Razia Zakarya

I was grateful to be invited to speak at the APSR-ISRD Joint Session at the American Thoracic Society International Conference 2019 in Dallas. The ATS IC draws over 15,000 experts in the field of respiratory health with specialties including basic sciences, clinicians, educators, and exhibitors focused on a range of disciplines. The conference was the perfect forum for experts from all over the world to converge and exchange knowledge in the field of respiratory medicine.

Being part of the APSR-ISRD session was a fantastic opportunity to liaise with my regional peers. Thereby expanding my knowledge and providing an opportunity to make contacts within the Asia Pacific. I was invited to give a talk on "Small airway fibrosis in COPD is mediated by histone acetylation" which was an update on my PhD work carried out under the supervision of A/Prof Brian Oliver at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and University of Technology Sydney. I also presented these findings during a poster discussion session where thoughtful and insightful examination of my and my peers' work took place. I found that attending the ATS International Conference 2019 in Dallas to be a valuable experience, providing me with an opportunity to liaise with and learn from leaders in the field of respiratory medicine.