Kids Advanced Therapeutics Symposium 2025

The 2025 Kids Advanced Therapeutics Symposium's theme is 'Collaboration to impact: transforming paediatric healthcare with advanced therapies.'

This unmissable one-day in-person event will connect researchers, healthcare professionals, and community members for lively discussions around advanced therapeutics translational research.

Our keynote address will be by internationally renowned genetic medicine expert Dr Mimi Lee, MD, Chief of Precision Genetic Medicines at GeneDx in the United States (read more about Dr Lee below).

We welcome researchers, healthcare professionals, industry stakeholders, and community partners to join us for this exciting event at the Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick.

SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM

8:30am-9:00am: Registration

9:00am-9:20am: Opening remarks

• Dr Mary McCaskill, Director Medical Services and Clinical Governance, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network 

9:20am-10:05am: Keynote speaker address

• Dr Mimi Lee, Chief of Precision Genetic Medicines, GeneDx

10:05am-10:30am: Morning tea and coffee

10:30am-12:00pm: Session One - Voices in action: Driving therapeutic innovation alongside families

• Our first panel session will explore how consumer and patient advocacy groups are shaping the future of healthcare by actively collaborating in the development and delivery of innovative therapies. Panellists:

  • Dr Emma Palmer (Chair), Clinical Geneticist, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick

  • Dr Boris Waldman, Parent / Patient Advocate, Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics Australia 

  • Emma Bonser, Chief Executive Officer, Genetic Alliance Australia 

  • Dr Kris Elvidge, Head of Scientific Affairs, Childhood Dementia Initiative 

  • Kris Pierce, Director, SCN2A Australia 

12:00pm-1:00pm: Lunch

1:00pm-2:30pm: Session Two - Policy and progress: Aligning government and industry for impact

• Our second panel session will host discussions between government and industry representatives, examining the current successes and challenges for implementing advanced therapeutic research translation pathways. Panellists:

  • Dr Michelle Lorentzos (Chair), SCHN Advanced Therapeutics Medical Lead; Paediatric Neurologist, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network 

  • Dr Julia Warning, Principal Policy Officer, Advanced Therapeutics, Office for Health and Medical Research, NSW Ministry of Health 

  • Stephen Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility 

  • Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea, Deputy Director, Strategy and Planning, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute

  • Dr Kaye Robertson, Senior Medical Officer, Therapeutic Goods Administration

  • Caroline Ryan, Chapter Lead - Medical Enablers, Roche Products Pty Limited 

2:30pm-3:00pm: Afternoon tea and coffee

3:00pm-4:30pm: Session Three - Accelerating care together: Building a national paediatric network

• Our third and last panel session will connect leaders in Australian paediatric health care and translational research to share their own journeys of advanced therapeutic translational research and the impact that national partnerships provide for sick children around Australia. Panellists:

  • Adj. A/Prof Paula Bray (Chair), Director of Research, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network 

  • Prof Andrew Davidson, Director, Melbourne Children's Trial Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute 

  • A/Prof Andrew Moore, Director of Research Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Queensland Children's Hospital 

  • Clin A/Prof David Metz, Paediatric Nephrologist and Clinical Pharmacologist, Monash Children's Hospital, Monash Health, Monash University 

  • Dr Maina Kava, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist and Paediatrician, Perth Children’s Hospital 

  • Dr Michelle Lorentzos, SCHN Advanced Therapeutics Medical Lead; Paediatric Neurologist, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network 

  • Dr Mimi Lee, Chief of Precision Genetic Medicines, GeneDx 

4:30pm-5:00pm: Closing remarks

• Adj. A/Prof Paula Bray, Director of Research, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network 

5:00pm-6:00pm: Networking over canapes and refreshments

This program is subjected to change without notice.

Registrations closed Thursday, 20th November.

ADDITIONAL TICKET INFORMATION

Patients, families, and patient advocacy representatives are eligible for a complimentary ticket, free of charge. Email us via SCHN-ResearchComms@health.nsw.gov.au to request access.

ABOUT DR MIMI LEE

Dr. Mimi Lee serves as Chief Precision Medicine Officer at GeneDx, where she leads the company’s efforts to make precision medicine the standard of care. A physician–scientist and healthcare innovator, Dr. Lee is driving GeneDx’s vision to harness the power of genomics to predict, prevent, and optimize health outcomes throughout every stage of life. Dr. Lee is focused on translating genomic insights into real-world clinical and regulatory impact. helping ensure that every therapy is developed with purpose, precision, and patient benefit.

OUR SUPPORTERS

The Kids Advanced Therapeutics program is kindly supported by the Luminesce Alliance and the Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation.