2026 Keynote Speakers
Julia Beatty, PhD
Chair Professor, Veterinary Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences
Dr. Julia Beatty is a veterinarian and infectious disease researcher. A graduate of the Royal Veterinary College, and University College at the University of London, she studied feline immunodeficiency virus at the University of Glasgow, completing a PhD and two post-docs in the late Professor Oswald Jarrett’s lab. Dr. Beatty is a clinical specialist in feline medicine and has spent around half of her career in client-facing roles. At the University of Sydney (2004-2019), she served as a clinical academic and professor of feline medicine. She has taught, mentored, supervised and learned from numerous residents, interns and research students.
Dr. Beatty’s team’s research on cancer-causing viruses in cats has led to the discovery of several novel feline viruses including, most recently, the feline hepatitis B virus. The long-term goal of her lab is to improve cancer outcomes for pets and people. In 2020, she was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, London for meritorious contribution to knowledge.
In her current role as Chair Professor in Veterinary Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, CityUHK, she led the establishment of the first academic veterinary clinical department in Hong Kong. Dr. Beatty is the founding Director of the Centre for Animal Health at Welfare at CityUHK and Professor Emerita at the University of Sydney.
Arash Grakoui, PhD
Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University
Dr. Arash Grakoui is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Emory University School of Medicine and a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Emory University. A core scientist at the Emory National Primate Research Center, Dr. Grakoui is internationally recognized for his work to understand the inextricable connectivity between chronic infection and the immune system. His laboratory has expertise investigating molecular pathogenesis and immunological consequences of infection utilizing in vitro tissue culture, mouse, non-human primate and human models and is committed to making significant contributions to the understanding of disease progression and to the development and application of immunotherapy aimed at controlling chronic infections. His research has advanced understanding of immune regulation, viral persistence, and vaccine development. He has authored numerous high-impact publications, mentored trainees across career stages, and serves on multiple national and international advisory, review, and editorial boards.