Next-generation researchers recognised in the AbbVie Student Poster Awards

The important research being conducted by Australia’s graduate students has been featured in a poster display at the recent AusBiotech 2014 national conference, with the most outstanding being recognised with the AbbVie Student Poster Award.

Kieran Cashin, a PhD candidate at the Burnet Institute’s Centre for Biomedical Research in Melbourne, was named the winner of AbbVie Student Poster Award 2014. Cashin received the award for his poster presentation ‘PhenoSeq: A computer algorithm for determining HIV receptor usage’.

HIV infects cells of the immune system by binding one of two cell-surface receptors, namely CCR5 or CXCR4. The PhenoSeq computer program works by reading the genetic code of HIV (which can be cheaply and easily isolated from patient blood samples) to identify genetic mutations that are used to determine whether a patient’s viruses use CCR5 or CXCR4.

This has important clinical implications, since the anti-HIV drug Maraviroc (ViiV Healthcare) can only be prescribed to patients shown to be infected with only CCR5-using HIV. By making PhenoSeq free to use online, Cashin and his colleagues are hoping that their computer program will enhance decision-making for doctors and their patients worldwide.

Cashin is undertaking his research in the Gorry Laboratory (HIV Molecular Pathogenesis), where he is researching the way in which HIV gains entry into cells of the human immune system. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Melbourne.

Research abstracts entered in the AbbVie Student Poster Awards were reviewed by a distinguished panel and 20 abstracts presented in the poster display at the conference. Areas of research included biomedical engineering, biology, nanotechnology, bioimaging, bioinformatics, nutritional science and disease research.

Dr Jonathan Anderson, medical director at AbbVie for Australia and New Zealand, announced the winner of the award at the AusBiotech 2014 closing reception.

“Australia’s graduate students are contributing to exciting and important research happening in Australia,” he said. “Support of the AbbVie Student Poster Award fits well with AbbVie’s quest to solve complex health issues and bring scientific discoveries to market.”

AbbVie’s focus is on developing medicines that deliver strong clinical performance, provide more patient benefit and deliver economic value, particularly where there is significant need around the world in certain disease areas