HISTORY

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, held every year from 1994-2003. In 2004 the Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology (ACH2) was formed. From 2004 annual meetings were supported by ACH2 and held together with HIV researchers. The annual scientific meeting is attended by most of the leading workers on the virology and immunology of hepatitis viruses and HIV in Australia. The meetings include two or more invited international speakers each year, and around 150 active researchers, from Honours and PhD students to more experienced workers; the environment is critical yet supportive, and collaborative work between laboratories is encouraged.