Mycoses Interest Group (ANZMIG)

A special interest group of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases

History:  ANZMIG was formed after an initial meeting of interested individuals at the ICC conference in Sydney in 1997.  The group meets about 4 times a year (one of which is an AGM held at the ASID conference). During 2003-2004, ANZMIG has slowly undergone a restructure and has now adopted a set of operational guidelines (see attached). 

Membership: Membership of the ANZMIG is open to all full members of ASID.  However for administrative purposes, an organising group will be formed from members of the MIG.  This organising group will carry out the business of the ANZMIG and ensure that its purpose is met.

The organising group will consists of 13 ASID members, three each from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland and two each from Western Australia and South Australia.  Three to 5 other individuals are often invited to attend as guests depending on the projects being discussed and on the meeting venue.

Sponsorship:  In 2008 ANZMIG will meet 4 times outside of the AGM with each meeting being sponsored on a rotational basis by Gilead Sciences, Pfizer, Merck Sharp & Dohme  and Schering-Plough. 

Achievements: The role of the ANZMIG is to foster and promote research, education and training in the pathogenesis, microbiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human infections caused by fungi and closely related organisms.

ANZMIG has now become a major "think tank" for medical mycology in Australia, it has been instrumental in the conception, design and implementation of many research and educational projects.  Some of these include:

• The Australian Candidemia Study and associated studies on invasive fungal infections in haematology patients and Candidemia in ICU patients.
• The Australian Scedosporium study.
• The Aspergillus Haematology study.
• Several Australian Cryptococcus studies.
• The Australian Guidelines for use of antifungal agents in treatment of invasive fungal infection.
• Mycology Online
• ASID Mycology Scientific Program.
• Mycology MasterClass and many other clinical mycology symposia and conference programs.
• There have also been many other collaborations.

Secretary: David Ellis dellis@adelaide.edu.au