People affected by asbestos, their families and carers, community members and anyone with an interest in asbestos-related disease are invited to join us for the 2026 NCARD Public Lecture on Tuesday, 1 September.
This year’s lecture, “Asbestos in Australia Today: Risk, Research, and the Future of Care”, will explore the continuing impact of asbestos in Australia and some of the latest developments in prevention, mesothelioma research, imaging and care.
The event is free to attend and available both in person and online, so you can join us from anywhere in Australia.
For those attending in person, the evening is also an opportunity to meet and talk with NCARD researchers, other members of the asbestos community and people with lived experience over refreshments following the lecture.
Convened by Dr Tracy Hoang from NCARD, the program features three speakers:
Dr Rick van der Zwan, Director of Research, Evaluation and Data at the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency, will present A Matter of Life and Dust: How Asbestos Stories Can Help Us Save 28,000 Lives. Drawing on real stories, Rick will explore where asbestos exposure continues to occur in Australia and what can be done to prevent future disease.
Dr Zeyad Al-Ogaili, from Fiona Stanley Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital, and UWA, will present Beyond the Scan: How Molecular Imaging Is Changing Mesothelioma Care, explaining advances in molecular imaging and theranostics and their potential to improve the detection and treatment of mesothelioma.
Dr Alistair Cook, from NCARD, will present New Hope, New Approaches: Advances in Mesothelioma Research, sharing some of the latest research underway at NCARD and how researchers are working towards better outcomes for people affected by mesothelioma.
There will also be an opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from researchers working in the field.
Event details
Tuesday, 1 September 2026
Check-in from 4.30 pm
Public Lecture: 5.00–6.00 pm
Networking and refreshments: 6.00–7.00 pm
In person: Room G24, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Health Campus, 6 Verdun Street, Nedlands WA 6009.
Online: Microsoft Teams
Whether you have personal experience of asbestos exposure or asbestos-related disease, support someone who does, work in the field, or simply want to learn more, we warmly invite you to join us.
Registration is essential for both in-person and online attendance.
