Treatment and prevention access for all: recognising Professor Cooper’s vision for the future at the David Cooper Symposium

News | Published on 25 Jun 2018

Friends and colleagues attended the David Cooper Symposium on Friday to commemorate the research legacy of the late Professor David Cooper AC. 

Following the public memorial on Thursday, which was attended by hundreds of Professor Cooper’s colleagues, patients, family and friends from across Australia and the world, the Symposium was an opportunity to reflect on a topic that was central to his research endeavours throughout his career: universal access to treatment and prevention. 

Left to Right: Professor Rodney Phillips, Professor Ian Jacobs, Emeritus Professor Praphan Phanuphak, Senator Lisa Singh, Professor John Kaldor, Professor Anthony Kelleher, The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG.Left to Right: Professor Rodney Phillips, Professor Ian Jacobs, Emeritus Professor Praphan Phanuphak, Senator Lisa Singh, Professor John Kaldor, Professor Anthony Kelleher, The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG.

UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Jacobs, welcomed guests to the Symposium by paying tribute to David’s extraordinary research career spanning UNSW and St Vincent’s Hospital and influencing global research into HIV and other infectious diseases. The Honourable Lisa Singh, Senator for Tasmania and Co-chair of the Parliamentary Group on HIV/AIDS and Blood-borne Viruses, officially opened proceedings, noting David’s significant contributions to the policy response to HIV/AIDS in Australia. The Honourable Greg Hunt MP, the Federal Minister for Health, sent a video message honouring Professor Cooper’s global impact. 

The morning session featured a special conferral of an honorary Doctor of Medical Science upon Professor Praphan Phanuphak, Director of HIV-NAT, the Thai research collaboration centre that he and David co-founded in 1996 along with the late Joep Lange from the Netherlands. The degree was conferred by Jillian Segal, Deputy Chancellor, UNSW and Professor Rodney Phillips, Dean of Medicine at UNSW. To do so at the David Cooper Symposium was particularly poignant, as David himself had nominated Professor Praphan for the award late last year. Professor Praphan had written to David in December when he was advised that he would be receiving the honorary degree, stating that it was “the greatest honour” of his professional life.

Professor Praphan then led the program of presentations and delivered the Brett Tindall Memorial Lecture, on his work with HIV-NAT in Thailand and the pursuit of ending AIDS in the region.

Emeritus Professor Praphan Phanuphak (centre) received a Doctorate of Medical Science, honoris causa, conferred by Professor Rodney Phillips (left), Dean of UNSW Medicine, and Jillian Segal (right), Deputy Chancellor of UNSW.Emeritus Professor Praphan Phanuphak (centre) received a Doctorate of Medical Science, honoris causa, conferred by Professor Rodney Phillips (left), Dean of UNSW Medicine, and Jillian Segal (right), Deputy Chancellor of UNSW.

The Symposium featured a packed schedule of academic presentations by some of the most esteemed HIV and infectious disease researchers from Australia and around the world, all of whom were colleagues of Professor Cooper’s throughout his career.

Among the highlights were H. Clifford Lane M.D., Deputy Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US, who spoke on the role of research in global health, particularly in managing epidemics, and South Africa’s Professor Linda-Gail Bekker, President of the International AIDS Society (a role that Cooper held from 1994–1998) who, keeping with the theme of global health, spoke of the global politics involved in obtaining universal access to treatment and prevention. Professor Brian Gazzard from the Imperial College, London gave a lively overview of the various research methodologies used when looking at HIV and ageing.

Other speakers included Kirby Institute Professors Tony Kelleher, Matthew Law, Basil Donovan and Gail Matthews; Kirby alumnus Dr Sarah Pett and Professor Paddy Mallon; Associate Professor Phillip Cunningham from St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney; community advocate and Deputy Chair of the PBAC, Jo Watson; The Doherty Institute’s Professor Sharon Lewin; and Kirby PhD student Dr Angie Pinto. A panel, facilitated by Dr Bridget Haire, concluded the event, where international guests Professor Bekker, Dr Lane and Professor Praphan were joined by Dr Kerry Chant of NSW Health; Director of UNSW’s Centre for Social Research and Health, Professor Carla Treloar; and former NSW policy advisor on HIV and community advocate, Geoff Honnor.

Dr Sarah Pett from University College London speaks about clinical trial networks in Africa, and pays tribute to Professor David Cooper AC.Dr Sarah Pett from University College London speaks about clinical trial networks in Africa, and pays tribute to Professor David Cooper AC.

The Symposium carved out a clear research agenda to take David’s vision into the future, with all speakers paying tribute and highlighting David’s contribution to their various fields of research. As Professor Gazzard fittingly concluded his presentation, “David’s soul is eternal. His life will live on through his good work”.