Public seminar: sickle cell disease and thalassaemia, with visiting US Professor Mitch Weiss
Do you know or care for a child with sickle cell disease (SCD) or thalassaemia?
On Thursday 12 February, we’re holding a public talk with visiting Professor Mitchell Weiss, from St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the United States. He’ll talk about treatments, current research, and what this all means for families and carers.
Host Professor Andrew Perkins is a clinical haematologist and researcher at the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, at Monash University’s School of Translational Medicine, and The Alfred Hospital (Bayside Health).
Right now, the multi-million dollar cost of even a single course of gene therapy puts it out of reach for governments, insurers and families … but there are things we can do to advance research into new and improved treatments:
- Support the Australian Haemoglobinopathy Registry to help understand how many people have SCD and thalassaemia across Australia, their treatments and outcomes. Like building up a complete picture from individual pixels, your participation in this important research matters!
- Australia is currently rolling out newborn bloodspot screening - a simple heelprick test. Early screening helps kids.
- Donate blood - blood transfusion is life saving for patients with sickle cell disease and thalassaemia.
Join us to find out more about what the future holds for management of these chronic conditions, and about best practice from a global expert. Members of the public and clinicians are welcome. Hosted by the School of Translational Medicine at Monash University’s Alfred Campus.
Special thanks to Australian Sickle Cell Advocacy (ASCA) and Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Australia (TASCA).
Speaker:
Dr Mitchell Weiss is Chairman of the Hematology Department at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and a physician-scientist who cares for pediatric patients with non-malignant blood diseases and performs related laboratory research. His research focuses on understanding the biology of red blood cells and adapting these findings to develop new treatments for sickle cell disease and -thalassemia, which affect millions of individuals across the world. He has published over 190 original research papers and has been funded continually by the National Institutes of Health since 2002. He is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, and the National Academy of Medicine. He has mentored more than 50 trainees who have gone on to productive careers in academia or industry in the United States, China, Europe, and India.
Hosts:
Professor Andrew Perkins is Professor of Haematology at The Alfred Hospital and the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD) at the School of Translational Medicine, Monash University.
Professor Perkins undertook his PhD in genetics at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne and post-doctoral studies at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University. He is an expert in genetics and treatment of chronic blood cancers and inherited red blood cell diseases.
Professor Perkins is Head of Genomic Medicine (Molecular Pathology) at the Alfred Hospital (Bayside Health). The role is to provide an accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment advice for patients with inherited and acquired genetic diseases.
How to get there:
Public transport:
- Tram 72 to Commercial Road stop 26, or
- Trams 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 to St Kilda Road, Stop 25.
Trains:
- Sandringham Line to Prahran Station or
- Metro Tunnel to Anzac Station (then take a tram or walk through Fawkner Park).
Buses:
246, 603, 604
Event Details
- Date:
- 12 February 2026 at 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- Venue:
- Alfred Innovation and Education Hub (enter from 75 Commercial Road)
- Campus:
- Alfred campus
- Categories:
- Research; Translational Medicine
Description
Do you know or care for a child with sickle cell disease (SCD) or thalassaemia?
On Thursday 12 February, we’re holding a public talk with visiting Professor Mitchell Weiss, from St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the United States. He’ll talk about treatments, current research, and what this all means for families and carers.
Host Professor Andrew Perkins is a clinical haematologist and researcher at the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, at Monash University’s School of Translational Medicine, and The Alfred Hospital (Bayside Health).
Right now, the multi-million dollar cost of even a single course of gene therapy puts it out of reach for governments, insurers and families … but there are things we can do to advance research into new and improved treatments:
- Support the Australian Haemoglobinopathy Registry to help understand how many people have SCD and thalassaemia across Australia, their treatments and outcomes. Like building up a complete picture from individual pixels, your participation in this important research matters!
- Australia is currently rolling out newborn bloodspot screening - a simple heelprick test. Early screening helps kids.
- Donate blood - blood transfusion is life saving for patients with sickle cell disease and thalassaemia.
Join us to find out more about what the future holds for management of these chronic conditions, and about best practice from a global expert. Members of the public and clinicians are welcome. Hosted by the School of Translational Medicine at Monash University’s Alfred Campus.
Special thanks to Australian Sickle Cell Advocacy (ASCA) and Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Australia (TASCA).
Speaker:
Dr Mitchell Weiss is Chairman of the Hematology Department at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and a physician-scientist who cares for pediatric patients with non-malignant blood diseases and performs related laboratory research. His research focuses on understanding the biology of red blood cells and adapting these findings to develop new treatments for sickle cell disease and -thalassemia, which affect millions of individuals across the world. He has published over 190 original research papers and has been funded continually by the National Institutes of Health since 2002. He is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, and the National Academy of Medicine. He has mentored more than 50 trainees who have gone on to productive careers in academia or industry in the United States, China, Europe, and India.
Hosts:
Professor Andrew Perkins is Professor of Haematology at The Alfred Hospital and the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD) at the School of Translational Medicine, Monash University.
Professor Perkins undertook his PhD in genetics at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne and post-doctoral studies at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University. He is an expert in genetics and treatment of chronic blood cancers and inherited red blood cell diseases.
Professor Perkins is Head of Genomic Medicine (Molecular Pathology) at the Alfred Hospital (Bayside Health). The role is to provide an accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment advice for patients with inherited and acquired genetic diseases.
How to get there:
Public transport:
- Tram 72 to Commercial Road stop 26, or
- Trams 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 to St Kilda Road, Stop 25.
Trains:
- Sandringham Line to Prahran Station or
- Metro Tunnel to Anzac Station (then take a tram or walk through Fawkner Park).
Buses:
246, 603, 604