Conference Puts Chronic Disease Prevention to Work

‘Chronic Diseases – Prevention and Improving Health Outcomes,’ is the theme of the 9th Gold Coast Health and Medical Research Conference 2013, being held at Surfers Paradise, on November 28 and 29.

The Griffith Health Institute will host a conference designed to explore new improved diagnostics, preventative programs, innovative treatments and clinical interventions being developed and researched right here on the Gold Coast.

Over 300 exceptional biomedical scientists, clinical researchers, health professionals and research students are expected to converge at the event.

“We must not underestimate the huge impact chronic diseases are having on our lives today,” says Griffith’s Pro Vice Chancellor (Health) and a world leading researcher himself, Professor Allan Cripps. “Four out of every five Australians are affected by at least one chronic disease, namely cancers, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes.

More profound is the fact that by addressing lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease, this impact can be significantly reduced, our health improved and our health systems sustainably recover.”

Representing one of the leading causes of death in Australia, Cancer Council Queensland Chief Executive Officer, Professor Jeff Dunn will open the conference with his keynote address, ‘Sunshine, spittoons, and snake bites: public health and chronic disease prevention.’

Professor Dunn will examine the context within which current debates, about chronic diseases and how to minimise their collective impact on our community, are taking place. Lessons from the past will be explored and used to illustrate the importance of the dynamic, and at times confounding, relationship between society, individual behaviour and disease prevention.

The program also boasts three additional, dynamic guest speakers, symposium sessions, interactive poster sessions and workshops.

Drawing in other top Gold Coast institutions, there is a dedicated Gold Coast Medical Association breakfast symposium covering, ‘New frontiers in clinical genetics - application to reproductive medicine’ as well as a symposium hosted by Bond University titled, ‘Strategies to maximise benefits and minimise harms in health’.

Over two days delegates will cover our major health and medical challenges including mental health, infectious diseases, obesity, nutrition, maternity and parenting, ageing and musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

“Appreciating the amazing gains we as a society can make by focusing on prevention rather than cure, we welcome and look forward to engaging with local and national health professionals, clinicians and delegates from other universities, research institutions and government organisations who are joining us this year,” says Professor Cripps.

For more information on the program, guest speakers or how to register, please visit the  conference website: http://www.griffith.edu.au/conference/gold-coast-health-medicalresearch-2013