Date: Friday 11 December 2009
MEDIA RELEASE
LEADING MINDS BROUGHT TOGETHER TO TACKLE H1N1
(SWINE FLU) INFLUENZA
Federal and state medical authorities today acknowledged the enormous benefits of the National Health and
Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) H1N1 workshop, held in Canberra this week.
The workshop, which brought leading Australian researchers and scientists, public health experts and the
Chief Medical Officers from around Australia together for two days, was the culmination of months of
research effort being put into fighting the pandemic.
NHMRC CEO, Professor Warwick Anderson AM, said earlier this year the Australian Government,
through the NHMRC fast-tracked $7 million in funding for 41 Australian medical research teams covering
a comprehensive range of research aimed at informing Australia’s approach to H1N1.
“These researchers have done an amazing job, pulling together at short notice, the latest thinking and
scientific evidence to contribute a vast array of projects aimed at fighting the threat of H1N1,” Professor
Anderson said.
Some of the research outcomes discussed at the workshop included:
potential impact of H1N1 on the Australian economy
improving the detection of swine flu
the best strategies for anti viral use
the prospects for swine flu to interact with other flu strains
risks to children in hospitals
understanding why some people get more severe flu than others, and
strategies for containment in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
Professor Anderson said the workshop will inform Australia’s approach to combating H1N1 going forward.
“The outcomes of this workshop will build on earlier research and form the basis of Australia’s and the
world’s response to combating this and future flu threats both here and in the northern hemisphere,” he
said.
Contact: Simon Tidy (02) 6217 9190 or 0422 008 512
NEWS 
