The Australian co-founder of a vaccine that helps prevent cervical cancer visited Vietnam last week to attend seminars on cancer researches.

Professor Ian Frazer told more than 300 government, medical and media representatives why catching cancer was not reason to panic during the seminars, which took place at the Ho Chi Minh City University Medical Center and Hanoi Medical University on May 5 and May 6.

The seminars, titled Catching Cancer, heard lessons on best practices in cancer research, benefits of international medical science collaboration and efforts to improve distribution of the vaccine developed by Professor Frazer.

They included a screening of the Catching Cancer documentary, which features Professor Frazer alongside other eminent scientists active in the frontline fight against cancer.

Developed by Professor Frazer and Dr Jian Zhou, the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine protects young women against four strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV), two of which cause 70 percent of cervical cancers.

“It is a result of 25 hard working years of 2000 doctors,” Professor Frazer told the seminar in HCMC.

Speaking at the Hanoi seminar, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Allaster Cox said, “Professor Frazer, through his development of a vaccine for cervical cancer, has continued in the strong tradition of many other Australian scientists and medical researchers in pioneering medical innovations and discoveries.”

“Professor Frazer’s visit reinforces the excellent relations between institutions for medical excellence in Australia and Vietnam,” said professor Nguyen Duc Hinh, President of the Hanoi Medical University.