A lifetime of medical research will be on show in a series of public events to be hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the Astronomical Society of Albury-Wodonga (ASAW) on Thursday 21 August as part of National Science Week.

Nobel laureate and leading Australian medical scientist Professor Peter Doherty will discuss his work on finding ways to treat such deadly viruses as influenza, Hendra, and Ebola.

Professor Doherty will outline the dangers posed by killer viruses like Ebola, Hendra and influenza, the concerns for public health and quarantine, and the challenges and limitations of protective drugs, antibodies and vaccines.

The former veterinary scientist will then relate his work into the human body's cytotoxic T lymphocytes, so-called 'killer T cells', that led to him receiving a joint Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1996. He was also named Australian of the Year in 1997.

The award-winning researcher will present a public lecture titled 'The killer defence: Killer viruses and our immune systems', to the Albury-Wodonga community starting at 7pm in the Albury Entertainment Centre, Swift Street, Albury.

Earlier in the day, Professor Doherty will meet with 200 senior secondary school students from across the Border region to give a similar presentation in the CD Blake Lecture Theatre, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

Afterwards, he will meet with a selected group of budding scientists to further discuss his life's work as a leading medical scientist.