Image: Dr Bruce Wines introduces Burnet Institute's Day of Immunology

Burnet Institute staff and students celebrated the 2018 Day of Immunology by showcasing their research and Burnet’s laboratory facilities for visiting secondary students and interested members of the public.

Year 10 and 11 students from Sacre Coeur College, Strathmore Secondary College and Scotch College were among those who attended the Discovery Tour of Burnet’s Fluorescent Cell Imaging and Flow Cytometry facilities, and Rapid Diagnostics Laboratory.

Image: Mary Garcia demonstrates a rapid point-of-care test

The lab tour included a demonstration by Dr David Harrison of liquid nitrogen used to freeze and preserve blood, tissue and other biological samples.

Flow cytometrist Steven Lim demonstrated highly specialised equipment, which enables immunologists to identify, sort and analyse specific immune cells from a mixed population.

Image: Dr Herbert Opi shows Scotch College students around Burnet’s laboratories

Earlier, our guests were welcomed with an overview on Burnet by Dr Bruce Wines, whose research is focused on inflammation, cancer and infection.

There were also presentations from PhD student Hannah King on HIV vaccine development, Dr Joshua Hayward on how bats are able to co-exist with viruses that are fatal to other mammals, and PhD student Liriye Kurtovic on her research into the development of a vaccine for malaria.

Image: Students from Strathmore Secondary College take a close look at infected cells

Established in 2005 by the European Federation of Immunological Societies, Day of Immunology has been celebrated in Australia since 2009 under the auspices of the Australasian Society for Immunology.