CHIRI’s Dr Connie Jackaman and Lelinh Duong, and Connie’s Lafferty debate team at the ASI annual general meeting.

Congratulations to Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute’s (CHIRI) Dr Connie Jackaman, on her election as Honorary Secretary of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology (ASI) and part of the ASI Executive team.

Connie’s appointment was announced at ASI’s annual general meeting in Adelaide this month, where CHIRI PhD student Lelinh Duong won the prize for Best Overall Poster and the BD Communication Prize.

Connie herself received a prestigious ASI Gordon Ada International Travel Award worth $3,000 to travel to the US next year to present at the JAIN Foundation meeting in March 2020 and meet with US collaborators working in the ageing field of research.

Connie was also on the winning team for the annual Lafferty debate with this year’s topic being “Of mice and men: Do mice models represent human disease?”. Connie’s team, which debated against the topic, also included Professor Colby Zaph from Monash University, VIC and Dr Johannes Mayer from the Malaghan Institute, Wellington, New Zealand. Their opposition, the ‘For’ team, included Professor Gabrielle Belz from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, VIC, Professor Phil Hansbro from Centenary Institute NSW and Cameron Bastow from University of South Australia. During her presentation, Connie screened videos including some of her CHIRI colleagues Dr Carl Mousley, Dr Rob Steuart and Stephen Proksch – which were a highlight of the debate.

With Connie’s seven years of research at CHIRI focused largely on what happens to immune function as we age – including the immune system’s role in repair processes following injury, cancer cachexia and dementia – she is looking forward to applying some WA research expertise to her new national role.

“ASI is a forward-thinking and highly active society, not only in promoting the science of immunology, but also in the scientific community in general,” Connie said.

“I’m excited to join a team that’s been at the forefront of promoting key initiatives related to both immunology and important issues facing the broader science community, such as equity and diversity.”

Connie was proud to see her home state of WA well represented at the ASI meeting, which had close to 500 delegates, with around 60 oral presentations and 200 poster presentations over four days.

“Of the four poster prizes awarded at the meeting, three were won by WA students with CHIRI PhD student Lelinh Duong among them,” Connie said. “Another WA student received a Women’s Initiative Award to travel to the conference, one of two awards given. It was great to see the strength of WA immunology research highlighted at the meeting.”
CHIRI Director Professor John Mamo said Connie’s appointment to the ASI Executive team is deserved recognition of her years of dedication to advancing research in the immunology discipline.

“Connie lives and breathes immunology and through both formal and informal roles over the years has ably represented CHIRI and made an impressive contribution to this important area of research,” he said.

You can read more about Connie on the CHIRI website or head to the ASI website for more information about the society’s role and work.

Congratulations to the ASI meeting – WA winners
• Lelinh Duong (CHIRI): Best Overall Poster Prize
• Lelinh Duong (CHIRI): BD Communication Prize
• Caitlyn Tilsed (UWA): Poster Prize
• Sarah Dart (UWA): Poster Prize
• Niamh Troy (Telethon Kids Institute): Women’s Initiative Award