The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy

The ASCIA Annual Basten Oration has been held at ASCIA Annual Scientific Meetings since 2007. The Oration is held in recognition of Professor Antony Basten AO, for his pioneering work in immunology for more than 40 years, which continues today.

As well as Professor Basten's immense contribution to the discipline of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, he was also the founding President of ASCIA and Chairman of the highly successful XVII International Congress of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (now known as the World Allergy Congress) held in Sydney in the year 2000.

At the ASCIA 2006 Annual Scientific Meeting, Professor Basten was presented with his portrait (painted by Dr Gillian Dunlop) by the ASCIA President, Dr Karl Baumgart. At the same meeting it was confirmed that a Basten Oration would be included in the program for future ASCIA Annual Scientific Meetings.

To date, the following Basten Orations have been presented:

2011 - Professor Paul Gatenby AM

Nature and nurture: the pathogenesis of systemic vasculitis  

2010 - Professor John Upham

Changing the trajectory of allergic respiratory disease

2009 - Professor Heddy Zola

Monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry: techniques made for each other, and for Clinical Immunology

2008 - Professor Robyn O’Hehir

2007 - Professor Patrick Holt

Heterogeneity in response phenotypes in atopy:
Insight from studies