Congratulations to the Symposium team on another successful event!

The emergence of genomics, ehealth and machine learning/artificial intelligence were the major scientific themes of the 2021 Herston Health Precinct Symposium. These were reflected in the keynote lectures, along with a focus on COVID-19 and the response to the pandemic.

The most attended single session was the keynote lecture by Professor Leonardo Seoane (Oschner Medical Centre) on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Orleans, who provided thought-provoking insights and a number of potential lessons for Queensland hospitals, clinicians and policy makers.

Perhaps the most talked about session described the rapid biotech-driven evolution of the Massachusetts Healthcare Ecosystem. The theme of integrating the clinic, industry and university resonated with views of the future of the Herston Precinct and the role of our institutes as hubs of collaboration and innovation. It also highlighted the role of individual mentorship in creating the health precinct of the future.

An entertaining debate on whether clinicians or administrators should manage departmental budgets ended in an honourable draw. Perhaps leading the conclusion should be that they work together (or all become chameleons – “a changeable lizard with a thick skin,” as we were told).

The scientific sessions featured 32 high-quality oral presentations, selected from 153 abstracts. Prizes were awarded to the following researchers:

• Dr Stephen Morrison Award for Best Clinical Research – Nicole Marsh, ‘Managing intravenous devices among patients with limited vascular access or prolonged therapy: a pilot randomised control trial’
• Professor William Egerton Award for Best Discovery and Innovation Research – Paul Chapman, ‘Vaccination of human subjects with attenuated Necator americanus hookworm larvae: a randomised, placebo controlled phase 1 trial’
• Professor Lawrie Powell AC Early Career Research Award – Amanda Corley, ‘Risk factors for central venous access device failure: a multivariable analysis of 1893 catheters’

Finally, the Symposium marked the end of an era, with the retirement of Program Committee Chair Professor Jeffrey Lipman AM. The inaugural Jeffrey Lipman Award for Best Translational Research into Practice Award went to Dr Adrienne Young for her work on collection and evaluation of rehabilitation outcomes.

Over the course of the five days, more than 5000 session tickets were distributed with the hybrid in person/online format boosting attendance overall.

We’re looking forward to next year’s Symposium already!