultraviolet radiation, the main cause of skin cancer. Sarah also lectures at the University on genetics and cancer biology and works with local charity North West Cancer Research on community outreach activities to raise awareness of issues related to cancer.

With a background in Occupational Therapy, small business and most recently Practice Management, Kate is now Co-Founder and CEO of health-tech startup, MediBetter. Kate is a mother to two teenage children and thoroughly enjoys the journey of never-ending self-improvement, recently obtaining her Advanced Diploma of Neuroscience of Leadership. Kate is passionate about working with people and improving and optimising workplace processes, leveraging off tools that go beyond simple administrative functions. Her personal experiences working in General Practice has led to her, alongside her fellow Co-Founders, creating MediBetter.

Emma Siegel brings over 15 years of experience in project management and public health research to her current role as manager of the Lismore Women’s Health and Resource Centre. She has extensive experience in clinical governance and quality improvement in both health and research settings. Emma has a particular interest in using health service data to inform policy and improve clinical practice. Emma is here today representing Women’s Health NSW, a peak body for 22 women’s health services across NSW, specifically their work on strangulation and sexual choking via Itleftnomarks.com.au.

Steve Macfarlane is an Associate Professor of Aged Psychiatry at Monash University, and is the national Head of Clinical Services for Dementia Support Australia. He has been a consultant psychiatrist since 2003, with research interests that include subjects as diverse as Alzheimer’s Disease, psychiatry in film, and senile squalor. His past appointments have included periods of service on the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Council for Mental Health and on the Commonwealth Psychogeriatric Expert Reference Group. Steve served a period as Deputy Chief Psychiatrist for the State of Victoria in 2008, and has been Director of Aged psychiatry at Peninsula Health and Alfred Health. He provided expert testimony to the Royal commission on Aged Care Safety and Quality on two occasions. He is a past Chair of the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age for the RANZCP and has authored over 40 papers in peer-reviewed journals. He was a regular on the Melbourne radio programme “Radiotherapy” (3RRR-FM) between 1995-2018, discussing psychiatry in film.

Dr Leilani Corbett is a medical educator with True and a medical officer at the Toowoomba True Clinic. She completed her MBBS at the University of Queensland in 2010, attainted RACGP fellowship in 2017 and has a particular interest in sexual and reproductive health. In addition to her roles with True, she is employed as a Senior Medical Officer in Sexual Health/Public Medicine at Toowoomba Hospital. She is an HIV S100 Prescriber, participates in the Forensic Medical Examination roster for Darling Downs Health and is a GP Clinical Editor with Darling Downs HealthPathways.

MBChB, FCFP(SA) Leon Geffen is a family physician in general practice in Cape Town. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and conducts sessions in the Groote Schuur Hospital/UCT Memory Clinic. He actively teaches and examines Registrars in Family Medicine at the university. He is a member of the the South African Geriatrics Society (SAGS), the South African Academy of Family Physicians (SAAFP), the South African Medical Association, the Allergy Society of South Africa and the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society (SAHCS). Geffen is the president and honorary medical superintendent of Highlands House, a Jewish Aged Home in Cape Town. Geffen has published on stroke, the management of infective endocarditis, ageing and sexuality, ageing and immunology, the management of patients in a memory clinic and research in general practice. His current research interests include improved quality of long-term care and the use of quality indicators and assessment instruments in community-dwelling older persons. He is currently engaged in a public-private partnership programme with the Western Cape Department of Health to provide medical services at a primary care level. He is the Medical Director of Agewell, an international multi-centre project being implemented at two sites in Cape Town to develop and evaluate support services for older persons in the community. Geffen recently completed an evaluation of oral health in older persons in Cape Town as part of an international collaborative study. He was appointed a Fellow of interRAI.

A/Prof Stephan Foy is a graduate of University of Otago and completed his coronary interventional fellowship at Royal Perth Hospital, WA.
His first consultant engagement was at Launceston General Hospital, Tasmania, where Stephan set up Tasmania’s first Cardiac Cath Lab outside of Hobart. This resulted in implementing a diagnostic cardiac catheterisation and pacemaker implant service.
Stephan moved to Geelong in late 1997, where he established Heart Centre St John of God, a private cardiology practice in which he remains a practice principal.
He was instrumental in instituting the cardiac services at St John of God Geelong Hospital. Stephan was the key advisor for development of the hospital’s Cardiac Catheter Labs and Cardiac Care Unit. His association with Geelong-based cardiac surgeons was vital to SJGGH developing its cardiac surgery programme, with the first cardiac operation in a Victoria state regional centre performed in 2017.