Jian Zhou Memorial Oration 2023

Delivered annually by a distinguished speaker from the medical research sector, the Jian Zhou Memorial Oration honours the memory of Dr Jian Zhou, who co-discovered the life-saving Gardasil vaccine for cervical cancer, alongside Emeritus Professor Ian Frazer AC.

 

This year's Oration features keynote speaker Professor Ranjeny Thomas AM, who will share her profound career in the study of autoimmune disease, including her world leading research into rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

 

The event is a wonderful opportunity to meet with distinguished guests and supporters, share the successes and future objectives of UQ's Frazer Institute and announce the Jian Zhou Award winners for 2023.

 

Dr Jian Zhou was a founding member of the Centre which became the Frazer Institute (formerly UQ Diamantina Institute) and we seek to honour the memory of his warm personality and genuine interest in the welfare of others through the Oration.

 

Professor Ranjeny Thomas is Arthritis Queensland Professor of Rheumatology at the Frazer Institute. Her research is focused on the study of the biology and clinical use of human dendritic cells in autoimmune disease. Through her work, she has developed and tested the first rheumatoid arthritis vaccine. Professor Thomas has contributed major insights into the pathogenesis of spondyloarthropathy and autoimmune diabetes, leading to the development of disease biomarkers and innovative immunotherapies. With Uniquest, Professor Thomas founded Dendright, which developed antigen-specific (personalised) immunotherapy and companion biomarkers to prevent and treat rheumatoid arthritis.