New steps in treating rare and chronic disease made by an early career researcher at Murdoch University will be celebrated at Western Australia’s premier health conference next week.

Dr May Aung-Htut is a rising star who will showcase her research at Science in the Swan, WA’s annual premier health and medical research meeting.

Through her work with Professors Steve Wilton and Sue Fletcher at Murdoch University, Dr Aung-Htut is searching for drug therapies for rare genetic diseases.

She has made significant contributions toward the development of a drug therapy for Pompe disease, and is working towards developing a new drug therapy for multiple sclerosis.

Dr Aung-Htut said it was an honour to be recognised among peers at the conference.

“I am looking forward to getting a better understanding of clinicians and the community as a whole and getting ideas on how my knowledge can be incorporated and translated for the community,” she said.

Science on the Swan brings together all five of WA’s major Universities (Murdoch University, The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University and The University of Notre Dame) in partnership with the key teaching and research hospitals, the medical research institutes of WA and the WA Government through the Department of Health and the Office of Science.

Professor Sue Fletcher, who has helped to organise the conference, said it provided an important opportunity for early and mid career researchers from around Western Australia to showcase their work and participate in workshops and training opportunities.

“Science on the Swan brings together national and international experts, allowing Western Australian medical researchers a unique opportunity to engage with leaders in their fields,” she said.

The Science on the Swan conference runs 1-3 May.