History

The Victorian Infection and Immunity Network came to life in 2004, when the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University established the successful Monash Infection and Immunity Network at Monash University. In 2009 the MIIN then evolved into the present day VIIN.

We have since grown to a 1000+ member organisation encompassing Victoria’s major universities and research organisations. We provide networking and development opportunities to Victorian Infection and Immunity researchers, students, care providers and associated industries.

As well as hosting the annual Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference we meet throughout the year at symposia, careers evenings and business breakfasts.

We have strong ties with commercial organisations in the infection and immunity field; the VIIN Industry Alliance has been in operation since late 2012 and has funded a number of collaborative project grants between academia and industry in Victoria. More information about our Industry Engagement activities can be found here.

 

Mission

The Victorian Infection and Immunity Network (VIIN) aims to:

  • Connect Infection and Immunity researchers, students, health care and industry within Victoria
  • Increase availability, awareness and accessibility of funding and resources to the Victorian Infection and Immunity community
  • Foster the development of Infection and Immunity researchers and students
  • Promote scientific excellence in the area of Infection and Immunity research
  • Promote the translation of Infection and Immunity research into practical outcomes for human and animal health

In addition the VIIN Industry Alliance (VIIN-IA) aims to:

  • facilitate the development of Victorian business in the Infection and Immunity field

 

Equity and diversity

 Victorian Infection and Immunity Network and Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference aim at gender equity throughout our activities – on the committee, in our invited speaker lists and in our invited chairs list.

Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference

We have a strong track record of maintaining this commitment to gender equity, which is noted in the following policies:

·       https://www.lorneinfectionimmunity.org/gender-equity

·       https://www.lorneinfectionimmunity.org/diversity-and-inclusion

 

VIIN Careers Evening

Our track record on invited speakers is shown below:

Year

Female identifying (n)

Male identifying (n)

Non-binary (n)

2022

4

1

0

2021

2

3

0

2020

4

1

0

2019

3

2

0

2018

3

2

0

2017

3

2

0

VIIN Young Investigator Symposium

The VIIN Young Investigator Symposium organizing committee is dedicated to ensuring an equal balance of male and females at every level of the event. 

Committee members

Year

Female identifying (n)

Male identifying (n)

Non-binary (n)

2022

7

9

0

2021

7

9

0

2020

11

4

0

Invited speakers

 

Female identifying (n)

Male identifying (n)

Non-binary (n)

2022

2

0

0

2021 *

4

5

0

2020 *

10

5

0

* Careers and other workshops rolled into the symposium, which explains the higher number of invited speakers these years

Speakers selected from abstracts

 

Female identifying (n)

Male identifying (n)

Non-binary (n)

2022

TBD

TBD

TBD

2021

19

11

0

2020

10

8

0

Science Bites selected from abstracts

 

Female identifying (n)

Male identifying (n)

Non-binary (n)

2022

TBD

TBD

TBD

2021

17

3

1

2020

15

10

0

Total participation

Year

Female identifying (n)

Male identifying (n)

Non-binary (n)

2022

TBD

TBD

TBD

2021

191

79

1

2020

223

115

0