Origins of ACHV
In 1989 a group of Australian researchers gathered at Fairfield Hospital in Melbourne for an informal, one-day meeting on the virology of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV). From this date, an annual meeting evolved which has been held at various locations, most significantly at the Quarantine Station, North Head, Sydney, from 1994-2001. Since 2004, meetings have been integrated into the annual Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology (ACH2) Meeting.
The annual scientific meeting, as part of ACH2, is attended by the leading scientists working on the virology and immunology of hepatitis viruses in Australia. The meetings include one or more invited international speakers each year, and around 50 active researchers, from students to more experienced workers; the environment is critical yet supportive, and collaborative work between laboratories is encouraged.
After some years as an incorporated body, in 1998 the group adopted the name Australian Centre for Hepatitis Virology Inc and undertook to play a more prominent national role in fostering the study of hepatitis viruses.
Major Formal Activities
- An Annual Scientific Meeting, held in conjunction with ACH2 and open to all hepatitis researchers. This meeting has come to play a nationally and internationally recognised role as a forum for presentation of high quality, often unpublished results, and for critical evaluation of current research directions.
- An Annual General Meeting, held at the annual scientific meeting, at which administrative arrangements for the forthcoming year are set in place.
- A Principal Investigators Meeting, held in November and attended by 1 or 2 senior staff from each member laboratory, at which past and future research is discussed and collaborations are developed.
- An Annual Meeting of key investigators to discuss and improve the quality of research plans and applications for research grants.
- An Annual (Biannual) Report summarising activities of the Centre.
- Organisation of International Hepatitis Meetings – for example, the 11th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease, Sydney, 2003 and the 13th International meeting on HCV & related viruses, Cairns, 2006.
The ACHV does not directly fund research. Member laboratories are supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, Universities, industry partners etc. Rather, ACHV strives to add value to ongoing research by pursuing the above aims.