We invite you to join us in-conversation with some of Australia’s health and medical powerhouses as part of an extraordinary series of speaker events, brought to you by NHMRC.

Our NHMRC Speaking of Science webinar series are not-to-be-missed opportunities to hear from our nation’s outstanding researchers, high profile individuals, and scientific experts within their chosen fields, and to discuss topics at the core of their careers in health and medical research.

Professor Susan Ramus


Everyone is welcome to attend these free virtual webinars, inviting you to engage with some inspiring individuals on different topics across the spectrum of health and medical research, as well as connect with peers across the wider sector. There will be a Q&A session at the end of each webinar and questions are encouraged.

Registrations are essential – Don't miss out on this chance to learn, engage, and connect. Subscribe below to be the first to know about upcoming events.

Subscribe

If you have suggestions on who may like to be a part of this great series, please email communications@nhmrc.gov.au – we'd love to hear from you!

Upcoming

 

Speaking of Science - From gluing masks on noses to precision pharmacotherapy: revolutionising sleep apnoea treatment

Sleep is essential to good health. When it's disrupted by sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the effects can be serious.

When sleep apnoea was first described in 1965, treatment options were limited and invasive. That changed in 1981. 

NHMRC funded researchers at The University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital found that gently delivering continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) through the nose could keep a patient's airway open, making breathing easier during sleep. Today, CPAP is the most effective treatment for OSA and is used in millions of homes around the world.

Professor Ron Grunstein AM of The University of Sydney will join us for Speaking of Science this November. He will reflect on how this Australian innovation went from the lab to the bedside, revolutionising sleep apnoea treatment.

There will be a Q&A session at the end, so come prepared with your questions for Professor Grunstein!

This webinar will take place on Friday 27 November 2026, 11:00AM–12:00PM AEDT.

Register on Teams.

 

Speaking of Science - When the evidence changes everything: the science behind preventing HIV transmission

At the end of 2023, an estimated 30,010 people were living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Australia.

For decades, HIV prevention relied on condoms alone. Today, people have more ways than ever to prevent HIV transmission, including treatment as prevention and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

The NHMRC funded Opposites Attract study, led out of the Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, has been central to this shift in preventing HIV transmission.

Associate Professor Benjamin Bavinton, who led the Opposites Attract study, will join us for Speaking of Science this December. He'll share the story behind this landmark research and what it has meant for people living with and affected by HIV. He'll also discuss his current work to expand access to PrEP and close gaps in HIV prevention in Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

There will be a Q&A session at the end, so come prepared with your questions for Associate Professor Bavinton!

This webinar will take place on Wednesday 2 December 2026, 11:00AM–12:00PM AEDT.

Register on Teams.

Past

Watch previous editions of Speaking of Science.

2026

2025