“Up and Coming” is the theme of the 2015 Congress, promoting the work of new and outstanding international researchers.

The International Society for STD Research (ISSTDR) Congress, which is being held in conjunction with the International Union against STIs (IUSTI), attracts the leading international researchers into STIs, HIV and sexual health, from basic science through to population health.

In 2015, the Congress will incorporate The Australasian Sexual Health Conference and be hosted by the Australasian Sexual Health Alliance (ASHA) and the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM).

With the Congress being held in the southern hemisphere for the first time, it will also highlight research from the Asia Pacific region, especially research into the sexual health of vulnerable populations; including Indigenous people, ethnic minorities, and sexual/gender minorities.

Emerging themes include:

• Challenges and opportunities for STI control programs
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Multipurpose technologies – strategies that simultaneously prevent multiple reproductive health risks; including unwanted pregnancies, STIs and HIV infection
• Rapid diagnostics, point-of-care and home tests
• STIs and maternal-child health outcomes
• Cancer, infection and vaccination
• Research translation into policy and practice

Congress Opening Speaker is Professor Ian Frazer, University of Queensland

Professor Ian Frazer is co-discoverer of the virus-like particle that forms the basis for modern HPV vaccines. He is president of Cancer Council Australia, and advises the World Health Organization and the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation on papillomavirus vaccines. He won the 2005 CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science, the Australian of the Year in 2006, and the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science in 2008.

For more information visit the Congress website.