Melbourne has reaffirmed its strength in the fields of medicine and biology with the city set to host the 2018 World Congress of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB), Victorian Minister for Health David Davis has announced.
Mr Davis said that hosting the Congress, to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), was an important achievement for Melbourne and would provide a global arena for the exchange of knowledge in this highly specialised field.
“Nuclear medicine is used to detect and treat cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases to name just a few, and Australia is a world leader in this area,” Mr Davis said.
“The aim of this Congress is to promote and encourage the advancement of nuclear medicine worldwide and it will provide the perfect platform to showcase the outstanding research and diagnostic and therapeutic services undertaken in Australia and most importantly, in our state.”
Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher said that in addition to the medical and scientific benefits of the Congress, holding the event in Melbourne would also generate significant wealth for the local economy.
“The World Congress of the WFNMB will attract more than 2,500 delegates, generating an estimated AUD $14.3 million for the state economy,” Ms Asher said.
“This event has not been held in Australia for 24 years so it is the perfect opportunity to promote Melbourne and regional Victoria from both a knowledge perspective and a tourism perspective to the world.”
The win also brings the leadership of the World Federation to Australia from 2014 to 2018, with Professor Andrew Scott, Director of Positron Emission Tomography at Austin Health, and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Melbourne, now President-Elect of the WFNMB.
“Part of the WFNMB’s charter is to integrate clinical care and research between developed and developing countries, which importantly will create opportunities for shared activities and performing research on unique disease profiles in the developing world,” Professor Scott said.
“The Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine (ANZSNM) represents all disciplines in nuclear medicine, and was very pleased to partner with the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) to create the successful bid.
“This win is a very important step forward for the organisation, and will bring nuclear medicine specialists from all disciplines within the profession and other medical specialists from all over the world together to collaborate in this specialised field of medicine,” Professor Scott said.
Chief Executive Officer of MCVB, Karen Bolinger, said winning this Congress was yet another nod to the city’s intellectual capabilities.
“The strength of the science and medical sectors in Victoria is a major drawcard for international associations looking for a destination to host their next major conference, which is evident from the calibre of events we have coming to our city over the next eight years,” Ms Bolinger said.
“I would particularly like to thank Minister Davis for his contribution to the successful bid for the World Congress of the WFNMB and the Victorian Coalition Government for their ongoing support of the business events industry.”
Chief Executive of the MCEC Peter King said MCEC was delighted to have been chosen as the host venue for 2018.
“The Congress will provide Victorians with an invaluable opportunity to meet and share knowledge with global experts in their field and we look forward to welcoming all delegates to Melbourne and Victoria,” Mr King said.
