$8.5M FUNDING BOOST FOR CSIRO BIOSECURITY LABORATORY
16 April 2007 - CSIRO

The funds will be used over the next three to four years to build and/or upgrade 2000 sq m of specialised laboratory space, allowing external animal and human disease researchers to work within AAHL on their own projects.

AAHL is a national centre of excellence in disease diagnosis, research and policy advice in animal health. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of Australia’s livestock, aquaculture species and wildlife.

The $8.5 million in capital works funding is part of $500 million invested in science infrastructure announced last week by the Federal Government under the NCRIS.

“This upgrade of AAHL’s facilities is seen as a more efficient use of national resources than establishing a series of laboratories around Australia, particularly as the annual expense of maintaining such facilities is considerable,” says AAHL’s Assistant Director, Dr Peter Daniels.

“This new way of operating, allowing independent use of the facility while maintaining confidence in microbiological security and addressing other obligations, will present many challenges for AAHL but the result will be that its role as a major CSIRO research facility is maintained,” Dr Daniels says.

“The funds will be used over the next three to four years to build and/or upgrade 2000 sq m of specialised laboratory space, allowing external animal and human disease researchers to work within AAHL on their own projects.”The Government has earmarked a further $15.5 million for biosecurity-related research infrastructure, pending further consideration of investment options.

“In the meantime, this funding is an indication of the importance of biosecurity and AAHL’s vital role in ensuring that Australia has a strong capacity to anticipate, diagnose and respond to the threats presented by infectious diseases,” Dr Daniels says.

This latest funding injection comes on top of a $4.7 million CSIRO project to build a new diagnosis and emergency response laboratory to enhance AAHL’s ‘surge capacity’ in times of an animal disease emergency. Construction of the new laboratory is expected to be completed in October 2007.

NCRIS is an initiative under the Australian Government’s Backing Australia’s Ability package, which is providing $8.3 billion over ten years to 2011 to strengthen Australia’s ability to generate ideas, accelerate the commercialisation of ideas, and develop and retain skills.

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