Melbourne will host the world’s leading transplantation experts in 2015 when they convene in the city for the Joint International Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association (IPITA), International Xenotransplantation Association (IXA) and Cell Transplant Society (CTS) Congress.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher made the announcement yesterday.
Ms Asher said the opportunity for Melbourne to host the Congress was due to the exceptional quality of transplantation experts based in Victoria and the calibre of research being conducted in the state.
Ms Asher said the Congress, which will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, is expected to attract 700 delegates to Melbourne over five days and generate an estimated $3.3 million for the state economy.
“This is yet another addition to a growing number of medical conferences due to be hosted in the city in 2015,” Ms Asher said.
“During 2015, Melbourne will host a number of significant medical conferences including the International Conference on Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Congress of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Coloproctology and the 35th Congress of the Societe Internationale d’Urologie.
“This trend is a result of the incredible bank of brain power located in Victoria and the world-class standard of research being done here.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau, Karen Bolinger, said Victoria’s intellectual capital is a major drawcard for associations and other groups looking to host their next congress or convention.
The Director of St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne (the local host for the event) and head of the Tom Mandel Islet Transplant Program Professor Tom Kay said he looks forward to welcoming his peers to Melbourne and showcasing the incredible work that has been done in Victoria.
“In recent years, major medical research advances have been made in Melbourne. In particular, we have spearheaded the development of an Australian transplant program where insulin producing cells are transplanted into people with difficult to treat Type 1 diabetes, allowing them to become insulin independent,” Professor Kay said.
“Hosting the Congress enables us to strongly engage on the world stage. The investment made into medical research today will secure the best health outcomes for future generations.”
Peter King, Chief Executive of the MCEC, said they look forward to welcoming the Congress delegates and showing off the venue’s superior facilities.
“The Congress will provide Victorians with an invaluable opportunity to meet and share knowledge with global experts in their fields,” said Mr King.
