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Event Description

This event is an in-person NCEPH guest lecture presented by Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM on research on rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Australia.

Abstract

Professor Carapetis will discuss research underway to address the unjust burden of rheumatic heart disease with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the spectrum of disease. This research portfolio spans environmental health and housing, developing a vaccine against causative Strep A infections, supporting primary care services and improving care for people living with RHD. Research is led by robust Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural governance frameworks and illustrates how academic collaborations can support evidence-informed decision making and sector leadership to end RHD.

Speaker Biography

Professor Carapetis is Executive Director of the Telethon Kids Institute in Perth, Western Australia, an infectious diseases consultant physician at Perth Children’s Hospital, and a Professor at The University of Western Australia.

He holds qualifications as a medical practitioner (MBBS), specialist paediatrician (FRACP Paediatrics), specialist infectious diseases physician (FRACP Infect Dis), and specialist public health physician (FAFPHM), as well as a PhD; and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences (FAA) and the Australian Academy of Health & Medical Sciences (FAHMS). 

Professor Carapetis’ previous roles include President of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI), Director, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin; Director, Centre for International Child Health, University of Melbourne; and Theme Director, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne. During the COVID-19 pandemic he was a member of the National COVID-19 Health and Research Advisory Committee.

Amongst his many accolades, in 2021, Professor Carapetis was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Medicine from Curtin University and received the Professions Award at the 2021 West Australian of the Year Awards. In 2018, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant contribution to medical research. In 2013, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory, and in 2008 he was named Northern Territory Australian of the Year. 

Professor Carapetis has made an international contribution and commitment to the reduction of rheumatic heart disease and group A streptococcal infections. As Director of the END RHD Centre for Research Excellence, he led the development of the RHD Endgame Strategy: A blueprint to eliminate rheumatic heart disease in Australia by 2031 and, as co-director of the Australian Strep A Vaccine Initiative (ASAVI) and member of the Strep A Vaccine Global Consortium (SAVAC), is at the forefront of global efforts to develop a Strep A vaccine. He has been involved in numerous studies of the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases, and efficacy studies of vaccines in highly endemic settings, including pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines.