Congratulations to the recipients of Allergy and Immunology Foundation of Australasia (AIFA) grants in 2024, who are listed on the AIFA website
Since 2015, AIFA has awarded over $790,000 in grants to support 46 allergy and immunology research projects.
AIFA is now seeking donations and sponsorship to support more research projects in 2025. Donate to AIFA and make a difference - all donations go directly to fund AIFA research grants. Donate here
Consultations Currently Open for Feedback include:
Draft National Nursing Workforce Strategy - Closing 20 October 2024 - This draft Strategy has been released for consultation and feedback from people and organisations with an interest in the nursing workforce. A notification of this consultation has also been sent directly to ASCIA Associate nurse members.
Critical Results Management Consultation - Closing 23 October 2024 - The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is leading a public consultation on critical results management of pathology and diagnostic tests and imaging investigations, on behalf of the Australian Digital Health Agency.
ASCIA Quicklinks were developed in March 2024 to improve access and reduce the need for printing of ASCIA website information, by using QR codes in an A4 format which can be printed or accessed online. The positive response to ASCIA Quicklinks has exceeded expectations.
ASCIA Quicklinks are now widely used by ASCIA members and other health professionals:
ASCIA advocates on behalf of ASCIA members to government and other organisations by lodging submissions.
ASCIA submitted a response on 7 October 2024 to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) call for feedback on the Development of the Clinical Immunology and Allergy Advanced Training Curriculum.
This was an opportunity to review and provide professional insights, with the redesign enabling development of best practice education and assessment models.
In compiling this feedback ASCIA sought input from the ASCIA Directors and Chairs of the Adult Practice, Anaphylaxis, Drug Allergy, Immunodeficiency and Paediatric Practice Committees. Emails from ASCIA were also sent to ASCIA Full and Associate Trainee members, in case they wished to provide feedback directly to the RACP.
The ASCIA response is available open access on the ASCIA website: www.allergy.org.au/ascia-submissions
It is with great sadness we learnt that Dr Rob Loblay MBBS PhD FRACP passed away in early October 2024.
Dr Rob Loblay made significant contributions to ASCIA, particularly in the area of anaphylaxis management during his time as Chair of the ASCIA Anaphylaxis working party. This includes his key role in:
It was inspiring and enjoyable to work with Dr Loblay on projects that have had such a positive long-term impact on allergic disease management.
Dr Loblay was Director of the Allergy Unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.
On behalf of ASCIA, we send condolences to Rob Loblay's family, friends and colleagues on the loss of a visionary man and clinician, who will be missed but fondly remembered.
It is with great sadness we learnt that A/Prof Dan Czarny MBBS FRACP FRCP passed away in early May 2024 at the age of 84.
A/Prof Dan Czarny made significant contributions to ASCIA, particularly as the 2nd ASCIA President, from 1992 to 1994, after ASCIA was formed in 1990:
Dan Czarny's medical career included working in private practice and at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.
In recent years Dan Czarny's “medical mates” (Professor Frank Thien, Dr Larry Light and Dr Robert Puy) had been regularly visiting him for breakfast or morning tea every 1-2 months, the last time being on 16 March 2024.
On behalf of ASCIA, condolences were sent to Dan Czarny’s family, friends and colleagues on the loss of a great man, who made significant contributions to ASCIA, and will be fondly remembered.
In response to an application by CSL Seqirus to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listing of Tavneos® (avacopan) that was recommended by the PBAC in March 2024 has come into effect on 1 October 2024. This listing was supported by a submission from ASCIA.
The Authority PBS listing of Tavneos® (avacopan) is for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis.
Treatment Phase: Induction treatment Clinical criteria:
• The condition must be severe granulomatosis with polyangiitis; OR
• The condition must be severe microscopic polyangiitis, AND
• The condition must be active at the time of the first prescription for this drug per treatment cycle, AND
• Patient must have ANCA associated vasculitis that is either: (i) organ-threatening, (ii) life-threatening disease, AND
• Patient must be undergoing concomitant therapy with at least another drug therapy as part of a regimen specified in this drug's approved Product Information, AND
• Patient must not receive more than 12 months of PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug per induction.
A prescriber may apply for more than one induction treatment for their patient avacopan 10 mg capsule,
More information:
https://www.pbs.gov.au/medicine/item/14605Q
PBS Listings 1 October 20243.31 MB
In response to an application by GSK to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to remove the oral corticosteroid (OCS) requirement to qualify for biologics in uncontrolled severe asthma, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) OCS criteria change that was recommended by the PBAC in March 2024 has come into effect on 1 October 2024. This change was supported by a submission from ASCIA.
The change removes the OCS requirement under defining ‘optimised asthma therapy’ as part of the INITIATION criteria for Nucala® (mepolizumab). The change aslo applies to other biologics (omalizumab, benralizumab and dupilumab) listed on the PBS for uncontrolled severe asthma.
The updated form is available at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/pb075
More information:
