At the meeting on Wednesday 19 April it was the 7th Thomas Baker Oration and the Guest Speaker was Professor Sharon Lewin AO, Director of the Doherty Institute, speaking on the topic 'From HIV to COVID-19 and beyond: the role of antiviral therapeutics in pandemic response’.
Professor Lewin clearly addressed the Melbourne biomedical research responses to viral disease outbreaks from HIV to COVID. She also explained the balance between funding for antiviral treatments and the creation of vaccines.
Sharon included some interesting statistics on global investment in COVID antivirals (was it $5bn) compared to vaccines (was it $135bn). And interestingly, those close to 80 had a 20% chance of dying of COVID in 2020, compared to 0.1% chance of dying in 2023.
Senior representatives from Melbourne universities, hospitals, and research institutes were in the audience as well as well as the Baker HDI and The Baker Foundation. Also present were recipients of The Baker Foundation grants and Rotary Melbourne philanthropic projects.
Melbourne and Australia will make a leading contribution for the world in vastly improved readiness for new viruses that will appear with the major injection of Philanthropic funding.
The Doherty Institute is a pathfinder in these initiatives.
