In a timely coincidence of Mackay boy Brayden Foxley-Conolly recently winning his fight against the deadly disease meningococcal septicemia, a public seminar will be videoconferenced to the Mackay site on Meningococcal B Vaccine development on Monday 18th September from 11am – 12pm at CQU Mackay campus, building 20/G.11.

The presentation will be lead by Dr Loek van Alphen, Product Manager Meningococcal and Pneumococcal vaccines at the Netherlands Vaccine Institute (NVI) and leading world authority in the field of vaccine development for upper respiratory tract bacterial pathogens.

According to Dr Leok van Alphen, a vaccine for Meningococcal is very much needed as the infection can kill within 24 hours and is not uncommon.

In this role at NVI since 2003, Dr Leok van Alphen is responsible for all vaccine value chain activities, covering research, development, clinical trials, registration, delivery and procurement.

His seminar will cover the pressing issues in the context of developing a much needed Meningococcal B vaccine. Topics covered will include: How is a vaccine developed and how does it work? What steps lead to the commercialization of a vaccine? What makes a successful vaccine? What are some of the challenges of vaccine development? For further information, please contact James Douglas at the Office of the Associate Dean Research (Science and Health) on 49306568.