2025
Welcome to the ACH4 2025
Scientific Conference Information Home Page
The Australian Centre for HIV, Hepatitis & HTLV-1
19th Biennial Scientific Conference
The Coogee Bay Hotel in Sydney on
Wednesday 25 – Friday 27 June 2025...!
Thank you for attending our Conference, special thanks to our guest speakers, attendees, sponsors & organising committee!
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Thank you to all ACH4 members, presenters, guest speakers, sponsors & suppliers for continuing to support our Conference.
We look forward to welcoming you in June, in Sydney, NSW.
*We rely on external sponsorship to hold our event, please contact Jo Reidy or a member of our sponsorship committee to learn more about our sponsorship opportunities*
Key dates
Registration CLOSED
Abstract submission CLOSED
Questions?? Please contact Jo Reidy
2025 Conference
Supporting Materials
Note. materials are currently being updated..
Conference Overview
We are excited to be holding the ACH4 19th Scientific Conference at The Coogee Bay Hotel in Sydney on 25 - 27 June 2025...!
Dinner DETAILS
Wednesday 25 June: Welcome Reception & Networking Dinner
Thursday 26 June: Gala Dinner
2025 Conference
International Guest speakers
HEPATITIS – Professor Mansun Law
Department of Immunology and Microbiology
The Scripps Research Institute
Mansun Law is a Professor at The Scripps Research Institute, specializing in antiviral antibody and B cell responses. He graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1995, and obtained his DPhil degree in 2001 from the University of Oxford, studying the roles of antibody and complement on poxvirus dissemination and pathogenesis.
He continued his investigation on antiviral antibodies in the Burton lab in 2004 at TSRI and started his independent lab in 2008. He became a tenured professor in 2023.
Dr. Law’s research focuses primarily on understanding immune responses to viral infections, particularly chronic viral hepatitis B and C. His work has been instrumental in uncovering key mechanisms of HCV neutralization and the genetic biases in the generation of broadly neutralizing antiviral antibodies. His laboratory currently explores how B cell repertoires evolve during chronic infection and treatment. Learn more here
HIV – Associate Professor Marta Rodriguez Garcia
Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and ImmunologyCS Mott Center
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Dr. Marta Rodriguez-Garcia obtained her MD from the University of Granada and PhD from the University of Barcelona (Spain). She completed her medical residency in Clinical Immunology and then moved to the USA for postdoctoral training, first at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, and then at Dartmouth to focus her research on reproductive immunology and HIV infection. She then became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Immunology at Tufts, and recently moved to Wayne State University as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology and the C.S Mott Center for Human Research and Development.
She serves as a standing member for the HIV Comorbidities and Clinical Studies (HCCS) NIH Study Section, she is the treasurer for the American Society for Reproductive Immunology (ASRI) and she recently became a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases (PATH) awardee. Her research, funded by NIH and the Burroughs Welcome Fund, focuses on understanding the early events of mucosal HIV acquisition in the female genital tract and how innate immune protection changes with age. Learn more here
HTLV-1 – Professor Yorifumi Satou
Professor of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Kumamoto University, Japan
During my PhD course I carried out studies on novel treatment of ATL (Leukemia 2004).
As a post doctorial study, I analyze antisense viral gene HBZ about expression and role in HTLV-1 pathogenesis by using clinical samples and transgenic mouse model (PNAS 2006, PLoS Pathogens 2011). I then performed molecular biology experiment to elucidate the mechanism underlying retroviral latency (PNAS 2016).
Since I obtained PI position in 2013, I have incorporated high through-put sequencing technology as a tool to understand genetic and epigenetic regulatory mechanism of retroviral latency regarding both HTLV-1 and HIV-1 (Cell Rep 2019, JCI 2021, Nature Commun 2022, Nature Microbiology accepted in principle). Learn more here
2025 Conference
National Guest speakers
HIV cure research – Dr Jillian Lau
Dr Jillian Lau is an Infectious Diseases physician in Melbourne and a postdoctoral research fellow at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.
Her research focusing on clinical interventions in particular immunotherapy towards a cure for HIV. Jillian is also an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and is passionate about meaningfully engaging people living with HIV in cure-focused research
NAPWHA – Dr John Rule
Dr John Rule, Director of Research, brings nearly 20 years’ experience in the HIV sector and an extensive range of academic research achievements to NAPWHA.
As the Director of Research I drive NAPWHA’s strategic engagement in HIV research. I have maintained and expanded research relationships with relevant partners and collaborators, and provide leadership and HIV-representative input into the development of relevant HIV research. My work is published in high quality academic journals. I work to translate research findings for the communities who have provided information and data and am also working within the organisation to link research information with policy development. I work in Australia and have a long track record of international project work, research and development activities.
Positive Women Victoria – Dr Kristy Machon
Dr Kirsty Machon, Executive Officer, Positive Women Victoria, Australia
Kirsty Machon has more than twenty five years’ experience in HIV journalism, policy, and advocacy. Kirsty has worked for national and state HIV organisations in Australia. She is currently the Executive Officer of Positive Women Victoria and is a former Chair of the Victorian AIDS Council. Kirsty has co-authored recent guidance and papers on topics including infant feeding options for women living with HIV, quality of life, and barriers to the participation of women in HIV clinical and cure research. She was recently involved with the ACT NOW forum on global migration at the 12th IAS Conference on HIV Science in Brisbane, 2023.
Senior Lecturer – Dr Chan Phetsouphanh
Dr Chansavath Phetsouphanh, The Kirby Institute
Dr Chan Phetsouphanh completed his PhD in 2014 at UNSW. He then embarked on a postdoctoral position at the Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research at the University of Oxford (2015-2018), working on the role of MAIT cells and Cytotoxic CD4 T cells during HIV infection. He continued his postdoctoral training in Oxford at The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (2018-2020). Since rejoining UNSW, he works as a Senior Lecturer within the Immuno-Virology and Pathogenesis Program (IVPP) at the Kirby Institute. His projects involve investigating T-cell responses following viral infections, evaluating the drivers of Long COVID, and harnessing immunopeptidomics for HIV eradication. He has keen interests in infectious diseases, T-cell biology, and immunotherapy.
Hepatitis Australia – Andrea Pizzie
Andrea Pizzie is the General Manager of Hepatitis Australia, having previously led the Policy Team. Andrea has significant experience in health and social policy development, and specific experience in the development of national viral hepatitis policy and program design and costing. Andrea has led successful budget submissions and has played key leadership roles in the development and delivery of national policy platforms. Prior to working at Hepatitis Australia, Andrea held positions in federal parliament and in public and private sector roles. Andrea is a values-based advocate and policy specialist who works strategically to achieve meaningful outcomes that centre the community
Hepatitis Australia – Emily Skillin
Emily Skillin is a HepLink Program Manager at Hepatitis Australia, supporting delivery of the HepLink program in partnership with the eight state and territory community hepatitis organisations to strengthen the national community response to viral hepatitis. She brings broad experience in health policy and program development, with a background in pharmaceutical policy, economic evaluations of medicines, medical research strategy, grant funding, and clinical trials.
Full program found above and will have some hard copies available onsite.
Please contact
Joanne Reidy – ACH4 Administration Officer, if you have any questions about the event.
We look forward to seeing you in Sydney!