In July 2025, along with the OPTIMAL CENTER of Research Excellence, Monash University, we held our first in person and virtual Information Day for Families and Health Practitioners at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.
We heard from our Medical Advisors, Prof. David Burgner and A/Prof Davinda Singgh-Greval, Dr. Ari Horton and Dr. William Renton.
Their very informative presentations can be viewed below:
Prof Erica Wood from OPTIMAL Centre of Research Excellence at our recent information session. Prof Erica Wood is a Transfusion Medicine Specialist and director of the Transfusion Research Unit at Monash University. She is a Consultant Haematologist at Monash Health and an NHMRC Leadership Fellow. Erica has led major research programs in transfusion medicine and was recently awarded funding to establish the national OPTIMAL Centre of Research Excellence in improving immunoglobulin use in clinical outcomes.
This is the group we have been working with and who co- hosted our recent information day.
You can view her speech below.
Prof David Burgner is a paediatric infectious disease consultant at the Royal Children’s Hospital and leads the Inflammatory Origins Group and co-leads LifeCourse at MCRI. He has been medical advisor to the KD Foundation for many years . He has led national and international research efforts on KD and related post-COVID inflammatory conditions.
At our KD Information Day, he spoke on diagnosing and treating Kawasaki Disease.
You can view his speech below.
Dr Ari Horton is a paediatric cardiologist and clinical geneticist at Monash Children’s Hospital and the Victorian Heart Hospital. He cares for children with KD and other inflammatory Cardiac diseases and is passionate about equitable, precision-based care.
At KD Info Day, he provided a cardiovascular update.
You can view his speech below.
Dr Renton is a paediatric rheumatologist at the Royal Children’s and Monash Children’s Hospitals in Melbourne. His work focuses on KD, uveitis and optimising therapeutics. He has published KD outcome studies in Australia and serves on key national advisory bodies for paediatric medicines.
He has a special interest in Kawasaki disease and improving long-term outcomes.
At our Information Day he spoke on the short and long-term challenges for clinicians and families.
You can view his speech below.
A/Prof Davinder Singh-Grewal is a paediatric rheumatologist at the Sydney Children’s Hospital network. He is a leader in KD research in Australia and is involved in the national KD registry and the Optimal IVig CRE. He has held multiple grants to investigate IVig use in KD management.
He spoke on Kawasaki Disease research and what’s happening locally and internationally.
You can view his speech below.