HOW MENZIES MADE ME

IAN GARDNER

COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE FOR DIAGNOSTICS

CRC for Diagnostics

WHY DID I COME TO MENZIES?

• Come back to the Territory

• Return to Infectious Diseases

• Chance to develop new skills (Flow Cytometry)

• Lifestyle change – leaving the big city

• The Chlamydia Workshop

• To be a part of something new and exciting

CRC for Diagnostics

WHO INFLUENCED ME?

• John Mathews

• Lorna Fejo (Auntie Lorna)

• Bart Currie and Vicki Krause

• Kabada Sriprikash (Sri)

• Val and Austin Asche

• Too many others to list!

CRC for Diagnostics

WHAT DID I LEARN?

• To drive a bus

• To sign a lot of cheques

• To design a building

• To think differently about health and research

• To want to make a difference

CRC for Diagnostics

HOW DID MENZIES INFLUENCE MY FUTURE?

• A career change into diagnostics enabled me to improve some aspects of medical diagnosis in the NT

• I developed a strong interest in improved diagnostics, both in unmet diagnostic needs for remote and tropical diseases and in point-of-care testing

• I did something about it by joining the CRC for Diagnostics in 2001 and became CEO in 2002

• The ‘Menzies Influence’ is reflected in some of the current CRC research areas – chlamydia, melioidosis, TB, hepatitis B, point-of-care testing devices